“Exactly. You wouldn’t want to go on a real date with me. I know about that from my ex-fiancée.”
“What are you talking about?”
“This.” He gestured to the scar on the side of his face.
“Don’t be dumb, Khalid. That has nothing to do with it. I still feel married to Alexander and am faithful.”
Khalid nodded and looked away, feeling her words like a physical blow. Even if they got beyond the scar, she would never be interested in him. She loved a dead man. He wished they’d gone straight home. She could be with her memories, and he could get back to the reality of his life. Only her words had seemed so wrong.
CHAPTER FIVE
HE LOOKED back at her. “You’re not serious? You are not married—that ended when your husband died. And you are far too young and pretty to stay single the rest of your life.”
She blinked in surprise. “I’m not that young.”
“I’d guess twenty-five at the most,” he said.
“Add four years. Do you really think I look twenty-five?” She smiled in obvious pleasure.
Khalid felt as if she’d kicked him in the heart. “At most, I said. Even twenty-nine is too young to remain a widow the rest of your life. You could be talking another sixty years.”
“I’ll never find anyone to love like I did Alexander,” she said, looking around the room. For a moment he glimpsed the sorrow that seemed so much a part of her. He much preferred when she looked happy.
“My grandmother said that after her husband died. But she was in her late sixties at the time. They’d had a good marriage. Raised a family, enjoyed grandchildren.”
“I had a great marriage,” she said.
“You could again.”
She looked back. “You’re a fine one to talk. Where’s your wife and family?”
“Come on, Ella, who would marry me?”
“No one, with that attitude. How many women have you asked out in the last year?”
“If I don’t count you, none.”
“So how do you even know, then.”
“The woman I was planning to spend my life with told me in no uncertain terms what a hardship that would be. Why would I set myself up for more of the same?”
The waiter came and asked for drink orders. Khalid ordered a bowl of nuts in addition.
“She was an idiot,” Ella said, leaning closer after the man left.
“Who?”
“Your ex-fiancée. Did she expect life to be all roses and sunshine?”
“Apparently.” He felt bemused at her defense. “Shouldn’t it be?”
“It would be nice if it worked that way. I don’t think it does. Everyone has problems. Some are on the inside, others outside.”
“We know where mine is,” he said.
She shocked him again when she got up and switched chairs to sit on his right side. “I’ve noticed, you know,” she said, glaring at him in defiance.
“Noticed what?” He was growing uncomfortable. He tried to shelter others from the ugly slash of burned skin.
“That you always try to have me on your left. Are you afraid I’ll go off in shock or something if I catch sight of the scar?”
“No, not you.”
“What does that mean?”
“Just, no, not you. You wouldn’t do that, even if you wanted to. I’d say your parents raised you very well.”
“Leave my parents out of any discussion,” she said bitterly.
“Touch a nerve?”
She shrugged. “They and I are not exactly on good terms. They didn’t want me to marry Alexander.”
“And why was that?”
“None of your business.”
The waiter returned with the beverages and plate of nuts. Ella scooped up a few and popped them into her mouth.
“Mmm, good.” She took a sip of the cold drink and looked at the small stage.
“I think your musicians are arriving.”
So his tenant was at odds with her parents. He hadn’t considered she had parents living, or he would have expected her to return home after her husband’s death. Now that he knew they were alive, it seemed strange that she was still in Quishari and not at their place. His curiosity rose another notch. He would nudge the researcher at the oil company to complete the background check on his tenant.
Khalid spent more time watching Ella as the evening went on than the musicians. She seemed to be enjoying the music and the tavern. He enjoyed watching her. They stayed until after one before driving home.
“Planning to take a walk on the beach tonight?” he asked.
“Why not?” she asked. “I’m still buoyed up by that last set. Weren’t they good?”
“I have enjoyed going there for years. We’ll have to go again sometime.”
“Mmm, maybe.”
