And that was the end of her defiance. That tone and the look in his eyes, a look that promised her retribution if she defied him again, tamped down all of her rebellious tendencies. “This still doesn’t mean we’re engaged.”
“We’re engaged. I proposed, you have a ring, it is a done deal.”
The manager already had several sets of diamond stud earring sitting on the counter. Rais’ eyes skimmed over the choices and pointed to one of the medium sized studs. “Those will do.” He looked down at her. “Anything larger and she’d look ridiculous. You’re too tiny,” he told her but it wasn’t a reprimand, especially since his eyes were skimming over her now, and there was definitely appreciation in that look.
Joline wasn’t sure if she was bristling at his words or trembling at the promise in his eyes. Either way, she felt the need to correct him. “I’m not too small.”
Rais was finished arguing with her. He nodded to the jeweler who vanished, coming back moments later with a box and a receipt. “Thank you,” the man gushed after Rais had signed the sales slip and ushered them to the door.
Once back in the limousine, Joline sighed and leaned her head against the back of the soft leather seat. “I’m so tired and you’re not helping me get any sleep.”
Rais looked down at the woman and grunted a moment before he pulled her onto his lap. “You’re too soft, too,” he mumbled, but knew that she was pretty much asleep so she wasn’t going to argue any longer.
He held her until his chauffeur drove into the underground parking garage of his building. He had the top three floors of this building, preferring to have his own place here in New York instead of staying at a hotel since he was here on business so often.
He carried her to the elevators and then up the stairs to his bedroom. She slept through the whole process, only grumbling slightly when he stripped off her clothes. She stopped and fell back to sleep when he tucked the blankets around her and she rolled over, curling up and tucking her hands underneath her cheek. Just that quickly, she was asleep.
Rais went into his office and made several phone calls. She was going to get the help she needed, whether she liked it or not, he thought as he told his assistant to get several people lined up for interviews over the next few days. Until then, his own staff would step in and help Joline out with whatever needed to happen. He also called Keith and got the name of the building where they were negotiating for the London store, then the property management company informing them that Jesek Designs wouldn’t need the space. If Joline wanted to open up a London store, she damn well was going to do it in his building. And she was going to take the terms that he would give her. She wasn’t going to like it, but she’d deal with it.
When he was done with his phone calls, he went back into his bedroom and stripped off his own clothes, pulling the bedcovers away and wrapping his arms around her. When she was once again curled up against him, only then did he fall asleep.
Chapter 9
“Where in the world…?” she whispered as she woke up to the sound of a shower going. Looking around, she realized that she was once again in Rais’ bedroom. Pushing her hair out of her eyes, she realized that her hand was heavier than it should be. Looking down, she gasped when she saw the enormous diamond ring on her finger.
That’s when things started coming back to her. Piece by piece, the night before filtered into her brain.
“This isn’t happening,” she whispered to the empty bedroom. “No more wine!” she vowed.
The water shut off and Joline knew that she had to move quickly. But it was only at that moment that she realized that she wasn’t wearing any clothes! Nor could she see where her clothes had gone. “I wasn’t that drunk!” she said, looking around. She remembered batting Rais’ hands away last night and then falling asleep again but surely she hadn’t been so tired and inebriated that she would miss making love with Rais.
A moment later, the man himself came out of the bathroom with a towel tucked around his lean waist and another rubbing his hair. When he noticed her sitting up, he dropped the towel from his hand. “You’re awake,” he said and started walking towards her.
Joline knew exactly what he was about to do and scooted back on the bed, pressing her back against the pillows. “Stop right there!” she ordered, lifting her hand. But the diamond on her finger distracted her and she looked at that instead of judging his distance. “I can’t keep this ring,” she told him.
“Yes. You can,” he countered. He took her hand in his and started nibbling on the tender pads of her fingers. “It looks good right where it is.”