by Cara Albany
Finally, they sat down on a seat set back in the shade. Even at this early time of the day, the courtyard was already cut with beams of beautiful bright sunlight. She could see motes of dust floating in the sunbeams.
Nicole leaned back against the cool stone of the wall and gazed out at the fountain. The sound of the gently tumbling water was incredibly soothing. Talking with Rashid had been calming, and now the soft murmuring of the fountain's waters intensified that sense of ease.
Rashid sat by her side, very erect and gazing at the fountain.
"You must spend a lot of time here," she suggested.
"I do. This was one of the places where my parents loved to spend some time."
Nicole gathered from what he'd said that his parents were no longer alive. As if he'd guessed what she was thinking, he added: "They passed away a few years ago. They would come up here in the summer. To get away from the heat of Qazhar city." He smiled, obviously recalling happier times.
"Do you have any brothers or sisters?"
Rashid shook his head. "I was an only child."
Nicole knew that was unusual. Most prominent families in Qazhar were large. It was normal for there to be many brothers and sisters in a family. She wondered what the whole story was, but knew that this wasn't the time to probe Rashid for more details.
"So this was a summer home?" Nicole asked.
Rashid smiled at her. "You'd call it a holiday home, I suppose," he said.
Nicole gazed at the inner walls of the quadrangle. "This is some holiday home," she said jokingly.
He shrugged. "It's comfortable. As you can see."
She asked herself why he'd ended up living a solitary life here in what was supposed to be only a temporary residence. Winters might be hard here. Maybe that explained the untended gardens and the slightly worn exterior. It had never been designed as a permanent residence.
"What about the winters?" she asked.
Rashid smiled. "You get used to them after a few years. They're nothing like what you're used to."
Nicole nodded. "Yeah. Winters in the US can be a pain. All that snow."
"We have snow," he said.
Nicole's eyes widened. "Here?"
"The mountain tops to the east have snow. At the peaks. They are very high."
Nicole smiled. "There I was about to give you a lecture on how lucky you are not to have snow."
"You'd be surprised at the extremes in this country," he said.
"After what happened to me yesterday, nothing would surprise me about Qazhar," she stated.
Rashid nodded. "I can see that. It hasn't exactly been a pleasant introduction to life up here."
Nicole nodded. "So, how often do you go down to the city?"
Rashid paused and seemed to consider what to say next. "Not very often," he replied slowly.
"Why don't you go?" she asked. "Don't you have family there? Cousins? Aunts or uncles?"
"I am Qazhar born," he replied. "I have many close family relations. Extended family is a way of life in Qazhar."
Nicole knew that was right. At every event she'd attended since she'd come to the country, it seemed that everyone knew everyone else, or was related in some way. It took some getting used to.
Back home, family members were so often living hundreds of miles apart. She had to admit she liked the idea of close, extended family. It made life feel different, more cozy and intimate, knowing your relations were so closely connected, that they shared so much of life together.
"Do they come up here to visit you?"
Nicole wanted to get a sense of just how solitary his life here really was. However, as before, Rashid put up the wall between them. His features became blank, and Nicole quickly chided herself for her insensitivity, her intrusiveness. Or was it that she was just too eager to know what he was holding back from her?
"I'm sorry," she said. "I shouldn't ask such questions."
Rashid shook his head. "There's nothing unusual about why I don't go there."
"I didn't mean to suggest there was," she said.
"The city life just isn't for me. Although my parents' palace is still there."
Nicole peered at him. "Another palace? How many do you have?"
Rashid smiled casually. "Just the two."
"And the other one? Is that just empty?"
He nodded. "I do have it maintained. For sentimental reasons. My parents would want me to honor the home by at least taking care of it."
"But you don't live there for any part of the year," she said, daring to press him a little bit more.
Rashid shook his head and said nothing more. His features became stony. Impassive. He gazed out at the fountain. The barrier was up again, and Nicole was sure that was about as much as she was going to get for the moment.
"What about you," he said.
"Me? What do you need to know?" she asked.
Rashid shrugged. "Whatever you want to tell me."
Was she willing to tell him anything about her life? He had shared some of his own life with her. Maybe it was natural for her to tell him something about herself.
"What's to tell?" she asked.
Rashid squinted at her, apparently confused by what she'd just said.
Nicole waved a dismissive hand. "That's just an expression. I forgot English isn't your first language."
"I went to school in England. So, I suppose my English is up to scratch," he said.
"England?"
Rashid nodded. "Private school."
"Of course," she said. "Why didn't I guess that already?"
Most of the sheikhs she'd met since coming to Qazhar had been to private schools in England or America. It definitely seemed like the norm for wealthy families to send their kids abroad for their education.
"And you?" he asked. "Where did you go to school?"
She told him about her High School years and her time in College. It didn't sound anywhere nearly as glamorous as his time in England.
"And your mother is the ambassador to Qazhar?" he asked.
"I told you that, didn't I?"
He nodded. "You did. That's an important position she holds. You just be very proud of her."
Nicole felt her cheeks flush with sudden emotion. "I am. We all are."
