The Sheik's Ruby Read Online Free Page B

jealous of how beautiful Lacey was. Lacey’s grandfather was Navajo, his genes evident in her gorgeous hair, tan skin, and dark eyes. Undoubtedly the prettiest girl in school and Homecoming Queen their senior year, Lacey turned heads. Growing up, Shelby had felt awkward around boys. Her curly hair and freckles didn’t help her self-confidence much, especially when all males drooled over her best friend. She had usually been shy and insecure anytime a situation required her to interact with a member of the opposite sex. Luckily, Shelby had discovered sports and writing, giving her the confidence she needed. But this unfortunately resigned her to the role of a “guy’s best friend.”
    That was what made yesterday so unique. For some reason, Hakim was different. She had no problem challenging him on the mountain, and amazingly, he continued to spend the day with her. She was delighted to feel so at ease with and so attracted to a man she’d just met.
    The day was more than half over, and she knew she needed to at least start her article about yesterday’s skiing. Especially since she’d be snowmobiling all day tomorrow. But when she began to type, she was distracted by the image of dark brown eyes and a white smile. Closing her laptop, she sighed and wandered through a door on the back wall into her boss’s office.
    “Hey, Xan! Wanna grab a late lunch?” She leaned her shoulder against the doorframe.
    “Love to.” He smiled, tossed aside the magazine he was reading, and sprang out of his chair. As he grabbed his coat from a hook on the wall, the phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID screen and winked. “Sorry, gotta take this real quick.”
    Shelby sat in a soft chair to wait. Although she had been in Xan’s office hundreds of times, she shook her head as she gazed around. Had a room ever so perfectly reflected its owner? Hanging on the walls were pictures of skiers and snowboarders flying through powder, signed photographs of Olympic athletes, and posters for Warren Miller movies. She rested her gaze on Xan.
    He rolled his eyes as he pointed at the phone. “Sorry,” he mouthed.
    Smiling, she shrugged. No hurry .
    Even though he was a few years older than Shelby, Xan’s shaggy blond hair and freckles made him seem more like a teenager. He was obviously an athlete. A trendy T-shirt stretched tight across his chest and accentuated the muscles in his arms. Xan was a much better snowboarder than editor. But his enthusiasm, expertise, and the fact his father owned the magazine made up for any lack in that department.
    After a few minutes, the call ended. “Feel like Thai?” he asked as he hung up.
    “Thai would be great.”
    They walked through the office and stepped outside through the glass doors. A faint sun glowed through a screen of clouds in the sky over Denver. The air felt dirty and cold. Shelby and Xan strode down the sidewalk, avoiding patches of gray, frozen slush. She was glad she’d be back in the mountains tomorrow. Out of the city, the sun would be warm and the sky blue.
    The restaurant was only half a block away on the same semi-deserted street as the Wintersports office. Realtor signs hung in the windows of many of the buildings, and the few shops or offices that were open didn’t get much traffic. They stepped into the Isan Tai restaurant, and the aroma of foreign spices filled the warm air. They waved to the owner, Aroon, through the window to the kitchen. Xan helped Shelby off with her coat, and they slid onto the red vinyl benches of the booth.
    Aroon, a small, impossibly thin man with a wispy black moustache, appeared, wiping his hands on his apron. “Ah, my favorite customers. I think you will like the Pla nueng maneo with coconut rice today. It is delicious.”
    Shelby lowered her head to hide her smile. She and Xan often joked about how Aroon didn’t let customers order for themselves. But he was always right, and she knew the food would be wonderful.
    “That sounds excellent,”