by Leah Leonard
Stephanie reached under the table and grabbed his thigh, hardening him instantly. She whispered, “You’re sexy.”
Nostrils flared, Uri drew in a breath to keep himself from leaping over the table at her. “As are you, dear. Too much so, I’m afraid.”
She giggled. Did she have any idea how she teased him? Possibly not. Despite her alluring manner, she still held an undercurrent of naiveté and innocence he found irresistible.
Once dinner was over, Uri asked, “Would you like to go back to my room?”
She laughed. “No. Well, yes, but the answer’s still no.”
Uri shrugged. “I had to ask.”
She laughed again and reached for his knee. “That’s fine.”
“Want to take another walk? Do some shopping? I’m sure there are some places still open at this hour. We need only to find them.”
“No, Uri, but thank you. It’s been an absolutely amazing day. One I’ll never forget.”
“Me neither,’ Uri stood, reached for her hand and escorted her to the waiting car.
They sped through the night, on the winding roads in the cliffs above Athens. Uri had not felt this invigorated in years, if ever.
Stephanie leaned into his shoulder and held his hand while looking out the limo windows. “It’s so gorgeous here. I love Athens thanks to you!”
“I am pleased.”He felt ill at the thought of parting from her, and decided he might try again to persuade her. “I don’t suppose you would care to join me at my hotel for awhile? Or certainly, you’re welcome to stay the night.”
She sighed. “Nice try, but I need to go back. I wouldn’t feel right about it. Especially now. I know for sure I couldn’t control myself around you.”
He couldn’t either and he didn’t want to. “I understand.”
“Thanks,” she leaned into his chest.
He hugged her shoulders, giving her a slight squeeze. She fit perfectly in his arms and he couldn’t stand the thought of spending another night without her. “I will miss you though.”
“Me too.” She kissed him.
A jolt of power burst forth from her touch. Oh how he wanted her! But he must be patient, even though that seemed impossible. One day soon, she would be his. Meanwhile, he cradled her in his arms as they drove through the illuminated city streets back to the port.
They arrived forty minutes later. Uri walked with Stephanie down the dock where they met that morning. It felt like they had been together much longer than a day. He felt like he’d known her for years.
They stood holding hands on the pier.
“I don’t want this day to end,” she told him.
“My dear, neither do I. Just say the word and it won’t have to.”
She sighed. “I know, but I can’t. I wish I could, but I can’t.”
“As you wish,” he conceded.
They stood in silence just outside the gangway where the ship staff waited to check the ID cards of boarding passengers after their day in Athens.
Uri realized he wasn’t going to get what he wanted tonight, but still, he had to see her again before she left to go home. “May I see you tomorrow? Before you leave?” Uri held her hands in his, not wanting to let her go.
“All right.” She sounded reluctant, but at this point, he would accept the answer.
“It is my understanding these ships release passengers quite early. What time shall I be here?” Uri asked.
“I have no idea. Seven, maybe?”
“Seven it is.” He kissed her hand. “I shall be waiting right here, in this exact place.”
“Okay,” she smiled.
He held her close. “I could keep you here all night, you know.”
To his chagrin, she yawned. “Sorry. I’m tired.”
“Then you go and get your rest,” he beamed. “I shall look forward to seeing you first thing tomorrow morning, darling.”
They kissed once more. Uri didn’t want to release her, but after a moment, he did.
“Thank you for everything. I had a great time. See you tomorrow.” Stephanie smiled, walked inside the ship and turned to wave at him just before she dipped into the underbelly of the mighty vessel.
He couldn’t wait until tomorrow. He wanted this lovely lady by his side from now on. He had to adhere to her timing though. He would start with seeing her again tomorrow, and then move for a more permanent arrangement with the lovely lady who captivated his heart.
***
Stephanie stepped into the ship and took her last look at the dashing Uri. As much as she thought the world of him, she could never see this man again. Not ever. She felt ashamed at herself for allowing them to get so close tonight. She almost took him up on his offer to go to back to his hotel and spend the entire night with him. Thank God she exercised restraint! That would have only complicated her life more. Then again, part of her wished she had thrown caution to the wind and just gone with him. What would it have hurt? Nobody would know, right? Wrong! What was she thinking? Now that she spent the whole day with him, her feelings were stronger than ever. She should have told him no at the dock this morning and avoided the situation all together. The longer she prolonged the inevitable and kept on spending time with him, the harder she was making things for herself and for him too.
Not that she didn’t have a great time. She did. That wasn’t the problem. The challenge was that she had a life back home, and soon she would need to be fully present in that life and the challenges she faced.
And no matter what she might feel right now, Uri was no part of her farm in Iowa. More than likely, one of these days, she would marry Buck. That’s what she always planned.
She went inside her cabin and found a note on her door about leaving her bags out in the morning so they could disembark the ship. The vacation was definitely over now. Within a few hours, she would be gone.
