A Sheikh for Christmas (All I want for Christmas is... 1)

Her heart skipped and she swallowed hard. “That’s why I want a change. Don’t want to be mistaken for that person ever again.”

“Good choice, hon.” Matt winked and directed her back to the shampoo area. “Right this way. I’ll take good care of you, I promise.”

An hour later and several inches of hair gone, Mel stared at herself in the mirror. She almost didn’t recognize herself, which was a good thing. The short, angular cut highlighted her high cheekbones and gave her a more urban, street-wise appearance. With the bangs ruffling across her forehead and the artfully tousled spikes on top of her head, she looked more mature, wiser, stronger. It was exactly what she wanted and needed.

“It’s spectacular,” she said, kissing Matt’s cheek. “Thank you!”

“Thank you for letting me help with your transformation, hon.” He walked her to the front counter and rang her up. After she’d paid, he gave her a final wink and wave. “Go get ‘em, girl.”

“I will.” She headed back out into the sunny New York afternoon with renewed confidence in herself and her job search. Unfortunately, that didn’t translate into any interviews or job offers. By the time four o’clock rolled around, she was sitting back in the same coffee shop that she and Daveed had eaten in a few nights prior. Even they weren’t looking to hire a waitress with no experience. Ugh. Adulting sucked.

After paying for her coffee and salad, she started home toward the condo, clutching her coat tighter around her as snow began to fall. About a block from Heath’s place she spotted a new street vendor setting up near the corner. The man was selling Christmas trees and even as defeated as she felt, she couldn’t help the holiday spirit bubbling inside her. She still had her clothes to pawn and that Leiber bag to return to Neiman’s the next day. What was a few more dollars spent if it would brighten the holidays for her and Daveed? Besides, the proceeds from the vendor were all going to a local youth charity program. She’d be making merry and helping people all at the same time. Win-win.

She chose the smallest tree the guy had and he was kind enough to recrui

t one of his helpers to carry it up to the condo for her. She wasn’t sure what time Daveed would be back, but she wanted to least have it set up in the corner before he returned. She tipped the helper then closed the door behind him and stared at the undecorated condo. She had a tree, but nothing to put on it. That wouldn’t do at all.

There was a dollar store on the opposite side of the street from the condo and Mel made a beeline for it. She picked up twinkle lights, gaudy red and green and gold balls, lots of sparkly garlands and even a couple of camel ornaments for Daveed, thinking they might remind him of his homeland. At the register, she added a sprig of fresh mistletoe to her purchases. It all came to under thirty bucks total and once again, she relished the thrill of a bargain.

Maybe there was something to be said for this new life after all.

Back upstairs she unwrapped all the decorations and set about festooning the little tree she’d bought. It was only about four feet high and nearly as big around, and maybe it wasn’t as lavish as the towering pines her parents had professionally decorated in their Park Avenue mansion, but she loved the little tree anyway. This was all Melody’s and she couldn’t have been prouder. She got so caught up in her decorating that she lost track of time and soon it was dark out.

Daveed walked in a short time later, ice crystals twinkling off his dark brown hair and the shoulders of his black wool coat. She glanced over at him and her breath caught at the sheer masculine handsomeness of him. She’d never noticed before, but now that he’d told her about his royal heritage, she could see it in his proud stance, the noble air about him. He was every inch a ruler, a sheikh, a gorgeous man who she wanted more and more each day.

Melody swallowed hard and finished hanging the ornament in her hand before she came around the tree to stand before him. “So, what do you think?”

Daveed blinked at her as if he’d never seen her before. “About the tree or the hair?”

She raised a hand self-consciously to brush her fingers through her newly shorn locks. Honestly, she’d been so busy with decorating she’d forgotten all about her hair. “Do you like it?”

Her gaze lowered, she feared he’d hate the new style. Silence dragged on for several agonizing seconds until she couldn’t resist glancing up at him, not sure what to expect.

He studied her closely, his light mocha gaze drifting over her face and hair to finally rest on her lips. They tingled anew, just like they had after he’d kissed her in the pub. She didn’t miss the spark of heat and wonder in his eyes. “It’s… you're… beautiful.”

“Thanks.” She bit her lower lip, aware of the way he tracked the tiny movement with his eyes. “I was ready for a change.”

“Change,” he repeated, like he was in a daze. “Change is good.”

“That’s what I thought.” Her cheeks heated and he stepped closer and suddenly all the air in the room seemed to evaporate, the outside world disappearing, leaving only him, only her, only this moment. Heat pounding, she clenched her hands at her sides to keep from reaching for him. She was still worried he might not feel the same way she did about their impromptu kiss in the diner. For all she knew, he’d only done it out of pity. Nope. Best to wait for him to make the first move so she could be sure he really did want her. “I, uh, got a tree too.”

The words seemed to jar him out of his haze and he glanced up again.

“Oh, right.” His voice sounded oddly rough and his tone distracted. Daveed shrugged out of his coat and hung it on a peg in the wall near the door then walked over to the pudgy pine. “It’s cute.”

“The vendor outside was selling them for a good cause.” She shrugged, now feeling strangely awkward after his intense scrutiny. “It’s the first time I’ve bought a tree for myself. First time I’ve done all the decorating too.” She gestured around the room. “Not sure it’s my forte.”

He inspected one of the camel ornaments she’d bought for him and smiled, then walked back over to join her near the sofa. “Looks good to me. Very festive.” Daveed glanced around and then stopped, staring at something above her head. “Is that mistletoe?”

“What?” She looked up then away quickly. “Yeah, it is.”

“Hmm.” He crossed his arms and narrowed his gaze on her. “There’s a tradition behind that, you know.”

Crap. She’d not meant to be so blatant about wanting to kiss him again, but damn. Now that he’d seen it, she couldn’t say she regretted it either. She didn’t speak, not trusting her voice. Just nodded.

Daveed stepped closer to her again, the toes of his black boots touching the tips of her black ballet flats. She slowly raised her gaze to meet his and he cupped her cheek gently, his smile as warm as the look in his eyes. “Guess we’ll need to do something about that then, eh? Can’t go breaking tradition.”

As his head slowly lowered to hers, Mel whispered, “Traditions are good.”