Gambling With the Crown by Lynn Raye Harris Read Free Book Online

her chest seemed to ease a bit now that she knew he wasn’t going to try and tug her into his arms again. “I know that. And I will do my best.”
    “You better do more than that.” He moved toward her with an easy grace that made her think of leopards slinking across the savannah. He stopped before her, hands still in pockets, intense gray eyes roving over her face. “Because if you don’t, Miss Bryant, everything is going to change. And then you will be out of a job for real.”
    * * *
    When dawn came, Emily didn’t know what to do with herself. She started to get up and get dressed as usual, prepared to go to Kadir’s suite and wake him as always—but then she remembered that he’d fired her. That she was no longer his employee.
    Temporarily, of course. But as much as she wanted to adhere to her usual routines because they gave her comfort, she had to play a different role in his life right now. She’d spent the last several years learning to be sensible and efficient and now she was at loose ends. It was strange.
    So, instead, she lay in bed and tried to go back to sleep. It didn’t work, in spite of the way she’d tossed and turned last night. She hadn’t slept because she’d been remembering Kadir standing in her room, looking so lost and alone and handsome, and asking her to marry him. And then he’d taken her in his arms and tried to kiss her.
    Her heart did a little skip-and-slip thing every time she thought of that moment when she’d closed her eyes and felt him dipping down to press his mouth against hers.
    But she’d panicked and pushed him away and now she couldn’t stop wondering what she’d missed. If she’d made a mistake.
    No. She had not made a mistake. Kissing him would have been a mistake. Allowing him to sweep her off her feet the way he’d done to countless women over the past four years would have been a mistake.
    Asserting herself, asserting her independence and setting up parameters was not a mistake. It was good business. Kadir would respect her for it. And in the end, if this worked the way he hoped and he did not inherit the throne of Kyr, she would slide back into her role as his PA. So long as this arrangement stayed strictly business between them—including any touching or kissing that was required for the role—there would be no awkwardness later on.
    Still, her stomach twisted in such a way that belied her thoughts. But she refused to let her fears get the upper hand. This was a business arrangement, albeit an uncharacteristic one. And she would do her part without fear or complaint.
    Still, she worried about the way he’d been last night. He’d proposed this crazy idea, and she’d agreed, but what must he truly be feeling inside? His father was dying. She remembered that moment when he’d told her. He’d said he was angry and her heart had gone out to him. She’d known him for too long to be unaffected by his pain.
    And yes, she’d agreed to help him. For the money. But also for him.
    Emily threw back the covers and launched herself out of bed. She took a shower and dressed in her usual business attire—because it was all she had besides a few pairs of jeans and casual shirts—and slipped on her low heels. And then, because she wasn’t quite sure what else to do with her hair when she felt as though she was dressed for work, she pulled it back in a severe ponytail.
    Her cell phone rang just as she finished putting on lip gloss. One glance at the screen and her stomach started doing backflips. Emily took a deep breath and willed the butterflies away. It was ridiculous to get worked up, especially since Kadir called her often and it had never bothered her before.
    “Yes,” she said, hoping she sounded cool and calm.
    “I need you to come to my suite, Emily. The lawyers are here.”
    She swallowed. Part of her had begun to hope it had all been a dream. “All right. I’ll be there in just a few minutes.”
    She ended the call and took another look at herself