She spent the next hour packing and getting everything organized. She hated to be without her things. She hadn’t really brought much, and only collected a few souvenirs, but still. The card stated if passengers wanted to do self-service, they could keep their luggage and exit the ship anytime after six in the morning.
Hmm, she thought. Uri would be waiting at seven. She hated to stand him up again and run away, but wouldn’t it be easier on both of them if she didn’t have to say goodbye? Life was complex enough without dealing with that.
And what about Buck and her family? Had she allowed this to get any more complicated, she would have definitely had to tell Buck. As it stood now, she still might, but only after careful consideration. The last thing she ever wanted was to hurt him. What good would that do? Nothing happened that couldn’t be forgotten with enough time. Meeting a stranger and having a temporary attraction was not enough to warrant messing up her life and her future.
She should have thought more about all of these things before she told Uri she would meet him. She shouldn’t have agreed to it. Now that she had, and she knew he would definitely be waiting for her, she had to make a decision, and fast.
She decided to sleep on it, and in the morning, she would make up her mind about what to do. She did decide on one thing though. She would definitely carry her own bags tomorrow, just in case she wanted to leave extra early and avoid a run in with the Prince.
The trouble was, that night, Stephanie didn’t sleep a wink. All she could think about was Uri, her parent’s funeral, the stack of bills likely piling up at the farm, and all the chores and duties she’d left to Buck and Aunt Ellen. As wonderful as the trip had been, it was time to go home now. She was more than ready.
After tossing and turning, by five in the morning, Stephanie had enough of trying to sleep. She could do that on the plane. She got up, showered quickly, finished packing her things and pulled a piece of stationary out from her desk drawer in her room. She decided this time to at least write Uri and let him know why she wouldn’t be seeing him today.
Dear Uri,
This trip was beyond my expectations, and all of that is be
cause of you. I think you are one of the nicest, most wonderful people I’ve ever met. Still, surely you must know as well as I do that we come from two totally opposite worlds. My life is quiet and boring, yours is sophisticated and exciting. There is nothing wrong with that, only that I can’t imagine anything lasting coming from our connection, and I’m sorry if I led you to believe otherwise.
I’ve felt incredibly attached to you these past couple of days, and I am grateful for all you did for me and for everything you showed me. Thank you! I truly appreciate you, but at this point, we both need to put this experience in our memories. For me, I will remember my cruise to Turkey and Greece as one of the happiest times in my life. Thank you for that.
With Best Regards,
Stephanie
She sealed the note in an envelope and took it to the front desk, where a long line of early bird passengers waited. Fortunately the line went quickly.
Stephanie approached a girl behind counter. “I know this is an unusual request, but I have this letter for someone who I was supposed to be meeting outside the ship this morning. Can somebody give it to him if he asks about me?”
“Certainly,” the girl took the envelope and read the outside. “Sheikh Uri?”
“Yes, that’s him,” Stephanie started tearing up. “He said he’ll be outside the doors waiting for me around seven, but unfortunately I need to leave early.”
“We’ll do our best, ma’am, but I can’t guarantee we can find him,” she said.
“I understand. Please try though. I don’t want him to worry,” she said.
“Absolutely, ma’am,” the girl smiled.
Before she lost her nerve or changed her mind and stayed, Stephanie hurried downstairs and stood near the door on the lowest level of the ship, waiting for it to open. She hoped they would let people out before she changed her mind, because part of her wanted nothing more than to throw her arms around Uri, and stay with him forever.
She continued to wait and fortunately, the doors opened early. Once that happened at five minutes past six, she went outside and wandered toward the busses that were leaving to take passengers to the Athens airport.
She glanced around, hoping Uri wouldn’t be standing out there early. She wouldn’t be able to resist him if he was. Fortunately, she saw no signs of him.
She boarded the bus and took a seat in the second row, closer to the front door, and sat next to the window, gazing out at the sea, tears streaming down her cheeks.
Several passengers crowded into the bus and walked past her.
“Can I sit here?”
“Sure,” Stephanie sniffled.
“How have you been?”
Stephanie wasn’t even fully awake yet. She glanced to her left and couldn’t believe her luck. “Oh hi, Meg.”
“How was your trip?” she asked.
“Good. You?” Stephanie tried smiling, wiping her tears with the back of her hand.
“It was okay. I saw you with your man yesterday at the ruins,” she said.
“Oh?” Stephanie didn’t have time to explain why Uri was anything but her man and why she would never see him again.
“You two look really nice together. I hope you’re happy.”
Stephanie couldn’t respond to that. She turned away and cried harder as the bus pulled away from the dock. It was all she could do to keep from running back to meet Uri, but she had to be strong. She would see him in her dreams only from now on.
Twenty One
Uri rose early and arrived at the dock at six thirty sharp. He did not want anything to happen that might cause him to miss sweet Stephanie.
This morning, he brought a fresh bouquet of flowers and a hand stitched lace table covering. He hoped she would like it and could use it at her farm.
He was surprised the doors to the ship were already opened when he first arrived. A small but steady stream of passengers were already leaving. Not to worry, he thought. She would be here soon enough.
