Page 31 of The Sheikh's Desert Princess

"Call it my journalistic sixth sense," she replied.

"So you claim to read minds, do you?" he asked.

Eva took a step closer to the water's edge. "You're pretty easy."

Riaz narrowed his eyes and followed her. "I'm easy am I?" he teased.

Eva shrugged, ignoring that last question, and then squatted down letting her hand dip into the rushing water. She moved her hand slowly. "It feels so good," she gasped. "So cool."

She wiped the back of her neck. He saw the damp sheen of the water on her skin and felt a flicker of emotion stirring in him.

Eva's gaze followed the course of the river. "Does it go all the way to the sea?"

Riaz nodded. He glanced in the same direction. "It starts in the mountains and eventually finds its way out into the Qazhar Sea."

"How far is that?"

He shrugged. "About a hundred kilometres."

Riaz heard her draw in a deep breath and then sigh. She stood and faced him. "So we really are in the middle of nowhere."

Riaz shook his head. "I wouldn't say that exactly." He gazed around at the beautiful landscape. "There's nothing primitive about a place like this. This is the true Qazhar. The one everyone back home seems determined to forget."

"Home?" she probed. He hadn't realized he'd used that word until she'd brought it to his attention like that. She was looking at him, an intent expression in her eyes. Her curiosity had been piqued again. And once again he felt like she was testing him, trying to dig beneath the barrier he'd erected.

"What used to be home," he responded. "Not any more," he added gazing toward the mountains.

Eva looked back at the camp. "But isn't this all a bit spartan? This can't be much of a life for someone like you."

Riaz peered at her. "Like me?"

Eva nodded. "Someone used to so much privilege. So much opportunity and freedom."

Riaz snorted. "Their idea of freedom doesn't match with mine."

He felt irritation well up within him, but he knew he'd have to restrain any expression of it.

Eva looked as if she was about to ask him something else, but he tried to discourage her by turning away and facing the camp.

Why did she have to insist on asking so many foolish questions? Of course, she was a journalist. How could he ever forget that simple fact? He'd have to find some way to distract her, some way to keep the subject of their conversation away from the details of his life.

"You must be hungry," he stated.

Eva hesitated, as if he'd halted her train of thought. "I guess anything would be better than that awful dried meat you gave me."

He smiled, recalling how eventually she'd given in to his persuasion and nibbled on a strip of the meat, hunger getting the better of her visible distaste. She'd chewed on the small piece for a few moments and then uttered an oath and removed it from her mouth.

"Maybe it's an acquired taste," he suggested.

"One I won't be acquiring anytime soon. I hope there's something else on the menu."

"Menu?" he asked. "We don't do menus out here."

Eva tilted her head at him and grinned. " You know what I mean, Riaz."

He liked it when she smiled. It made her pretty, even features even more attractive. Her pale skin was tinged pink with the sun. She'd have to be careful, or else the sun would get the better of her. He reminded himself she wasn't of this land; she was an outsider, unaccustomed to this kind of climate. No matter what she'd said to him about her experience in this region, he knew she'd have to take care. If she resisted, he would have to insist.

"Maybe you'd like to wash before eating," he suggested.

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