He didn’t expect her to jump at the chance. But he would have liked a better response.
“Meet you at the beach in ten minutes,” she said when she got out of the car.
“No walking straight through?” he asked.
“I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to get saltwater and sand on this gown. And I’d think it wouldn’t be recommended for tuxedos, either.”
Khalid changed into comfortable trousers and a loose shirt and arrived at the beach seconds ahead of Ella.
They started north. The moon was fuller tonight and spread a silvery light over everything. Without much thought, he reached for her hand, lacing their fingers together. She didn’t comment, nor pull away. Taking a deep breath, he felt alive as he hadn’t in a long while.
“I appreciate your going with me tonight. My mother is always after me to attend those things for the sake of the family,” he said.
“She would have been happier without me accompanying you,” Ella said.
“She doesn’t like anyone who shows an interest in her sons. Unless it’s the woman she’s picked out. Did you know Rashid almost had an arranged marriage?”
“No, what happened?”
“His supposed fiancée was to be flown in on the plane Bethanne delivered. Only she never left Morocco. When he fell for Bethanne, Mother was furious. I think they are getting along better now, but I wouldn’t say Mother opened her arms to Bethanne.”
“I bet your grandmother would have loved her.”
“She would have loved knowing Rashid was getting married.”
For a moment Khalid felt a tinge of envy for his brother. He had found a woman he adored and who seemed to love him equally. They planned a life in Quishari at the other home their grandmother had left and had twice in his hearing mentioned children. He’d be an uncle before the first year was out, he’d bet.
“Bethanne doesn’t strike me as someone who cares a lot about what others think of her,” Ella said.
“I’m sure Mother will come around once she sees how happy Rashid is. And once she’s a grandmother.”
Ella fell silent. They walked for several minutes. Khalid wondered what she was thinking. Had she wanted to be a mother? Would her life be vastly different if she had a small child to raise? She should get married again.
She was right—that was easy enough for him to say. They were a pair, neither wanting marriage for different reasons. Maybe one day another man would come along for her to marry. Once she was out, showing off her creations, she’d run into men from all over the world.
Khalid refused to examine why he didn’t like that idea.
“Ready to head back?” she asked.
He nodded, but felt curiously reluctant to end the evening. He liked being with Ella.
The return walk was also in silence, but not without awareness. Khalid could breathe the sweet scent she wore, enjoy the softness of her hands, scarred here and there by burns from her work. She wore a skirt again. He didn’t think he’d seen her in pants except when working at her studio. It made her seem all the more feminine. He didn’t want the evening to end. Tomorrow would bring back the barriers and status of tenant and landlord. He had no more reasons to seek her out or take her out again. But he wanted to.
“I can get home from here,” she said when they reached the path.
“I’ll walk that short distance.” He was not ready to say good-night.
When they reached the cottage, she tugged her hand free. “Good night. I enjoyed the tavern. And am glad I got to meet your mother even if she wasn’t as glad to meet me.”
He reached for her, holding her by her shoulders and drawing her closer. “I’m glad you went with me.”
“We’re even now, right?” Her voice sounded breathless. He could see her dimly in the light from the moon, her eyes wide, her mouth parted slightly.
With a soft groan, he leaned over and kissed her. He felt her start of surprise. He expected her to draw away in a huff. Instead, after a moment, she leaned against him and returned his kiss. Their mouths opened and tongues danced. Her arms hugged him closer and his embraced her. For a long moment they kissed, learning, tasting, touching, feeling.
She was sweet, soft, enticing. He could have stood all night on the doorstep, kissing Ella.
But she pushed away a moment later.
“Good night, Khalid,” she said, darting into the house and shutting the door.
“Good night,” he said to the wooden door.
This was not going to be their last date, no matter what Ella thought.
Ella leaned against the door, breathing hard. She closed her eyes. She’d kissed Sheikh Khalid al Harum! Oh, and what a kiss. Unlike anything she’d ever had before.