Kelsie noticed that Masoud was quiet as they paid for their groceries. He smiled genuinely at Polly and complimented her on the store. And he stopped and chatted with other residents as they walked out of the store and through the parking lot. But there was a reserve in his expression that Kelsie hadn’t seen before.

It wasn’t until Leila jumped up and nosed at the bag of groceries Masoud was carrying that he laughed again. Kelsie relaxed. Maybe it was just the number of people they’d run into. Most people thought of small towns as having fewer people, and that was true. But it also meant that it was tough to get lost in the crowd; no one ever ignored you in a small town.

They got into the car and Masoud drove them all—humans and dogs—back to his house. Kelsie was pleased that he was learning his way around town, and hoped that he was beginning to feel comfortable there.

Masoud let the two dogs out into the backyard so he could cook in peace while Kelsie looked around the house. She ran her fingers over the hand-carved banister and marveled at the chandeliers, which seemed to please him.

“Your furniture is beautiful. Did you bring it all the way from Al Hayla?” she asked.

“Not on this trip,” he replied, opening a bottle of wine. “I have an apartment there, so most of my furnishings stay there. Most of this is what I picked out specifically for this house.”

Kelsie wondered at his phrasing—it sounded like he considered Rancho Cordero a temporary stop, not a permanent home. She also thought it must be nice to buy a whole new house’s worth of furniture at once.

Masoud poured them each a glass of red wine and handed Kelsie one with a chivalrous bow.

“Thank you, kind sir.” Kelsie watched as he started to prep the meal, chopping onions and garlic. “You’re really good at that,” she noted.

“I cook most days. It’s my way of relaxing. There’s no work and no pressure. Just the ability to create something and eat good food.” He pointed the vegetable peeler at her. “I’ve also found that it is an excellent way to impress women.”

Kelsie laughed. “I am definitely impressed. I’m a terrible cook. I can scramble eggs and make a decent grilled cheese. If I stretch my skills, I can make an edible spaghetti, but that’s about it.”

“Ah, so that’s the reason you know Mrs. Clark so well.”

“I am her best customer, yes. Fortunately, Francesca is also an excellent cook, so she makes sure I don’t starve.”

“I’m looking forward to meeting this best friend of yours.”

Kelsie laughed. “You’ll like her.”

“Can I ask how big your farm is?”

“Around twenty acres. We’ve got about 150 sheep at any given time, and we rotate them between pastures.”

“And you sell their wool?”

Kelsie took a sip of wine and nodded. “Mostly, yes. We do sell a few lambs for meat. We’re hoping to expand and maybe get into making sheep’s milk cheese for Polly to sell at the market.”

There was a flash of something across Masoud’s face, but he turned to get a carton from the refrigerator before Kelsie could see what his expression was.

“So, you’d hire more people?”

“That’s the idea. I’d like to expand the clinic, too. Maybe bring on another part-time vet.” Kelsie toyed with her glass and wondered if she was sharing too much with him.

“Would you ever build an office separate from your house?” Masoud asked as he mixed something together and then poured it into a pan on the stove.

“I love having my office right below my house. The commute is fantastic, and if I have animals that need to stay overnight, it’s easy for me to keep an eye on them and still get some sleep.”

Masoud dipped a spoon in the pot on the stove and then held it out to Kelsie.

“Here, taste this.”

She took the spoon from him and blew on the sauce, then tasted it. Her eyes widened. It was tangy, but sweet, and really, really good.

“That’s amazing.”

He looked just a tad bit smug. “Excellent.”

Kelsie lifted one eyebrow. “What’s it going on?”

“Fish. This is a popular dish in Al Hayla.” He pulled a glass dish out of the cabinet and the fish out of the refrigerator. After assembling the dish and placing it in the oven, he started sectioning some oranges and arranging salad greens and the citrus on two plates.

Kelsie watched the whole process with fascination.

She finally asked, “So, what’s for dessert?”

Masoud didn’t look at her, but he did grin. “That’s a surprise.”

Kelsie smiled back at him, feeling warm and happy. It had been almost a year since she’d been on a date, and she wasn’t sure any man had ever gone out of his way to treat her like a princess the way Masoud had. She thought she might be able to get used to it.

Masoud carried the two small plates to the round table at one end of the kitchen, then walked back to get the bottle of wine. He held Kelsie’s chair for her while she sat down and the sat across from her.

Kelsie lifted her glass. “Thank you for cooking dinner.”

Masoud clinked his glass against hers. “Thank you for showing me the town.”

“I’m glad you liked getting to know it. It’s a good place to live. That is, if you’re planning on being here for a while.” Maybe it just was the wine, but Kelsie felt bolder, so she asked the question that was uppermost in her mind. “Are you planning on being here a while?”

Masoud was quiet for a moment. “I don’t know. I’m looking into some business near the town, and I don’t yet know how that’s going to go.”

Kelsie could tell that he was still holding something back. “What kind of business?”

