by Holly Rayner
“Would you like to take a walk and get dinner? I don’t know about you, but I’m starving.”
“Ditto,” Jacqui agreed.
They left the room and found the hotel restaurant. The host greeted them by name and seated them immediately on the patio outside.
Jacqui didn’t really notice the food, she was so busy taking in everything else. From their table, she could hear the ocean waves breaking on the beach and see palm trees swaying gently. People were strolling on the sand and playing in the water, and she couldn’t wait until she was one of them.
At one point, Jacqui realized she was being terrible company and apologized to Khizar.
He laughed. “Please, don’t apologize. I’m happy watching you be happy. If anything, I’m sorry. I should have taken you down to the beach first. I promise, as soon as we’re done with dinner, we’ll walk down there.”
“In that case…” Jacqui set her fork down and patted her mouth with her napkin. Then, she grinned at Khizar. “I’m done.”
He laughed again and Jacqui felt like she accomplished something by making him laugh so freely. It was a nice sound, and one she wanted to hear more of.
They skipped dessert, and decided to walk straight from the hotel patio down to the beach. Jacqui stopped at the water’s edge and knelt down to trail her fingers in the water. She was awed at touching the ocean, something so big and far away from any place she’d ever been.
Khizar let her take it in in silence, and when Jacqui reached for his hand, he wrapped his fingers around hers. Jacqui tried not to think about what it would be like to have this all the time, but as they walked along the beach, listening to the waves, she hoped that maybe they could find a way.
Chapter 7
Jacqui
With the time difference, Jacqui woke up well before sunrise. She found Khizar in the kitchen attached to the suite, waiting for coffee to finish brewing. When he saw her, he pulled another mug down from the cabinet.
“Good morning,” Jacqui said.
“Good morning,” he replied cheerfully, pouring two cups of coffee and handing her one. “Did you sleep well?”
She took a careful sip and nodded. “So well. I swear, that bed is like sleeping on a cloud.”
“Excellent. Since you’re up early, would you like to go watch the sun rise over the ocean? I can have the hotel pack a breakfast for us and suggest the best place to go.”
“I’d love that. Give me ten minutes to get ready.”
A short time later, they were in a car with more coffee and a large bag of breakfast pastries and fruit. The hotel had offered one of their town cars and drivers, so both Jacqui and Khizar were taking in the scenery from the back seat of the sedan.
The driver took them to a secluded little park where the palm trees formed a canopy and large rocks just right to perch on sat facing east. Jacqui clambered up on top of one of the rocks with her coffee and a pineapple muffin, while Khizar did the same on a rock a few feet away.
They were quiet, sipping coffee and eating. The sun slipped above the horizon, turning the sky bands of purple and pink and orange, the colors reflected in the glass-like water. Jacqui had never seen anything so beautiful.
After the sun was fully risen, Jacqui looked at Khizar.
“I know tradition is to applaud the sunset, but I feel like that sunrise deserves a standing ovation.”
Khizar nodded. “Truly gorgeous.”
He was watching her instead of the sky, and Jacqui wondered for a moment if they were talking about the same thing.
Back at the hotel, Khizar left to take care of his business meeting while Jacqui bought a book from the small store in the hotel and went to sit on the beach. The hotel had little cabanas set up for guests, so she grabbed one and curled up in what had to be the most comfortable beach chair ever.
She read a little, but mostly she sat and watched the people and the ocean. When Khizar found her there a couple of hours later, she was ready to go sightseeing. They walked around a large open-air market, and Jacqui bought souvenirs for her parents and Lyssa.
They had lunch at a small café in downtown Honolulu, trying some of the local specialties. Then, Khizar took her to a little cove a few miles out of the city, and Jacqui got to try snorkeling for the first time.
After figuring out how to get the mask fitted and the right way to breathe, Jacqui dived right in. She and Khizar spent the next hour pointing out brightly-colored fish and interesting-looking coral to each other.
