by Holly Rayner
Hallie glanced up at him and smiled. “I’d like that. I would love to come back here sometime, though. Get a proper pampering.”
“Of course. You may come back any time.”
“If I can find it.”
Sadiq grinned. “I can help with that, any time you need.”
They made their way back through the tunnel, through the myriad of hallways. Hallie had stopped paying attention by the time Sadiq came to a halt in front of her room, and she bumped into him.
“Sorry,” she said, embarrassed.
Sadiq steadied her, even though she really didn’t need it, and slowly released his hold on her as she opened her bedroom door.
She stepped in, but turned back to look at him. “Thank you for a great night, Sadiq.”
“And thank you for being such excellent company. It’s been a very long time since I’ve had such good conversation. It is nice to speak with someone who truly…understands.”
Hallie gave him a gentle smile. “Yes. Very much so.”
“Sleep well, Hallie. I look forward to seeing you in the morning”
“You, too,” she said, closing the door gently.
She hadn’t wanted to close the door. She’d wanted to invite him in, to have him tell her more about his parents and how he became the man he was today. Still, there would be time for that, she thought, as she drifted off into slumber. As much as she was willing to give.
EIGHT
Hallie rolled over as a knock at her door woke her.
“Come in,” she mumbled, half-hoping the person wouldn’t hear and leave her to her sleep. The time change was brutal, and her jetlagged brain felt like a cotton ball. She was nestling her face back into her pillow when she heard the deep, masculine sound of someone clearing his throat.
Peeping out from her hideaway, Hallie debated whether or not to hide under the blanket at the sight of Sadiq’s amused expression.
He lifted one perfectly shaped eyebrow. “You did tell me to come in. I hope this isn’t inappropriate.”
Hallie groaned. “Only inasmuch as now you know exactly what I look like when I wake up in the morning.”
She tried not to think of her rat’s nest hair and makeup-free face. She self-consciously wiped the corner of her mouth, hoping against hope that she didn’t drool in her sleep.
Sadiq’s gaze was warm. “You look like a vision. Now, it’s my job to show you all that my country has to offer. It is your job to enjoy the day I have planned for us. Are you up to this task?”
Hallie rolled over and faced Sadiq directly. There was something so soothing about the way he spoke and carried himself. While she still wished she wasn’t quite as unprepared for this meeting, she was glad to have him there. It had occurred to her, the night before, that she had quite possibly slept in his bed on the flight over, and the thought of it made her shiver. What would it be like to sleep with Sadiq here, in this bed?
She shook the thought out of her mind; there was no need to get that far yet—she needed to get to know him. Who was this sheikh with boatloads of money and an irrepressible desire to impress others? He was so much more than he appeared to be, and the kindness shining in his eyes was enough to have Hallie agreeing to anything.
“I can be ready in fifteen minutes,” she said.
“Wonderful. I’ll leave you to it. Perhaps next time I will send a staff member in my place.”
“We’re in the process of deciding whether or not we’d like to marry one another. You might as well see what you’re getting. Full disclosure,” Hallie said, waving a hand down her body, which was still encased in comforter.
“Hallie Richards, you are more beautiful in this moment than any we have spent together so far. Please take your time. I will be in the atrium waiting for you.”
Hallie hoped her blush wasn’t too deep. Sadiq was alluring, charming and handsome—why would someone like that need a dating app?
When he closed the door she threw off her covers and jumped into action, tossing her pajamas haphazardly on the floor and showering before changing into a knee-length dress in cornflower blue.
After a quick application of makeup and an attempt to tame her curly tresses, Hallie stepped outside her door and froze. How was she ever going to find the atrium?
She looked left and right for a few moments before just picking a direction. She managed to find another, more conventional dining room and the kitchens before a girl in a maid’s uniform offered to guide her to the right place. Hallie followed her gratefully until they reached the familiar, towering space.
Sadiq was staring into the fountain waters, but when he heard them enter he looked up and smiled. “You found me!”
“Took long enough,” Hallie huffed. “This place is a labyrinth!”
Sadiq shrugged. “It simply takes time to get to know—much like a person, in that way.”
Hallie thought about that. In a way, this palace was a perfect reflection of its owner. On the outside, there was wealth and glamour and opulence. In the more hidden places, though, Hallie knew there were hidden gems full of meaning and value. She wanted to find Sadiq’s inner library and see what was there.
Sadiq thanked the maid who had helped Hallie, and the small woman curtsied and headed back in the direction of the kitchens.
Hallie turned to Sadiq. “So, what is it we have planned for today?”
“How about some coffee first?”
“Please, goodness, yes,” Hallie said. She could hardly think. She’d known jetlag would be rough, and she’d experienced it before, on that trip to Italy, but the time difference was far vaster this time. Coffee would be just the thing.
