The waitress showed up and watched them expectedly. Kashif put the menu down and cocked his head. “Why don’t you order for me? I’m sure you know what’s good here.”
The butterflies weren’t gone, but she felt a bit more in control. He had a way of putting her at ease. She ordered for them and handed the menus back. Kashif reached across the table and took her hand. To her surprise, she didn’t feel the need to pull away. They fell into conversation easily, and she relaxed.
He was sweet and charming. Kristy found herself more and more intrigued with him, and when he helped her out of her jacket in the lodge, she couldn’t stop herself from leaning into him.
“I never expected to find a treasure like you here,” he whispered in her ear. “I’m not quite ready to let you go tonight.”
For once in her life, the little voice in her head that constantly reminded her to keep her feet firmly on the ground and not take any risks, was silent. Wordlessly, she followed him back to his room and did something that she’d never done before.
She let a perfect stranger seduce her. He did things to her body that she’d never even known were possible and awoke desires that she didn’t even know existed. Kashif possessed her, controlled her, and she spent more than half the night wrapped in his arms, crying out his name.
Later, cuddled against him, she traced the lines of his back with her finger. “What will you do when you leave here?”
“Shh,” he whispered as he kissed her again. “I don’t want to think about that.”
Although she knew that he probably seduced women wherever he went, she couldn’t help but feel special. His touch was gentle, and there was something about the way he looked at her.
Like maybe he’d stay.
2
He didn’t leave her side for an entire week. Even when she did her chores around the farm, he was there. Opening the stalls for the horses, she removed the blankets that kept them warm at night and let them out to trot around the field. Grabbing the groom brush, she went to brush her favorite mare.
“Dogs and horses,” Kashif said as he leaned over the fence. “Is there any animal that isn’t under your thrall?”
Unable to help herself, she blushed. “Animals are easy to get along with. They like to please.”
“I like to please, too,” he teased and hopped over the fence. Kristy tried to ignore him and brush the mare’s flank, but he wrapped his arms around her waist and nuzzled her neck. “You weren’t there when I woke up in the morning. I missed you.”
“You are very distracting,” she reprimanded. “And I’m behind on my work.”
“Want me to help?” he covered her hand with his and moved the brush in long, slow strokes. Immediately, her body responded to him. When did brushing a horse become erotic? He nibbled just below her ear lobe, and she moaned.
“See?” she asked as she pulled away and laughed. “This is distracting. Go practice with the dogs while I finish grooming the horses.”
“Will I get to see you for lunch?”
Rising up on her tip-toes, she kissed him softly and enjoyed the warmth of his body. “Maybe,” she whispered. “I do have a few other guests that I have to schmooze.”
Raising an eyebrow, he chuckled. “Schmooze? Well then, I guess I’ll have to seduce you with the promise of another excellent dinner at the diner if I want you all to myself.”
When he walked away, she couldn’t help but feel the chill that wrapped around her. She’d gotten comfortable with his presence, and she didn’t like it when he wasn’t there.
She was falling for him.
Leaning against the horse, she sighed. “He can’t stay,” she whispered. The mare’s ears flickered, and she reached up to stroke her muzzle. She should simply enjoy him while it lasted.
“Kristy?”
She looked around the horse to see her father walking towards her. He turned his head and nodded to Kashif as the two men passed each other.
“Hey, Daddy. I know I’ve been slacking, but I’m catching up today. I promise.”
“You’re spending a lot of time with that Sheikh fellow,” he said gruffly as he stopped and reached up to s
cratch the mare’s ears.
She looked at him in surprise. Normally, her father didn’t notice things like that. He’d probably heard the gossip around town. “I like him,” she said simply. It surprised her how a simple sentence could mean so much.