Jacqui also spent some time covertly admiring her snorkeling companion. She usually spent as much time as she could doing yoga, a practice she’d picked up from a roommate at culinary school, so she was no slouch in the fitness department. Jacqui knew she looked good in her purple bikini.
Khizar, on the other hand, looked like he spent hours in the gym each day. The man’s abs alone must have taken a whole team of personal trainers to sculpt, but the effect was totally worth it.
After snorkeling, they headed back to the hotel to change. Jacqui took a quick shower, dressed for the evening, and then collapsed on the couch in the main room. Khizar didn’t let her stay motionless for long, though.
The two borrowed the hotel’s car and driver again. Khizar wouldn’t tell her where they were going, and Jacqui was surprised when they pulled up at a small airfield.
The driver dropped them off, and Khizar led her to a helicopter, where a pilot waved at them to get on board.
“Really?” Jacqui turned to Khizar and asked.
“Best way to see more of the island.” He shrugged. “And it’s our transportation to dinner tonight.”
Jacqui’s eyes got big. “Our transportation to…what?”
Khizar only smiled enigmatically. “You’ll see. You’ll love it, I promise.”
He helped her board the helicopter, and the pilot handed them both heavy headsets to wear. Jacqui could hear the pilot as he narrated their flight, and she asked him question after question about what they were seeing.
They flew over the island, over mountains and beaches. Their pilot pointed out the famous North Shore, where Jacqui could see surfers riding big waves. They flew over lush rain forests, an impossible green to Jacqui’s eyes.
When the helicopter landed, it was in a clearing on the edge of a group of buildings. On the other side of the buildings was a private beach, and in the courtyard, there was a large fire pit surrounded by long tables.
They stepped off the helicopter and Khizar led Jacqui through one of the buildings and out into the courtyard. There was already a large group of people there, some dressed in traditional Hawaiian garb and others in dressy beachwear. Khizar and Jacqui were both welcomed with leis made of tiny shells and flowers, and offered drinks with a little pineapple garnish.
The luau was loud and fun, and the food was fantastic. Jacqui had never had roast pig before—it was delicious—and their whole table had a great time watching the hula and fire dancers perform.
On the helicopter ride back, Khizar’s arm wrapped around her, Jacqui watched the lights twinkle below them and thought of how many new experiences she’d had just in the last two days. She couldn’t wait to see what the next day would bring.
After another leisurely morning, centered on a breakfast of fresh fruit, macadamia nut waffles, and coconut syrup eaten on their lanai, Jacqui and Khizar took a walk around some of the historic buildings in Honolulu.
They visited a couple of museums after lunch, and then it was time for their last dinner in Hawaii. Khizar had planned for them to fly back overnight, arriving in Milwaukee the next morning.
Jacqui wore a new dress, with a halter top and a long, flowing skirt in an understated Hawaiian print. She’d picked it out so that she would have something to remember her dream vacation by, especially during the next long Wisconsin winter.
Khizar took her to a small, four-star restaurant which sat on a pier out over the water, where they listened to the waves break as they ate seafood caught that day.
After dinner
, Jacqui asked for one more walk on the beach. They strolled hand in hand along the water’s edge and watched the sunset.
Jacqui stopped to pick up a shell, which she carefully wiped off and put in her skirt pocket. Khizar tucked a stray strand of hair behind her hair, and then softly brushed his fingers across her cheek.
“Did you have a good weekend?” he asked.
“The best. I think any vacation in Hawaii would have been amazing, but this weekend with you has been really special. Thank you, Khizar.”
He shook his head.
“Thank you. I’d forgotten what it was like to have a life outside of work, and just enjoy being with someone else. You are special to me, Jacqui.”
Jacqui looked up at him and sucked in a breath at the emotion she saw in his eyes. He reached his hand out to cradle her face, and then slowly leaned down to kiss her.
Jacqui closed her eyes and let the sensations take over. The slightly rough feel of Khizar’s lips against hers, the breeze teasing at her hair, the sound of her heart beating faster in her ears. She laid one hand flat on his chest, and wrapped the other around his neck, pulling him closer into her.
