by Holly Rayner
Instead of a bedroom, she found herself in a sitting room. There was a long couch, a fireplace, a flat-screen TV, and French doors that opened to a balcony. On the other side of the room, through a second open door, Kelsie spied a four-poster bed.
“I will unpack your suitcase right away,” Dunya said.
“Oh, no.” Kelsie stopped her with a light touch on the arm. “You don’t have to do that. I like unpacking myself.”
Not that I’ve ever had anyone else do it for me. Kelsie almost laughed at the thought but managed to keep her face straight.
“Very well,” Dunya said. “Whatever pleases you, Miss Mack. Whatever you need, please buzz me for.” Dunya pointed at the intercom next to the door.
“Thank you,” Kelsie said. “I will.”
“Wonderful.” Dunya smiled. “Would you care for some tea? Or coffee, perhaps? I know Americans like coffee.”
“That’s true,” Kelsie laughed. “We do. And I’m fine right now, thank you. I think I should just take a nap.”
“Very well. Enjoy your rest, Miss Mack.” Bowing again, Dunya pulled Kelsie’s suitcase the rest of the way into the room before departing.
Kelsie explored the area, taking in the living room, bedroom, and bathroom. The place was more like an apartment than anything else, and the only thing it lacked was a kitchen. The place was cleanly designed, with lots of creams and tans, and there was a fresh bouquet of flowers in each room.
Already, she was creating an itinerary. First up, nap in the bed filled with downy pillows. After that, a soak in the Jacuzzi tub.
Falling back against the mattress, Kelsie rolled onto her side and looked out the window. They really were high up. Across the city, she could see the sparkling blue sea. The very first sea she’d ever set eyes on.
Kelsie yawned, exhaustion abruptly sweeping over her. She started to yawn again, and the next thing she knew she was waking up.
The sun hung lower in the sky, and a quick glance at the bedside clock told her she’d slept for about three hours. Gasping, she bolted up. Had Masoud tried to wake her? Was she messing up his plans by sleeping the afternoon away?
Instead, she found a text from him that he’d sent only ten minutes before. Come down when you are ready. I’d like to take you to dinner and then to the palace.
Kelsie smiled and shot a text back. Just woke up. Be down in thirty.
The luxurious bath would have to wait. Instead, she took a quick shower and went to pull some clothes from the suitcase. A knock on the door made her stop, though.
It was Dunya, a rack of dresses at her side.
“Presents from the Sheikh,” Dunya explained, rolling the dresses into the room. “He said you do not have to wear any of them if you do not wish.”
Kelsie fingered a silk dress covered in flowers. If the clothes had come from any other man, especially without the explanation Dunya had just provided, she would assume the guy thought her own clothes weren’t good enough. She knew it wasn’t like that with Masoud, though.
“I can’t turn something like this down,” Kelsie said. “I’ll wear the floral one.”
Dunya beamed. “Oh, yes. How nice that one is. And you can save the others for the rest of your stay here.”
Taking the dress into her room, Kelsie took off her robe and pulled the dress on. It had flowing sleeves and its hem hung an inch above the ground. Not only did it fit perfectly, the red and blue tones looked perfect against her skin. Somehow, Masoud had known just what to get her.
Or maybe he had a servant to do the shopping for him. That certainly made sense.
“Beautiful,” Dunya said when Kelsie emerged and did a little spin. “Are you ready to meet the Sheikh?”
Again, Kelsie almost laughed. Since he was just “Masoud” to her, she doubted she would ever get used to other people calling him “the Sheikh.”
Masoud was downstairs in the kitchen, reading something on his phone. As Kelsie walked in, though, his eyes widened and he put the phone into his dress pants’ pocket.
“Oh,” he breathed, gaze sweeping up and down her figure. “Wow...”
Kelsie’s cheeks warmed. “Thank you. The dresses are lovely.”
“You don’t have to wear them if...”
