Kelsie stretched her aching legs out across the folding chair and sighed.

“Tired?” Masoud asked from his spot in the chair next to her.

“Exhausted. But in a good way.”

Sighing happily, she looked over the balcony’s railing and out at the city’s sparkling lights. For their last day in Al Hayla, Masoud had cleared his schedule and taken Kelsie on a walking tour of the city’s most historic sights.

She’d expected him to be mobbed by people, but he had managed to keep a low profile by wearing sunglasses and a hat and having his guards walk a good distance behind them. The day had been full of architecture and ancient artifacts that blew Kelsie’s mind. If there was a more perfect ending to the trip, Kelsie couldn’t imagine what it could be.

Even the days when Masoud had been busy with work had been wonderful. Kelsie and his mother had connected right away, and she’d spent several days since their initial meeting spending time with Reya at the palace. She’d been worried at first about what Masoud’s mother would think of her, since she came from a completely different culture and had no connection whatsoever to royalty, but the Sheikha had treated her like a daughter, welcoming Kelsie into her arms right away.

Now, on her last night in the beautiful city, Kelsie felt sorry to leave it.

“I understand why you love your home so much,” she murmured.

Masoud looked at her over the candle flickering on the little table between them. “Good. I was hoping it would make an impression on you.”

“It really has.”

They fell into silence again, watching the glow of the city. If Kelsie strained hard enough, she swore she could hear the sea’s waves crashing on the shore. Although, maybe she imagined that.

The beach had been another marvel for her. Masoud had taken there for an afternoon, and she’d run through the waves, feeling like a little kid. To say Al Hayla was magical would be doing it an injustice. The whole place was beyond words.

They’d spoken very little about the mine all week long, and Kelsie had indulged in the retreat from reality. The few times Francesca called to check in, she’d dodged any questions about the mine and Rancho Cordero’s future, instead choosing to forget about all that for the time being.

“I have always loved my home,” Masoud said, breaking the silence, “but being here with you makes it twice as nice.”

As their gazes caught, Kelsie’s skin heated up. “I’m glad you let me come with you,” she said. “Thank you again.”

“Perhaps you can come next time, as well.”

Kelsie dropped her gaze. “That sounds nice, but I do have the clinic, and it’s hard to get away from it.”

“Understandable.”

There was more to it, too. The next trip to Masoud’s home, like the whole relationship between him and Kelsie, depended on whatever happened with the mine. She couldn’t see a future where they continued to have such differing opinions and still enjoyed being around each other.

But she desperately wanted exactly that. Her time with Masoud had been easy and fun-filled, and she didn’t think it was merely because they were away from Rancho Cordero.

“Kelsie,” Masoud said softly.

“Yes?”

Masoud leaned closer, although something in his demeanor changed. It took Kelsie a beat to realize he was nervous.

“I have to confess something,” Masoud said. His voice had become softer, like he was afraid of someone overhearing them, even though they were on a second-floor balcony and away from the housekeeper and the guards.

“What is it?” Kelsie asked, butterflies flitting around in her stomach.

“Before I met you, I was very lonely.” Masoud grimaced. “I told myself that I was fine working and traveling all the time. It had been a good while since I’d had a woman in my life, and never a relationship that was...solid. I hope this is not too forward, but being with you has shown me how wonderful it can be to have someone around.”

Masoud shook his head. “I apologize. I said that wrong. I’m not talking about having just any person around. I’m talking about you, Kelsie. I enjoy your company tremendously. I prefer it to anyone else’s.”

Kelsie laughed. Masoud was so proper. Instead of a ‘Hey, I like you,’ he would of course give a mini-speech on the matter.

“I enjoy our time together a lot, too,” she said. “And I get what you’re saying about being lonely and not wanting to admit it. I think that was me, as well.”

“Really?” he asked, surprise evident in his voice.

“Mm-hmm.” Kelsie pushed her fingers through her hair, looking for the right words. It was hard being so honest with someone, but Masoud made her feeling like opening up could be worth it.

“Our lives are very different in some ways,” Kelsie said, “but I think, in others, they’re not. The clinic and the sheep are my life. I haven’t really made much time for anything else. I mean, I’ve dated some, but that’s gotten...tricky. I haven’t found anyone near my home, and moving has never been an option, so I just kind of...”

Kelsie sighed and looked at her lap. “Giving up is a harsh way to put it. It’s not that I resigned myself to spending the rest of my days as an old maid. But I did get tired of searching, especially when I looked at past relationships.”

“Like Spencer?” Masoud asked.

Kelsie nodded. She’d told Masoud about dating Spencer in high school, and also made it clear that things had been finished between them for years.

