Page 32 of The Sheikh's Temporary Girlfriend

She ran into the ocean and jumped onto her surfboard on her belly, duck-diving under the first breaking wave, then pushing back up to the surface to continue paddling out just behind the white water of the break zone. Her whole body hummed, joy lighting her from the inside out.

If she couldn’t have Basam, then this was the next best thing. It’d been six weeks since she’d last seen him and today was the first real glimmer of delight she’d had since she’d left.

Though a part of her had hoped he’d chase after her, she knew it was for the best that he hadn’t. They were from two completely different worlds. They had never been meant to be. She only hoped Maram hadn’t managed to sink her claws into him, he deserved far better than that woman.

That Basam’s hundred-thousand was still in her account—it’d been Maram’s blackmail money that had paid off Zach’s debts—made her feel worse instead of better. She didn’t need his money sitting there day and night, not when it reminded her of the man she was trying so desperately to forget. That a part of her was glad she still had backup money in case her brother relapsed again infuriated her.

She didn’t want contradictory, seesawing emotions to consume her. She wanted to live her life without tension and stress. She wanted to teach people to surf while continuing to have the luxury to surf herself. That she also still wanted Basam was yet another contradictory need that pulled at her in opposite directions.

That one could never come with the other was insufferable. It was Basam or it was her family along with beaches and surfing.

She paddled to the lineup where nearly a dozen other surfers waited for the next big wave. A young blond dude looked at her with eyes full of sympathy and asked, “Are you okay?”

Oh shit.She’d been crying and hadn’t even been aware of it.

She managed a smile and said, “The seawater is killing my eyes, but I’m addicted. Nothing can keep me away from the ocean.”

Her brother wasn’t alone with his addiction. Hers were beginning to add up.

The young blond dude grinned. “Know what you mean. I got wiped out on the last wave and now I’m back for another round.”

A wave started to build and four of the waiting surfers paddled fast to catch it. Amber was just glad to lie on her board and let the water carry all her thoughts and worries away.

Who needed a therapist or pills when Mother Nature was on hand to provide all the calming influence she needed? One day she might even stop thinking about Basam and get back into the dating scene.

Seeing Zach and Rachel become so gloriously happy again together, and their daughter, Katie, blossoming under their nurturing love and care, made her think perhaps it was possible to find someone a second time.

That’s never going to happen. Love at first sight is so unlikely it borders on mythical. You know no one will make you feel anything close to how you did with Basam.

She squeezed her eyes closed, her chest aching as much as her fingers did that gripped the edges of her board. Even if she never connected with someone immediately like she had with Basam, perhaps she’d settle for friendship first and allow it to build into something romantic.

More surfers took off with the next big wave, leaving her and the blond surfer alone to catch the next one. She waited, nodding at the blond dude as an incoming wave built. She paddled furiously beside him, then stood effortlessly balanced on her board.

There was no greater feeling, besides sex, than the adrenaline of catching an awesome wave, then carving along the top of it before pivoting sharply to ride down its face.

She was beaming, lost in the moment as she finished her ride, jumping off her board then wading through the undercurrent as she carried her board to shore. Some of her frizzy hair had escaped her scraped-back ponytail, and she pushed some strands behind her ear before she jammed her board into some loose dry sand, then peeled off her wetsuit to her bikini beneath.

Once her surf lessons had finished for the day, it’d become routine for her to sit on the beach for ten minutes while the sun kissed her skin and dried her off, the crashing waves a beautiful symphony she’d never get tired of hearing

She closed her eyes, enjoying the serenity when a tread sounded from behind.

“I thought I might find you here, sunshine.”

Chapter Seventeen

Amber gaped, her heart pounding so hard she had to be close to passing out. Basam stood behind her in dark chinos and a white T-shirt, and looking so impossibly handsome she almost wept.

“Nothing to say?” he asked.

She shook her head. “Why are you here? Y-you can’t be here!”

“Is that right?” he asked, his brilliant golden eyes narrowing.

Shit.She couldn’t tell him the truth, and yet already she was giving herself away. She nodded. “I’ve already said what I had to say.”

“You didn’tsayanything,” he reminded succinctly. “You left me a note.”

“I-I did,” she acknowledged.

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