The Sheikh's Kidnapped Bride (The Sharqi Sheikhs Series Book 3) by Leslie North

earlier.
    “Thank you,” she told the maid with a smile.
    Jessenia smiled back and then bowed her way out of the room. Carolyn quickly dressed, brushing her hair until it shone and decided to leave it down. She had no idea where Mahil was taking her, but since she’d yet to see anything outside of his palace and the sanctuary, she was excited for the adventure.
    She skipped down the stairway, exiting the front doors to see Mahil waiting for her on the front steps. He was dressed casually again in dark jeans and a button shirt that matched the color of his eyes. She smiled as she thought about what he looked like under those clothes. Felt like as his muscles rippled under her light touch.
    “There you are. Ready to go?” he asked, holding out a hand to her.
    Carolyn took his hand and stepped down to the ground level, “I am. Where are we going?”
    “I thought that I would show you some of my country from the air before dinner.”
    “The air? I don’t…”
    “You’re not afraid of flying, are you?” Mahil asked, hoping that was not the case.
    “No…at least I don’t think so. If you’ll remember I wasn’t awake during our flight over here.”
    “You’ve never been on a plane prior to this trip?” Mahil asked, amazed that at the age of twenty-six she had seen so little of the world.
    “No need. And no opportunity.”
    “Come with me and let me show you how beautiful the desert can be.”
                                                                                        *****
    Ahmed was an excellent pilot and Carolyn found herself thoroughly enjoying their flight. For the last ten minutes however, all she’d seen below them was sand. Miles and miles of sand  in every direction.
    “I can’t imagine getting lost out here,” she told Mahil.
    “It is very unwise to venture into the desert unless one has an excellent grasp of direction and a good GPS. The desert can be very unforgiving.” He glanced out the window and then pointed, “Look there. That is where we are headed.”
    Carolyn leaned forward and saw a stand of trees and a pool of water in the distance. “What is that?”
    “That is one of the many oases located throughout the desert. We shall have a picnic dinner under the stars this night.”
    A few minutes later Ahmed landed the helicopter and Mahil helped her from the aircraft. He took a large basket from Ahmed and then escorted her a short distance away so that the helicopter could take off again.
    “Where’s he going?” Carolyn asked, trying not to panic at being left in the middle of the desert.
    “Do not fret. Ahmed will bring the helicopter back in a few hours. For now though, we should find a good place to have our meal.”
    Carolyn looked towards the helicopter once more and then followed Mahil across the sand, entering the shade of the palm trees and smiling at the beautiful array of flowering plants that miraculously grew in this barren wasteland.
    “It’s amazing!”
    “I’m glad you like it.” Mahil set the basket down, pulled a blanket from the basket and spread it out on the sand. “Please have a seat.”
    Carolyn did as requested, taking the containers he pulled from the basket and setting them out on the blanket. She stared at the array of colors as he opened the different containers.
    “This all looks so good,” she told him, unsure what any of it was.
    Pointing to the different dishes. “I thought we would keep it simple. That’s lamb kabob, which you will want to try with the yogurt dressing with cucumber and dill. This is beet root couscous, which I think you will like with the na’an,” he told her as he pointed to the bread. “This is pilaf.” As he talked, he continued to point out the different items, “Marinated vegetables, chicken kabob, stuffed grape leaves, and for dessert, we have grilled figs, watermelon, and my personal favorite, Bsemah, which is a type of coconut