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Authors: Kate Hewitt
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don’t let me stop you.’
His mouth quirked in another smile. ‘I want you to go with me.’
Her heart seemed to fling itself against her ribs at the thought. ‘I don’t—’
‘Swim? I could teach you. We’ll start with the dog paddle.’ He mimed a child’s paddling stroke and Grace found herself smiling. Again.
‘I think I can manage to keep myself afloat, thanks very much.’ Strange, how light he made her feel. How happy. It was as dangerous and addictive as the physical response her body had to him. She shook her head. ‘I really should get this done—’
Khalis dropped his arms to his sides. ‘It’s not good to work without taking a break, especially considering the strength of your migraine last night. I let you work through lunch, but you really need to take some time off.’
‘Most employers don’t insist on their staff taking time off.’
‘I’m not most employers. Besides, you’re not actually my employee. I’m your client.’
‘Still—’
‘Anyone with sense knows that people work more effectively when they’re rested and relaxed. At least they know that in California.’ He held out one hand, his long lean fingers stretching so enticingly towards her. ‘Come on.’
She absolutely shouldn’t take his hand. Touch him. And she shouldn’t go for a swim. She shouldn’t even want to go for a swim, because she didn’t want to want anyone ever again. As for love, trust, desire.? Forget it. Forget them all.
And yet. And yet she remained motionless, hesitating, suspended with suppressed longing, because no matter what her brain told her about staying safe, strong and in control, her body and maybe even her heart said differently. They said, Yes. Please.
‘Do you have a swimming costume?’
Reluctantly she nodded. She had brought one, despite what she’d told Michel.
‘Well, then? What’s stopping you?’
You. Me. The physical temptation that the very idea of a swim with Khalis presented. The two of them, in the water and wearing very little.
And then there was the far more alarming emotional temptation … to draw closer to this man, to care about him when she couldn’t care about anyone. Never mind what restrictions her ex-husband had placed on her, her heart had far more stringent ones.
‘Grace.’ He said her name not as a question or a command, but as a statement. As if he knew her. And when he did that Grace felt as though she had no choice, and it both aggravated and amazed her. How could she fight this?
She reached out and took his hand. His fingers closed around hers with both strength and gentleness, and he glanced at her carefully, as if he needed to check she was OK. And, after the way she had yanked her hand away from his last night, he probably did.
Taking a breath, Grace met his questioning gaze—and nodded her assent.
Khalis felt an entirely triumphant thrill as he led her from the basement, up into the sunshine and fresh air. He felt as if he’d won a major victory, not against her, but for her. Something about Grace’s hidden vulnerability called out to him, made him want to offer her both protection and pleasure. He’d spent the better part of the day thinking about her, wondering what she was doing, thinking, feeling. Wondering about the man who had hurt her and how soft her lips would be if —when —he kissed her.
It had been a long time since he’d been in a relationship, even longer since a woman had aroused these kinds of protective feelings in him. Never before, if he were honest, at least not on a romantic, sexual level. The last woman who he’d been emotionally close to had been his sister. Jamilah.
And look what happened then.
Khalis resolutely pushed the thought away. It was just this island, these memories that were temporarily awakening his emotions.
This woman.
It would pass, Khalis told himself. He’d leave Alhaja and get back to his normal life soon enough. And in the meantime Grace provided a welcome distraction.
Except
His mouth quirked in another smile. ‘I want you to go with me.’
Her heart seemed to fling itself against her ribs at the thought. ‘I don’t—’
‘Swim? I could teach you. We’ll start with the dog paddle.’ He mimed a child’s paddling stroke and Grace found herself smiling. Again.
‘I think I can manage to keep myself afloat, thanks very much.’ Strange, how light he made her feel. How happy. It was as dangerous and addictive as the physical response her body had to him. She shook her head. ‘I really should get this done—’
Khalis dropped his arms to his sides. ‘It’s not good to work without taking a break, especially considering the strength of your migraine last night. I let you work through lunch, but you really need to take some time off.’
‘Most employers don’t insist on their staff taking time off.’
‘I’m not most employers. Besides, you’re not actually my employee. I’m your client.’
‘Still—’
‘Anyone with sense knows that people work more effectively when they’re rested and relaxed. At least they know that in California.’ He held out one hand, his long lean fingers stretching so enticingly towards her. ‘Come on.’
She absolutely shouldn’t take his hand. Touch him. And she shouldn’t go for a swim. She shouldn’t even want to go for a swim, because she didn’t want to want anyone ever again. As for love, trust, desire.? Forget it. Forget them all.
And yet. And yet she remained motionless, hesitating, suspended with suppressed longing, because no matter what her brain told her about staying safe, strong and in control, her body and maybe even her heart said differently. They said, Yes. Please.
‘Do you have a swimming costume?’
Reluctantly she nodded. She had brought one, despite what she’d told Michel.
‘Well, then? What’s stopping you?’
You. Me. The physical temptation that the very idea of a swim with Khalis presented. The two of them, in the water and wearing very little.
And then there was the far more alarming emotional temptation … to draw closer to this man, to care about him when she couldn’t care about anyone. Never mind what restrictions her ex-husband had placed on her, her heart had far more stringent ones.
‘Grace.’ He said her name not as a question or a command, but as a statement. As if he knew her. And when he did that Grace felt as though she had no choice, and it both aggravated and amazed her. How could she fight this?
She reached out and took his hand. His fingers closed around hers with both strength and gentleness, and he glanced at her carefully, as if he needed to check she was OK. And, after the way she had yanked her hand away from his last night, he probably did.
Taking a breath, Grace met his questioning gaze—and nodded her assent.
Khalis felt an entirely triumphant thrill as he led her from the basement, up into the sunshine and fresh air. He felt as if he’d won a major victory, not against her, but for her. Something about Grace’s hidden vulnerability called out to him, made him want to offer her both protection and pleasure. He’d spent the better part of the day thinking about her, wondering what she was doing, thinking, feeling. Wondering about the man who had hurt her and how soft her lips would be if —when —he kissed her.
It had been a long time since he’d been in a relationship, even longer since a woman had aroused these kinds of protective feelings in him. Never before, if he were honest, at least not on a romantic, sexual level. The last woman who he’d been emotionally close to had been his sister. Jamilah.
And look what happened then.
Khalis resolutely pushed the thought away. It was just this island, these memories that were temporarily awakening his emotions.
This woman.
It would pass, Khalis told himself. He’d leave Alhaja and get back to his normal life soon enough. And in the meantime Grace provided a welcome distraction.
Except
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