After an hour, Uri realized he might be wrong. Stephanie clearly said seven, but now it was coming up on eight. She had a plane to catch. Surely she would need to be leaving soon to get to the airport.
He glanced at his watch for the tenth time, growing ever anxious with each passing moment.
A girl in a uniform approached him. “Excuse me, sir. Are you Sheikh Uri, by any chance?”
Taken completely by surprise, Uri scowled. “Who is asking?”
“I have a letter for you, sir,” she handed him an envelope.
He took it, still confused as to why anyone would have something for him here. His own father didn’t even know his exact whereabouts. Once he opened it though, his heart sank. He saw the signature – Stephanie.
“Thank you for this, miss. I need to see your manager at once.”
“But—” the girl began.
“I insist.”
“Yes, sir.” She turned and walked down the walkway toward the ship entrance.
Furious, Uri followed the girl inside the ship and was taken to the office of the same ship officer who arranged the luncheon. “How is it that your passengers were able to get off this ship before the posted disembarkation time?
“I do apologize, Sheikh Uri, however some people choose self service starting at six in the morning, and it appears your friend checked out of her room early.”
“Where did she go?”
“To the airport for her return flight to the United States.”
“I need her full name, and contact details in Iowa.”
“I am sorry, Your Highness, however I am unable to authorize the release of such personal details about our guests.”
“I have unlimited resources at my disposal, sir, and I am willing to pay handsomely for that information.”
“I appreciate the gesture, however I cannot release confidential details about our guests. Or rather I should say I will not.”
Uri sighed. “You are at risk of losing our future business. Are you aware of that?”
“Yes. And again, I apologize.”
Storming off in a fit of frustration, Uri walked across the ship lobby and dialed one of his most trusted advisors. “I need some information about flights leaving Athens for the United States today, and more specifically, passengers who have a final destination of Iowa. The passenger name is Stephanie. The sooner you have those details to me, the better.”
The advisor told Uri that would be no problem. Money did have its advantages in most of the circles Uri ran in. Still, cash could not buy loyalty, apparently. How could Stephanie leave him again? After she promised him one final goodbye? Could she ever be relied on? These were things he should question, but for the time being, all he could think about is being with her, what a chemistry they shared and how he had a hard time believing she didn’t feel the same way about him as he did about her. She was afraid, that’s all, and who could blame her? He would find her and make her see how wrong she was in thinking they could not have a life together. Anything was possible with love.
***
After catching the bus to the Athens airport, Stephanie wound up walking inside with Meg, and luckily parted ways with her once they got beyond the gates. She felt relieved none of the other girls were there. She could hardly bear the thought of having to talk to anyone about her situation with Uri right now. It still felt way too raw.
She went to the boarding area and dozed off until her flight boarded, then she flew from Athens to London, and changed planes for her flight to the States. She slept most of the way, and woke up once they reached Dallas, where she changed planes again. Through everything, she thought of only two things – Uri and the dreadful feeling of gloom at facing her life back home without her folks. One way or another, she would need to be strong. Her parents would want that for her.
Before long, she was headed to Des Moines, Iowa. She hoped Aunt Ellen or somebody would be waiting to drive her back to the farm, which was less than fifty miles east of the airport.
She slept all the way
from Dallas to Des Moines too. The flight was long and tedious, but before she knew it, she was on the ground. Just beyond the windows, she saw huge snow banks that stood as tall as several of the surrounding buildings. Thick white flurries blew in circles outside and frost clung to the windows. The weather was a far cry from Turkey and Greece. Reality had definitely set in.
She collected her bag from the overhead and entered the terminal, dragging her suitcase behind her. She stopped to take out her heavy jacket, and stood near the doors shivering as a blast of frigid air hit her. Just as she was about to step outside, the big burly man she’d known most of her life barreled through the door in a heavy ski coat, plaid shirt and cap.
“Sweet heart! Thank God you’re home!” Before she could stop him, Buck lifted her in his arms, swung her around in a circle and kissed her hard on the mouth.
Stephanie couldn’t believe it, but for the first time, the strong protective arms she always found comforting were not so appealing to her. She thought she would have missed her long time beau, but after the events in Turkey, she didn’t feel the same. Apparently her expression said it all.
“What’s wrong?” Buck’s smile sank into a frown. “Are you feeling okay?”
She nodded. “I am. Just tired, I guess. Happy to be home, though.”
Buck looked relieved and the smile returned to his normally cheerful face. “I know. I’ve never felt more thankful in my life. I about made myself sick with worry while you were gone. I swear I couldn’t take it! I was hoping to hear from you…”
“Sorry.” Stephanie smiled. Poor Buck. He was such a nice guy. She reached up and wrapped her hands around his thick neck. “I missed you.”
Totally returned to his optimistic self, Buck beamed, “I love you and I’ll never let you out of my sight again.”
Something about the finality of it all struck Stephanie the wrong way. She suddenly felt a little nauseous.
With that, Buck reached into his down vest and pulled out a small black box.
