Page 45 of The Sheikh's Desert Princess

However, Eva was different.

Eva was no ordinary woman. She seemed to understand what his life here was all about.

The thoughts which had coursed through his mind these last few hours of broken sleep had convinced him of that. He'd awakened this morning with a new certainty born in him. A certainty about what Eva meant to him.

She looked up from her notepad and saw him heading her way. She smiled and stood, tucking the small pad into her pocket. For a moment, Riaz wondered what she didn't want him to read.

"Good morning," he called out.

Eva lifted a hand to her hair which was hanging loose down to her shoulders. "Good morning," she replied. She gazed up at the blue sky and sucked in a deep breath. "And what a beautiful morning it is," she added.

Riaz examined her pretty face, her bright eyes. Her features were relaxed, her skin clear in the early morning light.

Riaz ran his gaze down the length of her body. She looked every bit as tempting as she'd done last night. Her shirt was tight across her breasts and her jeans hugged her hips.

"It isn't just the sky or the desert that's looking beautiful this morning," he said.

Eva's eyes brightened on hearing his obvious attempt at a compliment. She narrowed her eyes and he suddenly felt she was sizing him up. "Did you sleep well?" she asked.

"Of course," he said proudly.

Was it so obvious that he'd been tossing and turning all night?

She lifted a skeptical brow. "You missed breakfast."

"We eat when we want," he retorted. "We don't share everything around here. The evening meal is the only one we try to keep sacred."

"I learn something new every day," she said in a teasing voice.

"About today, Eva," he said. "I'm sending one of my men to Ahmed's camp this morning."

He saw her brows furrow at his sudden change of subject.

"I'll send a message telling Ahmed that we agree to his visiting the camp." Riaz peered at Eva. "I take it we still agree on that," he added tentatively.

She nodded abruptly. "Of course," she replied. He saw her lips tighten into a thin line and he wondered if she'd considered changing her mind. But she didn't add anything to what she'd said.

"So, what am I going to do while we're waiting?" she asked.

He smiled at her. "I might have one or two ideas," he replied.

Eva lifted her brows quizzically. "You do? Why am I not surprised at that?"

Riaz grinned. He was glad she was in such a good mood this morning. It might make the day go more smoothly as far as he was concerned.

"Actually I was going to spend some time getting to know some of what goes on around here," she suggested.

He instantly felt his defenses go up. "Really," he responded. "What kind of things did you want to know more about?"

Eva tilted her head. "How about everything," she taunted.

Riaz laughed quietly. "I thought you'd say something like that."

"I've been watching the men," she stated. "They sure know how to keep a camp running smoothly."

Riaz nodded, glancing at the men nearby. "They're loyal and well-trained. But, it isn't all hard work."

"I was going to to ask you what you all do for pleasure," she asked. He saw her cheeks flush slightly as she realized the other meaning of what she'd just said.

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