Page 160 of The Skeikh's Games

She was aware of the lust-filled glances of the female staff — and some male staff — to the tall god walking beside her. She could only imagine they looked at Jay then at her and shook their heads in disbelief. He’s not mine, she wanted to yell, he’s just a loaner. That made her grin to herself and she was still smiling when Jay’s driver pulled up at one of the city’s most exclusive restaurants.

“Something funny?” His voice was amused and she grinned at him and told him what she was thinking. He laughed.

“A loaner, huh? Well, we’ll see about that.”

Her stomach dropped, desire flash-burned over her skin, and she could feel her face coloring. Jay got out of the car and helped her out, and kept her hand in his as they walked into the restaurant.

She really was lovely, he thought, that dark olive skin that colored a deep rose when she was embarrassed, the deep brown of her large eyes, the wayward dark hair, half-clipped up, half tumbling down her back. Jay McKittridge was used to beautiful women — his position as one of the city’s — hell, the world’s — most eligible billionaires guaranteed him ready access to the A list of gorgeous women but this girl…she had what he thought was starting to become extinct — a personality. And she also possessed something else he found irresistible…

She had absolutely no idea who he was.

Jay signaled to a waiter, greeted him with a smile. Norah watched in silence, nodded when he asked if he could order for them both. Clearly she was overwhelmed and as the waiter moved away, she started to chew her lip.

“Mr…”

“Jay.”

She grinned then. “Your name is Jay Jay? Did your parents hate you?”

“Funny girl. What were you asking?”

She took a deep breath in. “Look, thank you. I really appreciate you taking care of me. I will pay you back for the doctor’s fees, it just might take a while.”

Jay waved a hand. “Don’t be silly, it’s my pleasure. After all, I nearly ran you down, didn’t I?”

She half-smiled. “No, I…”

“Norah,” he leaned forward and put his hand over hers. “I mean it. It’s my pleasure.” God, just a little closer and he could brush his lips against that rosebud mouth, inhale her fresh, clean scent, the scent that had driven him almost out of his mind the last couple of hours. He held her gaze then as the waiter appeared with their drinks, he sat back.

“Tell me about this interview.”

Norah shrugged. “It was a long-shot anyhow. Marshall Harrington likes experience over qualifications. I have the qualification but…”

“May I ask…how old are you?”

She didn’t appear to mind the question. “Twenty-four. I graduated Summa Cum Laude from Harvard Business School last year. I’ve been looking for the right position ever since.”

Jay looked askance. “Summa Cum Laude and you’re having trouble? Jeez…” He shook his head, disbelieving. What the hell were graduates supposed to do to get the experience? “That’s ridiculous.”

She raised her glass of orange juice to him. “Amen.”

Their food arrived and he was gratified to see she enjoyed his choice — smoked salmon with such light scrambled eggs and truffle that they were like air.

“Oh,’ she said after a few minutes of eating, “this is truly heavenly, thank you.”

“My pleasure. Norah?”

“Yes?” She said, grinning with her mouth full. She was utterly adorable, he thought with a smile.

“Will you have dinner with me?”

***

Later, at home, she went over what had happened and cursed herself out for being so stupid. It was just dinner…and she’d said no. She’d been polite, thanked him for the doctor’s fees and brunch but said it really wasn’t a good idea. Now as she sat alone in her tiny studio apartment, staring blankly at an old black and white movie on the tiny portable television set, she repeated one word to herself.

Idiot.

The disappointment in his eyes when she’d turned him down, however gently, had made her cringe inwardly. How ungrateful could she be? And yet…her feminist side yelled at her for thinking she owed him something…and her feminine shouted at her that he was, without a doubt the most beautiful man she’d ever seen.

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