Kelsie waved his words away. “Dunya already told me. So thank you, again.”
Masoud nodded, his eyes on her face. “You’re welcome.”
That sweet tingling shot through Kelsie, and she looked away, worried her face had turned tomato red.
“Shall we?” Masoud extended his arm.
Dinner turned out to be at a quiet little restaurant in a back room booked just for them. They entered through the kitchen, and two of Masoud’s guards stood by the doors.
“I’m sorry it has to be this way,” he told Kelsie in a low voice.
“Stop,” she said, really meaning it. “I don’t mind it at all. This is your life. It’s cool that I get a chance to see it.”
“I have to be honest...” Masoud took a sip of his drink and glanced over his shoulder. The room was large enough that if they spoke quietly, the guards couldn’t hear them. “It makes me miss Rancho Cordero a bit.”
Kelsie stared at him across the table. “You’re not just saying that for my benefit, are you?”
“No.” Masoud laughed a little bit. “I’m not.”
Kelsie studied his face and decided he told the truth. “You do seem slightly uncomfortable with all the guards around. Aren’t you used to it?”
“The more I travel, the less I am.”
Kelsie swirled the wine in her glass. They’d already had the first course, a delicious appetizer made from dates and ground meat, and light noises came from the kitchen as the chef worked on whatever came next.
“Dunya said you don’t spend much time at your house.”
“That’s true. Business often keeps me at the palace.”
“Why have it then?”
Masoud blinked, looking uncertain. “I am not sure I know anymore,” he said finally.
“Oh.” Kelsie had been about to take a sip of wine, but now she set the glass down without the liquid having touched her lips.
“It was important to me when I purchased it. Having an opulent home.”
“When was this?”
“Years ago. But it was also important to me six months ago...and one month ago.”
Kelsie let that sink in. “One month ago?” she repeated. “Oh, really?”
Masoud grinned. “Yes, really.”
Kelsie made a show of draping her arm over the back of her chair and narrowing her eyes at him. “So what happened in the last month?”
Masoud wasn’t joking anymore, though. His face had turned serious. “A lot. Things I am still working to make sense of.”
The layered statement took the breath from Kelsie, and for a moment all she could do was sit there and stare dumbly at him.
Was he talking about them?
Kelsie couldn’t bring herself to ask, because if the answer was no, then this whole perfect day would be crushed. They had six more days left together in Al Hayla, and she wanted to make the most of them, no matter what.
“I’ve spent my life working for what I thought was the greater good.” Masoud looked out the window as he carefully selected each word. “I always equated growing prosperity with success. The happiness rate of my country itself shows there is a correlation.”
“But hold on. Your people’s lives aren’t all about making money, right? Surely, they spend time with family and friends. They have hobbies. They feel like their government takes care of them. Am I right? And aren’t all of those things integral to happiness?”
“They are.” Masoud looked back at her. “But I used to think all of those things took a, uh, what would you call it? A backseat to financial gain. But it’s different in Rancho Cordero, isn’t it? You know a small number of people, but everyone you know, Kelsie, you have a connection with.”
“Yeah,” she agreed. “I do. I wouldn’t trade m
y friends and neighbors for the world.”
“And that neighborly connection can be just as important as family.” Masoud looked deep into her eyes. “Especially if you have no family left.”
Emotion rose swiftly in Kelsie, and she nearly choked on her next breath. She wasn’t completely without family. She still had her mother, although... that didn’t really count, did it?
Masoud was right on the nose. Francesca and the other residents of Rancho Cordero were Kelsie’s family. Having them all scatter to different areas of the state would be devastating.
Was Masoud finally coming around and seeing just why the mine was a bad idea?
“The small-town mentality must be rubbing off on me,” Masoud mused. “I see know why that place holds your heart. Sometimes I wish I had something like that.”
