Page 30 of My Turkish Fling
“You’re working with idiots.” There was no polite way to say it. And I didn’t feel like being polite. I felt like punching someone. Preferably someone with a scraggly beard and a stupid sneer on their face.
Janie’s eyes flicked down the hallway. “Yeah, it’s hard to find talent in Napier. But at least they have a lot of gear. I’m grateful.”
“I redid the lighting. They botched it up. Horrible. I haven’t seen anything that bad in a long time.”
Hope lit up her eyes. “Seriously? You think the lighting was bad?”
Her voice broke and something inside me snapped.
“Stay,” I told Gru, leaving him in the hallway as I grabbed Janie by the shoulders and pushed us into the bedroom, closing the door behind us.
She responded to my touch like a dance partner, matching my steps, giving in just enough to keep us moving, reversing until I had her pinned against the opposite wall.
How could I make her see what I saw? One hand on her shoulder, my fingers traced her face, catching wayward tears, brushing soft, pink lips. I spoke quietly, my face a breath away from hers. “You’re gorgeous, Janie. Someone like you needs to be lit like a goddess. Those morons…” My jaw tightened.
Her breath turned shallow, and she blinked at me. “Emir. Why are you so angry?”
Why, indeed?
I shook my head. “Because it’s not right. Those halfwits don’t deserve to be anywhere near you. I’ll shoot your film, Janie. Let me do it. I can’t watch that incompetence.”
“You want to shoot my documentary?” She looked confused.
I couldn’t blame her. Part of me was equally confused by the words pouring out of me. This wasn’t what I’d come here to say, although I hadn’t planned any words at all. I’d only wanted to see her, make sure she was okay.
“I’ll do what I can in the time we have. I promise.”
She frowned. “But we’re supposed to prepare for the engagement party. There’s no time. I was only planning to film the teaser so that I can pitch the project and maybe secure some funding. The filming will happen later. If it ever happens.”
“Perfect! I’ll shoot the teaser for you. And when you get funding, you hire a better crew, okay?”
Her palms pressed against the wall, her chest rising and falling. “Okay.”
The silky fabric of her top dipped lower in the middle, offering a glimpse between her breasts. Not that I was looking. With heroic effort, I coaxed my gaze higher, admiring those cheekbones and the elegant arch of her eyebrows. She was a work of art, and I couldn’t wait to film her.
The corner of her mouth tugged into a small smile. “Do you like me, Emir?”
I swallowed, lifting my hand off her shoulder and taking half a step back. “You’re my hostess. I appreciate you. I—”
“Emir. I keep telling myself it’s a cultural thing, that you have this protective streak and a misplaced sense of responsibility, because you’re staying in my house. But I’m confused.”
She was right. As much as I wanted to pretend my feelings were appropriate and my actions logical, we were currently standing in her bedroom and the pulsing in my groin told me my body had made note of the fact before my conscious brain even kicked in. I wanted her, and she deserved the truth.
“I’m sorry, Janie. I’m attracted to you, and that’s obviously confusing things. But I don’t want to make you uncomfortable. I only wanted to make sure you’re okay.”
“You’re not making me uncomfortable,” she said, reaching for my arm.
Her fingers grazed the hair on my arm, making it stand up. “You’re making me frustrated.”
“Frustrated?”
“And undesirable.”
“Undesirable?” That was the last thing I wanted. “Why?”
She gave me a sad smile. “Because you don’t want me.” She held up her hand. “And it’s okay. I respect your reasons, whatever they are. I’m just telling you how I feel. How it makes me feel.”
I rubbed my forehead, trying to banish the sting of pain that had settled in again. “But you are so desirable. You should feel like… a queen.”
