The Sheik's Ruby Read Free

man. With all the noise in the snack shack, she couldn’t hear what they were saying, but by the cadence of their voices, she could tell they weren’t speaking English.
    When Hakim saw her, he waved and both men stood. “Shelby, I’d like to introduce you to my friend, Nasir.” He gestured to the man next to him.
    Shelby recognized him as the other skier she had seen on the slopes that morning. Nasir was a goliath. Hakim stood close to six feet tall, but Nasir loomed above him—at least a head taller. Large muscles bulged under his ski parka. He sported a dark goatee and piercing eyes that didn’t quite look directly at her.
    “Nasir, may I present Shelby Jo Walker?”
    Shelby resisted the urge to cringe from the large man and extended her hand.
    Nasir put his hands together and inclined his head. “ Ahlan wa sahlan .”
    “Nasir says he is pleased to meet you,” Hakim translated.
    Yeah, right . Nasir’s stony expression did not change, and his gaze was severe. Pleased looked like the farthest thing from the man’s mind, but Shelby put her hands together anyway and gave a little bow, “ Ahlan wa sahlan, Nasir .” She hoped her pronunciation sounded even close to correct.
    He tipped his head forward, his gaze focused on something above her head.
    Shelby wondered if he spoke English, but she didn’t like the idea of engaging this intimidating hulk in conversation. Instead, she turned and spoke to Hakim. “I’m sorry…I didn’t realize you were here with a friend. Here, you two eat these, and I’ll run and grab another bowl of chili.”
    “Thank you, but no,” Nasir stated in a heavy accent. “I will leave now.”
    The two men spoke for a moment in what Shelby assumed was Arabic.
    Then, Nasir again put his hands together and bowed in her direction. “It was a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Shelby Jo Walker. I hope your day is enjoyable.”
    “Nice to meet you, too, Nasir.” Shelby smiled.
    Once more, Nasir glanced around the dining room, and then strode out the door, turning heads as he passed.
    He was obviously accustomed to the attention his size attracted. Wow. He didn’t spare any of the gawkers a single glance.
    Hakim held the back of the wobbly metal chair and waited for Shelby to be seated before he sat on the other side of the small table.
    “Hakim, I’m sorry.” Shelby set their meals and utensils in front of them. “I didn’t know you were here with someone. Am I keeping you from your friend?”
    “Please do not apologize. Nasir prefers to ski alone.”
    “What about you? Am I monopolizing your time today? Would you rather ski alone?” She chewed on her lip and stirred her chili.
    Hakim unwrapped the plastic spoon, and then set it down next to his foam chili bowl. He lifted his gaze and met Shelby’s. “Today, I prefer to ski with you.”
    “Oh.” Her heart skipped a beat, and her ears got warm.
    After a moment, Hakim opened his paper napkin and spread it over his lap. “Tell me, Shelby Jo Walker, do you have a job you are escaping today, or are you a professional skier?”
    Before answering, she swallowed a bite of her breadstick. “Actually, I’m working right now. I write for a sports magazine called Wintersports . Basically, I travel around and stay at different resorts, demo new equipment, or interview athletes for research.”
    “And do you enjoy this job?”
    “It’s fine. I’ve worked there for three years. Since my senior year in college.” Shelby sipped from her water bottle. “This job isn’t what I want to do forever. I mean, sports reporting doesn’t exactly change the world.”
    “You intend to change the world?” Hakim asked.
    She couldn’t tell whether his question was asked out of amusement or curiosity, but based on his sincere expression, he didn’t intend it sarcastically. “I want to advocate for an important cause, or write stories that cause people to change the way they think…or brings an issue to their attention.” She leaned