“I’ll try,” Steph breathed.
She could smell him when he was that close to her. His scent was spicy, masculine and clean—just how a man ought to smell, she mused. She was almost lost in a trance as he stared down into her eyes, making sure she understood his words. Then he took a step back, placing his hands in his pockets.
“Well, it’s been a pleasure meeting you. I suppose you won’t tell me your last name before I go, so I can remember that one night I took a stroll with Steph from El Farah?”
“It’s O’Hanlon,” she said with a small smile.
“Well now, that is not a very El Farahn name.”
Steph frowned. “No, it is not. Luckily for me, my name will be changed this time tomorrow.”
Her heart sank just thinking about it. Here she was, standing next to the handsomest, kindest, most amazing man she had ever met, and she had to have met him mere hours before she would be marrying another. Life was so unfair.
“Well, no matter what happens, I wish you luck, Steph O’Hanlon. I think the man who will hold your heart is very lucky.”
“He won’t hold my heart,” Steph said automatically. “He’s just an investment my parents are making for my future.”
“Well, I suppose you would say that’s just the realist in you talking, right?”
“I suppose I would,” she said, feeling empty.
Mehdi nodded, taking a step back. “I suppose that’s my cue to leave, then. I hope for your sake that your parents are sleeping soundly in their bed. You would do well to get some sleep too, you know. You don’t want to look tired on your wedding day.”
“Thanks for the advice,” she said, fighting the urge to reach out and pull him back as he drifted further and further away.
“And thanks again, for your help,” she said, trying to drag the conversation out just a moment longer.
She held out her hand for him to shake one last time. He stopped walking backward and stepped forward, placing his hand in hers and holding it tight. His gaze was intense.
“If you need anything, Steph, you come find me, okay? I’ll always be willing to help you.”
“You don’t even know me,” she said, not letting go of his hand.
“I don’t need to. I have exceptional instincts, and something tells me you’re the kind of woman any man would be lucky to take care of. If your future husband doesn’t see that, I’ll be happy to help you in any way I can.”
Steph swallowed back a sob, not wanting to think about how badly the next day could go. How could any man compare to Mehdi?
“How would I find you?” she asked.
A twinkle sparkled in Mehdi’s eye, as though he were laughing at his own private joke.
“Just ask anyone for Mehdi. They’ll guide you in the right direction.”
“That seems like a pretty common name,” she said.
“It isn’t.”
After a moment, he finally released her hand, their fingers still touching until he stepped back one last time.
“It was an honor to meet you, Steph. I sincerely hope we do meet again someday.”
“I hope so, too,” she said.
“Really?” he asked, his tone hopeful.
Steph laughed. “Of course! You’re my first El Farahn friend. How can I survive in this country without you to help me out?”
Mehdi smiled at her words, nodding to her. “Fair enough. Until the next time, then. Sleep well.”
“Thanks,” Steph said.
Finally, they could delay their departure no longer. Mehdi turned and walked down the street, and Steph watched his retreating back until he was out of sight. He didn’t turn around.
Turning back toward the hotel, Steph took a deep breath as she stepped into the lobby, and froze.
There was no way she could go through with the wedding. Not after meeting Mehdi.
She realized then that she hadn’t managed to catch his last name. He had told her if she needed anything to ask for him by first name only, mysteriously keeping his last name a secret. Perhaps he really didn’t want to be found after all.
Regardless, meeting him had solidified Steph’s feeling that there was no way she would be getting married the following day. Pulling her room key from her purse, she walked to the elevator and pressed the button for her floor, holding her breath as she rose high into the air. She thought about her future husband—how he had funded her family’s stay in the lavish penthouse suite she was about to sneak back into.