Sadiq continued wearing his sexy I’ve got a wonderful surprise face, and Hallie decided to indulge herself. In this existence. In this man. All of it. She would let herself live again, if only for a few days.
The Sheikh held out his hand to her, his eyes full of promises. She prayed that he was the kind of man who would keep them. “Come with me?”
Is was an invitation, a question. For a man who could demand what he wanted and get it every time, he was placing the power in her hands, and she loved that. She placed her hand delicately in his, and he squeezed it back. It was the most reassuring sensation she had felt in a long time.
“Right this way,” he said.
He led her through the front doors and down the steps. The rounded driveway curved toward a circular section of the house that Hallie soon realized was a garage. It was four stories tall, and her neck ached as she craned her head to look up. When they stepped inside, a circular opening was surrounded by rows of lavish cars, all parked towards the center.
“How many cars do you have?” Hallie breathed.
“Last I counted, I believe the number is forty-five.”
“Do you drive them all?”
Sadiq’s grin was sheepish as he peered up at her with a guilty expression. “No. Many of them are collectors’ items.” He waved around the room in a grand gesture. “Now, pick whichever one you’d like.”
Hallie took her time. She evaluated each car, asking about gas mileage.
“This one only gets fourteen miles per gallon? Are you kidding me?”
“Look, I can see you are getting grumpier without your coffee, so I will help you make a decision. Come here.”
Hallie frowned. She was indeed quite grumpy, and tired, and not at all okay with the amount of waste she was seeing.
Sadiq turned her towards a beautiful sports car. Still unimpressed, she crossed her arms.
“What’s the gas mileage on this one?” she asked, still frowning.
Sadiq pulled her gently towards the vehicle. “Zero. This is a fully electric car. We will cause no damage to the Earth today if we drive it.”
He opened the passenger door for her to get in, and Hallie placed a gentle hand on his as it rested along the top of the door. “Thank you. That’s very thoughtful.”
Their gazes locked for a long moment before Hallie reluctantly retracted he
r hand and sat in the car. The seats were smooth and cool against her skin, and she found it surprisingly spacious for a sports car. Sadiq slid into the driver’s seat and started the engine, which echoed across the massive cavern that was his private garage.
“Now, let’s go get you caffeinated,” he said, casting her a sideways glance.
Hallie smiled back at him, remorseful. “Sorry. I don’t mean to be difficult.”
Sadiq waved a hand, dismissively. “Nothing to apologize for. I like that you challenge me. Not a lot of people do.”
“You mean no one wants to stand up to the big bad billionaire?”
“Who said I was a billionaire?”
Hallie rolled her eyes. “I made a lucky guess.”
“Does that intimidate you?” he asked, glancing over at her before focusing on their spiral descent towards the garage entranceway.
Hallie pondered that for a moment. “Not really. My parents raised me to see people for who they are, rather than what they have. You’d think it would have made me a good judge of character, but so far it hasn’t seemed to.”
“And what do you think of my character?”
Hallie could tell that a lot was weighing on her answer to this question. He cared what she thought, just like he cared about what everyone else thought.
“I think that you are an interesting person that I would like to know more about.”
“That’s very vague of you,” he said.
Hallie laughed. “Yes, it is. I can tell you care a lot about what others think of you, so I’m going to spare my more meaningful answers until you tell me who you really are, and why a billionaire needs a dating app to find a wife.”
Sadiq stared out the windshield as he drove up the winding road. Hallie watched as they avoided the city and instead headed onto the highway.
“Fair enough,” he said, finally.
They drove in silence for the rest of the trip, and Hallie wondered if Sadiq was thinking about just how much he would be willing to confide in her. For her, blunt, straight-as-an-arrow honesty was refreshing, and she liked that she could say what she thought and be grumpy if she wanted, and he would listen.
The car finally pulled up to a huge, circular structure, and Hallie realized it was an enormous greenhouse.
“Woah!” she said, and Sadiq couldn’t repress his grin as he exited the car and opened her door for her, holding his hand out once again for Hallie to take.
She did, and felt her fingers tingle as she gazed up at the massive, clear structure.
“This is my attempt at sustainable growing,” Sadiq said, ushering her inside. It was steamy and hot, of course, but the vegetation was vast. He had fit several fields’ worth of a wide variety of plants in there, and the crops were clearly flourishing. Farmhands were busy working to care for the plant life, and they waved to Sadiq as he passed them by.
“This is amazing,” Hallie breathed.
Sadiq’s dimple deepened, and Hallie told herself that she really needed to stop thinking about kissing that dimple.
