by Leslie North
One of the things that had always separated Liyah and Mila was their views on men. Liyah had watched her mother struggle, no thanks to the male segment of the population. The only thing a man ever did for her was to knock her up and abandon her when he realized what having a daughter really meant.
Liyah didn’t want that. Casual hookups had never been her thing, whereas Mila had men following her around wherever she went. Her lively friend was comfortable around the attentions of men, but Liyah knew that she’d never find what she wanted.
The type of love that Liyah dreamed about didn’t exist. A soul mate, the type of connection that she could feel down in her bones, was a thing of the past. Technology had made dating impersonal, and impersonal relationships were the result. Sure, some turned into marriages, but it was more the status of being married that drove the relationship and not that soul-shattering love that Liyah had read about in books.
But that was fiction, and this was the real world.
2
The ride to the lounge on the commuter bus was hot, and Liyah’s skin glistened with sweat. “So much for picking up hot men,” she joked, but Mila whipped out some rice paper and blotted both of their faces.
“Gorgeous!” she declared.
The bus stopped, and Liyah took a deep breath as she stepped out and viewed the southernmost nightlife district in Dubai. Five years ago, she had been so wrapped up in her studies that she hadn’t really had a chance to go out with other students to enjoy the city at night, and she’d obviously missed out. The glitz and glitter of the city lights married with the gorgeous old-world Arabian pattern-cuts in the walls and gates, and decorative enamel on the doorknobs.
It was breathtaking.
The streets were filled with young partygoers, dancing and laughing as they moved from one destination to the next. Liyah had never been one to party, and her heart fluttered nervously, but she tried to look like she belonged.
Of course, Mila blended right in.
As Liyah took her first step into the club, she breathed a sigh of relief at feeling the cool air from the high-ventilation system hit her skin. The sheen of sweat on the surface cooled considerably, and she shivered at the sensation.
“Go ahead and get yourself a drink,” Mila said in her ear. “I’ll let the bartenders know to keep an eye on you, so just relax and have fun, okay?” Easier said than done.
As soon as Mila left to check in and start her shift, Liyah presented her alcohol license nervously to the bartender.
He smiled at her as if she was an adorable child before she thought to show him her passport. “Ah! So you’re Liyah,” he said in a husky voice. “Mila has been talking about you for months now. She failed to mention that you were so beautiful.”
Unused to compliments, Liyah blushed. The bartender blinked at her expectantly, and she wasn’t sure what she should do. Thank him? Flirt? Finally he nodded at her license. “What are you drinking?”
Closing her eyes in embarrassment, she tried to laugh it off. “A wine would be great. Pinot Noir? Something cheap.”
“Sure thing.” He poured her a glass and then slid a dish of grapes across the bar. She nodded her thanks, picked up her glass and the dish, and wandered around the lounge as she took everything in. It wasn’t a dance club, but a low, sexy beat purred through the speakers. This was a classy bar with leather booths and high-top tables made of dark wood with a high-gloss finish. Some of the guests were eating, some were drinking, and others were smoking hookah. Here and there, couples sat close together, whispering in each other’s ears, and she also saw some large groups engaged in animated talk and relaxing. Seeing a staircase, she explored farther. The upstairs opened up into a huge rooftop patio that overlooked the city. It was beautiful.
As far as she could tell, she was the only single person there, so she stayed close to the walls. She knew that Mila expected her to mingle with the others, but she couldn’t bring herself to do more than observe from the shadows.
“There you are,” Mila said suddenly at her shoulder. Liyah turned around just as her friend grabbed her glass of wine and took a sip. “I can see you’re enjoying yourself. I don’t think anyone can see you from the corner.”
“I’m just acclimating,” Liyah said, just loud enough to be heard above the music. She didn’t want to admit to her outgoing friend that this really wasn’t her scene.
“What if I gave you something to do? I need some help. Fatima hasn’t arrived yet, and I need an extra pair of hands, or we’re going to be so behind. What do you say? I’ll give you a portion of my tips.”
Relieved to have something to keep her occupied, Liyah set down the dish of grapes and drained the rest of the wine. “Tell me what to do.”
Soon Liyah was carrying menus to tables, bringing baskets of breads, and helping refill water. She’d worked some in a restaurant when she was in school, so it didn’t take long for her to figure out the flow of the restaurant. Mila and some of the other servers seemed grateful for her help, and she finally didn’t feel like such an outsider.
“You’re Mila’s friend, right? Liyah? I really need to use the bathroom. Can you keep an eye on the door and seat anyone who comes in for me? I’ve written the order of the tables down for you,” the hostess said, and she bit her lower lip and did a small dance.
“Yes! Of course! Go ahead,” Liyah laughed and waved her hand. Taking the spot behind the hostess stand, she waited.
Not long after, four guests walked in. The three men were well matched in height and practically towered over Liyah’s less-than-average stature. Even in her heels, she barely reached their shoulders. They were dressed casually, but there was something about the way they carried themselves that had her catching her breath. Sin personified, she thought as she straightened just a little. The woman with them was beautiful—long dark hair fell shining down her back, and her skin was flawless. She and the three men shared the same warm moss-green eyes, and Liyah suspected that they were related.
