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morning.”
    “Well that was a clinical description.” Vanessa pouted a little. “So what’s the problem, exactly? I’m sure you’ve had to leave rendezvous with lovers because you had some place to be.”
    “Yes,” Zayid muttered, “but I’ve never really had it happen to me before. It’s quite disconcerting.”
    “Aha!” Vanessa laughed. “So that’s the problem. You don’t like having the tables turned on you, do you?” Her blue eyes sparkled with glee.
    Zayid shook his head. He really didn’t. More than once he’d had to deal with a clingy woman after ending a fling—he was handsome and wealthy and many of them thought they could keep him. And even the ones who knew that he didn’t want more had never sprung out of bed as soon as he’d come. Madeline was the first one to do so, and he didn’t like it. Not one bit. Whether it was because he was truly infatuated with her or because his male pride was stung, he didn’t know. But he was going to find out.
    “Well, I’m not really sure what you want at this point,” Vanessa said. “If you aren’t ready to give up pursuing her, you should give her a call and set up a second date.”
    Zayid rolled his eyes. As if he hadn’t thought of that! “I did more than that. I dropped by her workplace today and offered to take her out to dinner.”
    “You did what?” Vanessa’s eyes went wide. “Ohh, I’m not sure how Maddy would have felt about you dropping by unannounced. You probably would have been better off with a text.”
    “The outcome may have been the same either way.” Zayid pressed his lips together. “Her reaction to me was more than annoyance at being interrupted. I could feel it. She wasn’t interested in seeing me again. And I can’t figure out why. I’m trying to figure out if it was something I did last night. I’d thought we had a great time together.”
    “Well, to be fair, I don’t really think it was your fault.” Vanessa sighed, giving him a sympathetic look. “Part of the reason Maddy came out here to take this job was to get away for a little while. She just found out that her fiancé, who she’s been with for three years, was cheating on her, and she’s still dealing with the aftermath of the breakup. She might have been willing to sleep with you, Zayid, but I don’t know that she’s ready to open up her heart.”
    “But I’m not asking for her heart.” Zayid frowned. “Just her company.”
    “For many women, we can’t offer one without risking the other.” Vanessa pursed her lips. “Maybe you need to just ease off a little bit regarding your approach. Make it clear that you’re not looking for any kind of commitment, but that you enjoy spending time with her and would like to do so more often.”
    “I guess I could try that,” Zayid said dubiously. “It sounds a lot like putting myself in the…how do you Americans call it…the Friend Pen?”
    Vanessa laughed. “The Friend Zone. And yes, that’s always a risk when you’re trying to achieve more than just a one-night stand. But trust me when I say that Maddy’s worth it. She’s got a big heart and is very passionate about the things she cares about. You just have to make sure that you really care about her, too, and that you’re not just doing this for the challenge.”
    “Thank you.” Zayid inclined his head, and then rose. “I suppose I should get ready for dinner, as well.”
    “I’ll walk you out.” Vanessa rose to her feet, then padded silently across the room to open the door. “Oh, and Zayid?” she asked, turning toward him.
    “Yes?” He paused to look at her.
    “If I find out that you’re just doing this for the thrill and you break her heart, I will find a way to break you.” Her eyes narrowed. “Don’t forget it.”
    “Don’t worry.” Zayid smiled at her tenacity. “I won’t.”
     

Chapter Seven
     
     
    Footsteps echoing down the hall had Madeline lifting her head for the tenth time that morning. Her mind was