Sheikh's Ex-Girlfriend (Khayyam Sheikh Series #1) by Sophia Lynn

to make up for it. She noted with regret that Nasim hadn't texted her that day. Perhaps it was for the best. She didn't think that she could disappoint him again.
    ***
    The next morning came earlier than she wanted it to, and she stumbled out of bed. She felt excited about having someone be that invested in the work that she was doing with Quill Publishing. She chose her clothes carefully, realizing that she might be dealing with quite a conservative man. She chose a blue tunic and black swishy trousers. There were no sparkles on the tunic, but it was heavily embroidered, creating a lovely swirl of texture over her body.
    “All right, here I go …”
    Amira had said that the investor was going to meet her at her office, so a few minutes before nine, she was downstairs and waiting. Just a few moments after that, there was a knock on the door, and for a moment, she thought that there had been some kind of mistake.
    “Nasim? What are you doing here?”
    He was almost absurdly good looking, dressed in dark jeans and a T-shirt that showed off his arms and his lean torso to its best advantage. He was carrying a white paper bag that was full of delicious smells, and when she stepped back in surprise, he swept in.
    “I was told that Quill Publishing was the new literary hotshot, so I wanted to do some investing,” he teased.
    Ella frowned. “Nasim …”
    “I'm actually quite serious,” he said, turning to face her. “My family has always been invested in the arts, and though over the last few years, our focus has been on the visual arts, I know that we cannot ignore the literary arts as well. If it makes you feel any better, I am actually here as my mother's representative. She has had her eye on Quill Publishing since it appeared, and you will be getting the investment whether I see you today or not.”
    Ella bit her lip. She knew that the smart, virtuous thing to do would have been to thank him for his support and to get back to her real work. On the other hand, now that she was looking at him, now that she was seeing the way he moved and the slight mischievous smile on his face, she wasn't sure of anything.
    “What's in the bag?” she asked, giving in, and he beamed with the brightness of the sun.
    “Breakfast. I got hungry on my way down here, and I stopped by this little shop that has always been a family favorite.”
    They sat in the tiny sitting area, and Ella's mouth watered when Nasim started spreading out the croissants, complete with homemade jam pots and drizzles of plum syrup. She brewed them up some tea to have with their breakfast, and the sweetness of the meal made her smile.
    “This is delicious,” she said, finishing off her second croissant with a sigh. “This also feels terribly indulgent. I'm pretty sure this isn't how you treat all of your prospective partners.”
    “You'd be surprised,” Nasim said smoothly. “Throughout the whole world, people love breakfast, and everyone feels a little more agreeable after good croissants.”
    He had been sitting next to her, but now suddenly he felt as if he were much closer. His arm came around her shoulders, and maybe he was right about the croissants because when he bent his head to hers, she tilted her chin up so that they could kiss more deeply. He tasted of sweet tea and apricot jam, and she thought that she had never tasted anything more delicious.
    Their kiss grew deeper, and she became aware of his hand stroking lightly against her hip. There was nothing she wanted more than to let that continue, but she knew that she couldn't, not now, not when they were so new to each other.
    Regretfully, but firmly, she placed her hand over his; understanding, he pulled back.
    “I hope you know I had more planned than just breakfast.”
    The call of duty was still there, but it seemed very minor in comparison to the pleasure and warmth she was feeling right this moment.
    “All right. Today. You get today, and in the future, I will make more time for us, but