When he pulled back, his breathing ragged, Khizar rested his forehead against hers.
“That was pretty special, too,” he whispered.
Jacqui smiled and leaned up to kiss him quickly one more time.
“Yes, it was. The perfect end to the perfect weekend.”
Khizar wrapped his arms around her and they watched the stars appear over the water until they had to leave. Jacqui felt like her world had moved into place, like something right had just clicked.
On the flight back, Jacqui couldn’t stop smiling. Even when Khizar insisted she take the bedroom to get some sleep, and was getting ready for bed, she knew she had a sappy grin pasted across her face.
Jacqui also knew that she had completely fallen for Khizar. As she fell asleep, she thought of how happy she was and how she couldn’t wait to get even closer to him.
Chapter 8
Jacqui
Jacqui had never been so happy—not that she could remember, anyway. Even the prospect of having to shut down her bakery seemed like a minor concern. She felt, somehow, that things would work out, one way or another.
She was spending the same amount of time at the bakery, but her time outside work was mostly taken up by the handsome man that had blown into her life only three weeks earlier.
Khizar had taken her out almost every night during those three weeks and continued to treat her like a princess. They visited the theatre, attended concerts, and ate at fabulous restaurants. Jacqui had stopped questioning the extravagant gifts and dates; she didn’t need them, but they were fun.
The Sheikh had a business trip that took him to Los Angeles for a few nights, and he tried to get Jacqui to go with him. She declined, wishing she could go, but also not wanting to leave the bakery again. While he was gone, he called every night and sent her flowers and gifts every day.
As much as Jacqui loved their evenings out, she did insist on a quieter evening here and there. She cooked dinner for them a few times, and they spent those evenings curled up on her couch watching movies.
Khizar asked her about what her childhood was like before her parents died, about culinary school, and about everything in between. Jacqui felt like no one had ever known her as well as Khizar.
He talked occasionally about his work, telling her about the pieces he was acquiring and the mines he was considering buying. There were stories about store owners and master craftsmen, but he didn’t mention his family very often.
Jacqui got the feeling that Khizar was trying to distinguish himself from his royal relatives, and even though he felt the responsibility and worked hard to do right by his country, he didn’t want to spend a lot of time talking about being a sheikh.
By being open herself, Jacqui hoped to build trust between them. She wanted to show Khizar that he could talk to her, that she liked him for who he was, not for his title or wealth. So, she told him her fears and desires, and shared her life with him as best she knew how.
One night, while Khizar was in Los Angeles, Jacqui realized she hadn’t called her parents in over a week. She settled on her couch and dialed the number. When her father answered, Jacqui felt a pang of guilt for not calling sooner.
“Hi, darlin’. Your mother and I were beginning to wonder if you’d fallen into that giant mixer of yours.”
Ah, dad jokes. She really had missed her adoptive parents.
“Hi, Dad. Sorry, it’s just been a busy few weeks.”
“How’s business?”
“Picking up, actually. New customers are coming in, and we seem to building some word-of-mouth buzz.”
“That’s great, Jacqui.” There was a pause on the other end. “Hang on, your mother wants to talk to you.”
There was the sound of shuffling from the other end of the phone, and then Jacqui heard her mother say, “Hi, sweetie. Is everything okay?”
“Yeah, Mom. I’ve just been swamped with things. Good things, though.”
“Well, that’s good,” her mother said. “Why don’t you come over for dinner this weekend? Maybe on Sunday after you close up?”
“That sounds great, Mom.” Jacqui had an impulsive thought. “Hey, do you mind if I bring someone with me?”
Jacqui could practically hear her mom’s thought process through the phone.
“Sure, sweetie. Is it Lyssa, or one of your other friends?” she asked with a hopeful note in her voice.
“Subtle, Mom. No, actually, I’ve been seeing someone and I thought I might introduce him to you and Dad.”
