Page 159 of The Skeikh's Games

Shoot. There goes next month’s rent…and the next…and the next…

Someone cleared his throat and she started, her head whipping around to see her annoying savior, sitting in a very plush armchair in the corner of the room. He was dressed in a beautiful dark gray suit, a dusky blue shirt which made his green eyes pop and the angles of his face were softened by his smile. Gorgeous….Norah shook herself and glared at him.

“You nearly killed me.”

He chuckled. “Technically, you ran out in front of me. Too busy texting — or sexting — maybe. Oh, the youth of today.” He shook his head somberly but his eyes twinkled with merriment.

Norah gaped at him. Sexting? But she felt a flush climb up her face as he gazed at her, his eyes dropping to her mouth in a way that made her pulse quicken. A weird fluttering feeling stole into her belly. He stood and approached and suddenly she felt panicky. He sat on the edge of the bed and touched a finger to her burning cheek.

“Hi,” he said softly. Oh that voice, deep and resonant, soft and sure, “I’m Jay.”

She swallowed. “Norah.”

He smiled and she was lost. “Hello, Norah.” His face was so close to hers, she could see the dark blue rings around his green eyes. They dropped to her mouth again and Norah could feel her heart beating too fast. Surely he wasn’t about to kiss her? In the split second after the first thought, she realized she had already made her decision. Let it happen.

“Hello, you two, sorry if I’m interrupting.”

The doctor beamed at them both as he barreled into the room. Jay stepped away and sat back down in the armchair as Norah silently invented new and gruesome ways to murder the doctor. Also, the way Jay was smirking behind the doctor’s back infuriated her. She glared at him.

“Doctor,” her voice was gratifyingly steady, “I’m terribly sorry to have wasted your time. I just got a little light-headed is all.”

The doctor smiled at her. “No trouble, Miss…?” He looked down at the notes. “Miss Quinn.”

Norah frowned. “How did you know…”

The doctor nodded at Jay who beamed cheekily at her. “I gave admission all your details, darling.”

“But…”

“When I paid the fees, darling.”

That shut her up. Jay met her gaze with an amused look as the doctor told her to take care of herself and eat some breakfast the next time. Norah thanked him and swung her legs off the bed. Jay offered her his hand. It was big, and warm and dry and felt as if it were made to fit hers. Damn it. The doctor said his goodbyes and Jay handed her bag to her. It was only then she remembered and she sat back down on the bed, dropped her bag and buried her face in her hands.

Jay sat down beside her and when she looked up, his glorious face was creased with concern.

“What is it? Should I get the doctor back?”

She shook her head and to her annoyance, her eyes filled at his kindness. “No, it’s okay…it’s just…oh, darn it.”

“What?”

“I was on my way to an interview. An important one and…”

Jay whipped out his phone. “We’ll just reschedule, I’m sure…”

She put out a hand to stop him. “No. Believe me, it won’t make any difference.” The woman at the company already hated her. She would love this. Oh, damn it, damn it.

Jay was still watching her with those heavenly eyes. “Norah? Are you sure I can’t call someone for you?”

No-one. There was no-one. She didn’t trust herself to speak so just shook her head, the lump settling in the back of her throat. She closed her eyes and felt his arm wrap around her shoulder.

“Come on. I’m taking to you to lunch.”

She opened her eyes and glanced at the clock on the wall. “It’s nine a.m.”

Jay shrugged good-naturedly. “Brunch then. I can’t call it breakfast because unlike some people, I ate this morning.”

Nope. No way. Nope. “Okay.”

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