All of a sudden, Sarah paled. Ariana and Elyse snickered. But it was Heather’s reaction, a tight, lip-biting smile, that let me know the reactions of the other three weren’t due to my unfunny joke.
A feeling a dread settled into my stomach like a lead weight. The faintest whiff of male scent drifted to my nose. It was familiar. Too familiar.
I turned to see the man I’d just been gabbing on about like an excited teenager standing right behind me.
“Hello, ladies,” he said smoothly. He was smiling like a Cheshire cat.
My friends continued to titter among themselves while I stood there, dumbfounded. Heather eventually took the lead on the conversation.
“Hello,” she said. “I think congratulations are in order.”
He chuckled. “Thank you, though your friend should really take the credit for that.” He turned to me and inclined his head. “I failed to introduce myself at the table, and for that I apologize. I’m Sheikh Jalaal Afsal.”
One of the girls gasped. I managed to keep it together, thankfully. “I’m Skyler Monroe,” I said. “These are my friends, Sarah, Heather, Elyse, and Ariana.” I pointed at them without turning around. Part of me was afraid if I blinked he’d be gone, like some sort of fever dream. The other part of me just couldn’t stop looking at his perfect face.
“Do you think I could possibly steal you away for a thank-you drink, Skyler?” Jalaal asked. “I meant to ask you at the table, but you ran away from me.”
I laughed nervously, heat flooding my face. “Uh, it’s my friend’s bachelorette party,” I said. “I don’t know if I—”
“Go!” Sarah interjected, before I could finish my sentence.
I glanced back at her. Her eyes were nearly as wide as the impish grin that cut through her face.
“Are you sure?” I asked.
It all seemed too good to be true. There had to be some reason I couldn’t have a drink with this guy, but Sarah looked anything but apprehensive at the thought of me leaving them.
“Oh my God, yes!” she urged. “Get out of here, Skyler.”
“If you don’t go, I’ll go,” Elyse added.
Ariana nodded along, gobbling up my suitor with her eyes. Heather waggled her eyebrows at me.
Embarrassed, I turned back to Jalaal and offered up an apologetic smile. “I suppose the people have spoken.”
He extended a hand to help me up and I took it, hoping to God my hand wasn’t as sweaty as the back of my neck. The moment our hands touched, I felt an electric current skim through me.
I was excited that Jalaal had come to find me, but everything I’d said about being nervous was true as well. I had no idea how to talk to men anymore. For the most part, I hadn’t wanted to over the past few years. I’d been occupied with raising my son and paying the bills, and I still hadn’t quite gotten over the taint my ex had left.
What kind of dirtbag disappeared when his girlfriend was eight months pregnant with his son? It was a nightmare scenario that had made it hard for me to even think about dating in the years since. If Jackson hadn’t been able to commit to his own flesh and blood, how likely was it that I’d find a man who wanted to commit to me and all of my crazy problems now that I had a son, too?
But I tried not to think about that as Jalaal pulled me to my feet. I thought about him instead—how strong his grip on my hand was, how good he smelled, the way my stomach did a little backflip every time our eyes met. And all that just from him helping me off a darn stool. How was I supposed to get through a drink with him and not turn into a puddle of mush on the floor?
FIVE
A light breeze teased through my locks, bringing with it the smells and sounds of a city at play. I gaped at the sight before me, blinking to make sure it wasn’t a mirage.
“Are you sure we’re allowed to be up here?” I asked.
Jalaal looked down at me, a light smile on his face. “Of course,” he said simply.
Grabbing my hand, he pulled me into the garden oasis, and I numbly walked along after him. There was probably more money on this rooftop than there was on my whole street back home. Maybe the whole darn neighborhood.