Kelsie cocked her head, struck by such an honest statement. Was Masoud lonely? Kelsie had suspected it before. He traveled at lot. When she’d first met him, she’d briefly wondered if his lack of a girlfriend meant he was something of a womanizer. It wouldn’t be inconceivable that a man with such good looks and money moved swiftly from one woman to the next, choosing to pursue thrills rather than settle down.
And yet, he had displayed none of the traits Kelsie had observed in players. It had taken him a painfully long time to kiss her and, now, even in his own home, he’d yet to signal he wanted to take things to the next level.
Could it be that Masoud was simply a man who had spent years throwing himself into his work, ignoring all relationships except for those with his family in the name of a higher pursuit? And now he was questioning all of that?
It was a heavy subject, and Kelsie didn’t know how to broach it, so for the time being she sipped her wine and watched as the chef served them his poached fish with kumquats and spices.
There would be time for more serious discussions in the future. Right then, Kelsie wanted to enjoy the meal and to enjoy Masoud’s company. Whatever tomorrow brought, she’d face it head-on then.
Chapter 17
Kelsie
Kelsie stretched her aching legs out across the folding chair and sighed.
“Tired?” Masoud asked from his spot in the chair next to her.
“Exhausted. But in a good way.”
Sighing happily, she looked over the balcony’s railing and out at the city’s sparkling lights. For their last day in Al Hayla, Masoud had cleared his schedule and taken Kelsie on a walking tour of the city’s most historic sights.
She’d expected him to be mobbed by people, but he had managed to keep a low profile by wearing sunglasses and a hat and having his guards walk a good distance behind them. The day had been full of architecture and ancient artifacts that blew Kelsie’s mind. If there was a more perfect ending to the trip, Kelsie couldn’t imagine what it could be.
Even the days when Masoud had been busy with work had been wonderful. Kelsie and his mother had connected right away, and she’d spent several days since their initial meeting spending time with Reya at the palace. She’d been worried at first about what Masoud’s mother would think of her, since she came from a completely different culture and had no connection whatsoever to royalty, but the Sheikha had treated her like a daughter, welcoming Kelsie into her arms right away.
Now, on her last night in the beautiful city, Kelsie felt sorry to leave it.
“I understand why you love your home so much,” she murmured.
Masoud looked at her over the candle flickering on the little table between them. “Good. I was hoping it would make an impression on you.”
“It really has.”
They fell into silence again, watching the glow of the city. If Kelsie strained hard enough, she swore she could hear the sea’s waves crashing on the shore. Although, maybe she imagined that.
The beach had been another marvel for her. Masoud had taken there for an afternoon, and she’d run through the waves, feeling like a little kid. To say Al Hayla was magical would be doing it an injustice. The whole place was beyond words.
They’d spoken very little about the mine all week long, and Kelsie had indulged in the retreat from reality. The few times Francesca called to check in, she’d dodged any questions about the mine and Rancho Cordero’s future, instead choosing to forget about all that for the time being.
“I have always loved my home,” Masoud said, breaking the silence, “but being here with you makes it twice as nice.”
As their gazes caught, Kelsie’s skin heated up. “I’m glad you let me come with you,” she said. “Thank you again.”
“Perhaps you can come next time, as well.”
Kelsie dropped her gaze. “That sounds nice, but I do have the clinic, and it’s hard to get away from it.”
“Understandable.”
There was more to it, too. The next trip to Masoud’s home, like the whole relationship between him and Kelsie, depended on whatever happened with the mine. She couldn’t see a future where they continued to have such differing opinions and still enjoyed being around each other.
But she desperately wanted exactly that. Her time with Masoud had been easy and fun-filled, and she didn’t think it was merely because they were away from Rancho Cordero.
“Kelsie,” Masoud said softly.
“Yes?”
Masoud leaned closer, although something in his demeanor changed. It took Kelsie a beat to realize he was nervous.
“I have to confess something,” Masoud said. His voice had become softer, like he was afraid of someone overhearing them, even though they were on a second-floor balcony and away from the housekeeper and the guards.