"Your sisters and you?"
"Belle's my little sister. Her and I are still living in the embassy. My big sister, Erin just got married." Nicole glanced at him. "To a sheikh."
Rashid nodded approvingly. "Good choice," he said and smiled at her.
Nicole knew he was teasing her. "I'm glad you think it's okay. Anyway, Erin moved out," Nicole continued. She tilted her head at Rashid. "Obviously. Her husband has a huge palace on the outskirts of the city."
Rashid nodded as if that was the most obvious thing in the world.
"What's it like living in the embassy?" he asked.
"It can be a bit boring at times. There's lots of official functions. Belle and I always have to be on our best behavior."
Rashid lifted a brow. "And that's a problem?"
"What?"
"Behaving yourself?" he added.
Nicole nodded and sighed. "You saw what I wound up doing to relieve the boredom."
"That's why you ended up coming out here? To relieve the boredom?" He seemed slightly amazed that she would have admitted that. But it was true.
"I know. It's crazy. I don't know what I was thinking about."
"Unfortunately, Hakim has a reputation for manipulating women. It may have been unavoidable."
Nicole snorted. "If I'd stopped and thought about it for just a few moments, maybe I wouldn't have come all the way up here."
Rashid turned slightly on the seat and faced her. His eyes narrowed and there was a sudden softness in them.
"Then we wouldn't have met," he said. "And that would have been a terrible shame. Don't you think?"
Nicole hesitated, momentarily captivated by that look in his eyes. "I suppose you're right," she said slowly. His gaze was steady a
nd she thought there was real appreciation in those eyes, as if he was suddenly viewing her in a new light. Sharing a little about each others' past seemed to have prompted a reaction from him.
Nicole saw his body shift slightly, moving closer to her. She stood quickly and looked over toward the fountain. "I want to feel how cool that water is. It looks so tempting," she said far too hurriedly. If he'd said such a thing to her, she wouldn't have been convinced.
Nicole made her way to the fountain and leaned against the waist-high edge. She dipped her hand into the water. It felt icy cold. The chill raced up her arm, making her body feel instantly cooler.
Rashid came to her side. "The water comes from the river you saw on the way in here."
"It's so cold," she said.
"Mountain water," he explained. "The river runs down from those border mountains."
Nicole took a few moments to savor the feeling of the water against her skin. She thrust her other hand in, swirling her fingers in the clear water. She lifted her hands up and ran her wet fingers across her face, feeling the cooling effect on her cheeks. After the way he'd looked at her over on the seat, she needed something to cool her down.
Nicole felt rivulets of water run down her neck and onto her blouse. She glanced at Rashid and saw that his gaze was firmly fixed on the sight of the water drops making the skin on her throat wet. Nicole felt some of the droplets trace a line down between her breasts. She felt her nipples harden against the inside of her bra. Somehow, Rashid watching her like that had triggered a reaction in her.
Did he think she was doing that deliberately? Did he think she was teasing him? There was definitely the hint of hunger in his steady gaze. Had she meant to cause that?
The chill of the water was suddenly matched by the realization that she might be sending out all the wrong signals.
Nicole stepped back from the edge of the fountain.
"Can we see the garden?" she asked quickly.
Rashid's brows furrowed. He seemed surprised by her sudden request. "Of course. If you wish."
"I can't promise to give you any advice about how to look after it," she joked.
He nodded slowly, trying to laugh at what she said, but she could tell he was still affected by what he had just seen her do.
Nicole tapped her foot nervously on the stone beneath her feet. The sound mingled with soft murmur of the tumbling water.
She'd definitely gone too far. What had she been thinking of? It was obvious that Rashid was beginning to pay attention to every one of Nicole's gestures, her every movement. He was paying really close attention to her; had been since she'd come downstairs for breakfast.
Rashid gestured with his hand. "If you follow me, I'll take you to the garden."
With a sense of relief flooding through her, Nicole followed Rashid as he led her away from the fountain and back into the palace building.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Rashid had to admit the garden was a mess. He and Nicole emerged from one of the side entrances and stopped to survey the scene in front of them.
What had once been carefully cut lawn had grown inches high; bushes that had been neat and tidy were now sprawling green masses; and rows of trees whose overhanging branches had been planted in neat lines to create shaded pathways, were now twisting, overgrown and dangerous looking.
Rashid knew why he'd let this happen. But he wasn't sure whether to tell Nicole. The conversation by the fountain had surprised him. Nicole was so open and friendly. She'd shared some parts of her life with him, which astonished Rashid given that they hardly knew each other.
Usually, it took a lot longer than this to break through the barriers of unfamiliarity with women. Perhaps, it was the forced proximity which had caused it. Knowing she had chosen to stay here with Rashid had perhaps encouraged Nicole to be so open with him.
It didn't really matter why she was being like that. Rashid only knew one thing. He was enjoying getting to know Nicole.
"Just as I thought," she said thrusting her fists against her hips and examining the garden. "It's a bit of a mess, don't you think?"