“Welcome,” she said, forcing herself to speak loudly enough to be heard as she grabbed the menus. “Table for four?”
The one in green stepped forward with an air of authority and nodded his head. He didn’t say a word, but then, he didn’t have to. For an insane moment, she wondered if anyone ever defied him.
“Right this way,” she managed to say as she turned to lead them into the restaurant. Then, in one horrifying moment, she realized that she had no idea where she was going. Whirling around, she held up a hand to tell them to stop. “I’m so sorry. Can you just give me one minute?”
He looked a bit annoyed, but he didn’t say anything.
She rushed past them and glanced at the list the hostess had drawn up for her.
Of course, she was taking them the wrong way.
Hurrying back to the foursome, she forced another smile. “We’re just going to take the long way around,” she admitted as she led them around the corner and back to the front.
“That’s all right,” the one in red joked. “Asad could use the exercise.”
The one in green, presumably Asad, gave Red a steely-eyed look, and Liyah privately thought that none in their group needed any exercise. “Don’t tease, Khalid,” the one in blue said with a grin. “Asad doesn’t know how to take a joke.”
“Is there a reason you’ve walked us through the entire restaurant?” Asad demanded, ignoring the other two.
Ouch. Apparently, Asad didn’t have much of a sense of humor. “I apologize. We’re here,” Liyah said as she bent down to put the menus on the table.
“Don’t stare, Rashid,” the woman snapped.
Eyes widening, Liyah immediately straightened and wished to hell that she didn’t blush so easily. “I’ll get your water, and your server will be with you in a minute,” she managed as she turned to hurry away. Distinctly, she could hear the men laughing at her as she retreated.
When she returned to the table, carefully balancing the glasses of water, all eyes were silently on her
as she handed them out. “Okay, there you go. Like I said, your server will be with you shortly.”
“Why can’t you be our server?” Rashid asked as he leaned back with a grin.
For some reason, Liyah found herself looking at Asad to gauge his reaction, but his eyes betrayed nothing.
Rather than explaining the situation, she just shook her head. “I’m just helping out.”
“Then you can help me out,” the woman said. “This doesn’t specify which cocktails are on Happy Hour.”
Liyah craned her head to find a server, but none seemed available. “I’ll go ask,” she said finally and walked away.
Thankfully, the hostess had returned and gave her a nod of thanks.
Liyah sought out Mila.
“The corner table by the window wants to know the cocktail specials?” Liyah asked in a low voice.
Mila typed something into the computer before pulling a piece of paper out of her apron. “Here is the happy hour cheat sheet. Fatima just called and said that she’ll be here in ten minutes. Do you think you can try and take care of them before she gets here? We’re all more than swamped. Just let me know what they want, and I’ll put it in under my number until Fatima gets here, and then we’ll transfer it. Don’t forget to check and make sure that they have their alcohol license!”
The last thing that Liyah wanted to do was wait on the table of three intimidating men and their gorgeous sister, but she couldn’t let Mila down. She grabbed a piece of paper from the printer and stole a pen from Mila’s apron before making her way back to the table. “I’ve got the happy hour list.” Staring at the piece of paper to avoid eye contact, she read each drink out loud. When she looked back up again, they were all watching her in amusement. “I just need to make sure that you have your alcohol license.”
The girl looked at her blankly. “Do you not know who we are?” Liyah had the feeling she didn’t say it to sound snobby. She seemed genuinely surprised.
“No, I’m sorry. I don’t.”
The girl opened her mouth again, but Asad cut her off. “It’s fine. She’s just doing her job.”
With a grumble, they each pulled out their cards. Liyah looked each card over carefully before handing them back. “So, what can I get you?”
“Are you on the—”
“Rashid,” Asad said coldly. “Don’t.”
Khalid and the sister both snorted, but everyone behaved themselves as they ordered. “So does that mean you’re going to be our server, after all?” Khalid asked with a grin.
“No, I’m just helping out.” Liyah wrote out the drink order and went hunting after Mila. While she waited for the bartender, she ran a few more errands for the servers, but she could feel her table’s eyes watching her every move. By the time she returned with their drinks, she almost tipped them over.
“Any appetizers?” she asked hastily.
“No,” Asad said quietly. “We’re just here for a few drinks.”
She gathered their menus and skipped away before they asked for anything else.
From the sidelines, she observed them the best that she could. They joked and argued like family, but she liked the way the men seemed protective of their sister. She liked it even more when she got a clear look at Asad.
While they all looked similar, there was something about him that stood apart. Something primal that awoke a desire in her she had long thought dormant. Having a fling was not on her list of things to do, but she briefly wondered what would happen if she did manage to fall in bed with someone like that.
“You must be Liyah,” a stranger snapped in a shrill voice at her elbow. “I can’t believe they sent someone who doesn’t even work here to keep an eye on my table. You’ll introduce me to them immediately.”
Startled, Liyah turned and eyed the pretty girl. There was no formal uniform for the servers at the lounge, except for the apron, but this girl was dressed for attention. Her skintight dress hugged every perfect curve of her body, and her dark hair had the most beautiful highlights that brought out the shimmer of her makeup. No doubt, her table would forget all about her once they met Fatima. “Sure. They said they’re just here for drinks, so I didn’t have to ring up any food.”
