Free Sheikh's Pregnant Lover by Sophia Lynn, Jessica Brooke Page B

and a blush bloomed across her cheeks as she realized he’d heard her stomach growl. The urge to stick her tongue out at him rose inside her, but she waited until the waiter left until she did so.
    “Don’t think that men are the only ones allowed to make funny noises.” Madeline wagged her finger at him as she scooped up her lasagna with a fork. “Women have bodies too, you know.”
    “Oh I’m well aware of the fact that women have bodies,” Zayid said, and the wicked gleam in his eyes caused warmth to spread low in Madeline’s stomach. Clearing her throat, she turned her attention back to her food, hoping that their conversation wouldn’t get any more suggestive.
    Thankfully the rest of dinner proceeded smoothly enough. Zayid made casual conversation with her, telling her a little about his siblings and family, and she told him about her parents and life growing up with Vanessa. They laughed over a few shared anecdotes, and by the time their plates were cleared she was feeling relaxed and very full.
    “Well thank you for dinner,” Madeline said as they prepared to leave. She’d thought about asking him to split the check with her, but she had a feeling that would turn into an argument, and besides, this was supposed to be a kind of apology gift. “I enjoyed myself.”
    “As did I.” Zayid opened the front door so that she could walk out into the cool night air first. Since Dubai was in the desert, the nights cooled off rapidly, and Madeline shivered a little, thankful that this time she’d brought a jacket. “Do you need a ride back to your apartment? I know it’s a little far from here, and it’s dark now.”
    Madeline hesitated for just a moment, but realized there was no harm. He’d agreed to be respectful, hadn’t he? “Sure, I’d love a ride.”
    His Porsche was parked around the block, and she ran an admiring hand down the side as she walked over to the passenger’s door. Zayid’s lips quirked into a smile as he opened the door for her, but she didn’t care. There was no harm in appreciating a luxury vehicle, and his Porsche was pretty damned sexy.
    “You know, if you want to drive all you have to do is ask,” he said, the amusement clear in his tone as he settled himself into the driver’s seat.
    Madeline grinned a little. “Well if I’d known that, I would have already taken you up on the offer. Maybe next time then.”
    Zayid’s grin broadened. “Next time?”
    “Well you did mention that we’re practically family,” Madeline pointed out as he started up the engine. “And we’re apparently working together on this IVF project of mine. I figure that means we’ll be seeing more of each other.”
    “Indeed.”
    Zayid’s driving was much less reckless this time around, to Madeline’s relief. Part of her imagined that if she were a regular driver and had a luxury sports car, she would rocket it around town like Zayid—she wasn’t above that kind of behavior. But she was so used to not driving in the city that she didn’t feel totally comfortable. Maybe she really would take Zayid up on that offer to drive and she could learn some moves. She grinned at the thought.
    Zayid pulled up to a stop in front of her apartment, then turned to look at her. “What are you grinning about?”
    Madeline’s grin widened. “I was just thinking about what it would be like if you taught me some race-car moves. Probably a disaster.”
    Zayid laughed. “I’d make sure we went to a deserted area first. No sense in wrecking my car.” He patted the steering wheel lovingly.
    “Yeah, that would be a shame.”
    Zayid’s eyes softened then. “It would be more of a shame if you were hurt than anything else,” he said, gently cupping her chin. “A car can always be replaced, but not a life.”
    Madeline’s breath caught as she stared into Zayid’s eyes, frozen in the intimate moment. Her heart began beating faster in her chest, and she could feel heat warming her cheeks as Zayid drew a little