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“I’ve seen some of those videos. In Jawhara, no one would consider treating an American in such a fashion. It would be dishonorable to allow one’s friends to humiliate themselves so.”
“So, are there no bad people in Jawhara, then?” Shira asked.
“Not many, no. Jawhara is a very small country with very strict laws. Honor and protocol are taught to our children almost from the time they are born. We have interacted with Americans for years, and every experience has been pleasant. They have no reason to wish harm to your people.”
“I didn’t know that we had an American Embassy in Jawhara.”
“That is because you don’t. As I said, we are a small country, mostly concerned with internal matters, though we consider the United States an ally. Both Kam and I have many American friends we communicate with regularly.”
“Really?”
Kale put on a fake-offended expression. “Shira, I went to Harvard.”
Shira’s mouth dropped open in surprise. “That’s why you knew all of the latest dance moves!” She laughed in delight. “I wondered about that, you know.”
Kale laughed with her. “I discovered that I like your dancing much more than that of my own country.”
“You’re a really good dancer, too.” Shira shook her head. “Do you have dance clubs in Jawhara?”
“Sadly, none like those in America. We are progressive for the region, but that type of dancing and encouraging our young women to dance so freely would enrage the elders of my country.” At Shira’s pensive look, he added, “Little Shira, I see the worry on your face, do not concern yourself. My countrymen will love you, just as I do. Come. Let us retire—I have a need to feel you next to me again.”
* * *
The next afternoon, Shira returned with Kale from their camel ride, still blushing at the spectacle she’d made of herself.
“Are you truly all right, habibti?” Kale asked as they entered the palace gates.
“Everything except my pride. I’m sorry, Kale, I’ve seen pictures of camels before, but I guess I never realized just how big they are. I didn’t mean to scream when it started to stand up. It just kind of slipped out.”
Kale started laughing again, trying to quiet himself when he saw the hurt enter her eyes. “Don’t look so sad, Shira. The camel trainers were as upset as you were by the camel’s reaction.”
The camel Shira had been assigned had appeared to be docile as it chewed its cud and sat quietly in the sand. Kale had encouraged her to try riding it by herself, and she had reluctantly agreed. She had climbed aboard the saddle easily enough and been gaining confidence in her ability to stay on top of the animal when the trainer had given a command in Arabic and the large creature had started to rise.
Unprepared for such movement, Shira had screamed in alarm. She had immediately begun slipping sideways and had ended up hanging off the side with her ankle twisted in the saddle’s ornate decorations.
The frightened animal had then proceeded to twist and turn its body in an attempt to dislodge the screaming woman hanging from its side.
It had taken three trainers, Kale, and his two bodyguards to hold the animal still long enough to untangle her foot and remove her from the animal.
“That poor trainer will probably never let me near his camels again. Not that I have any intention of climbing on the back of another one in the near future!”
“Do not worry, habibti. Next time, I will get on the camel first, and then you can sit in front of me. I will hold on to you and keep you safe.” Kale didn’t want to repeat the afternoon’s catastrophe anytime soon, but in some of the more remote areas, camels were a better mode of transportation than cars.
“We’ll see. Now, I need to call my cousin and then my bosses. Do I have time?”
“Certainly. Dinner is not served for another hour. Make your calls and then freshen up. Your belongings have already been moved into my bedchamber. I have some business to attend to, so I will see you at dinner, yes?”
“Yes. Thank you for taking me, even though it was a complete disaster.”
Stepping in front of her, Kale cupped her face and kissed her forehead, then placed soft kisses on her face until she sighed in pleasure. “Any time I can spend with you is enjoyable. Now go before I change my mind and we end up not leaving my quarters.”
He watched her walk away, smiling when she turned to wave before heading inside. As he thought about following her, his phone rang. He answered on the second ring.
11
SHIRA
Twelve days into her stay in Jawhara, Shira had managed to set up an entire office and hire two local Jawharans with advertising and marketing experience to assist her. Rick and Damon had been impressed with her accomplishments, and work was underway to obtain the pictures and video footage needed to put together the advertising campaign.
