Free Bought For One Night: The Sheikh's Offer by Holly Rayner Page A

help.”
     
    He looked over, ready to ask me why, but one glance at the menu did the trick. The entire thing was written in his native tongue, a language I didn't speak or read.
     
    “Yes, I guess that would be a problem,” he laughed.
     
    “I only ever learned high school French,” I told him with a giggle.
     
    Zane put his menu down and leaned closer to me, putting one arm around the back of the booth. “I can help you. Let's start with what you're in the mood to eat. Something heavy, or light? Maybe some soup?”
     
    “Are you kidding? This was a long day out in the sun. I'm starving. Give me something full of meat and spices.”
     
    He laughed and nodded approvingly. With his other hand, he pointed at one of the menu items. “This is what you want. It's called mansaf ; basically it is a dish of rice and lamb with flatbread. The spices are quite delicious, and the meat will melt on your tongue.”
     
    Though the meal sounded plenty delicious, I was distracted by how close Zane's body was to mine, and the smell of his cologne. We had spent such a wonderful day together, and as we sat together, something felt shifted and different between us.
     
    I let Zane order the meal he had suggested for me, and the old man brought out a beautiful antique tea service with steaming water and a selection of choices for us to enjoy while we waited for our food. The tea was incredibly soothing after the long, exciting day.
     
    “I'm so glad we were able to extend my stay,” I told Zane with a soft grin. “It feels like a thousand years since I went out and had a good day for no reason, especially with company like yours. I needed this, thank you.”
     
    Zane seem surprised. His full lips curled at one end. “That doesn't sound good. Why haven't you had good days lately?”
     
    I didn't want to burden Zane with my problems, but as I stared into his dark eyes, I couldn't deny the empathy and sincere feeling of concern I found in them. His gaze was like a tractor beam, and he had me in his pull.
     
    I took a deep breath. Few people had heard anything about my life right now; I couldn't believe I was about to share it with the Sheikh of Al-Dali. “Things just aren't that great right now, to be honest.”
     
    He frowned, concerned. “Oh? How so?”
     
    “The industry is very fickle. When I was younger, I couldn't turn down offers fast enough. But lately only scraps have been trickling through my door—TV movies, roles that are beneath my skill and make me look stupid. You know deep down that the industry is misogynist, and you deal with a lot of it even in the good years. But this is the first time I've ever actually had to face the truth of the world I committed my life to.”
     
    I was surprised to hear the words coming out of my mouth, but instantly felt weight lifted off my soul.
     
    Zane listened intently. His eyes were sad. “I'm so sorry to hear that, Julianne. I can't believe you would be so devalued in your industry. There's nothing fair or right about that.”
     
    “No, there isn't,” I agreed with a sigh. “It's really hard to deal with. Plus, add onto that the humiliation of what Jack Lister did to me and how almost everyone in LA has decided to back him up… It's enough to make me feel like I made a huge mistake ever going out to that city and trying to act.”
     
    Gently, he reached for one of my hands and clasped it warmly in both of his. Looking into my eyes, he said, “Don't ever feel regret for following your dreams. Even though the reality turned out to be much more different and complicated than you expected, that has nothing to do with you, Julianne. Your worth remains and so does your talent; it's them who have let you down. I'm sorry this is happening to you.”
     
    Overwhelmed, tears welled up in my eyes even as I smiled back at him. I nodded. “Thank you, Zane. I really needed to hear that.”
     
    “I'm not just trying to ease your pain, I mean it. You are so talented. And you