or buys new clothes, it means a new man in her life.â
Cara hesitated. âItâs Sheik Omar Al Abdar,â she blurted out, as a blush heated her cheeks. âI hadnât mentioned it before, but for the past year he and I have been writing each other. He arrived in town yesterday to see me.â
Grace smiled. âThatâs wonderful, dear. You spend far too much time cooped up in that cottage. Be sure to bring him around to see your father and me. Weâll show him some of our famous Texan hospitality.â
âMotherâ¦â Cara began. âThe sheikâ¦heâs very formal. He calls me Elizabeth, and I would appreciate it if you and Daddy would call me Elizabeth when youâre in his presence.â
A frown tugged at Graceâs plump, pretty features, and once again she studied Cara. âIâm not going to ask questions, Cara. Youâre an adult and I trust your judgment, butâ¦â
She knew. Somehow Caraâs mother knew something wasnât quite right. âEverything is fine,â Cara assured her. âI know what Iâm doing.â
Of course, I really have no idea what Iâm doing, Cara thought a moment later as she left the main house and headed back to her cottage.
All she knew was that somehow sheâd already made the decision to give herself more time⦠Just a little more time. Then sheâd tell Omar the truth.
Â
Omar handed Rashad his suit jacket just before he and Elizabeth were set to take off for their walk around Carson Ranch.
It was just after noon and the sun overhead was bright and beat warmly on his broad shoulders, but he noticed only how it played in her hair, teasing out impish tones of red and gold in the dark brown strands.
âRashad will wait here with the car where there is a phone,â he said to her, then frowned apologetically. âIâm afraid that my negotiations are at a crisis stage and I cannot be away from a phone for too long.â
Elizabeth nodded and smiled at Omarâs aide. âRashad, if you or the others get thirsty or anything, please feel free to go into the cottage and help yourself.â The âothersâ were the driver of the car and two bodyguards.
Rashad gave a formal bow. âYour hospitality is most appreciated, but I will be fine here.â
âShall we begin the tour?â Omar asked as he took her hand in his. He smiled at her. âAlthough I wouldbe just as content to stand here and look at you all day long. You look like a piece of sunshine.â
He was granted one of her beautiful smiles. âThank you,â she replied.
It was true. Wearing yellow slacks and a matching blouse, she looked beautifully vibrant. The bright color emphasized the richness of her dark hair, and the cut of the clothes complemented her shapeliness.
âI donât wear yellow very often,â she explained as they began walking away from her cottage.
âYou should. It becomes you. Iâll see to it that you have a dozen outfits in that color when we are married.â
Her eyes seemed to flirt with him as she cast him a sideways glance. âYouâre very sure of yourself, considering the fact that I havenât agreed to marry you yet.â
âAh, but you will.â He squeezed her hand lightly. âI will see to it that you find me utterly irresistible. There are women in Gaspar that find me so.â
She eyed him again, her eyes twinkling. âPerhaps they have lower standards than I do.â
He laughed, delighted that she could not only meet his wit, but challenge it, as well. âThen, for you, I will simply try harder.â
As they walked toward the outbuildings in the distance, Elizabeth shot a quick glance behind them. âDo they go everywhere that you do?â she asked.
He knew she was speaking of the bodyguards who followed behind them at a discreet distance. âI am only without them when I am in my private quartersin