“Spencer is a great example,” she said. “And guess what? He’s the worst of the worst, but the other ones weren’t much better.”

“What was the problem?”

Kelsie propped her elbow on the chair’s armrest and laid her chin in her palm. “We were never on the same page, for one reason or another.”

Masoud took Kelsie’s hand, his touch gentle and warm. “And yet, as different as our lives have been, I feel as though the two of us are. I have to tell you, Kelsie, that I’ve come to develop very strong feelings for you in our short time together.”

She smiled. “There you go again. So proper.”

Masoud chuckled. “I cannot help it.”

“I know, I know. You grew up in a palace. I get it.” Kelsie swallowed. “I really like you, too. A whole lot.”

Masoud gazed back at her. There was only a table between them, but even that small amount of distance felt like too much.

Every night in his home, Masoud had kissed Kelsie goodnight at the top of the stairs before retiring to his room. Each night, she’d thought about inviting him to her room, but she’d stopped herself. She liked how he didn’t seem eager to rush things. They were taking the time to get to know each other, and the slow burn had been mostly enjoyable.

Tonight, though, as she looked into his face, only one desire filled her: to feel his touch all over her body. They’d opened up to each other, revealing secret compartments of their hearts, and Kelsie didn’t want to stop there.

Masoud leaned forward, his lips coming within an inch of hers.

“Masoud?” Kelsie whispered.

“Yes?” he asked, his breath kissing her face.

“Don’t leave me alone tonight.”

Mason’s breathing picked up. “When were you planning on going to bed?”

Kelsie laughed; it seemed like such a weird question. “I don’t know.”

“How about now?”

Before she could answer, Masoud stood and swept her into his arms. Kelsie gasped in surprise as he carried her down the second-floor hallway and into his bedroom.

She’d seen glimpses of his bedroom before and had noted how bare it seemed. There hadn’t been much other than furniture and a few photographs. Tonight, as Masoud carried her past the dresser and the windows, Kelsie didn’t notice a thing.

Setting her down on the bed, Masoud leaned over and kissed her tenderly. Kelsie arched her back, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him deeply. With each kiss and touch, her head spun faster and her heart beat harder. Time blurred, seeming to speed up and slow down all at once.

* * *

Like her first afternoon in Masoud’s house, Kelsie didn’t know she’d fallen asleep until she was awake.

For a second, she wondered just where she was, and then she remembered: Masoud had carried her into his bedroom.

A door to the side opened, and Masoud emerged from a walk-in closet. He’d showered, and his hair was cleanly combed to the side. As he buttoned his shirt sleeves, he smiled warmly at her.

“Good morning,” he said smoothly.

Kelsie bit her bottom lip in pleasure. “Good morning.”

Masoud climbed across the bed to get to her, which made her giggle. He went in for a kiss, but as he started smiling himself, the actual kissing part became impossible. Laughing together, they drew apart.

Kelsie looked down and found herself in an oversized T-shirt. She vaguely remembered putting it on before falling asleep.

“Are you ready to fly home?” Masoud asked, gently brushing a few errant strands of hair out of her face.

Kelsie sighed dramatically. “Do I have to go?”

He arched a brow. “If that’s a serious question...”

“It’s not. I’m only kidding. I miss my home. I don’t think I’ve ever been away from Cowboy for this long.”

“I miss Leila, as well,” Masoud said.

“Yeah. I hope they don’t miss us too much,” Kelsie said softly, intertwining her fingers with Masoud’s.

“They probably haven’t thought about us once. Leila was so happy when you watched her for me.”

“That’s true,” Kelsie said with a grin. She looked at her and Masoud’s hands and realized that she never wanted to let go.

Just like Francesca had predicted, the week-long trip had caused Kelsie to fall even harder for Masoud. After the honest and passionate night they’d just shared, she could no longer imagine her life without him.

“I want to tell you something,” Masoud said, clearing his throat. “I’ve organized a town meeting for when we arrive back in Rancho Cordero. I want to speak to everyone about my company’s plans.”

Kelsie’s stomach plummeted. So he did still plan on building the mine. Ever after everything they’d shared, he still saw his business as the most important thing.

“O—okay,” she choked out. “That sounds good.”

Masoud stood and went to his walk-in closet to continue getting dressed. “I wished we could stay here longer,” he called.

“No, that’s okay,” Kelsie answered, standing up and reaching for her clothes from the night before. “I have to get back to my practice, anyway.”

Her stomach churned, and her knees shook, but Kelsie ignored those sensations. Masoud had made his choice. It didn’t matter what kind of connection they had. Or, more specifically, what kind of connection she thought they had.

It was time to go home. And maybe it was time to move on as well.