by Holly Rayner
“Over there, they set up an ice skating rink every winter. But sometimes, it gets cold enough that the lake freezes, and everyone goes skating there, too.”
She pointed toward a large area with grills and picnic tables.
“The orphanage does a big cookout party here every year with all the kids and prospective parents. It’s a chance for them to have fun and get to know each other.”
“Do you attend?”
Jacqui nodded.
“I volunteer, usually putting the food together. I remember what it was like to have all these adults coming in to look you over, and I want to make that process better for these kids.”
Khizar hesitated, because he didn’t want to make her sad, but he was curious.
“You were in an orphanage for how long after your parents died?”
“I actually lived there for about three months. I was in different foster homes the rest of the time, bouncing around. I lived in four different towns during that time, with six different families.”
“That’s… I don’t even know what that must have been like,” Khizar said.
“It was tough. But at least all my families were good people. Some of these kids have it much harder than I did.” She sighed. “I got really lucky when I found Mom and Dad, though. They made me a part of their family, but they never wanted me to forget my parents.”
“Did you always call them Mom and Dad?” Khizar asked.
“I didn’t, for the first two years after they adopted me. I called them by the first names, but as I got more comfortable, I realized that they weren’t trying to replace my parents. It got easier to wrap my head around the idea of having two sets of parents, and I just started thinking of them that way.”
Khizar hesitated again. He hadn’t planned on bringing up other family members yet, but it seemed like a natural time to ask.
“I’m surprised you didn’t go to live with your grandparents or other family members.”
Jacqui shook her head. “Didn’t have any. Both my parents were only children. My mother’s parents died before I was born, and both my Grandpa Jack and Grandma Evelyn died when I was young. I remember them, but just barely.”
Khizar could hear the hitch in her voice and realized that talking about her lost family was making her sad.
He nudged her arm and said, “I think you are an amazing woman.”
Jacqui tilted her head to look up at him. “I am?”
He nodded. “Not everyone would triumph over adversity the way you have.”
Khizar thought for a moment that he might kiss her; he was certain Jacqui would welcome that. The look on her face was soft and inviting, and she leaned into him.
Instead of acting on that impulse, he looked away, deflecting the intense feeling of wanting to get closer to her. He nodded toward a large amphitheater set into the hillside. The carriage was on the road at the top of the hill looking down, and Khizar could see people working on the stage there.
“What’s that?” he asked.
Jacqui followed his gaze.
“Oh, they’re starting to set up for the season! The city does this amazing summer arts series. Every year, they pick a different theme and then every week during the summer, they hold plays, concerts, and musicals that fit the theme. It’s a city-wide effort—all the different organizations get involved and it’s free for everyone.”
“It sounds like a magnificent program.”
Jacqui nodded. “The performances are great, but they also let people come watch the dress rehearsals. Lyssa and I walk over a couple of times a week from the bakery to see those. I sketch and she does work for her classes, and…” Jacqui started laughing at herself. “That’s probably the most boring thing you’ve ever heard. But we like it.”
Khizar shook his head and protested, surprised to find that he really meant it.
“No, it sounds wonderful. Quiet and easy and peaceful. I think it’s a perfect thing to do.”
Jacqui leaned a bit closer to him. “Rethinking the opulent princely life?”
He laughed softly.
“No, but I wouldn’t mind a few more moments of simplicity.”
“Well, stick around, because that’s how we live here.”
“Hmmm, not this week.”
Jacqui looked up at him in question, and he pointed forward and off to the side as the carriage rounded another bend. There, under the shade of a half-circle of trees, was a large red-and-white-checked picnic blanket, spread with everything one needed for an afternoon picnic.
“I know you haven’t had lunch yet, so I thought I’d prepare something.”
Laughter in her voice, Jacqui asked, “You prepared this?”
He acknowledged the point with a grin. “I had it prepared. Which still totally counts.”