He took another bite and chewed, then finally said, “I invest in precious metals. I’ve got a lead on some potential business in the area, so I’m here while I figure that out.”

Before Kelsie could ask another question, he got up to check the fish in the oven. It smelled wonderful, and apparently it was done, because Masoud brought the whole dish to the table and set it on a trivet.

“Give it a minute to cool,” he warned her.

Kelsie admired his handiwork. “Have I mentioned that I love it when people cook for me?”

Masoud laughed. “You have an open invitation. I like cooking for you.”

“You must have an excellent cook in the family to learn from. Or did you take classes?” Kelsie was sensitive to the fact that not everyone had two parents, or even one, and she didn’t want to assume that his family story was a happy one.

He brought over two shallow bowls filled with wild rice and sautéed vegetables, and carefully dished the fish out into each bowl, spooning sauce over each serving.

“I learned at home. My mother is a wonderful cook, but mostly, I spent a lot of my time growing up hanging out in the palace kitchen. If you think this is good, you should try the royal chef’s food. I learned everything I know from him, but I’m not anywhere as talented as he is.”

Kelsie had stopped with her fork halfway to her mouth when Masoud had said the word “palace”, and when “royal chef” came out of his mouth, she gently laid the fork back on her plate. He stopped talking and looked at her uncertainly. Kelsie thought that maybe he hadn’t meant to say any of that, so she just raised her eyebrows at him.

“Um, I grew up in a palace. My uncle is the ruling Sheikh of Al Hayla.”

“You’re a prince?” Kelsie’s voice went up in pitch sharply.

“Technically, a sheikh. But basically, yes. I’m a member of the royal family.”

Kelsie nodded in short, jerky movements, eyes wide. “Of course you are. I’m having dinner with a sheikh—no big deal.”

“It’s really not, I promise.”

“I don’t even know how to address you,” she said, flustered.

Masoud leaned forward. “Call me by my name,” he grinned. “Kelsie, you don’t have to treat me differently. I don’t want you to treat me any differently. I’m not a sheikh here; I’m a guy running a business, cooking dinner for a beautiful woman. The title is only a title; it’s not who I am.”

Kelsie took a deep breath. Masoud was kind and funny, and he seemed to be a good man. She could understand why he wouldn’t want people to know he was royalty, especially if they all freaked out a little like she did. It could also explain why he was being a little evasive about why he was in Rancho Cordero, too.

Finally, she looked up to find worried dark eyes pinned on her. Kelsie smiled and said, “I’ve never had a sheikh cook dinner for me.”

Masoud leaned back, a look of relief on his face. He joked, “Well, very few of us can cook, you know.”

“Lucky me, then.” Kelsie picked up her fork and took a bite of the fish. She closed her eyes as the flavor hit her tongue, savoring the delicious tastes. “And I bet none of them can cook like this. Holy cow, Masoud, this is really good.”

Kelsie opened her eyes to find him watching her and she thought he looked pleased. She also thought she saw something more in that expression, something that kicked up flutters in her stomach that had nothing to do with the food.

She ducked her head and kept eating, but curiosity got the best of her.

“So, what’s it like, being royalty? I mean, other than having your own chef, which to be honest, would be my favorite thing.”

“I’ll admit, it certainly is a perk.”

He took his time answering her question, which Kelsie thought meant that he was giving her a real, honest answer.

“It’s a great responsibility. I was watched all the time growing up, not so much for security concerns, but because it was difficult not to go anywhere people didn’t know me. And while my duties have been primarily ceremonial, I do think it’s important that I support my uncle, and my cousin, who will take over from him one day. So, I work hard and try not to embarrass my family. Like anyone else, I want to make them proud of me.”

“How could they not be?” Kelsie asked.

A small smile played around Masoud’s mouth as he took a drink of wine. “Well, my mother would be happier if she had grandchildren.”

Kelsie laughed. “I’m sure she would.”

“It’s the prerogative of parents, to want to see their children have children of their own. I just wish mine weren’t quite as pushy about it.”

Kelsie nodded and unexpected tears pricked her eyes. Of course, she wasn’t able to hide them from the perceptive man sitting across from her.

“Kelsie, I’m so sorry. That was insensitive. I’m sure your father would have loved to see you have kids, and I can only imagine how much it hurts to imagine having a family without him here. I know how lucky I am to have my parents around to pester me about anything.”

Once again, she was surprised at how kind he was. Most men wouldn’t have noticed the sting in their words, however unintentional, and even fewer would have apologized for it. She pulled herself together and looked up at him.

“Thank you. And it’s okay. It just hits me from time to time, all the things he never got to see. All the things I’m missing having him here for.”

He nodded, understanding, and Kelsie had to look down so that he wouldn’t see the feeling in her eyes. Not sadness this time, but the strong attraction she had toward him.

They kept talking as they ate and more than once, Kelsie wondered at how easy it was to be with him. Yes, he was handsome—she thought she could look at him all day. But she thought she could also stare into those kind, understanding eyes and listen to his laugh for a long time. She knew he was charming, but it was becoming clearer that he was quite sweet, too.

