The Prince’s Forbidden Lover(18)

If there was absolutely no spark in any way when he shook her hand goodbye, well, Joline didn’t mind at all. Not one little bit. And she wasn’t worried either! No, she was not concerned that the first man who flirted with her after her return from Kilar sparked no feeling inside of her. That didn’t mean anything. And it certainly didn’t mean that Rais was the only man who could make her feel those exciting feelings.

Besides, she didn’t like those crazy feelings! She liked the calm, comfortable experience of being with a man like Toby.

When he turned left, heading to his office building, she watched him for a moment, smiling at how nice he was.

Okay, so there was absolutely no fizzle. And she had to admit that the fizzle with Rais had been…eye opening. Not that she wanted fizzle! She liked calm and peace. She liked to be able to sleep through the night, undisturbed by crazy, erotic dreams.

She pushed her keys into the door of the Manhattan store then re-locked it once she was inside. Her office was in the back and the store didn’t open for several more hours. She had some quiet time to get things done this morning.

And comparing one man to another was not on her list of priorities!

Over the next three days, Joline worked eighteen and twenty hour days, trying to narrow down the millions of decisions needed for the new London shop while still stepping out on the town in Shantra’s fabulous designs, trying to promote the new fall line. She was exhausted and dragging by the time Friday rolled around and all she wanted to do was sleep. She just had to get through Friday and Saturday, their busiest shopping days of the week, and she’d have all day Sunday off! She couldn’t wait to curl up into a ball on her bed and sleep for a full twenty-four hours!

“Toby!” she gasped when she saw the handsome man walking through the door to the shop. “What are you doing here?” she asked, smiling as she approached him. There were several customers in the store already but her other helpers were with them so she had a few minutes to relax.

Toby walked over to her with a confidence that she found endearing. He was such a kind man, she thought as she smiled at him. A bit on the shy side. They’d had coffee two days ago and he’d taken her to lunch yesterday, although she suspected that he wanted more but was too nervous to ask. She wasn’t sure what else to do to encourage him though! She’d smiled at his office anecdotes until her cheeks hurt, she’d laughed at his jokes, he’d bought her coffee and a meal…what was the hold up?

Hopefully, his arrival today would indicate that he might want to take her out on a real date. One where she’d get to glam up and relax for a couple of hours. She was more than ready to call Keith, to let him know that she wouldn’t be able to attend whatever party he’d lined up for whatever night Toby might ask her out for.

“Hi Jo. I was on my way to a client meeting and…well, I realized that I have this thing tonight,” he explained, putting his briefcase down on the floor next to his feet.

“A thing?” Joline asked, smiling to try and encourage him and ease his nervousness.

She thought she detected a bit of a blush and he looked down at his briefcase on the floor. When he finally looked up at her, she was sure that it was a blush and she smiled to herself. This was a man she could really like, she thought. No intimidation tactics and he liked her. She was fairly certain that he was about to ask her out on a date, not tell her that they would be in bed by nightfall.

“Yeah. It’s just this thing that my firm asked me to come to tonight. I know it is short notice but,” he rubbed the back of his neck and looked at her. “Well, I thought it might be a good way for you to show your dresses off to the women who might be there.”

Joline tried very hard to not roll her eyes. Toby was obviously trying to ask her out, to request her attendance at his company function tonight and it irritated her that he was forming it as a way for her to work.

“Well, I…”

He suddenly rubbed a hand over the back of his neck again. “No. That wasn’t right,” he interrupted and moved closer to her. “I just wanted to take you to this thing tonight. I don’t care if you wear one of the store’s outfits or if you just wear a bag, you’d look beautiful either way.” He sighed. “I’m asking you out, Jo. I was hoping you could be my date tonight.”

Joline laughed, delighted that he’d finally gotten that out. “Abso…”

“She has plans,” a deep voice said from behind her.

Joline spun around and instantly her heart went into overdrive as Rais approached. Goodness, had he been that tall back in Kilar? Surely not! And he was…she tried to step back, but Rais was having none of that. His arm whipped around her waist, pulling her up against his body. He didn’t even give her a chance to protest! His mouth covered hers with his own and Joline wasn’t able to even turn her head so that his lips connected with her cheek. This man zoomed in and kissed her with a passion she’d forgotten was possible. It was even more intense than her dreams and she trembled as she opened her mouth and he deepened the kiss. It was like lighting a match to a bale of straw – the desire was there, flaming up into an inferno.