Jacqui held up a hand. “You took me on a carriage ride to a picnic in the park. I’m not arguing with you.”
Khizar helped her out of the carriage and they made themselves comfortable on the blanket while the carriage pulled away. Jacqui sat cross-legged while Khizar poured her a glass of the sparkling wine that sat in the ice bucket.
Small plates of delicacies were arranged in front of the picnic basket, and a tray held a large platter of fruit, cheese, and charcuterie, along with a basket of bread and crackers. There were olives and tiny pickles, an assortment of baby vegetables, and fancy deviled eggs with caviar. A mix of savory and sweet miniature tarts decorated another plate, and there were other little pastries and skewers of chicken with a peanut sauce.
“So, you’re feeding the whole park after we’re done?” Jacqui eyed the spread of food.
Khizar laughed. “Sure. Or at least our carriage driver and the string quartet.”
“Did you say string quartet?”
Instead of answering, Khizar pointed over her shoulder.
Jacqui turned and saw four people with instruments sitting in chairs between two of the trees. They were waiting on a cue, and it appeared as Khizar waved a hand. The lead violinist nodded his head, then soft music drifted over them and Jacqui dropped her chin to her chest.
“You got a string quartet to provide a picnic soundtrack?”
Khizar thought she sounded bemused, but delighted.
“You like it?” he asked.
“I love it. I’ve never had a picnic quite like this one.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
As they ate, they chatted idly about their favorite music and art. Khizar was surprised to find that they like many of the same composers and artists, though they had a spirited argument over modern art.
He normally didn’t talk art with his dates, not past using it as a means of impressing a woman, anyway. But Jacqui was different—she had strong opinions and she wasn’t afraid to disagree with him over the relative merits of what they each liked or didn’t. It was refreshing, and if he were being honest, incredibly attractive.
The afternoon passed quickly and the sun faded into a lovely pink-and-orange sunset. Khizar didn’t want the day to end, but he still had some finishing touches to put on his plan for the weekend. So, he summoned the carriage again, and he and Jacqui left the park.
Back at her apartment, Khizar walked Jacqui to her door. He thought once again that she wouldn’t mind if he kissed her, and once again, he deflected.
“Do you have plans this weekend?” he asked instead.
“Just work, but I’m free in the evenings.”
“Can I talk you into taking some time off? I’m not booked for any meetings for the next few days, and I’d hoped to see more of you before I have to fly home.”
She laid one hand on his arm.
“I’d like that. I’ll ask Lyssa if she can cover the bakery this weekend.”
Khizar smiled. “Good. I’ll stop by tomorrow and we can make plans.”
Jacqui waited a moment, and then said softly, “Good night, Khizar. Thank you for today.”
“Good night, Jacqui.” He waited until she was inside her apartme
nt and heard the lock turn before he left.
Khizar saw that she had hoped he would kiss her goodnight, and part of him felt like a jerk for not kissing her. But he was determined not to get too involved. Losing his heart was not part of his plan.
As he drove back to his hotel, Khizar thought more about the long-term affect his strategy might have on Jacqui. He was beginning to like her, and he knew she would be hurt in the end. Although he was certain he could keep himself from getting in too deep, he wanted to try to protect her feelings as well, at least as much as he could.
Later that night as he finalized plans for the weekend, he considered what would make her happiest. He changed a few things, and satisfied with the itinerary, went to sleep thinking of how this weekend would seal his plan.
Chapter 6
Jacqui
Jacqui opened the bakery Friday morning with a spring in her step, and Lyssa noticed the second she walked in the door later that morning.
“You’re awfully chipper again today. How was your afternoon with Sheikh Tall, Dark, and Handsome?”
Jacqui rolled her eyes, but couldn’t help smiling as she remembered.
“He took me on a carriage ride through the park, and we had a picnic. And…he hired a string quartet to play during the picnic.”
Lyssa stared at her, bug-eyed. “He did what?”
