Read Online Continental Divide by Dyanne Davis - Free Book Online

breath.
    “I was here to do a favor for Heaven. I have
done as she asked and more. I prepared breakfast for you, but since
you prefer to be alone I’ll leave.” He started for the door his
steps quick and sure.
    Snap out of it, Tanya commanded her
body. She turned watching him walk toward the door knowing she
didn’t want him to leave. She knew she had to say something
quickly. “Imran…” she called and her voice faltered. It was his
voice it had done something to her. She had to fight to concentrate
“Imran, wait, listen. I’m sorry,” Tanya said.
    He turned toward her leveling her with a
look. “Do you want me to stay, or go, Tanya? It’s your choice. I
have a ton of other things I could be doing.”
    While he stared at her Tanya had to catch
the back of the chair for support. O h God, she thought as
the deep musical sound of Imran’s voice played over her spine.
She’d swear she could…she could….
    “Well, Tanya, which will it be?”
    “Drop the attitude and stay if you want.
Either way I don’t really care.” Liar . She brought the
coffee mug to her lips and took a sip. “Thanks for the coffee. It’s
really good.” She turned back toward the spread Imran had laid out
and gobbled one sweet roll. By the time she had finished her second
one Imran was handing her a peeled egg and was once again smiling
at her.
    “I see you were hungry,” he said with a
slight smirk.
    “Famished,” she answered, reaching for the
egg. The tips of their fingers touched and zap, like that Tanya
knew what had just happened. Fate was trying to intervene in her
life and mess up her plans. Besides wanting a gorgeous hunk that
made her shiver just by the sound of his voice she wanted a man
with more drive than Imran, one more like she was. She wanted a man
who believed in her dreams and who could understand those dreams
would be her top priority. She did not want a teacher slash
struggling writer. What the heck did she need with a man she’d have
to no doubt end up supporting? And she was not into that. She bit
into the egg.
    “Imran, are you sure you’re not rich?” she
asked as he peeled a second egg for her and placed it on her
plate.
    “No, I’m not.” He smiled and sipped his
coffee. But my father is, he thought but didn’t say. “Would
that make a difference?” She didn’t answer, only gave him a tiny
smile. But she didn’t have to answer. He knew it would and didn’t
like it. He didn’t want a woman who wanted only the gold in his
pockets. He wanted a woman who wanted to struggle with him, to know
that his dreams were important and would come first. He wanted a
woman who wasn’t so driven to succeed, but one who could enjoy the
simpler things of life.

    ***

    Tanya walked around Hamid’s office looking
in wonder at the sentimental objects Hamid had built into a shrine.
She smiled at the movie theater ticket stubs, a menu, a playbill
and other worthless trinkets and laughed. She remembered Heaven’s
complaints about constantly misplacing things. Looks like she’d
found where they were. An unwanted ping of jealousy zapped
unexpectedly at Tanya making her wonder if anyone would ever love
her the way Hamid loved Heaven. For all her big talk she wanted
that kind of love and to love a man that way. She wanted to be
school girl goofy the way Heaven was.
    She glanced at Heaven and watched her for a
moment while her friend’s eyes sought out her husband. She saw them
smile at each other and they both went all soft and mushy. For a
second Tanya wondered if that was how it started for her friend. If
she’d been all hot and bothered when Hamid looked at her. As a
smile curved Heaven’s lips, Tanya had her answer. Hamid still made
Heaven hot and bothered. Then she glanced over Heaven’s head and
her gaze landed on Imran who was watching her with a very curious
look on his face.
    “I like your office, Hamid. But still I’m
wondering why Heaven would have to help you when she had my visit
planned for weeks.