The Sheik's Ruby by Jennifer Moore

Author:Jennifer Moore [Moore, Jennifer]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781509201334
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press, Inc
Published: 2015-05-08T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

Shelby had never enjoyed a lovelier meal. Delicious food, fantastic setting, and after her meltdown, she appreciated Hakim’s efforts to steer the conversation toward neutral, pleasant topics. The sun had started to set, bathing them in twilight. The setting seemed perfect. Once Hakim had convinced her the threat to her family was obsolete, she relaxed and her worry lessened.

After they ate, Hakim stood and pulled back her chair. “Would you like to see the palace?” He lifted her hand to his mouth and brushed his lips over her knuckles.

His whiskers tickled her fingers and the kiss sent goose bumps down her arms despite the warm weather. “I’d love to.”

Hakim led her through the gardens, down a different path than the one she had taken with Shanayze. Birds called from the trees above them. As the night grew darker, the garden glowed with beautiful soft lights that added to the ambiance.

“Everything here seems magical,” Shelby said as they crossed a small bridge.

They strolled through the gardens, enjoying the quiet of the evening. In the distance, Shelby could see various buildings through gaps in the foliage. She followed Hakim through another entrance back inside, gaping at the amazing detail carved and painted onto every inch of the palace.

Hakim pointed. “Down this corridor are state offices, meeting rooms, and the press release area.”

“So, is that where you work?” She took a step down the hall.

“Yes, my office is in this hallway. But let us not waste our time visiting an ordinary office when there are far more interesting things to see.”

He led her through another long hall and they turned down another high-arched hallway toward a different wing. “Here is the area of the palace used for entertaining guests.”

They walked through a dining room with a table that could easily seat a hundred people. He showed her a theater with both a stage and movie screen. A music room contained every instrument she could imagine and quite a few she had never seen before.

Shelby could feel Hakim’s gaze upon her, studying her reaction to everything. He rubbed the back of his neck in a nervous gesture and seemed almost desperate for her approval. She squeezed his hand and smiled to reassure him. How could he worry about impressing me?

Another archway led to a hall containing a library that rivaled many museums. Beside the immense number of books, the treasures and history of Khali-dar were displayed. Hakim pointed out especially valuable and significant artifacts and told her the collection contained books in nearly every language.

Shelby made a note to come back when she could spend more time examining everything.

As they admired room after room, Hakim told her of the history of the palace—what the various areas were used for, when different sections were built, and pointed out pictures and statues, explaining their meanings and origins.

Shelby was overwhelmed with the scope of the history within these walls. He must have considered Culver Springs to be quaint and insignificant since his world was so much wider.

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