Page 7 of The Sheikh's Defiant Girlfriend

As the sky darkened, the lights broadcasting the park’s rides became an impressive bright show, the screams of riders almost surreal in the night. They ate all the worst food and went on all the rides, even all the roller coasters. Soraya had expected Amir to protest after seeing his reaction on the first one, but he joined her gamely. Whipping around corners and down hills in the dark was a whole new experience, and Soraya loved the way her heart raced and her breath caught. She pretended not to notice that neither went back to normal after the ride. In fact, her racing heart and quickened breathing seemed to grow even more intense when she looked at Amir at her side.

They finally took a break from rides to share a banana split smothered in chocolate sauce and whipped cream.

Amir leaned across the small table and swiped a finger across her cheek. “You had a smudge of something there,” he said and then licked his finger. “Mmm. Chocolate. Do you taste as good everywhere?”

She smacked his arm. “Hush. Toys aren’t supposed to flirt. You’re just helping me have fun, like we agreed.”

“Your wish is my command. The park will be closing soon, but we have time for one more ride. The Ferris wheel is on the way back to the car.”

“Um. I don’t know.”

“Wait…” Amir grinned. “We’ve been on all the highest, scariest rides in the park, but you don’t want to go on the Ferris wheel?”

“It’s not my favorite.”

“But it’s slow, and the Desert Demon is taller. You’re not afraid, are you?”

“The slowness is the problem. I don’t mind going high if it’s fast and I don’t have time to be scared.”

Amir grabbed her hand and pulled her to her feet. “Come on. We’re riding it. I rode the Demon with youtwice, and my life flashed before my eyes about six times each ride. You can go on the Ferris wheel with me. Didn’t I promise I wouldn’t let you fall?”

“Fine,” Soraya said as she gathered up their trash from the ice cream. “But if I die, I won’t be responsible for whatever Malik might do to you.”

Amir laughed, and they set out across the park.

The Ferris wheel line was almost as long as the worst of the coaster lines. It seemed like everyone wanted the bird’s eye view of the park at night and the city lights in the distance before they left for the night. Again, their SwiftPasses took them past the longer line and to the short VIP line. Even there, they had to wait a bit, and with each passing moment, Soraya’s stomach churned more and more.

She’d never liked Ferris wheels, even the little ones at the street fairs that popped up in the city neighborhoods. She was about to bolt when the attendant beckoned them forward and into an enclosed car. Amir took her hand and tugged. Once again, he was pushing her beyond her comfort zone. But she’d promised. After all, he had ridden the Demon twice.

She followed him up and into car.

The Ferris wheel’s cars were not only enclosed, but they were air conditioned and big enough to hold a few people. The attendant shut and locked their door though they were the only two people in theirs, and Soraya’s stomach plummeted as they rose smoothly into the air.

The car’s benches were plush, and the car thankfully didn’t jolt or swing or rattle the way some carnival wheels did. Slowly, she relaxed and let her gaze drift out the windows. The view was breathtaking. Every ride’s lights flashed and spun below them, except for the tallest coasters. In one direction, the city skyline glowed. In the other direction, she could see the lights of a smaller town, maybe Maratha, a resort town on the Persian Gulf.

“Oh, Amir. It’s beautiful!”

She turned to see him gazing at her, something strange in those dark eyes. But maybe it was just the reflection of the lights around them. The red, blue, orange, and green chased each other around the wheel that bore them up.

“Not as beautiful as you.”

Soraya stilled. Try as she might, she could not look away from him.

“Amir…”

He leaned in as if he would kiss her, but she pulled back. He sighed and gave her some space. “What is it, Soraya? You don’t like me?”

“I don’t want to be your next bit of arm candy. I don’t want a broken heart. And you are very good at breaking hearts.”

“I think you might be the heartbreaker this time around, Soraya. Give me a chance, at least.”

She shook her head. This was dangerous territory. “Why did you suddenly decide to start pursuing me?” She shouldn’t ask. She didn’t really want to know. “Is it because I stopped paying you any attention? Is it the chase you like, and this is a matter of pride?”

“No! Nothing like that. I started to see you differently on Malik’s twenty-fifth birthday party. Do you remember?”

“That was years ago!”

“You were wearing a jade-green dress and had tiny gold beads woven through your hair.”

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