Page 7 of The Sheikh’s Christmas Present

His eyebrows shot up. Clearly, this wasn’t the answer he’d expected. “A beach? Not a fan of white Christmases, then?”

She shrugged. “They’re great, but I’m just more partial to beaches. If I had to choose, that’s where I’d go. A nice, sunny beach.” She mused about it for a moment, but then shook her head. “Of course, what I really want is to be busy every Christmas, keeping the organization going. If I was suddenly free for a beach trip, that would mean that Christmas Crates had gone under.”

“Is the business in that much trouble?” he asked.

She squirmed in her seat. “Well, there have been some pretty big issues lately. Gaining access to this refugee camp took some doing. The government isn’t particularly enthused to have a bunch of do-gooders running around dressed like Santa’s elves. There’s a lot of ways this can go south, which is why I really need to get to Syria on time.”

“You worry too much for someone so young.”

They were interrupted by their food, and Maria took the opportunity to drop the conversation. She didn’t like to talk about herself, and she sure as hell didn’t want to open up to someone like Jarik. He couldn’t even begin to understand her or why it was so important that she succeeded. More than her reputation was at stake. If Christmas Crates went under, it would also impact her career as a pilot and there was no way she was giving up flying.

4

Jarik didn’t make a big deal about Maria paying even if it was novel for him. He could tell it was important to her, and he wasn’t going to take that away from her. She was a hard woman to figure out. There were moments where she seemed to forget herself and she opened up to him, and there were other moments when she seemed to realize who she was talking to, and she clamped her mouth shut and blushed.

It frustrated him. He wanted to know more about Maria Walken, but the more he pushed, the quieter she got. She seemed to be suspicious about his reasons for wanting to get to know her.

He had a feeling simply saying that he was intrigued by her would probably anger her.

She was focused. Every step she took and every move she made had a purpose. Jarik couldn’t help but wonder what she would be like if she actually relaxed. Truly relaxed. Even after two glasses of wine with dinner, she was still anxious and worried.

So anxious that she didn’t see the two men that stared at her as they walked out. At first, Jarik felt jealous that these two strangers had the freedom to watch her so openly without fear of retribution, but when they got up after they passed, his whole body tensed.

“Okay,” she said with a tight smile when they walked out. “My hotel is right around the corner, so I can walk from here while you get a taxi or whatever to where you’re staying. I’ll call the airport in the morning and find out when we can take off, and I’ll get in touch with you.”

“I booked us a room. I already told you that.” He tried to keep the irritation out of his voice, but he knew he wasn’t successful when she frowned at him.

“I’m not stopping you from using it. Go right ahead. But there’s no reason for me to stay with you. I already have a place I stay at when I’m here.”

Jarik contemplated taking her by the arm and putting her in a taxi but he didn’t want to call attention to them.

“I’m going to walk you to the hotel,” he said instead. He didn’t want to tell her that he would also get a room near her. She’d probably balk, but he couldn’t shake this feeling that he shouldn’t leave her alone. If that meant him staying in a rundown part of town that he’d usually avoid, so be it.

“I’ll be fine, Jarik. You don’t have to bother with this knight on a white horse routine. It will take me five minutes to get there. Go to your ritzy hotel, take a hot shower, and get some sleep. I promise I won’t leave you here. I want your money too much.” She said the last part with a playful smile, and before he could say anything, she’d whirled around and started walking away.

“Damn,” he whispered. He didn’t mind giving her the money.

But he wanted her to want him.

* * *

Maria never drank. The two glasses of wine warmed her belly and made her head buzz. She thought about their conversation during dinner and worried that she might have said too much. Jarik had been very easy to talk to and every time she felt herself opening up to him, she made a point of shutting it back down. She had no idea how she came across to him and tried to talk herself into not dwelling on it. As soon as they got to Syria, he’d be on his way, and she’d never see him again. At least not in person. She was sure he’d figure in her fantasies but that would be all. She had no intention of getting involved with him beyond this interlude.

The wine kept her warm on her short walk, and it wasn’t until she saw the shabby but affordable hotel that she even realized she was being followed. Slowing down her pace, she cocked her head and listened.

Two men.

Shit.

Her wallet was on top in her bag. If she could slip it and her phone into her coat pocket, she could hand over the tote bag and still have the resources she needed not be stranded.

“Hey, pretty lady,” one man leered, as they got closer. “I see you left your man behind.”

Rolling her eyes, Maria quickly judged the distance between her and the hotel. They were too close for her to reach it before they caught up. Even if they didn’t have weapons, she probably couldn’t outrun them. Still, she had to try. Keeping her head down, she kept walking while she tried to move her wallet, keys, and phone.

“Hey? You deaf? I’m talking to you!”

They sped up until they cut her off. Stopping, she faced them with a grim expression. “I’m not deaf. You didn’t ask me a question, so I didn’t feel the need to stop and talk to you.”

---