Page 37 of The Sheikh's Desert Princess

Eva glanced down at his hand and hesitated. Was she considering how it would look if she took the sheikh's hand? Was she worried what the men would assume?

Just as Riaz started to lower his hand, Eva took it quickly, holding it around chest height in the space between them. She'd understood what he wanted, he told himself. It wasn't intended to be a gesture of familiarity, more like one of respect. One of politeness and honor.

They walked together to the campfire. Most of his men glanced toward him and Eva. Their expressions were impassive.

Riaz led Eva to a low seat alongside his place. She sat down and smiled at the circle of faces. Riaz swept his white robe to the side and sat down, cross-legged on the low, flat seat.

Over the next hour, food was shared and consumed ravenously by most of the men. There was much laughter and Riaz was pleased to see Eva joining in, sharing as much as she could with her lack of knowledge of the language.

Riaz found himself enjoying every moment of her presence alongside him. He'd known he would. She had a rare ability to find ways to connect with strangers. He guessed that came with her experience, with all the places she'd worked as a journalist in the region. Maybe this wasn't such an unusual occurrence for her after all, he thought.

Nevertheless, Riaz was sure he hadn't enjoyed a meal as much as this for a very long time.

Finally, the men started to drift away. Some of them busied themselves clearing away the remnants of the meal.

Then, Riaz was alone with Eva. Exactly what he'd waited for all evening. He knew what he wanted. The impatience he'd felt at sharing her presence with the men began to fade as he and Eva walked from the camp down to the river's edge.

The moon was high and silvery light made the river seem different from the day. Through the trees the distant dunes shimmered in the ghostly glow. He knew the transformation which could overtake this place at night. It would assume a fresh identity, something magical.

Eva leaned against a twisted tree trunk. "Those seem like good men," she said.

Riaz rested his shoulder against the tree. He was so close to Eva he could inhale her soft scent. "They are the best I could ever hope for. I am blessed by their loyalty."

Eva thought for moment and then turned her face to him. "One thing puzzles me. Don't they all have families. Wives and children."

He'd expected her to ask him that. He nodded. "Most of them come from a small village up to the north. You might say that village is my real ancestral home. It's where much of my forebears were based for many generations."

He saw her brow lift, interest suddenly seizing her. For a moment he regretted opening up to her like that. In explaining where his men had come from, he could see he'd triggered more questions in her mind.

Her eyes narrowed. "So, they all left their wives and children to be here with you?" she asked.

Riaz shook his head. "It isn't quite that simple. They haven't left them behind at all. The men spend periods of time with me here, and then they are back with their families. It's like a changing squad of men who believe in what I'm trying to do."

"And what exactly is that?" Eva asked.

Riaz looked steadily at her. "You already know the answer to that, Eva," he replied.

She nodded. "Of course," she said. "Reclaiming something you believe has been lost." She peered at him. "Isn't that too much like living in the past?"

Riaz shook his head. "Not the way I see it."

She looked at him as if she expected him to continue, but he fell silent for a period.

He drew in a deep breath and leaned closer to Eva. He noticed she didn't immediately respond by moving away from him.

Right now, he didn't want to talk about all that, he told himself. At this moment all he wanted was to be as close as possible to her. Anything that got in the way of that happening would be pushed firmly aside.

Their eyes met, exchanging a moment of understanding. He was sure she understood why he'd cut that conversation short. And it had had nothing to do with trying to prevent her prying into his way of life. It had everything to do with making the most of this special moment.

She broke the silence, clearing her throat, as if she felt suddenly awkward. Perhaps she understood why he hadn't repeated his usual speech about his reasons for choosing this life.

Riaz heard the sounds of the men back in the camp. Laughter drifted down to the riverside. They'd be getting ready to retire soon, he told himself.

Eva surprised Riaz by moving away from the tree and steeping toward the river's edge. He saw her wrapping her arms around herself as she halted. He went to her, standing close. Had she interpreted his refusal to talk as an indication that there was something else on his mind?

If that was so, then she was completely right. Not only was his mind churning, tormenting him with thoughts about Eva, but he could feel his pulse racing, his heart pounding.

What had come over him?

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