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murmured.
    “Hmm?”
    “What are we doing?”
    “We’re going to Straer Island. We’ll anchor offshore and have lunch.”
    “I didn’t mean that.”
    “I know. You worry too much. We’re just having fun.” He dropped a kiss on her temple and squeezed his hand at her waist.
    “Being foolish, you mean.”
    She didn’t pull away from his hold, but in her mind, Olivia went over the hundreds of reasons why she shouldn’t be kissing Khaled Saqat. By the time he dropped anchor and they sat down for lunch, she had almost persuaded herself that it wouldn’t happen again. But his fingers brushed hers as he passed her a glass of wine, and shivers ran down her spine. She leaned toward him, and he took that as invitation to kiss her. Soft, sweet, and so delicious she forgot all about lunch.
    Damn. She was going to have to do a lot better than that.
    He didn’t make it easy for her. The boat was small and they were seated close together on the bench. Khaled ate the simple picnic food with obvious pleasure. He tore the fresh bread and handed her half to spread with butter and cheese. He selected a shiny red apple and bit into it, careless of the trickle of juice running down his chin. Without thinking, Olivia caught a drop with her finger. Khaled moved the apple away, daring her with dark, tempting eyes. She traced the path of the juice, bringing the pad of her finger to his lips. He caught her wrist and held it in place. Slowly, deliberately, his tongue licked the morsel of juice from her skin. And then he let her go with a grin.
    “More wine?”
    “No. Thank you.” She was lightheaded enough, thanks to that wicked tongue of his.
    “A grape?” He plucked one from the bunch and lifted it to her lips, teasing. Tantalizing.
    “I can feed myself.”
    Khaled leaned closer. “I’m sure you can, but where’s the fun in that?”
    “We’re supposed to be working.”
    “Everyone’s entitled to a lunch break. Even you.”
    She shook her head. “I normally have a sandwich at my desk.”
    He popped the grape into his own mouth and leaned back against the rails, leisurely eyeing her up. “Why do you work so hard?”
    “I like work.”
    His lips tightened as though he was repressing a smile. “Really? Do you like the work, or do you just like being in charge?”
    It was a good question. She thought about it as she peeled a tangerine. “I like both.”
    “Of course you do, but what gets you out of bed in the morning? The drive for money? Power? Success?”
    Olivia knew she was lucky enough to have plenty of money in the bank and a job that brought a certain amount of influence and prestige. But they weren’t the things she cared about. The real motivation for the long hours she spent at her desk was a much deeper fear than that.
    “Could it be fear?” He sat up and looked at her curiously. “And if so, fear of what?”
    It couldn’t be a good idea to tell him all her insecurities, but as long as they were talking, they weren’t kissing, and surely that was better.
    “Fear of failure, I suppose.” Fear of disappointment in her father’s eyes. Fear that he might block her out again, as he had after her mother died. Fear that she’d never be good enough to make CEO after him.
    He rolled his eyes. “I don’t believe you’ve ever failed at anything, Olivia.”
    She gave a harsh laugh. “Everyone fails at something. But if you prefer, you can call it fear of the unknown.”
    “I would prefer that you had nothing to be afraid of.”
    She shrugged. “When they make you God, you can arrange that for me. For now, I’ll just keep doing my job and making a success of it.”
    “I’m sure you will.”
    “It would be better if you and I didn’t…” She waved her hand between them to indicate what she meant.
    “Didn’t what?” he asked innocently.
    “You know what I mean. Kiss. Or anything.”
    “Or anything. Hmm. Sounds interesting.” He winked. Her stomach swooped with desire. Damn.
    “I can’t take the