Chapter 20

Blake swallowed nervously. “What are you doing here?” she asked. CJ had her hands on her hips, her gaze shifting between Blake and her visitor.

“I came to see you,” said Bassem.

“Who is the handsome gentleman?” Blake’s mother asked.

“Is this your boyfriend?” Aunt Moira asked Blake.

“No.” Blake gave CJ the casserole dish.

“I’m Bassem Sedarous,” Bassem introduced himself. He offered his hand to Blake’s mother. She shook his hand with a big smile on her face.

“Hello Bassem.” Aunt Moira eyed him up from head to toe as she shook his hand. “Firm grip,” she pointed out.

“Excuse us.” Blake took Bassem’s arm and led him down the hall to her bedroom. The living room was across the kitchen. If she took him in there, her family would hear their conversation. She didn’t want that.

“Is this your bedroom?” Bassem asked as he walked in.

“Yes.” Blake was grateful that her bedroom was neat and tidy. She had actually changed her sheets and bed covers that very morning. Bassem stood in the middle of her bedroom with his hands in his pockets as he looked around. “Why are you here?” she asked him.

“I think our conversation earlier wasn’t finished,” he said. Blake narrowed her gaze at him.

“I think it was,” she said. Bassem raised an eyebrow.

“You left before I could even say anything to you.”

“It didn’t seem like you wanted to say anything. You were just so cold and unbothered.” Blake laced her fingers together. Her day had started off plain and normal. Now it was just weird and spiraling out of control. First she had made a fool out of herself in front of Bassem. Now he was standing in her bedroom with her mother and aunt down the hall.

“It was amusing seeing you like that.”

Blake frowned. “It was amusing? I was nervous and acting out of character all because of you and you found that funny?” she spat out. Bassem held her waist and pulled her closer to him. Blake squeaked as she was suddenly pulled. Her hands landed on his chest.

Before she could register what was happening, Bassem had covered her lips with his. He kissed her so fast and passionately. This kiss was different to the first one. This kiss was more demanding and ungenerous. It left Blake breathless and confused. Her heart was beating so fast. It took her a moment to come back to her senses.

“You can’t do this to me again. You can’t come to my house and kiss me and act like nothing happened. Stop playing with my emotions,” she said to him.

“That wasn’t my intention.” Bassem caressed her face with the back of his hand. “I’m not good at these things.”

“What things?”

“Relationships, emotions.”

Blake laughed a little. Bassem was such a strange man. “So, what are you saying to me right now?” she asked. Bassem searched her eyes before he replied. As he opened his mouth to speak, there was a knock on the door. CJ opened the door and walked in with her hands over her eyes.

“Are you fully clothed?” she teased. Blake released herself from Bassem’s embrace and took a few steps back.

“Very funny, Cora,” Blake replied. CJ laughed and then uncovered her eyes.

“Your mother set up a place at the table for the sheikh.”

“He’s not staying for dinner.”

“Why not?” Bassem asked. He headed for the door and walked out. Blake watched him with her jaw hung open. She just knew that her mother and aunt would attack him with a thousand questions. It was going to be an uncomfortable dinner.

“What happened in here?” CJ asked.

“I don’t know myself,” Blake replied honestly. She was still very confused. She headed out of the room and went to the dining table.

They all sat down at the dining table. Her mother, aunt and best friend were all staring at Bassem.

“Mom, Aunt Moira, Bassem is my client,” said Blake.

“Is that how you met?” Aunt Moira asked.

“Yes ma’am,” Bassem replied. Blake’s mother served Bassem and then passed him the plate. “Thank you,” he said to her.

“Such a handsome and polite young man. Are you married?” Aunt Moira asked him.

“No, I am not yet married.”

“Are you seeing someone?”

He looked at Blake. “Yes I am,” he replied. Blake raised her eyebrows. Was he referring to her or not? He was such a strange man. She couldn’t guess what he was thinking about.

“Blakie?” her mother asked.

“This tastes really good,” said Bassem after tasting the chicken.

“I’m glad you like it. Eat as much as you want.”

“What was Blake like growing up?”

Blake looked up from her plate. Why was Bassem asking that? “Let’s not talk about that,” said Blake.

“She has always been quiet, sweet and intelligent,” said her mother.

“In other words, I was a boring child.”

“Well, you did hit one boy that was harassing me in the tenth grade,” said CJ.

“That was the first time she ever got in trouble at school.” Aunt Moira laughed. Bassem looked at Blake with his eyebrows raised.

“She may be quiet, but she speaks when she needs to,” said her mother.

“Yes, she told me off today,” said Bassem. Blake narrowed her gaze at him. Was he teasing her? She had barely gotten all the words out. She had run away like a coward.

“What did you do to her?”

“Nothing, let’s just eat,” said Blake.

Blake’s mother and aunt asked Bassem all sorts of questions. They wanted to know what he did, what he liked and disliked. They asked his opinion on things. They were so nosy but it paid off. It allowed Blake to learn more about Bassem. The more she heard about him, the more she thought he was amazing.

Blake walked Bassem out after dinner. It was strange how normal it felt. He got along with her mother and aunt so easily. He seemed to enjoy their cooking and company. Blake could tell that they liked him too. Her mother had actually packed him some food to take home.

“You must think that my family is weird,” Blake said to Bassem.

“No.” He shook his head. “They’re just different to my family.”

“Is that good or bad?”

“It’s good.” They stopped at the elevator. Blake pressed the down button. “They’re warm and friendly,” he added. Blake shrugged her shoulders. Bassem put his index finger under her chin and tilted her head. He searched her eyes before he pressed a small kiss against her lips.

“I want to take you out for dinner,” he said to her.

“You do?” Blake asked. Bassem nodded. “Then take me out.”

Bassem smiled. “I will pick you up tomorrow. We have much to talk about,” he said. Blake frowned a little.

“That is not usually a good thing,” she said. Bassem smiled.

“Don’t worry, it’ll be good. I just think you need to know everything about me before we move forward.” He leaned closer to her and kissed her lips again.

Blake watched Bassem walking into the elevator. Her heart was beating fast. She touched her red cheeks. He made her so shy. But what did he mean when he said going forward? What was forward? He needed to be clear. Were they going to have a professional relationship or did he want to be her boyfriend? And what was it that he wanted to tell her? What did she need to know?