“I’m glad you like it,” he replied. “Not only does it employ several hundred of my countrymen, but it produces crops for our people to eat. As you can imagine, living in a desert limits our food supply substantially.”
Hallie gazed about in wonder, ignoring the perspiration developing at her temples. Before she could burst out into a full sweat, Sadiq led her to a door and opened it.
Cool air poured over her, and Hallie closed her eyes for a brief moment, enjoying the sensation. Opening her eyes, she took in the room. It was a café, with a few tables and chairs scattered about. A waiter was standing at attention by one of the tables.”
“It is good to see you again, sir. Would you like to settle in before ordering today?”
“That’s all right, Rabi. Can you please bring us two cups of the freshest coffee available?”
“Of course, sir. I’ll be back momentarily.”
The man bowed and left the room, returning a moment later, he was back with two steaming cups of coffee. The cups were made of fine china, and Hallie held hers delicately; she had a tendency to be clumsy, and she didn’t want to give that aspect of herself away too soon.
Taking a sip, she nearly moaned before she held herself in check, still unable to resist closing her eyes to better savor the taste of her drink. She could hear Sadiq chuckling.
“You like it, I take,” he said, amused.
Hallie opened her eyes and stared at him, cradling her cup in both hands like the precious gift it was. “This is the best coffee I’ve ever tasted. I didn’t even have to put anything in it!”
Sadiq tried not to look proud and failed. “We put a lot of work into the building and irrigation of this establishment. Once we were able to purify the water from the bay and extract it safely without harming the creatures that live there, it really took off.”
“How have I never heard about this? This could save mankind!”
Sadiq shrugged. “I’m not sure. I’ve been very open about the process and how we’ve been able to make it work. You’ll find produce from this farm in many of the local stores. The coffee is my particular favorite, if I do say so myself.”
Hallie took another sip, sighing contentedly. Even the temperature was perfect. Not so hot as to burn her tongue, but hot enough to warm her perfectly in the cool café.
The waiter returned with a tray of pastries and fruit surrounded by small glass jars. Hallie thanked the man before he left, and looked curiously at the jars.
“Sweets to add to your pastries,” Sadiq explained. “Honey, chocolate, homemade jam, and the like. Whatever you need to sweeten your morning.”
Hallie helped herself, slathering a flaky pastry with fresh honey and taking a bite. This had to be heaven. She had found it, and would have to tell the rest of the world, if she ever decided to return. How had she languished in New York for so long?
“If you don’t mind me saying so, it would seem that your spirits have lifted a bit,” Sadiq said, and Hallie gave him a cheeky grin.
“Coffee is a magic pill that tames even the scariest of dragons. Remember that.”
“Duly noted,” he smiled.
The two ate their breakfast, enjoying pleasant conversation as they asked all the little questions that come at the beginning of a courtship. Hallie couldn’t help but have another cup of coffee; it was simply outstanding.
Sadiq brushed a few crumbs off the table. “Are you ready for our next adventure, Hallie?”
She loved the way he said her name. It was like a song, his accent caressing it in a way. She nodded enthusiastically. “Absolutely!”
Sadiq let out a laugh. “You are very adventurous. I like that about you.”
“The way I see it, the world was made for exploring, and opportunities like this don’t come around all that often. I’m ready to see what Al Shayam has to offer.”
“Good. Let us head into the city, then, and I will show you my next surprise.”
Hallie stood and cast one last longing glance at her coffee cup, which sat empty on the table. It would do no good to drink three cups; she’d be awake for weeks if she started that habit.
She bid a baleful farewell to the farm as they got back into Sadiq’s car and drove to the city, which shimmered like a mirage with the desert in the background. Sadiq parked the car on a shoreline that was lined with boats and dotted with lush palm trees.
“Where are we going?” Hallie asked.
Sadiq wiggled his eyebrows at her. “Follow me and you shall see,” he said in a sing-song voice.
Hallie laughed. When she’d first met Sadiq he had been so cold and businesslike. Part of her had liked that, of course—she was so tired of playing games—but this playful version of Sadiq was equally as alluring, and she found she enjoyed being with him even more now he had let his guard down a little. She promised herself she would try and do the same.
She stepped out of the car and followed Sadiq along the dock. Sleek yachts lined either si
de of the pier as they passed by, and finally Sadiq stopped at one on the very end. It was stunningly white, shining in the sun. The deck was made of what looked like some kind of very expensive wood, and there was a colorful little flag waving in the wind at the bow; the flag of Al Shayam.
Sadiq turned and flashed a proud smile at Hallie. “This is the Ameera. She’s one of my greatest treasures.”
The Sheikh ran his fingers along the hull with a tenderness Hallie found she envied. Seriously, she was jealous of a boat? What kind of spell was this man weaving?
