“Good afternoon, gentlemen,” she said, keeping her tone light as a feather. “Could you help Mr. Taylor to his vehicle? He wanted to see Sheikh Raed but neglected to make an appointment. He’s lost his way looking for the correct office, but I think it’d be better if he came back another day.”
“It was a pleasure,” Bradley called after her, but Lise was already heading back to the classroom, her heart pounding with anger and the close call they’d just had. Who knew what Bradley would think if he saw her son? She made it back to the classroom in record time and found Jake toddling around the outer wall under the watchful eye of Jana.
“Hey, buddy.” Lise’s voice shook. She had to do a better of job calming down than this. “I’m so happy to see you.”
She forced herself upright and took several deep breaths.
“Are you okay, Lise?” Jana put a comforting hand on her elbow. So different from the way she’d just insistently guided Bradley Taylor out of the classroom. Hopefully nobody had gotten any photos of that. She’d been so intent on keeping Bradley away from Jake that she hadn’t even bothered to look around them.
“I’m just—” Lise tried for a smile and didn’t quite make it. “I’m all right. I’ll be all right.”
Jana rubbed at her elbow. “Why don’t you take an hour to yourself? I can bring Jake back to the cottage in a bit.”
Relief made her next breath lighter and sweeter. “You don’t have to do that, Jana, I’ll be fine.”
“It’s no problem.” Jana’s eyes were so warm, and Lise felt so rattled. “Go soak in the tub or read a book. We’ll be home in an hour. Everything’s in good hands.”
“All right. Thank you.” Lise scooped Jake up into a hug, kissed his perfect cheeks, and deposited him back into Jana’s arms. Jake giggled, pointing toward the garden, and Lise let them slip away before she sat down heavily at her desk.
What was she going to do about Bradley Taylor? There didn’t seem to be a solution immediately at hand, and that was almost as frustrating as his surprise visit had been. Lise closed her laptop with a thud. She slapped down a stack of papers. This was not good.
9
The bangs and thuds coming from Lise’s classroom were out of character, to put it mildly. Raed had never known her to cause a scene. He might have missed her. That could be the cleaning staff, emptying the trash bin.
But no—he came around into the room and there she was, shoving her chair under her desk with enough force to knock the whole thing over. Luckily the desk kept its footing.
“Woah,” he said, and Lise jumped, one hand going to her neck. “Is everything all right in here?”
Lise blew out a breath, flipping her ponytail back over her shoulder. She opened her mouth, as if she might give him an answer, but then shut it again.
“You can tell me. Whatever it is.” Raed stuck his hands in his pockets. She was so gorgeous. So striking, even as she fumed. He wanted to do nothing but look at her. “I can handle it, I’m sure.”
“No, it’s just—it’s something that’s my fault. I shouldn’t be letting it get to me.” Lise wriggled her shoulders as if to shake off whatever had upset her, and then her green eyes met his again. “Things are annoying me. That’s all.”
He considered this, considered the energy still arcing through the room. “I was going to invite you both to take a swim in the big pool, but Jake’s not here, and I don’t think that’s what you need.”
She cocked her head to the side, a little grin playing at the corners of her lips. “And how would you know what I need?”
Raed held up a warning finger to her. “Don’t go anywhere,” he commanded.
Lise flicked her eyes to the ceiling. “I’ll stay a few minutes.”
He stepped out into the hall, finding an empty meeting room a few doors down, and pulled out his phone. Raed was finding more and more ways to spend time with Lise. This was only one of them. He looked forward to the times he could pop into her classroom between classes or when she’d appear at the door to his office, giving him a little wave that set him on fire. He reached his chief of staff on the first ring. Inside three minutes, the two of them had arranged a private swimming lesson for Jake—Jana would take him—and for Lise to—
“Come with me,” he said as he stepped back to the door of her classroom. “I have a surprise for you.”
She cocked an eyebrow. “What is it?”
He scoffed. “That’s not an appropriate question, and you know it.” Raed offered her his arm, and Lise took it, her palm hot through his shirt. What had she been thinking about when he first walked into the classroom? He led her through the halls of the palace, watching her as much as he could. Lise still didn’t act like she lived here. Technically, she didn’t, but she was welcome almost anywhere—yet she still took it all in like it was the most wonderful place she’d ever seen.
Perhaps it was.
Soon they reached the end of another hallway and a set of frosted-glass doors. He pulled one open with a flourish.
“The palace gym,” he announced.
Lise’s mouth dropped open.
The palace gym was not a tucked-away room with a few abandoned weights. It was two full levels of equipment—strength and cardio—and private studios lining the back wall. One of them—his favorite—contained a heavy bag and a speed bag.
“Why didn’t you tell me about this place before?” Lise nudged him with an elbow. “This is incredible.”
“It’s all right. There are no spin classes or Pilates classes on offer at the moment, but if you get changed, I can show you how to deal with a stressful day.”
“I know how to deal with stressful days.” But her face softened. “Maybe not this kind of stressful day, so...I’ll give you a shot at it.”
“The changing room is this way.” He led her to a wide hall at the side of the gym. “There are plenty of clothes to choose from. I’ll see you back here in a few minutes.”
Raed took his time in the opposite changing room, though he didn’t really need to—he knew exactly where to find his preferred brand of shorts and tight T-shirt. Back in the gym, he only spent a minute or so waiting for Lise.
She came out of the changing room at a good clip, wearing a plum-colored workout set—tight, hot—that made his mouth water. It had her body on full display, and Raed shoved down his instant, base reaction. Her body was softer than it had been when they’d first met. No wonder. She’d given birth to his child. He found her even more unbearably sexy than he had before.
“It’s all new stuff in there,” Lise said, pointing her thumb back over her shoulder. “With tags.”
He laughed. “Well, yes. It wouldn’t do to provide people with worn clothes.” He sucked in a breath, then steadied himself. “Let’s head to the back.”
Lise’s face was filled with curiosity as they entered his favorite studio. Raed flicked on the lights, and the space was bathed in a warm, welcoming glow. Perfect for the hard work they’d be doing.
“This is for boxing. I don’t—”