Chapter 12
Tara stared wide-eyed at the new message. “ Did you receive the hamburgers? Satisfaction Survey Request ”
They were here? Good grief, Tara’s fingers trembled as she typed a response. “ Cereal was delicious. Always perfect for dinner. ”
Then she stuffed the phone away and hurried to her office.
Unfortunately, she’d had her head down instead of looking where she was going, worrying about Kaia. What message could she send that would encourage Kaia to get away from that horrid place? Kaia needed to live her own life and not worry about Tara. But…?
“Oomph!”
Strong hands gripped her upper arms and Tara looked up into the dark eyes of Zayed.
Instantly, she realized her gaffe. “I’m so sorry, Your Highness!” she gasped. “I wasn’t paying attention and just…I’m just so sorry. That kind of lack of awareness won’t happen again.”
The grip on her arms softened, but he didn’t let go. Instead, he moved closer.
“Run into me anytime you want,” he said, his voice low and…was his voice more gravelly than usual? She wasn’t sure, nor could she really focus on that since he was so close. She wanted to step closer, to feel his arms wrap around her. She wanted to feel his heart beat in his massive chest. She wanted…!
Clearing her throat, she stepped back, using her free hand to smooth down her grey dress.
“I have your…,” she started to say.
“We need to talk,” he announced, interrupting her litany of morning meetings and people that wanted to speak with him. “Let’s go into my office. Chaid is going to join us. He has some information.”
Tara’s heart thudded in panic. Had she done something wrong? Oh no! He’d discovered that she’d slept in his office last night! Wracking her brain, she tried to figure out…the blanket! She’d woken up warm and cozy only to realize that there was a blanket draped over her! Had Zayed found a blanket and covered her?
No, maybe one of the security guards had discovered her. Zayed had asked her to join him for dinner last night, but then the ambassador had arrived and those plans had changed. She’d been relieved when she’d been allowed to retreat from the diner invitation, although she couldn’t put her finger on why. She and Zayed had shared many meals over the two years she’d worked for him. Although, those had been working meetings. Last night’s invitation had seemed…more personal, somehow.
So maybe the guard who had found her and covered her with the blanket had reported that she’d violated the sanctity of Zayed’s office. Obviously, that information had been brought to Zayed’s attention.
“Darn it!” she whispered, following meekly into his office.