“Whatever.” It was obvious that something was bugging the girl, and Liyah almost pointed out that it wasn’t her fault the server was late.
She made sure her smile was firmly in place and approached the table. “Hi. So I told you that your server would be here momentarily,” she said. “This is Fatima, and she’ll be waiting on you.”
“No,” Asad said suddenly. “We’re happy with you. Thank you.”
“She doesn’t even work here,” Fatima said with a coy smile. “I know this place inside and out, and I promise that I’ll take good care of you.”
The whole table went quiet, and they all looked at Asad. He studied Liyah intently, and once again, she had no idea what the man was thinking. “You don’t work here?”
“No. My friend works here, but they were busy, so she asked me to fill in. Now that Fatima is here, I guess I’m not needed anymore.”
“Good,” he said abruptly. “Then you can join me for a hookah on the patio.”
Liyah felt a flush creep up her cheeks. It wasn’t at all like her to fall apart when a man paid attention to her, but here she was, practically melting under those smoldering green eyes. “I was just helping out,” she said faintly.
An amused smile curved over his face. “You said that.”
“You’re here with friends.”
“Family. They’ll be fine without me.”
What was she saying? What had he asked her? Weakly, she pointed to Fatima. “She was delayed.”
“Naturally. So technically, you don’t work here—which means you came here to enjoy yourself. Let’s go and make sure you enjoy yourself.” He stood. “We’ll take the chocolate flavor.”
Fatima’s eyes shot daggers at her as Asad gripped her elbow and led her to the patio.
She tried to look for Mila, but her friend was nowhere to be seen. Relax, she chided herself. She was supposed to mingle with the locals.
The booth around the hookah was illuminated by a sunray pattern of candles. He lifted an eyebrow when she sat across from him rather than next to him, but he didn’t say anything.
Fatima returned shortly with the mouth bits for the ornate contraption and added the tobacco. She shot Liyah a venomous look.
Asad nodded his head, and Liyah hesitantly put the mouthpiece up to her mouth and inhaled sharply.
“Slowly,” he advised. “You want to inhale slowly. You’ve never done this before, have you?”
“No.”
“You’re American.”
“Yes. I was here five years ago for school, and I enjoyed myself, but I wanted to come back and experience it as an adult.” She tried inhaling it slowly under his watchful eye, and this time, she tasted all the mingling flavors before exhaling the smoke. Smiling, she watched it rise into the air before dissipating. “Your name is Asad, right? I heard your brothers say it. What do you do?”
“Typical American,” he chuckled. “Always want to know what a person does rather than who a person is. I’m a businessman. Why did you want to return as an adult?”
Clearly, he wasn’t interested in talking about himself. She was struck by how different he was out here. Inside, with his family, he seemed stiff and rigid, but out here he was charming and relaxed.
Sexy.
“Who wouldn’t want to return? Dubai is the romance capital of the Middle East,” she sighed. “Your literature is sultry. Your architecture is stunning. Your artwork is like no other. I graduated college and found myself floundering a bit. My friend had returned here several months ago to stay with our exchange family, and she told me I should join her. I’ve only been here a couple of weeks, and I’ve spent most of that looking for work, but I think the city will help me get a perspective on my life.”
“You need a job?”
“Yes, I
was hoping to get a job at the library or as a literature or language tutor, but there doesn’t seem to be any openings. I think Mila could always get me a job here.” She shrugged and inhaled again.
“Dubai has a few secrets that only the locals know,” he said with a wink. “Maybe I’ll show them to you sometime.”
Yeah, right, she thought to herself. He’d probably go home with some exotic beauty like Fatima on his arm and forget all about her.
Suddenly, a song interrupted them, and he frowned and reached into his pocket. “Excuse me,” he murmured as he rose, phone in hand. “I need to take this.”
He walked away for a few minutes, speaking on the phone, and she could tell by the stiff lines of his body that he wasn’t pleased with whatever he was hearing. He returned shortly, his lips pressed into a tight line. “Forgive me,” he muttered. “I’m trying to expand a resort, and it seems that something has gone wrong. I’m afraid I’m not left with much leisure time these days. I must go.”
“Now?” It felt like the middle of the night. He had to work in the middle of the night?
Mischief lit up in his eyes. “Are you going to miss me, Liyah?”
“No, of course not.” Wincing, she realized how harsh that sounded. “I mean, we just met, and I wouldn’t want to delay you. It was nice meeting you.” Now she was babbling again.
“Enjoy the rest of the hookah, and your night. And the pleasure was all mine.” For a moment, his gaze held hers, and she thought that he was going to lean down and kiss her, but instead, he turned and walked away.
It was a long time before her heartbeat returned to normal, and longer still before she stopped entertaining scandalous thoughts of the mysterious Asad.
3
“You left early last night,” Amira said as she swept into Asad’s suite at the palace. As usual, his sister didn’t even bother knocking. “I thought you’d taken the American home—except that she was still on the rooftop when we left.”
