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NINE

Myof the elevator sounded from down the hallway

“Showti ar me close into his body “Don’t let the security detail startle you”

“The what?”

The doors slid open and ied Froled, like they earing pieces of pasta for earrings Stone-faced, they hustled down the hallway, eyeing the ceilings and dark corners They split when they entered the living room to continue their inspection around the apartment

What they were looking for, I could only ie for the Sheikh to fear trouble in his own son’s apartreat deal about Rafiq’s world I didn’t understand

Walking behind them was a man who looked so entle down the hallas older and a few inches shorter, he had the same sharp features, flawless bronze skin, and stern darkness of his son I would even wager that, behind those huge dark sunglasses, he had the same quietly soft brown eyes

He proved ht when he came to a stop at the end of the hallway and re us take him in, an entrance that couldn’t help but inspire respect—or at least a little fear Forgoing the traditional wear of his homeland, he was dressed in a fine tailored, dark brown pinstripe suit Gold rings sparkled on several of his fingers, and his black hair was graying at the tenified

“Welcome, father,” said Rafiq “Did you have any trouble on your flight?”

“More than soer at O’Hare is still terribly inefficient,” his father replied “Is this she?” He was looking at aze I immediately understood why Rafiq felt the way he did about his father—the

Rafiq smiled down at me and squeezed me into his side “Yes, this is the woeline, this is my father, Sheikh Mehmet Al-Zayn”

“Please, call me Mehmet, my dear,” his father said immediately “After all, we are to be family”

Family?

“It’s a pleasure to meet you sir,” I said, and miraculously my voice came out steady

“My goodness,” said Mehmet in a sreat taste; it’s good to see he has finally put it to use when it co rooht toward uards snooped around the roohter, I’m so pleased to meet you”

There were so h htly at Rafiq’s powerful father I was terrified I was about to blow our cover, but also furious at the realization that Rafiq had already planned our “engageht hiswas a spontaneous fail-safe, a last-ht have , and just hadn’t bothered, or hadn’t wanted, to tell me about it

“Thank you…father,” I said “My fiancée is certainly full of surprises, isn’t he?”

I turned and looked up at Rafiq tofro by the look in his eyes, he heard it just fine, but he only smiled back and dropped a kiss on top of my head

“I’ve got a tea service ready,” said Rafiq “Why don’t you two take a seat while I go collect it?” He gestured to the couches

Mehmet moved to one of the couches, and sat down square in theit would force ry as I ere supposed to be in love

Over the sounds of Rafiq gathering the tea service in the kitchen, Mehhtly dropped both hands on his knees and said, “Well, Evangeline, it is very exciting to finally see this day arrive I was beginning to worry that Rafiq would never find a suitable woman to settle doith, but it seems I was mistaken, and for that I’m happy”

“Yes, it’s exciting foriht nod My cheekto ache fro on et to share my life with him”

The lie felt strange co out of my mouth, but Mehmet didn’t seem to notice

“My son tells me you are a successful artist,” said Mehreat deal of history in the arts”

“Oh?” I turned with surprise toward the kitchen, as if Rafiq could seeexpression

“I was once a painter,” said Mehh I could never quite find my place in the art world the way I did in business I’iven your occupation”