Page 9 of The Sheikh's Desert Princess

Eva had to admit he still looked amazing. She hesitated when he saw her making her way towards him. He stood by the opening of his tent.

When she reached the tent she was sure that she saw his gaze run briefly down the length of her body, and she was keenly aware that she was modestly dressed in jeans and shirt and boots. She could still feel the sand in her clothes. She paused in front of him and brushed some of the sand away from her jeans looking up at him sheepishly.

"I'm not exactly dressed for dinner," she said brightly.

Riaz regarded her carefully. When he smiled at her she felt something tumble in her middle. Ignoring that, she shrugged again. "I guess you'll have to take me as you find me," she added.

Riaz smiled again. "I think I can deal with that," he said.

Eva glanced over towards the burning fire. She could feel the heat of it and hear the sound of the crackling embers. "Seems like they're getting ready for something big tonight," she observed.

"This is what they usually do on the first night," he explained. "It's a kind of celebration, getting together after so many months apart. Even although they're from different tribes, some of these men have known each other as friends for years."

Even nodded. "Like some huge frat party," she joked.

She saw Riaz's brows furrow. She knew that he didn't quite caught that allusion to university life. Hadn't he attended an American college? She was sure she had read that in the research.

Riaz gestured towards his tent. "I would be honored if you would enter my tent for dinner," he said slowly.

Eva tilted her head and watched him bow slightly. She was impressed by his manners and his apparent determination to behave like a gentleman.

Eva walked towards the entrance and he pulled the flap open. She ducked her head and stepped inside the tent. She paused for a moment and took in the sight of the interior, impressed with its surprising luxury. She turned to him and lifted a brow. "This is nice," she said wryly.

Riaz shrugged. "My home," he explained.

"The ultimate mobile home, I guess," Eva replied smirking at him.

She saw that he knew she was playing with him, trying to establish the tone for the evening ahead. There was a faint hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth as he led her to the low table which was set in front of a long, red couch.

On the table was laid out a number of dishes filled with tasty-looking food. Eva heard her tummy rumble and she looked at Riaz, sure that her face had suddenly reddened.

Riaz lifted a brow. "Hungry?"

Eva nodded. She sat down on the couch and he took his place next to her. Eva squinted at some of the foods laid out. "What is all this?" she asked examining the dishes.

"Trust me," he replied. "It all tastes lovely," he added. Riaz squinted at her suddenly. "You're not vegetarian are you?" he asked.

Eva gasped. "No."

Riaz looked relieved and then when on to explain what was on the plates. Eva tried some of the freshly baked bread and found it delicious. It only whetted her appetite to try what was on the dishes.

Riaz joined her in tasting the food, and for a while they just ate in relative silence. Eva was grateful for the food. She hadn't really eaten properly for a day or two, and it was a relief to get something decent.

She felt suddenly awkward when one of Riaz's tribesman came into the tent. He held a small tray upon which were two cups. He laid out the cups and poured dark tea into them. When she tasted the tea, Eva was impressed. It was fragrant and sweet and utterly delicious.

She managed during the meal to restrain the impulse to ask any questions. It was obvious that Riaz was trying to be courteous and she didn't want to spoil the atmosphere by starting to become intrusive. Not too quickly, at any rate.

Finally though, the meal was finished, the dishes cleared the way and it was just Eva and Riaz on the small sofa with yet more small cups of tea on the table in front of them.

Just as she was about to ask the first question, Riaz took her by surprise. "So what do you want to know?" he asked abruptly.

"I think you know that already," she replied, trying to contain her surprise at the sharpness of the question. His mood seemed to have shifted somehow within a mere moment. His gaze was suddenly serious.

"Tell me what you know about me already and I will see what I can add," he said. "Or, at least, what I'm willing to add," he said lifting a brow.

Eva paused, feeling a sudden surge of professional duty. It threatened to wipe away the informal and relaxed atmosphere established during the meal.

She told him about the research that she'd done on him before coming out to the fort. As Riaz listened to her speak, he nodded occasionally, appearing thoughtful at times as she described his life as it was known to the outside world.

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