The Sheikh's Reunion Bride (Qazhar Sheikhs 4) Read Online Free Page A

firmly out of her mind. No sense dwelling on that, she told herself.
    Rafiq looked up from the paper, his eyes filled with questions. They were such amazing eyes, filled with emotion She felt her heart skip a beat as she regarded them. Mia quickly lowered her gaze as she saw inquiry stir in his eyes. He had noticed the way she had looked at him. She couldn't lead him on. Not this time. Even if there were treacherous emotions stirring from their dormant slumber.
    Rafiq sighed and pushed the paper away from him with an angry flick of his fingers. He took a sip of his coffee. The silence in the empty restaurant seemed cacophonous.  
    Finally he spoke, peering into her eyes. "I need to do something about this."
    Mia nodded. "I agree. You can't let this go. There are legal issues to consider, too."
    Rafiq nodded. "However, I'm not convinced."
    Mia frowned. "What?"
    "I need to be sure. He has been a friend to me for so long. I find it incredible that he would have done something like this."
    Mia gestured toward the papers. "But, the evidence..." she started to say, but Rafiq cut her off with a sharp twitch of his hand.
    "Not enough," he said curtly.
    Mia stared at Rafiq. "What more do you need? The evidence is staring you in the face."
    Rafiq shook his head and peered intently at Mia. She felt the full force of his penetrating stare. Her breathing stalled for a moment, and she wondered if it was to do with his anger or how devastatingly handsome he looked when he was furious. She couldn't decide, but the pounding of her heart was a sign of something else entirely.
    Rafiq leaned across the table and peered at Mia. "You must have more documents than these," he said.
    Mia frowned. "Of course. I just brought along a summary. But, surely that is enough."
    Rafiq shook his head. 'No. It's not," he said with utter finality and she knew he wouldn't be persuaded. There was an unflinching determination in that dark gaze. Mia suddenly understood some of the things Brad had told her about Rafiq; how he was ruthless in business; how he was relentless in hunting down investment opportunities and then handing them to Brad to finalize. She could see that savage will, sense its primal power, the unbending resolve.
    Mia hesitated, momentarily unsure what she could offer him. "I suppose I can put together a more extensive file for you to go over."
    Rafiq nodded approvingly. He was a man used to having his way; she could see that. It was yet another way he had changed from the immature young man who had pursued Mia during that summer. The sheikh sitting across from her was a different being from the man she had once known.
    Mia stretched across and took the single sheet of paper Rafiq had just finished reading. As she started to ease the sheet toward the manila folder, Rafiq reached out and placed his hand over hers. His hands were warm, his skin rough against the back of her hand. Mia looked at Rafiq, suddenly startled at his touch. His dark gaze was softer now.  
    "Please accept my apology, Mia. I hope I haven't been too rude to you," he said quietly. He glanced at the folder. "This is a shock. A surprise. I hope I didn't speak inappropriately."
    Mia shook her head. "No. You didn't."
    "I'd hate to think we got off on the wrong foot. After all, it's been a long time. I still remember that summer at your parents' home."
    Mia tried to look surprised. "Really? That's nice," she said weakly, trying to convince him she didn't really care. Her pulse was racing furiously and she could feel the breath catch in her chest. Rafiq moved his thumb along the side of her wrist, and Mia felt an electric tingle race all the way to her middle. The thudding of her heart was suddenly hard and insistent. She pulled her hand away from Rafiq and saw him glance down at the gesture, a slight smile of resignation easing across his full lips.
    Mia hurriedly put the manila folder back inside her briefcase and placed the leather briefcase back down on the floor next to her