Sheikh Without a Heart

She shook her head. “Too sweet first thing in the morning.”

“I like sweet tastes first thing in the morning,” he said, and though he hadn’t meant it as a double entendre she flushed, and he thought, just for a second, about leaning across the counter and kissing her …

But he didn’t.

Somehow this moment, this brief détente, was important.

So he cleared his throat, said the weather was unseasonably cool, and then they talked about this and that, the traffic, the newest plans for Central Park …

And then they fell silent.

What if he kisses me? Rachel thought.

I want to kiss her, Karim thought.

Her heartbeat quickened. So did his.

Their eyes met.

“Well …” he sai

d.

“Well …” she said.

They got to their feet.

And moved in opposite directions.

“Got to get moving,” he said briskly.

Rachel nodded. “Me, too,” she said, just as briskly.

He told himself he was glad he hadn’t touched her.

She told herself the same thing.

But those easy moments in the quiet early-morning hours were all either of them thought of that entire day.

The early-morning meeting didn’t happen again.

Rachel made sure of that. She didn’t leave her room until she was certain Karim was gone.

Yes, she’d discovered her captor had a human side.

So what?

Days passed, and though he didn’t mention DNA tests or legal appointments eventually he would.