“I just need my purse and passport,” she said. She dashed to the house, Bethanne with her. “Bring a change of clothes and sleepwear. We’re planning to stay as long as we need to,” she said.
Ella went through the motions, but her thoughts stuck on Khalid. “He’s really all right?”
“No, but he will be. So far he’s still unconscious. We hope we’re there by the time he wakes up,” Bethanne said, helping fold clothes and stuffing them in the small travel bag.
Time seemed to stop. Ella felt like she was walking through molasses. She remembered hurrying to Alexander’s hospital bed—too late. He had died from the car crash injuries before she was there to see him. She couldn’t be too late for Khalid.
She sat on the edge of the bed.
“I can’t go,” she said.
Bethanne stopped and looked at her. “What?”
“I can’t go.” She pressed her hands against her chest, wishing she could stop the tearing pain. Khalid. He had to be all right!
“Yes, you can. And will. And greet him with all the love in your heart. He cannot have another fiancée abandon him when he’s in the hospital.”
Ella looked at Bethanne. “I’m not—” Now was not the time to confess she wasn’t really his fiancée. “I’m not abandoning him. But I don’t think I can go into a hospital.”
“We’ll be right with you. Come on. That’s all you need. Get your passport and let’s go.”
Four hours later they entered the hospital. Ella felt physically sick. The few updates Rashid had obtained during the flight had not been encouraging. Entering the new hospital, Ella felt waves of nausea roil over her. “I need a restroom,” she said, dashing to the nearest one. Bethanne followed.
After throwing up, Ella leaned limply against the stall wall. “I can’t do this again,” she said.
“He’ll be okay, Ella. He’s not Alexander. He’ll pull through,” Bethanne said, rubbing her back.
“Go on up. I know Rashid needs to see him instantly. I’ll clean up and be right behind you.” She wanted a few moments to herself. She could do this. She had to. The thought of Khalid lying helpless in bed was almost more than she could stand. But she also wanted to see him. At least one more time. And assure herself he was alive and would recover.
She tried hard to think of this as visiting a sick friend. But as she walked down the corridor, the smells that assailed her reminded her vividly of the frantic dash to see Alexander. Only the times got mixed up. She felt the fear and panic, but it was for Khalid. The door was ajar to the room she’d been directed to. She stood outside, drawing in a deep breath, hoping she wouldn’t lose her composure.
Rashid stepped out, smiling when he saw her. “I’m calling Mother. He’s awake. And probably wondering where you are.” He flipped open his mobile phone and hit a speed-dial number. Walking down the corridor, he began to speak when his mother answered.
Ella turned back to the room, stepping inside. Immediately she saw Khalid, the hospital bed raised so he was sitting. His face was bandaged, both eyes looked blackened. His right shoulder was also bandaged. Bethanne was on the far side, talking a mile a minute in English. Khalid watched her; he hadn’t seen Ella yet.
Which was a good thing. It gave her time to get over her shock, give a brief thanks he was awake and seemingly able to recover. Pasting a smile on her face she stepped into the room.
“You scared me to death!” she said.
Khalid swiveled around, groaned at the movement, but looked at her like she was some marvelous creation. Her heart raced. Nothing wrong with his eyes.
“You came,” he said.
“You said you’d keep safe.” She walked over to the bed. Conscious of Bethanne watching her, she leaned over and kissed him gently on the mouth. His hand came up and kept her head in place as he kissed her back.
“Don’t hurt yourself,” she said, pulling back a few inches, gazing deep into his eyes.
“I didn’t think you’d come,” he said, pulling her closer for another brush of lips.
“Why ever not?” Bethanne asked. “If Rashid were injured nothing could keep me away.”
“And nothing could keep me away,” Ella said. She straightened and took his hand in hers, feeling his grip tighten. Studying him, she shook her head.
“You look horrible,” she said.
He laughed, and squeezed her hand. “I feel like a truck ran me over. That was something we didn’t expect—another explosion. I think they had the wells linked in a way that didn’t show on the maps.”