She helped him clear the table after dinner and couldn’t help but tease him about royalty cleaning the kitchen.

“Aren’t you supposed to have cartoon mice or something to do this for you?”

Masoud almost spit out the drink of wine he’d taken. “I think you’re confusing me with Cinderella.”

Kelsie grinned mischievously at him. “No, I’m the one the feels like Cinderella, tonight. You’re the sheikh that gets stuck with the dishes.”

“Oh, so you’re saying I’m the cartoon mice?”

“If the shoe fits?” Kelsie said, then laughed at her inadvertent joke. “Actually, I have to make like Cinderella and run home before the clock strikes too late. I’ve got to put the sheep in the barn and feed them, then get things settled for the night.”

“Would you like some help?”

What a loaded question that was. Kelsie was half-convinced that if he followed her home to help, there was a good chance very little real work would get done. And she thought she wanted that, but she also wanted to take a step back and think.

So, instead of saying yes, she said, “Thank you, but it’s no problem. I’ve done it so much; it won’t take any time at all.”

Masoud nodded knowingly. “It would take you longer to tell me what to do than to just do it yourself?”

Kelsie grinned, glad he understood. “Yes. But really, thank you for the offer. And thank you for dinner. I had a wonderful time.”

She saw Masoud hesitate and then hold out his arms for a hug. She slipped into them, feeling comfortable there as she hugged him back. They lingered, lightly pressed together, and then as he pulled back, Masoud kissed her cheek.

“Thank you for a wonderful day,” he said softly. “I’ll see you soon.”

Kelsie nodded. “I’d like that. Good night, Masoud.”

He walked her out, and Cowboy came running up to her the second he heard her voice. Kelsie clipped on his leash and the two started the short walk back home. When she looked back, she could see that Masoud watched her until she made it to the edge of her yard. She waved once and turned back to her house.

It really didn’t take her long to feed the sheep and get them all in the barn, and twenty minutes later, she was upstairs in her home. She’d barely sat down when she heard a small bark from Cowboy, who was already in his bed, followed by a knock on her front door.

Kelsie sprang up from the couch, followed by Cowboy at her heels. She was surprised that Masoud had followed her over, but maybe she’d forgotten something at his house. Or maybe he thought it would take her longer in the barn and was just checking to see if everything was all right.

Or maybe he just wanted to see her. She wouldn’t complain at all about that.

She opened the door, smiling and ready to tease him about being able to take care of herself. But the man on the other side of the door wasn’t her next-door neighbor. It was the most annoying man in town.

Kelsie didn’t bother to hide her sigh. Spencer Grimes had been pestering her for weeks, but this was the first time he’d shown up at her house. He tried to take a step forward, but Kelsie didn’t move from her doorway, and Cowboy let out a low growl, clearly picking up on his owner’s unease.

“Spencer, it’s late. What do you want?”

“Have you met your neighbor?” He fairly spit the word out with venom.

“I have, actually. Nice guy.” Kelsie kept her tone even and firm.

“Are you kidding me? Some rich, foreign jerk with a fancy car isn’t a nice guy. I can’t believe you didn’t tell me you met him.”

“Why would I tell you anything, Spencer?”

“You tell me everything, Kels.”

Kelsie took a deep breath. She hated that nickname, and had since he’d started using it during the six months they’d dated in high school. And high school had been a long, long time ago.

“Spencer. I don’t tell you anything, because there isn’t anything between us.”

“Oh, so that’s how it is, huh? Some new guy moves in and the people who live in this town aren’t good enough for you anymore? Wow, that’s real nice, Kels.”

She wouldn’t punch him. Probably.

“He’s here for a reason, Kelsie. You know that.”

“I’m sure he does have a reason for moving here.”

Kelsie was done with Spencer and his wild theories. Someone was always out to get him; there was always someone keeping him down. He’d always been like that, ever since they were kids, and it had only gotten worse over the last few years.

“And what is it, huh? It can’t be anything good. A guy like that doesn’t move to a place like this for no reason. I want to know why he’s here. The real reason, not some flashy fast talk like you seem to have fallen for,” Spencer said, and gave her a disdainful sneer.

As much as Kelsie hated to admit it, Spencer had something of a point. Masoud wasn’t being entirely open about why he’d moved to Rancho Cordero. Kelsie was curious, but she also respected that it was his business.

Spencer might not be entirely wrong, but he was also being an ass, and she was tired. Kelsie pointed a finger out the door.

“Go home, Spencer. Whatever you think, you’re wrong.”

He opened his mouth and Kelsie held up a hand.

“No. I don’t want to hear it. Not tonight, not ever.”

His eyes narrowed, but he turned anyway. As he stomped down the stairs, he muttered, “Fine. Call me when you’re ready to date a real man, Kels.”

“How about the twelfth of Never, you Neanderthal?” Kelsie didn’t bother to say it loud enough so he could hear, knowing that it wouldn’t do any good. She doubted Spencer even knew what a Neanderthal was.