“I know, right? It was definitely a little over the top.”
“And you loved it.”
Jacqui nodded firmly. “I totally loved it.”
“So, what’s on your weekend agenda? Please tell me he’s taking you someplace fabulous.”
“Actually, I was going to ask you about that.”
“Yes, take the weekend off.”
Lyssa tossed her book bag back behind the kitchen door, her voice muffled. When she came back out, tying on an apron, she added, “You literally haven’t taken any time off since you opened the bakery. Not even on the holidays. I can use the time to work on my project, and you deserve a few days off to relax.”
Jacqui stared at her, and Lyssa laughed.
“Look, he’s obviously into you. And you like him. So, take a couple of days off. You need to do that anyway.”
The bell over the door sounded and the two women looked up.
Lyssa smiled triumphantly.
“I bet he agrees with me,” she said, nodding at Khizar.
“I’ll bet I do,” he said agreeably. “May I inquire exactly what I am supportive of?”
Lyssa pointed at Jacqui. “She should take the weekend off.”
“As it happens, I wholeheartedly agree.” Khizar nodded.
Jacqui threw up her hands. “I was going to take some time off!”
Khizar leaned against the counter.
“I was hoping, actually, that I could talk you into taking the whole weekend off.”
“Yes,” Lyssa said before Jacqui could open her mouth.
“Oh, you two,” Jacqui said, a little exasperated.
“Come on, boss. In fact, why don’t you take off now? I’ve got the shop covered.”
Khizar shrugged. “If you can leave now, we can be on the plane that much sooner.”
Jacqui leveled a stare at him. “Plane?”
“I thought you might enjoy a weekend getaway. You got to show me Milwaukee; I’d like to take you somewhere in return.”
“Can I ask where we’re going?”
“I was thinking Hawaii,” Khizar said.
Jacqui felt her mouth open, but nothing came out. She blinked a few times, and finally, Lyssa answered for her.
“What she’s trying to say is, that sounds wonderful, and she’s ready to go,” Lyssa sounded like she was trying not to laugh.
Jacqui nodded. “That does sound wonderful. Are you sure?”
Khizar said, “If it helps, there’s a business contact I want to meet up with, so you’d be doing me a favor by keeping me company. The meeting will take an hour, tops, and the rest of the time will be sun, sand, and sea.”
“Okay, I’m in. Let me run home and pack a bag.” Jacqui turned to Lyssa. “Do you need anything before I go?”
“I’ve got it, boss. Have an awesome time.”
Khizar pulled out a card, set it on the counter, and scribbled a few things on it. He handed it Lyssa and said, “If you can’t get in touch with Jacqui, here’s my contact information, as well as the name of the hotel we’ll be staying at. They’ll have Jacqui’s name on the room, so if you need anything, you can call her there, too.”
Jacqui was touched by the thoughtfulness in that gesture, and admittedly she felt better knowing that Lyssa could reach her if anything came up.
After a quick trip home to pack a few things—Jacqui wasn’t really sure she was beach-ready—she and Khizar made their way to a small private airport just outside Milwaukee.
Khizar parked next to a hanger and carried both of their suitcases inside. They were greeted by the pilot, who talked with Khizar for a few minutes about their flight path.
The pilot walked Jacqui outside the hanger to the plane, where a steward took their bags and stowed them inside. Khizar followed Jacqui onboard the plane while the pilot finished the pre-fight checklist.
Jacqui looked around the interior, noticing that the main cabin was divided into sections. A long, brown leather couch sat along one wall, across from a long, low cabinet. Two plush navy chairs faced each other across a table, and another two chairs sat on the other side of them turned toward each other.
There was a wall in the back of the cabin with a door. In the front of the plane was a small galley half-hidden by a screen, where Jacqui could see the steward preparing a pot of coffee and some food.
“Sit wherever you like,” Khizar said, gesturing around the space.
