There weren’t too many choices in the small town, and since she’d already taken him to the diner, there was only one other option. Al’s Italian Eatery was the nicest restaurant they had, but that wasn’t saying much.
The melting slush had turned into dangerous black ice, and they were the only people on the road. In fact, it turned out that they were also the only people in the restaurant.
“Kristy!” Al greeted her warmly and enveloped her in a big hug. “Where is that lovely daughter of yours?”
“She had a big day and is fast asleep,” Kristy said with a smile. She felt Kashif’s hand slip under her jacket to rest on the small of her back in a move that seemed both comforting and possessive.
Al noticed it as well. “Say, weren’t you the lodger that was here several years ago?”
God, did the whole town remember him? It wasn’t like they were lacking in tourists. “Good memory,” she said almost too loudly. Wincing, she cleared her throat. “Al, this is Sheikh Kashif Shadid. He’s back to try his hand at the Iditarod again.”
“Ah, well, who knows if that’s even going to happen. The weather is absolutely ruining everything. Well, I don’t want to take up your time. You, young lovers, pick a booth and relax. I’ll send Dana out shortly to take your order.”
Kristy wanted to deny being his lover, but Kashif was already thanking the man and ushering them to the table. The restaurant was decorated for Christmas. A small tree sat in the corner covered in gaudy ornaments and multi-colored lights. Presents wrapped in shiny paper mirrored the lights giving off a festive hue. There were snowman stickers on the windows, and a red candle flickered in the middle of their table.
“It seems that everyone loves Christmas around here except you,” Kashif murmured with a lifted eyebrow.
“I like Christmas,” she said defensively. “I just haven’t really gone all out. Besides, this is the first time that Arella is likely to even remember it.”
“Any Christmas traditions you plan to start this year? Like maybe visiting family?”
Kristy gave him a sharp look. “I’m Arella’s family,” she said stonily. “And that’s all that she needs.”
When he didn’t say anything, she realized how harsh it must sound. Sighing, she tucked her hair behind her ear and leaned back in the booth. “What about you? Any Christmas traditions at the palace?”
“We used to celebrate Christmas,” he admitted softly. “My mother grew up in the Netherlands and adored everything about Christmas. She and the servants would go all out with the decorations, and we’d plan a big Christmas feast. My brothers and I used to fight over who got to put the topper on the tree. I normally won,” he said with a grin.
“Naturally,” she murmured with a rueful shake of her head.
“But that was twenty years ago. After her death, it was hard on my father. We never celebrated again after that.”
“Kash, I’m sorry,” she said as she automatically reached across the table for his hand. He opened his palm immediately and intertwined his fingers with hers.
“It was a long time ago,” he said roughly. “I don’t think about it much anymore.”
They stared at each other over the flickering of the candle light, and her heart started to beat a little faster. She couldn’t help but think about the last time the two of them have been in the restaurant together. They’d sat on the same side of the table, and they were always touching each other. Either his arm was around her or her hand was on his thigh. It had been a perfect night, and she’d had no idea about what was going to happen next.
He’d left her. Even though there seemed to be two sides to the story, she couldn’t get those few weeks out of her head.
Just then, Dana, Al’s cute, blonde daughter, swayed up to the table and smiled seductively at Kashif. “Everybody ready here?”
Kristy pulled her hand away from his and cleared her throat. “Hi, Dana. I think we may need another minute.”
“Sure thing,” she cooed without ever taking her eyes off him. It was a small town, and Dana was a beautiful woman who enjoyed a good time. She looked at him like she was starving, and he was going to be her next meal.
“Wow,” Kashif said with a laugh when she walked away. “Is she always like that?”
“She is. Just ignore her. Or don’t. Whatever you want to do,” Kristy muttered as she opened the menu. She knew what Al had to offer by heart, but it gave her a chance to get her bearings.
“If I got to do whatever I want, we would never have left the lodge,” he said seductively. “Kristy, I know what you’re thinking. What happened the last time I was here was unfortunate, but you can’t blame me for it.”
“Why are you even still here?” she said as she slapped the menu on the table. “We both know that the race is going to be canceled. There’s no reason for you to be here!”
“Is that really how you feel?” he asked as he searched her face.
Dana showed back up again and saved Kristy from an answer. “Lasagna,” Kristy muttered. “And a glass of your house merlot.”
“I’ll have the chicken alfredo. And you may as well make that a bottle,” Kashif ordered without ever taking his eyes off Kristy. The waitress took their menus and practically stomped away, clearly upset that she wasn’t able to capture the Sheikh’s attention.