Read Online The Sheikh's American Bride (The Sharqi Sheikhs Series Book 2) by Leslie North - Free Book Online Page B

been almost a week since Taleb had seen Claire, and he thought he would go mad. They had such a wonderful time kayaking on the Charles River and then back at his place. She was beautiful, loving, giving and nowhere to be found.
     
    When he woke the next morning, he was disappointed that she was not still in bed with him. When he realized that she had left without saying anything, he was hurt and tried to call her but she did not answer any of his calls. Maybe it was merely a one-night stand for her, he thought, but deep down, he didn’t believe that. Not his Claire.
     
    Sitting in the lecture hall lost in thought, Taleb became aware of whispers flying around different students. Thinking it was about him, he looked up only to realize they were directed at a woman sitting in front of him.
     
    As the professor finished up with the instructions, it was time for the students to partner up. The rest of the class seemed to move away from that girl whose shoulders visibly sagged. Taleb raised his eyebrows as he watched them all shun her. Leaning forward, he tapped her on the shoulder as she turned to look at him. Tears were threatening to fall but she looked determined to hold it together.
     
    “Want to work with me?” he asked her as her eyes lit up.
     
    “You're not going to run away from me as if I have the plague?” she asked him.
     
    “Are you contagious?”
     
    Shaking her head no, she smiled at him before extending her hand. “Zoe Donahue,” she told him as he reached out to shake her hand.
     
    “Taleb Sharqi,” he answered as he shook her hand. Zoe's blue eyes lit up.
     
    “Nice to meet you, Taleb.”
     
    “Donahue,” Taleb repeated, as she stood up to join him. “Isn’t that the name of an endowment?”
     
    Nodding her head, “Yes, my grandfather started it years ago.”
     
    Moving closer together, Taleb and Zoe picked a topic together as he caught the jealous looks from the female students in the class. Whatever was going on with Zoe and the other students was none of his business, he decided as they quickly sketched out an outline of their proposed project.
     
    “I am dreading the upcoming charity dinner,” Zoe told him as she copied down the assignment from the board.
     
    “Why?” Taleb asked.
     
    “Because there is going to be an auction, which I signed up for weeks ago. I regret doing that now because no one is going to bid on me.”
     
    Taleb raised his eyebrows. “Why wouldn’t anyone bid on you?” he asked her, puzzled. She was beautiful.
     
    Looking up at him, she smiled softly, “You really don’t know, do you?” she asked. Giving her a blank look, Zoe chuckled. “Well that would make you the only one. I slept with Professor Daniel Simons,” she confessed, motioning to the man speaking with students by his lectern.
     
    Taleb glanced around the room at the furtive glances many of the students were giving them. Turning back to Zoe, “I do not understand why that is anyone’s business,” he told her honestly. “Is he married?”
     
    Shaking her head, “No, although I had heard that he had been dating someone but she broke it off when she found out and then he broke things off with me after a lengthy conversation with Dean Parker.”
     
    Shaking his head, “I still do not understand why it is anyone’s business. Now, tell me about this auction.” Smiling, Zoe told him about the planned auction where people would bid to go on a date.
     
    “I am sure that all this worry is for nothing and there will be a bidding war for you,” he told her consolingly.
     
    “After everything that happened with the professor, I am sure no one will bid on me.” She ran her hand through her blonde hair in agitation.
     
    “You never know.”
     
    “Sleeping with him was stupid. I should have known better.”
     
    “There is nothing you can do about it now.”
     
    “You are right. I would like to move on but it's hard when everyone is talking about it.”
     
    Taleb gave her