Page 17 of The Sheikh and the Single Mom

“You sound surprised.” Rashad grinned at her, a more playful grin than Nina had seen from him before. “Is it because I’m a sheikh or because I’m a guy that you think I can’t cook?”

“Neither. Mostly I assumed you couldn’t cook because you’re a businessman,” Nina said. “Most of the CEOs and other executives I know employ chefs, because they feel their time is better spent working than cooking.”

“At home, I have a chef, too,” Rashad admitted. “But I try to cook for myself at least once or twice a week. I find it relaxing.” He laid the fish in his pan, where it sizzled and gave off a delicious scent.

“I like cooking, too,” Nina told him. “Before I had kids, it was a nice, relaxing activity for me. Now, it’s a little more stressful, since I know I need to have dinner on the table every day, so I tend to rely on simple, kid-friendly meals more than I used to.”

“That makes sense. It seems like your kids eat a lot of food that isn’t completely kid-friendly, though.”

“They’re good eaters.” Nina added the zucchini to the pan with a little salt. “It was important to me to make sure that my kids always try new foods, even if it was just a bite or two. It also helps when they do some cooking — they’re more likely to eatthe food when they’ve been involved in the whole process. Miles, what’s your favorite food?”

“Sushi,” Miles said. He handed Nina the last green bean. “Can I go look at the waves now?”

“Sure. Just stay where I can see you. Kate, how about you? What’s your favorite food?”

“I like mac and cheese.” Kate grinned a toothy grin. “And I like broccoli. Can I go with Miles?”

“Of course. You stay where I can see you, too.” Nina turned back to Rashad. “There are a few things that they still don’t like, but most things have turned out to be good.”

“I don’t think I was that adventurous at their age. When I was a kid, I loved nothing better than American fast food.”

“Really?” Nina added the pasta and sauce to the pan with the vegetables, along with some fresh basil, a few twists of pepper, and dried herbs. “Does Al Soub not have good food?”

“Actually, we have some of the best food in the world. Fresh seafood, delicious lamb dishes, great stewed rice, strong coffee with cream — even our salad, which is made with pomegranate seeds and oranges as well as fresh veggies, is very tasty. As a kid, it was hard to appreciate, though.”

“I guess that’s true for a lot of kids. When I was little, I always wished we could eat out, but as an adult, I miss the food my mom cooked for us. And my aunt. She was a wonderful chef, though I didn’t always recognize it back then.” Thinking about her aunt made Nina’s heart ache, so she quickly changed the subject. “It looks like lunch is almost ready.”

“You’re right.” Rashad used his spatula to cut the fish and serve it onto four plates, while Nina dished out the pasta. “Thanks for helping me cook.”

“It was my pleasure, and it was the least I could do after you watched my kids all morning.” They carried the plates to the dining area, while Rashad went back to the kitchen to get four glasses and a pitcher of water. Nina called Kate and Miles to the table and got them seated with the food. As Rashad joined them and everyone began to eat, Nina had the strange feeling that they must look like a family to a casual observer. They could easily have been two parents and two kids, all enjoying dinner together.

Nina quickly shook the feeling off. No matter what they looked like, she knew the truth, and she wasn’t about to get distracted.

“So, Nina, what’s your favorite thing to cook?” Rashad asked.

“Nowadays, make-your-own pizza is a hit,” Nina said. “I make some dough, and everyone can choose their own toppings.”

“I always put lots of olives,” Miles said, raising his eyebrows to punctuate “lots.”

“I used to enjoy making Chinese food, though,” Nina continued. “I still make some, but it’s a bit too time-consuming to do very often.”

“What kind of Chinese food?”

“Lots of things. I like to make fried rice, steamed buns, and some veggie dishes. I have a cookbook with lots of great recipes that are pretty authentic.”

“Recipes?” Rashad raised his eyebrows. “I’m surprised you use recipes instead of cooking by feel.”

“Do you cook by feel?” Nina raised her eyebrows back. “You seem like the kind of guy who likes to have things under his control. I would have imagined that you were in the kitchen measuring each seasoning with a teaspoon and a level.”

“No way. Cooking is a time to let go and use your instincts.” Rashad took a sip of his water. “Following recipes limits your creativity.”

“Maybe, but when I follow a recipe, I always know that the final dish will taste good. No surprises.”

“No surprises.” Rashad shook his head. “That sounds like a sad way to live.”

Nina rolled her eyes. “If you had two kids and ran a business, I’m sure you’d feel the same way. Even now, do you really have a lot of surprises in your life?”

Rashad seemed to consider, then he raised his waterglass to Nina. “Perhaps not. Touché.”

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