number."
"How did you do that?" she asked
"Skype. Only works when you are in a Wi-Fi area but that is almost everywhere in the Middle East."
"Thank you."
"Not all dogs are bad."
They were downright cute as puppies. But when they grew into wolves, no woman was safe. "Why were you looking for me?"
"I need to find out how much you are going to cost us."
She grinned and shook her head. "You better not expect me to work cheap just because I'm a woman."
"It has been my experience that women cost more in the end."
He was everything she knew she should avoid. So why did her body react to this alpha dog like a poodle in heat? "I am not going there with you."
"All right. Business first."
She hadn't realized how much she needed to consider when working abroad. Hamid handed her a stack of paperwork, some from the American Embassy in Touzar. She had to decide if she wanted to receive her salary in dollars, euros, or T pounds as he called their money. Did she want to pay taxes to the host country or America? Surprisingly she had a choice. By choosing local taxes she would be covered by free healthcare. No brainer.
He ran the entire business negotiation without his usual double entendre, but when he left her with the contract to read over, the meeting ended and the devil returned.
* * * *
Hamid ordered two cappuccinos while Mandy glanced through the paperwork. According to the director of the center she had been here daily. He’d had doubts when his sister-in-law suggested her college roommate for the position. Allah knew they had more than one ‘figure head’ on the payroll but those were royal relatives who were safer than in a position of power. Her resume showed real ambition. She would not be the first American working for the kingdom, but she would be the most beautiful. Yes, it had nothing to do with her qualifications, but he would be blind not to notice.
"Should we negotiate the other matter between us?"
She lowered her head but he still saw the barely visible blush. "That doesn't require negotiations."
"I beg to differ."
"You can beg all you want. Whatever happens between us does not involve our working relationship right?"
"Right," he said
"It’s sex. Nothing personal. And we walk away when it’s over without hurting each other.”
The very words he’d spouted hundreds of time, but it sounded different when repeated back to him.
“It doesn't involve money," she added.
Not a cash payment but she must want something out of the deal. "What do you expect from me?"
"I don't expect anything more than your time.” She leaned in and whispered, “Oh, and your body once in a while."
A jolt of electricity shot straight to his groin. He shifted in his seat. A woman who wanted nothing? Hard to believe. While he would oversee the opening and running of the center she did not work for him. All foreigners served at the pleasure of the king. No quid pro quo. How could he keep control?
"When do you think you'll be ready to go?"
She looked up from the papers. "I thought I started next month."
Thirty more days. Too damn long. He wanted her there now. "I'd prefer sooner."
"I still have to find an apartment. Mona was going to help me when she got back."
He knew the capital city better than his sister-in-law. Most ex-pats lived in the area called Embassy Row for obvious reasons. With foreign embassies came more security. Not that Touzar had high crime issues but they’d had their share of purse snatching, street brawls, and religious protests and of course political corruption. "You will want to be near your work right?"
"Of course."
"Well until you decide on a suitable compound you don't know where that will be."
"I will choose the compound?"
"I thought you would want to be involved. There are a few places that would work if you want me to just pick one."
She sat a bit taller. Her smile returned. "No. I'd rather see them."
No doubt in his mind. Whatever it took to get her there. If he waited