Cinderella and the Sheikh - By Teresa Morgan Page 0,4

serious. At this point, I can't understand why every man on the Earth isn't in love with you."

In love. In love. The words echoed inside her skull. "I have to go. I shouldn't be here."

"Libby." He made her name sound like a caress. She stopped in her tracks. "I understand. But before you do, I'd like you to consider something. I leave tomorrow. I will never return here. The memory will be too painful. Whether you choose to believe me or not, I love you. I would like you to spend the evening with me, sharing a pleasant meal and some conversation. That is all. I will never ask anything more of you."

Libby put a hand on the table, to steady herself. How was she supposed to deal with that?

Rasyn caught up her hand and planted a kiss in the center of her palm. "My beauty."

Just as quickly, he let go of her hand. "Forgive me, I don’t want to make you uncomfortable."

The imprint of his mouth burned her palm, as if he'd taken possession. "It's okay." She forced a smile to her lips. "I guess it wouldn't hurt to stay for dinner."

She lifted the dome from his plate.

"Please, let me do that. I always see you serving others, but no one serves you."

"But I like making people's lives easier."

The corners of his mouth turned down. "You enjoy being a servant?"

"You've had servants all your life, but it isn't like that for most people," she said. "Women, especially. They have to make every meal they eat, wash all the clothes they wear, clean up every mess they make, and the messes of their families. Going to a restaurant is the only time someone serves them." And that was why she should not be putting this perfect job at risk. She got to work both the café and the haute cuisine restaurant upstairs; one let her serve the common folks who deserved a break, the other let her collect tips far more than most wait staff earned. She'd never find another job as good as this one.

Libby caught the confusion in his eye and laughed. "I guess that doesn't seem very important to a man like you."

"What is important to you is important to me." He lifted a stainless steel dome with a theatrical flare that made her smile up at him. But the raw passion that flashed across his face made her look away in an attempt to reinforce her melting defenses.

It was just dinner, she reminded herself. No way would she give in to sleeping with him.

Chapter Two

"...The imam droned on like he would never stop. As he did, the lizard crawled farther up my cousin's trousers..."

Libby put her napkin over her mouth to cover her smile.

Rasyn's face darkened. "Don't do that. A man wants to see his beauty’s smile."

The wine was definitely going to her head. Or maybe it was the close contact of a prince determined to convince her that he loved her. "Does a man want to see his beauty snort champagne through her nose?"

"Every day." Rasyn laughed, a warm sound that filled the room. When he laughed like that, she forgot that he came from a long line of royalty, forgot that the price of the suit he wore would pay her rent for a year, and she forgot that only that morning, she had wanted to avoid him more than anyone on the planet. And she nearly forgot that she was putting her precious job at risk.

Libby looked away, unable to stand the sincerity in his gaze. The food had been amazing, the wine better. Rasyn's stories of his home had painted an exotic portrait of a magical place.

"Dance with me." Rasyn rose from the table.

Not a good idea. Danger signals flashed in her head. They were nearly as loud as the desire throbbing in her pulse.

"I shouldn't..." But it was too late for warnings. Her fingers were already settling into his open palm.

Chills went through her as he caressed her knuckles with his thumb. "I will never ask anything more of you."

"That's what you said about dinner."

The corner of his mouth lifted in a lopsided smile. "I lied. Come, dance with me."

One dance meant nothing, she told herself. She'd dance with him, then go home and get ready for tomorrow's shift. No one would find out. She’d keep drawing her paycheck long after the prince had departed the hotel.

She meant to keep a few inches between their bodies, but Rasyn had other ideas.