The Sheikh's Virgin Bride(8)

“Don’t thank me yet. Wait until you see the spot I’ve picked out.”

By the time we got to the restaurant Rashid had picked out, I was too speechless to say anything, let alone thank him.

It was a literal Arabian paradise. The waiting area was a small arboretum with colorful birds, luscious plants galore, and bubbling fountains. Meanwhile, the restaurant itself was nothing short of spell-binding. Patrons were seated on lavish crimson pillows, while food was placed on low walnut tables before them.

When our waitress, a woman dressed in an iridescent white and pink robe, had departed with our drinks order, Rashid turned to me.

“Too casual, right?”

He waited a second, before that upturned corner of his mouth gave him away. Together, we shared a chuckle. I enjoyed that I could laugh with Rashid, even if the circumstances were odd. He had such an easy humor about him that put me at ease; few men could pull off what he did.

I accepted the glass of mango iced tea he offered me, poured from the jug we’d decided to share. As I drank, I eyed him over the rim of my glass.

“You’re quite the jokester, aren’t you?”

“I’ve been told so. It was my way of having fun when I was a child, and now, as an adult, I find it’s good to laugh as often as possible. The world is bleak and boring, otherwise.”

I met his eyes. “Are you an only child, too?”

His gaze flicked away. “I, uh…yes.”

He gave me a small smile. “So, I assume you’ve given the arrangement some thought? Any questions, decisions, worries?”

I shook my head and shrugged. “No, everything seems pretty straightforward. A no-brainer, really. I just go to a country I’ve never heard of, get married to a prince I met a day ago, never see my family again…what’s there to worry about?”

Once again, we chuckled together, then I met his gaze once more.

“Yeah, I’ve got some questions. How long have you got?”

Rashid glanced at his diamond-encrusted watch and waved his hand dismissively. “For you, all day. My jet can wait for me until I need it.”

“Well, I have to get back to work after lunch, so I’ve got about an hour.”

He gave another wave of his hand and a half-shrug. “I’ll take care of that.”

I eyed him steadily. “I’m serious. I haven’t made up my mind yet. I may still need this job.”

His smile was irreverent. “And I’m serious, too. I can make some calls. To your boss, to someone who could replace you for the day—whatever you need. Your wish is my command.”

To my dubious look, he winked. “Money solves a lot of problems.”

“Tell me about it,” I murmured incredulously.

“I have to say, I’m a bit surprised to find that a girl as beautiful and bright as you is…not taken.”

I gave him a grateful half-smile for not saying the word. Each time I heard the word “virgin”, even when it had nothing to do with me, it made my skin crawl.

“Yeah, you and pretty much every other person I’ve met who’s found out.”

He nodded, though his gaze on me was steady. “Well?”

“Well, what?”

“Is there anything I should…know about? Any, I don’t know, issues that wouldn’t make you the ideal person to join my life to?”

Suddenly, under his searching gaze and blunt words, I grew annoyed.

“Listen, buddy. You were the one who proposed to me after knowing me for all of thirty minutes. If you want to ask prying questions about who I am, you’ll have to wait to find out as you get to know me, like any normal person. Just because you’re offering me a good deal of money doesn’t mean you’ll get me to spill my guts about my life story.”

A furrow of irritation appeared between his dark eyes. “So, is that a ‘yes’?”

I leaned in so that our faces were inches apart.

“I’ve never had a long-term boyfriend and I’ve spent my entire life worrying about my parents or working so I can pay for their care. So, if your question is if I have issues, the answer would probably be yes. And no, I’m not going to sit here and lay out my life and every little thing that may or may not be relevant to you wanting me as a partner. I don’t know you well enough for that, and you’re the one wanting to marry someone you barely know in the first place.”

Now, his face was apologetic. He took my hand. “Yes, of course. I’m sorry. It was inappropriate of me to ask.”

I pulled my hand away, just as the waitress returned.

“Some bread to start for our most valued guests,” she said in her singsong voice.

She set down a basket filled with half a dozen different kinds of breads, all of which looked and smelled delicious. I stood up from the table.

“Lacie?”

I enjoyed Rashid’s worried look, and gave him an easy smile.

“I’m going to the bathroom.”

And then I strode off.

Inside the little marble-paneled room, I took my time washing my hands, really rubbing in the lavender-scented soap. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to return. Even the thought of this whole arrangement was turning out to be much more intense than I had bargained for.

On top of that, there was just the reality of spending time with Rashid. There was no denying how I now felt, even though I’d hardly spent more than an hour total with the man. I was attracted to him, yes, and he was good company—easy to talk to, charismatic, and funny. But did that make him marriage-worthy? Surely my future husband wasn’t supposed to make me feel such a mess of emotions—one second, I was enraptured by his charm, while the next, I couldn’t believe the nerve he had to be so forward.