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She pressed her face into his hand “Please, stop being so gallant and understanding or no hole will be deep enough”

She felt like whooping when his lips twitched “I can see this developing into a loop, with , no, I did So how about we let our feelings of guilt cancel out each other and get on with our enchanted evening?”

“Why would you want to spenda fraud or even a criminal?”

“I can wonder why you would want to spend more time with a lout who didn’t even ask your per you out of your national airspace But I won’t We agreed to think the best of each other’s actions and ree to anything But you’re used to this, aren’t you? You announce stuff and assureeain You’ve uncovered e, ran a finger down a slashed cheekbone “Only part? And that’s your biggest vice? You sure there aren’t bigger ones?”

“As much as I’d love to have you take my character apart and haul out vices for exa issues to worry about now Like food Didn’t you work up an appetite after all the upheavals? I ordered my chef to prepare my favorite dishes from my country’s cuisine for you to sa voice, too, rumble

His lips spread wide “I guess I have my answer”

He pushed more buttons Intheir trays high Even under covers, aro her lips

He rose to his feet, held out his hand She took it, let hiainst hi unfathoht have, in spite of his assurances, introduced distance between the area with stainless steel-backed, burgundy velvet-upholstered chairs and a Plexiglas table for two laid out in stunning hand-painted china, silver, crystal and burgundy silk

As soon as the last waiter had departed, Shehab raised a silver doht and aroma hit her senses in unison

At her moan he said, “This isokra, aubergine and zucchini The stuff that looks like ravioli is specially prepared dough that’s rolled out and cut and dropped in the mix before it’s fully cooked so that it retains its chewiness Some people consider this a full meal, some eat it with rice or khobez”

“That’s this bread?” He nodded, and as she bent for a closer sniff, his s on the flauessed you’d know so much about the preparation of the dishes you love”

“You didn’t think it possible for me to kno to cook?”

“If you do, I’ll know you’re a hallucination”

He chuckled as he pushed a button, made a chair retract froe

She flopped into it, groaned “Don’t describe anyit grow forks and knives” He laughed She moaned At the sound At the scents of food mixed with that of virility