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“Why don’t you head back to your hotel? It ested

Steph nodded, falling into step with him as he headed in a direction she wouldn’t have chosen She really was completely and utterly lost in El Farah She had so much to learn

“So, being froes? Do you think I’ crazy?”

Having the chance to speak plainly with soood an opportunity to pass up, and Steph decided to make the most of it with Mehdi The fact that there was an obvious spark of attraction between them was a moot point, but at least she had a momentary friend to confide in

Mehdi ruminated on his answer for a moment

“I don’t think you’re being crazy It’s perfectly rational to be afraid of the unknown It’s your body’s response to the possibility of danger, and it’s trying to protect you I’ totally honest”

“The chances of usif not honest with ether”

Mehdi’s eyebrows shot up at her blunt honesty “You really don’t think we’ll ever see one another again?”

Steph shrugged “I’ine my future husband would be thrilled tobefore our wedding”

“No, I suppose he wouldn’t be,” Mehdi agreed “In that case, I findour country I have spent sos right—by women, by minorities, with education I would like to seeout there, as you’ve said, so I think it’s fair to say that I’”

Steph s? That’s one way to describe it”

“And hoould you? That’s all arranged e is, isn’t it? A way for two people to ether? The only difference is the dating happens in conjunction with the e”

“That’s a pretty big difference,” Steph said, though she wasn’t entirely certain of her own conviction on that point

“Perhaps,” Mehdi said with a shrug “I wouldn’t do so like, say, outlaw the practice, but it certainly wasn’t for me”