“What is it?” Kelsie asked, butterflies flitting around in her stomach.
“Before I met you, I was very lonely.” Masoud grimaced. “I told myself that I was fine working and traveling all the time. It had been a good while since I’d had a woman in my life, and never a relationship that was...solid. I hope this is not too forward, but being with you has shown me how wonderful it can be to have someone around.”
Masoud shook his head. “I apologize. I said that wrong. I’m not talking about having just any person around. I’m talking about you, Kelsie. I enjoy your company tremendously. I prefer it to anyone else’s.”
Kelsie laughed. Masoud was so proper. Instead of a ‘Hey, I like you,’ he would of course give a mini-speech on the matter.
“I enjoy our time together a lot, too,” she said. “And I get what you’re saying about being lonely and not wanting to admit it. I think that was me, as well.”
“Really?” he asked, surprise evident in his voice.
“Mm-hmm.” Kelsie pushed her fingers through her hair, looking for the right words. It was hard being so honest with someone, but Masoud made her feeling like opening up could be worth it.
“Our lives are very different in some ways,” Kelsie said, “but I think, in others, they’re not. The clinic and the sheep are my life. I haven’t really made much time for anything else. I mean, I’ve dated some, but that’s gotten...tricky. I haven’t found anyone near my home, and moving has never been an option, so I just kind of...”
Kelsie sighed and looked at her lap. “Giving up is a harsh way to put it. It’s not that I resigned myself to spending the rest of my days as an old maid. But I did get tired of searching, especially when I looked at past relationships.”
“Like Spencer?” Masoud asked.
Kelsie nodded. She’d told Masoud about dating Spencer in high school, and also made it clear that things had been finished between them for years.
“Spencer is a great example,” she said. “And guess what? He’s the worst of the worst, but the other ones weren’t much better.”
“What was the problem?”
Kelsie propped her elbow on the chair’s armrest and laid her chin in her palm. “We were never on the same page, for one reason or another.”
Masoud took Kelsie’s hand, his touch gentle and warm. “And yet, as different as our lives have been, I feel as though the two
of us are. I have to tell you, Kelsie, that I’ve come to develop very strong feelings for you in our short time together.”
She smiled. “There you go again. So proper.”
Masoud chuckled. “I cannot help it.”
“I know, I know. You grew up in a palace. I get it.” Kelsie swallowed. “I really like you, too. A whole lot.”
Masoud gazed back at her. There was only a table between them, but even that small amount of distance felt like too much.
Every night in his home, Masoud had kissed Kelsie goodnight at the top of the stairs before retiring to his room. Each night, she’d thought about inviting him to her room, but she’d stopped herself. She liked how he didn’t seem eager to rush things. They were taking the time to get to know each other, and the slow burn had been mostly enjoyable.
Tonight, though, as she looked into his face, only one desire filled her: to feel his touch all over her body. They’d opened up to each other, revealing secret compartments of their hearts, and Kelsie didn’t want to stop there.
Masoud leaned forward, his lips coming within an inch of hers.
“Masoud?” Kelsie whispered.
“Yes?” he asked, his breath kissing her face.
“Don’t leave me alone tonight.”
Mason’s breathing picked up. “When were you planning on going to bed?”
Kelsie laughed; it seemed like such a weird question. “I don’t know.”
“How about now?”
Before she could answer, Masoud stood and swept her into his arms. Kelsie gasped in surprise as he carried her down the second-floor hallway and into his bedroom.
She’d seen glimpses of his bedroom before and had noted how bare it seemed. There hadn’t been much other than furniture and a few photographs. Tonight, as Masoud carried her past the dresser and the windows, Kelsie didn’t notice a thing.
Setting her down on the bed, Masoud leaned over and kissed her tenderly. Kelsie arched her back, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him deeply. With each kiss and touch, her head spun faster and her heart beat harder. Time blurred, seeming to speed up and slow down all at once.
