His Irresistible Darling - Sarah Randall Page 0,20

yet?” she asked.

“No. Not yet I’m ashamed to say. I haven’t really got my head around the language either.”

“Well, most people have a really good understanding of English. The children start learning it straight from primary school and I think they’re starting to teach their parents too. Just try a few words a ‘shukran’ here and there, and most people will be happy with that,” she suggested helpfully. “Once you get settled, you should definitely take the cable car up to the summit of Mount Gaiza. The views from the top are apparently outstanding; sunset is supposed to be the best time to go.”

He pursed his lips. “You haven’t been up yet?”

“Oh no, erm. I’m not such a fan of cable cars,” she admitted to him before continuing, “I keep meaning to see if there is a track I could drive up and then hike the rest of the way to the summit.”

“Sounds good. Maybe you’d let me come with you. I’m a good hiker. Spent many a happy vacation hiking and skiing in the Appalachian Mountains back home.”

“Yeah? I learnt to snowboard there when I was travelling a couple of years back—at the ski mountain resort. Do you know it?”

Jake’s face lit up. “You’re kidding? It’s my favourite place to ski! Er…so, I was thinking of taking the ferry over to Dubai one weekend and trying out that purpose-built snow centre. Maybe we could do that together too?”

Pip stammered, “Oh er, yeah sure.”

“Sorry. I’m being a pushy American, aren’t I? I just haven’t met anyone yet that’s under the age of forty and that I can speak to without looking like an idiot.”

“It’s fine, honestly, and sounds like a great plan for one weekend.”

“So where do you work, Pip?” he asked, tilting his head to the side.

“Right there,” she said, pointing over his shoulder.

She watched him turn and look over to the tallest of the glass skyscrapers in the distance she had pointed towards.

He turned back to her and arched a brow. “You work for him?” He nodded his head back towards the tall glass tower, his face a mixture of horror and admiration.

“I do indeed. So do you know Jumal?” she asked.

“Oh no, not personally. I’ve just heard about his rep at work. Is he as bad as they all say?” He was looking at her like she was his hero for working with the mighty Jumal Aldabbagh.

“Worse,” she told him, “and if I don’t get off now he’s likely to stab me in the loo with the toilet brush.”

At his bemused look she added, “Private joke.” And she moved to gather her belongings together. She stood and her new friend offered a gentlemanly hand for her as he moved into the aisle.

“Oh, here’s my card,” she said, digging it out of her handbag and handing it to him. “Email or call me. If you fancy it, my friend is organising my twenty-first birthday party next weekend. I don’t have all the details about what she’s planning, but I’ll give you her contact details and you’d be very welcome if you like.”

“Sure. That’d be great,” he said eagerly. “Good to meet you, Pip.”

“And you,” she replied, smiling. “Gotta go, see ya,” she called to him, looking back over her shoulder as she jumped off the metro.

“Here you go, sir.”

Jumal glanced up from his work as the file of papers landed heavily with a “thwack” on his desk next to his hand. For the last hour he’d been trying to concentrate on a new business proposition but failing miserably.

He sighed inwardly and pulled his chair closer to his desk, trying to hide his body’s inappropriate reaction to her, which was now annoyingly automatic. He reached for his glass of water on his desk simply to give him time to get control.

“What’s that?” he finally asked, his eyes focused back on his laptop.

“My summary of the Dubai government contract as you asked, sir.”

He looked up to meet her eyes and saw her gulp. Christ was he that scary? He sat back in his chair, crossing his arms and tilting his head.

He raised a brow at her. “You’ve done it? Already, after the night we had?” He didn’t bother to try to keep the surprise from his voice.

“Well, er yes. You said you wanted it done. So it’s done. I couldn’t sleep anyway.”

“You couldn’t sleep either huh?”

“What?” she gasped, clearly startled by his disclosure.

Recovering quickly from his slip, he straightened in his chair and cleared his throat. “Nothing. Okay well, I’ll