The Sheik's Beautiful Intruder (The Friendship Series) Read Free

squirmed under his gaze.  “And you’re very arrogant.”  As soon as she said those words, she wished she could have pulled them back.  Taunting the man was no way to get information, she reprimanded herself.  She thought about Brianna and how her friend would be sweet-talking this man already.  Bri could wrap anyone around her little finger with just a word or a smile.  Rachel was just as good, but she used logic and perseverance, whittling down someone’s argument into logical, small parts and showing them how her ideas were superior. 
    Looking down, she shook her head and gave herself a strong, mental shake.  When she looked up again, he was standing right in front of her and she gasped at how tall he was, and how…overwhelmingly male! 
    “What are you doing?” she stammered, taking an involuntary step backwards, needing more space between their bodies.  His closeness caused….weird sensations to flutter all around inside of her. 
    “I wanted to go over your question.”  His hand moved, touching her cheek, grazing her skin and sending shivers everywhere.  “The expression on your lovely face told me that you weren’t completely satisfied with my response.”
    She grabbed his wrist, trying to pull his hand away, but her grip didn’t have any strength to it.  “You sidestepped my question completely.”
    He smiled slightly, obviously enjoying the challenge.  “Why don’t you ask it again?”
    “Why did you try to avoid answering it while we were in a group of people?” she challenged and felt stronger with the look of approval in his dark gaze.  She just wished she wasn’t getting a crick in her neck from looking up at that approval. 
    “Because anything I say about markets is analyzed to death.  I have to be very careful about what I say.  And even about the things I don’t say.  Anything could be taken to mean something else, something unintentional.”
    Nikki frowned, realizing that what he said was probably true.  The head of the Federal Reserve spoke in such ambiguous language that, most of the time, she had absolutely no clue what he was telling the rest of the world.  Sometimes she got it.  And sometimes Rachel would explain it over a round of martinis.  It still might not make sense, but at least they had fun trying to figure it out.  “I guess I need a few drinks to interpret your response then,” she said and tried to step backwards.  But the door was behind her and she couldn’t move, felt trapped by both his body and his heat. 
    “I would be delighted to buy you a drink.”
    Nikki’s heart thundered with those words.  “Um…no!  I mean…Uh…”
    His hand reached out and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear.  “You don’t want to have a drink with me?”
    Nikki immediately shook her head.  “No.  I don’t.”
    “Why is that?”
    “Because you’re….” she was going to say a criminal, but Brianna’s admonishing gaze popped into her head.  “You’re royalty.  I don’t really get along very well with royalty.”  What a crock, she thought and almost laughed at the idea of Rachel rolling her eyes at that bit of logic. 
    “I’m just a man who would like to get to know you better.  And a drink sounds like a good idea.”  He started to move away, taking her hand in his.  It was the same arm which she’d been holding, proving that she hadn’t been keeping him away.  He’d merely been pretending, which caused even more trembling.  “Come.  We’ll enjoy a glass of wine in my suite.  And you can ask me about any market that interest you.”
    Nikki took several steps, not sure what had just happened.  She’d been about to call the man a criminal and now she was having a drink in his suite? 
    “No!” she cried out, digging her heels in to stop their forward momentum. 
    He turned back and came closer, looking down into her eyes once again.  “What’s wrong?” he asked gently, amusement shining out of his eyes. 
    “I can’t