Rashid shrugged. "I don't know what to say. It used to be nice. Somehow I just never got round to keeping it up to the same standard."
Nicole took a few steps out onto the thick lawn, pushing the grass flat with her foot. "It wouldn't take much to get it back."
"It's like this most of the way round the palace," he said.
Nicole nodded. "Okay," she drawled. "Then there might be a problem."
There was a gravel path which led around the edge of the garden and alongside the palace walls. They started to walk slowly along the path.
"I still don't know why you let it get like this," she said gazing up at him.
At first, he didn't focus his attention on what she'd just said. He was too distracted by the way the sunlight made her hair shine, made her eyes seem brighter.
Since they'd emerged from the interior of the palace and into the sunshine, her mood had lifted considerably. He was grateful for that, because he knew he'd almost made a fool of himself by the fountain.
The way the water had trickled down her front had inexplicably captured his attention. He'd acted like a schoolboy, unable to control his sudden attraction.
Luckily, he'd managed to rein in his emotions. He hoped she hadn't noticed.
"Did you hear me?" she asked.
"Sorry, I was thinking of what you said about this," he said pointing toward the tall grass.
"So why did you let it get like this?"
"It's complicated."
"Every time a guy says that to me, I always get worried," she said quirking a brow at him.
Rashid smiled. She was teasing him again. This time he'd picked up on it faster than before. Nicole had a sharp wit and he had to admit it was something he hadn't come up against in most of the women he'd known. Too often, they'd been more interested in his wealth, his status. Nicole's attitude was refreshing.
"It's really to do with my parents."
Her brows lifted. "Why?"
Rashid sighed. He hadn't wanted to talk about his parents. Not so soon after meeting Nicole. But there was something about her candor, the genuine way she encouraged him to talk, that had taken him by surprise.
He'd wanted to tell someone about this for a long time; had felt the need to share this with someone. Maybe he could share it with Nicole.
"The garden was precious to my parents. They spent many long hours making sure it looked its best."
"So why didn't you continue that after they passed?"
Rashid frowned. "It has to do with the way they passed. And where," he said.
They halted and Nicole looked up into his eyes. He could tell she wanted to know more. He'd never told anyone this. So, why was he about to open up to this beautiful American woman. Someone he'd never see again after the seven days were up.
Rashid gazed out toward an open space a short distance from where they stood. "Because of what happened there."
Nicole's brows furrowed and her gaze followed his out to the garden.
"My father became ill one day, while he was out there," Rashid said pointing out at an overgrown open space near a line of trees. "He was cutting some flowers." Rashid smiled at Nicole. "That was one of the things he liked to do. Anyway, he took ill one afternoon. Right out there. And no-one was around to help him. Not until it was too late."
Nicole's eyes narrowed with sympathy and she reached out a hand, resting it on Rashid's arm. "I'm so sorry. That must have been awful for you all."
Rashid nodded. "My mother found him. It was during one of their summer trips here. By that time it was too late. He'd passed away." Rashid smiled sadly. "I've always thought he may have taken some solace in knowing he was in his beloved garden."
There was a long pause. Rashid wondered how Nicole would respond. Maybe she regretted asking. Perhaps that was just too much information.
Eventually she spoke to him: "And you can't face the prospect of keepi
ng the garden because of that?"
"I am not my father." Rashid's jaw tightened. "This is the place which took him away from us. I've never felt comfortable here. I have no particular affection for it," he said gazing out across the garden.
"Surely someone else could have done it for you."
Rashid shook his head. "My father always insisted that no-one except him should touch it. I had to respect that. Even if it meant leaving it like this."
Nicole gazed out across the garden. Rashid loosened her hand from his arm. "Why don't we move on," he said pointing the way to the corner of the palace building. "It's rather less untidy on the north side of the palace grounds."
They walked on and turned the corner, leaving the west side of the garden behind. Here, from where they could see the mountains, the garden was less developed. It was mostly the same overgrown lawn, but there were no trees or bushes. Gravel pathways traced lines around the wide expanse that led to the wall at the rear of the grounds. The pathways converged on a circular space in which was placed a bench.
"This was modeled on an English garden," he explained. "It was designed for taking long, pleasant walks with far fewer distractions than the other parts of the garden." He looked around and nodded. "I think it's still quite pleasant."
Nicole nodded silently, but he could tell she was still thinking about what he'd told her. He wondered if she asked herself why he'd shared such a personal detail about his father.
They walked for a while, following the paths, until eventually they reached the middle of this part. Here they sat down on the low bench which faced back toward the palace.
Rashid watched Nicole as she examined the outside of the palace. From this perspective, he had to admit it looked impressive. Just showing her around had made him appreciate something he'd almost forgotten. This palace was a wondrous sight to behold. Rashid wondered how he could have taken it so much for granted; how he could have forgotten how special this place was.
Perhaps he was spending too much time alone. He glanced at Nicole. Maybe it was her coming here which had changed things for him. Solitude wasn't what he really needed. Without realizing what he had been doing, he'd brought a woman into his life, and she had ignited something in him which he hadn't felt in a very long time.