Jacqui took a cushy chair facing the dark wood table.
“I definitely feel like a princess.”
Khizar chuckled as he sat across from her.
“Just wait. This weekend is about having fun, and indulging in whatever you like. So, as you Americans like to say, you ain’t seen nothing yet.”
Jacqui laughed at his excellent try at a flat American accent.
“In that case, I can’t wait. How long is the flight?”
“It should be about nine hours, maybe a little more. We shouldn’t run into any bad weather along the way, and we’re taking the most direct route. When we get in the air, we can have some lunch.”
Jacqui nodded and watched out the window as the plane started moving. True to Khizar’s word, as soon as the plane leveled out, Jacqui could see the steward moving around the galley again. After a few minutes, he carried a tray into the main cabin and set it down on the table.
“Thank you, Malik.”
The young man nodded. “What can I get you to drink, Ms. Bauer?”
“Iced tea, please, if you have it.”
“Of course. For you, Sheikh?”
“Coffee, please. And no rush on lunch. We’ll nibble on our snacks here until it’s ready.” Khizar waved a hand at the tray of fruit, cheese, olives, and bread.
A few hours later, Khizar checked in with the pilot in the cockpit, and when he came back said, “You might want to look out your window. We’re about to fly over the coast.”
Jacqui leaned over to the window to look. “I’ve never seen the ocean.”
Khizar looked from another window. “And there it is.”
It looked so far away, but still so blue as the sun glinted off the water. Every once in a while, she could see what looked like large ships—cargo or cruise ships, she guessed.
“I promise, you’ll get to spend as much time by, in, or on the ocean as you like. We’ll do whatever sounds like fun.”
Jacqui grinned at him suddenly. “Thank you, Khizar. This trip is really special.”
An uncertain look crossed over his face, but Jacqui didn’t give it any thought, since she’d already turned back to look out the window.
Jacqui had thought she could spend the whole flight l
ooking at the scenery far below the plane, but somewhere in the middle of the flight, she fell asleep. When she woke up, she realized that Khizar had picked her up and moved her to the couch. There was a soft blanket draped over her and a pillow under her head.
She stretched and slowly sat up to see Khizar stepping out of the cockpit. He smiled and came to sit down on one of the chairs, where he could face her.
“There’s a bedroom in the back, but I wasn’t sure you’d stay asleep if I moved you that far.”
“I can’t believe I fell asleep.”
“It’s night in Milwaukee now, so I’m not surprised. If you’d like to freshen up, your things are in the washroom.” Khizar pointed through the door.
Jacqui changed clothes and washed her face, and when she returned to the main cabin, Khizar beckoned her to a chair.
“We’re about twenty minutes out. I thought you might like to watch our approach.”
“Yes, thank you.” Jacqui sat down and looked out.
The blue was closer, and she could definitely see boats now. After a few minutes, green appeared on the horizon, quickly forming lush, vegetation covered mountains. The plane looped part of the island, and then descended for landing. Jacqui watched skyscrapers mix with houses, punctuated by stunning beaches.
Khizar pointed out some things as they flew into Honolulu.
“That’s Diamond Head, there’s Waikiki Beach, and downtown Honolulu.”
As the plane landed, Jacqui tried not to bounce in her seat. This trip was far and away the most interesting thing to happen in her life in a long time, and Hawaii was a place she’d always wanted to visit.
Before they got off the plane, Khizar thanked the pilot and steward and made arrangements for their flight back on Sunday night. There was a car waiting for them, and Jacqui found herself whisked off once again, though this time, the scenery was far more exotic than Milwaukee.
The car pulled up in front of the hotel and Jacqui looked out to see a lobby with walls open to the air, where guests wandered in and out freely. A uniformed valet opened her door and helped her out, greeting her with “Aloha” and a vibrantly-colored flower lei which he placed around her neck.
Instead of a front desk, they were greeted by a gentleman in a cream-colored suit.