“I heard one of your men died. I’m so sorry.”
“Me, too.”
She leaned closer. “But I’m glad it wasn’t you.”
“I’m going to find Rashid. We’ll be back.” Bethanne waved and headed out of the room.
“When Rashid first came in, I thought you hadn’t come,” he said.
“Well, some of your fiancées might desert you in hospital, but not all,” she said lightly, hating for him to know how much it had taken for her to come. She was so glad she had, but the fear she’d lived with wouldn’t easily be forgotten.
He laughed again. Despite his injuries, he seemed the happiest she’d ever seen him.
“Did that blow to the head knock you silly?” she asked.
“Maybe knocked some sense in me. I lay here thinking, after I woke up, what if you didn’t come? We haven’t known each other that long. What if you didn’t care enough to come.”
“What if I knocked you up side the head again to stop those rattled brains. Of course I would come. I had to see that you were all right. I couldn’t just take Rashid’s word for it.”
“Why?”
She looked at their linked hands. “I care about you,” she said.
“How much?”
She met his gaze. “What do you mean, how much?” she asked.
“I want to know how much you care about me—what’s hard about that?”
“Like, more than spinach but less than chocolate?”
His gaze held hers, his demeanor going serious. “Like enough to marry me, stay in Quishari and make a life with me?”
Ella caught her breath. For a moment she forgot to breathe. Did he mean it? Seriously?
“Are you asking me to marry you?” she said. “I mean, for real?”
He nodded. “I am. I hated to say good-night to you in Quraim Wadi Samil. Hated even more leaving for Kuwait without having another kiss. Then I woke up here and realized, life is unexpected. I could die here today, or live for decades. But I knew instantly either way, I wanted you as part of my life. I love you, Ella. I think I have since you touched my cheek on the beach weeks ago. A woman who wasn’t horrified by how I look. Who could see me clearer in the dark than anyone in the light. A woman who had been through a lot already, and valued people for who they were, not what they could offer monetarily. Did I also mention who sets my entire body on fire with a single kiss?”
Warmth and love spread through her as she smiled at his words. “You didn’t. Maybe we need another check on that.” She leaned over and kissed him.
“Are you saying yes?” he prompted a few moments later.
“I am. I love you. I never expected to say those words again after Alexander’s death. But you swept into my life, running roughshod over any obstacles I might throw up. I can’t pinpoint the moment I fell in love, but I can the moment I realized it. I will love you forever.”
“The fire is still going,” he said.
“And are you planning to put it out?”
“Might be involved in the planning. But right now I don’t feel up to standing to kiss you, so doubt if I’ll be leading a foray close to the flames.”
“This time,” she murmured, remembering what Bethanne had said. She wouldn’t want to change a thing about this man.
“This time. But I’m careful. I’m still here, right?”
“Right. Here’s hoping there are no more fires in your future.”
“Only the one you set with your kisses,” he said.
Ella laughed, seeing an entirely different side of the man who had captured her heart. And to think, she almost missed this. She’d have some quick unpacking to do when she got back to the cottage. She couldn’t bear for him to think she was leaving. She’d tell him—after a while. After he was convinced of her love as she was already convinced of his.
“I love you, Ella, now and always.”
“I love you, Khalid. Now and always.”
EPILOGUE
“I’M GETTING car sick riding with my eyes closed,” Ella said, still gripping the edge of the door to help with the bouncing. They’d left Quraim Wadi Samil a while ago. In the last ten minutes, Khalid had insisted she close her eyes—he had a surprise for her. It couldn’t be the oasis; she’d already seen that. What else was out in this desert?
“Almost there,” he said, reaching out to grasp her free hand in his, squeezing it a little.
She felt the car slowing. Then it stopped. The desert wind brought scents of sand, scant vegetation and—was it water?
“Open your eyes,” he said.
She did and stared. They were at the oasis. The late afternoon sun cast long shadows against the tall palms, the small pool of water—and the sandstone house that looked as if it had miraculously sprung up from the ground.