“Oh, we’d like that, Jacqui. Of course. Bring your young man, and we’ll have a nice dinner.”
“Thanks, Mom. I’ll bring dessert from the bakery. See you Sunday night.”
“See you then, sweetie. Take care of yourself!”
“Bye, Mom.”
Jacqui hung up. Then, she had a moment of second thoughts. She hadn’t asked Khizar if he wanted to meet her parents, but he was so interested in her family that she couldn’t imagine him saying no.
When he got back into town the next day and stopped by the bakery, she proposed the idea to him during a lull in business.
“Of course, I’d love to meet your parents,” Khizar answered. “I can make reservations for us, if you’d like? I want to make a good impression.”
Jacqui shook her head. “A good impression is easy. Show up, let them tell you embarrassing stories about my teenage years, and praise my mother’s cooking and my father’s garden.”
“I do hope that those stories come with pictures,” Khizar said, grinning.
“Oh, there will be pictures. Of that, I’m certain.” She gave him a kiss on the cheek. “I’d like to show you where I grew up. It’s no palace or anything, but it’s home.”
Khizar chuckled. “Palaces can be overrated. I’ll be delighted to see the place you call home.”
Jacqui told him he didn’t need to bring anything, but of course, when he picked her up at her apartment that evening, he had a large bouquet of flowers for her mother and a bottle of expensive wine.
Jacqui’s parents greeted them at the door with enthusiasm, and Jacqui watched them closely for their reaction when she introduced Khizar.
“Mom, Dad, this is Khizar Jamshidi. He’s the CEO of Jamshidi & Company, and he’s from Nudushan, where his uncle is the ruling sheikh. Khizar, these are my parents, Alan and Michelle Danvers.”
Her mother raised her eyebrows and gave Jacqui a look that said they would talk later about this little piece of information Jacqui had neglected to provide.
But all Michelle said out loud was, “Khizar, it’s so nice to meet you.”
“The pleasure is all mine, Mrs. Danvers. Thank you for inviting me to dinner.” Khizar handed her the flowers and wine. “For you, a small token of my appreciation.”
“They’re lovely, thank you!”
Alan Danvers shook his da
ughter’s boyfriend’s hand, adding, “Our girl doesn’t bring too many guys home, so you must be something special.”
Jacqui blushed. “Dad!”
Khizar looked at Jacqui. “It’s an honor to meet you both. And if I may say, Jacqui is the one who is something special.”
Her mother looked like she approved, but Jacqui’s cheeks felt like they were on fire. To cover her blush, she held out a cake.
“Here, Mom, I brought your favorite.”
“Oh, thank you, sweetie. Why don’t you put it on the counter? I’m going to get these in some water, and maybe you can help me finish up dinner?”
“Khizar, why don’t we let these lovely ladies catch up? Come on, I’ll show you what I’m working on right now, and we’ll get out of their way,” Alan said.
Jacqui set the cake on the counter and gave Khizar an encouraging smile. He kissed her on the cheek before following her father outside.
Her mother was apparently reserving judgement, because as they finished preparing the meal, all she said was that Khizar seemed nice.
Jacqui wanted her mom to like the man she was seeing, so she told Michelle stories about the surprise dates Khizar had taken her on, about the ballet and picnic in the park and the fancy restaurants. Her mother listened and asked a few questions, but other than that, didn’t say much.
Conversation throughout dinner was lively, though. As Jacqui had promised, her parents told a few embarrassing stories about her teenage years, but nothing that Jacqui wasn’t planning on telling him anyway.
Michelle did pull out pictures after dinner. Khizar was especially interested in seeing young Jacqui, and Jacqui teased him that she couldn’t wait to see pictures from his youth as well.
Michelle and Alan seemed surprised to hear about Jacqui’s trip to Hawaii with Khizar, but Jacqui convinced them that she had a wonderful time. And when Khizar excused himself for a moment, she explained that he had been a perfect gentleman the entire time, and it was that trip where Jacqui realized that she wanted to pursue a relationship with him.