Free The Sheikh's Green Card Bride by Holly Rayner, Lara Hunter Page B

joke would lighten the mood a little; with no way to see his face, it was tough to say if it had worked.
     
    Finally, Ryan sighed. “Well enjoy your wedding then. I guess we’re not as close as I thought we were.”
     
    That might as well have been a knife straight to her heart.
     
    “Ryan, please…” she begged.
     
    “Bye, Nicole.”
     
    Just like that, the conversation was over. Somehow it had managed to turn out much worse than Nicole had imagined.
     
    She stared out at the twinkling city lights as they shimmered under a bright, white moon. She heard someone clearing their throat by her doorway, and swiveled her chair around to see Bahir standing there.
     
    She stared at him through blurry, tear-filled eyes. “You heard that?” she asked, her voice quavering.
     
    His expression was somber as he strode into the room and stood by her desk. “I did,” he said quietly.
     
    They gazed at one another in heavy silence until Nicole’s running nose couldn’t take any more. Reaching for a tissue, she blew her nose into it as another tear rolled down her cheek.
     
    “I’d better get going. I’ve got a lot to do tomorrow and I really could use some rest,” she said, standing and moving to walk past Bahir.
     
    His gentle hand on her arm stopped her, and she glanced up into his eyes, which were piercingly clear.
     
    “I’m sorry,” he whispered, lifting his other hand and wiping a tear streak from Nicole’s reddened face, causing her to releas a breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding.
     
    “It’s all right,” she said, but Bahir shook his head.
     
    “No, it’s not. When I made this arrangement, I didn’t realize the effect it might have on you, on your family. I was thinking only of myself, and I didn’t have you to tell me that I was in the wrong because you simply wanted to help your brother find a job. I was foolish,” he said.
     
    Nicole held a finger against his soft lips to silence him. She’d never stood so close to him before. She tried not to breathe in his musky cologne.
     
    “I wouldn’t have agreed if this wasn’t something I was willing to do. There is no need to blame here. Yes, I’ve shocked and disappointed my brother, but in time he’ll get over it, and we’ll all move on. Everyone will get what they want, in the end.”
     
    She stared at the floor as she gave her little speech, trying to convince herself. She could feel the pull of Bahir’s stare and, after a heartbeat, was unable to resist looking back up into his eyes.
     
    “Will they?” he asked, and she nodded.
     
    “Yes.”
     
    They stood like that for some time, a frozen tableau of forbidden romance, a strange contradiction in every possible way. Nicole wondered if he would kiss her there, in her office, in the dark. She glanced down at his lips that she had just touched for the first time, her fingers burning from the memory of the sensation. Then Bahir stepped away.
     
    “Get some rest, Nicole, and feel free to come in late tomorrow if you’d like. You’ve done an exceptional job today.”
     
    Nicole squared her shoulders, taking his cue. Somehow he could so easily navigate the divide between friendship and business. Nicole wasn’t sure if she loved that or hated it.
     
    “I’ll see you first thing in the morning, Bahir,” she said, striding out of her office.
     
    “Goodnight, Nicole,” he said to her departing back.
     
    A few more tears escaped from her eyes as she made the short walk back to her little apartment. Closing the door behind her, she plopped down on the sofa and cried her eyes out, tears leaking through her tight fingertips as she wept into her palms.
     
    Nicole didn’t really know why she was crying. Was she regretful about her decision? No. The truth was she wanted to marry Bahir, with all her heart.
     
    Perhaps they were tears of fear. Because deep down, a part of her knew that she would lose her heart to this man. She just hadn’t anticipated that she might