“It’s really pouring out there,” Hallie noted with surprise as she joined Karim in the large yet cozy family room.

“Good to be here, certainly, instead of traveling in dangerous weather,” he agreed.

They had gotten back from the picnic spot just in time, before the rain started falling—first in fat, slow drops that splatted as if playing some game, then with more force and fullness. A swirl of the cool wind that had brought the storm had also dropped the temperature by about twenty degrees; a darkening of the skies had turned everything gloomy and lessened visibility to twilight.

Quickly getting the three of them inside the kitchen, Karim had divested himself of the baggage he had been carrying and snapped on the lights. Aaron, blinking like an owlet, had immediately clamored to get out of his mother’s arms and onto the floor, where all sorts of possibilities for exploration awaited.

“The family room would, perhaps, be more comfortable,” Karim had suggested, leading the way.

More lights, the comforting warmth and leap of colorful gas flames in a magnificent natural stone fireplace, an impressive newest-model television on the wall, and sprawling plush sofas and chairs in rich aqua blue, with pillows and afghans to match.

Hallie, settling in on the floor (her favorite location, especially atop such a thick carpet) to play with Aaron, sighed rapturously. It just didn’t get any better than this. She couldn’t help taking a mental snapshot of the moment, just to keep the memory forever saved in the recesses of her brain.

Aaron, crawling around like a caterpillar with his little padded bottom wiggling, pulling himself up beside furniture in an attempt to stand, only to plop down again as he lost balance. Karim, with one eye on the TV screen and the other on the child, chuckling over his antics, occasionally reaching down to assist a stand or catch a toppling-over. Hallie, dreaming while awake, of what life was and what it could be.

Eventually, while rain pummeled the house and the fire hissed softly behind its screen, Hallie went into the adjoining kitchen to prepare dinner.

Karim apologized in advance. “I had planned on taking us to a nice restaurant nearby, Hallie. There should have been no reason for you to cook today. But with this storm…” He spread his hands wide, helpless to overcome the elements.

“No problem. I’m sure the rain has thrown a kink into everyone’s plans. Besides—” Paused in the doorway, she flung a satisfied glance at the shining steel appliances and beautifully coordinated cabinets and counters. “—I’ll enjoy myself. I can’t wait to take advantage of all these wonderful amenities.”

“Please, let me help. Although I’m not sure how useful I am outside the realm of toast…” the Sheikh offered with a sheepish smile.

“It’s fine, really. Watch over Aaron and make sure he doesn’t get into any trouble,” she replied with a grin.

Hallie certainly enjoyed herself in the massive, well-stocked kitchen. And, she found herself at peace as she heard Karim softly talking to her son, explaining things on the TV—it sounded like he’d turned the nature channel on. Just under an hour later, she’d whipped up a gourmet meal.

Tossed salad, lightly flavored with a vinaigrette dressing. Steaks rubbed in spices and seared to perfection. Mashed potatoes—the real kind, not from a box like she usually had. Sautéed fresh asparagus. Flaky crescent rolls. It smelled wonderful.

Right as she was dishing up, Karim walked in with Aaron in his arms and settled the baby into his high chair. Cereal rings, at first, kept Aaron occupied; then, a favorite baby food mixture.

Karim’s delight in her cooking expertise was quite flattering. She couldn’t help blushing a little as he complimented her on the menu and its tastiness.

“If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were interviewing me for the job of your sous chef,” she teased at one point.

He was shocked. “No, never that. Chef de cuisine, only.”

They laughed together.

The rain poured down. The meal progressed. The baby made his messes, managed to get more inside him than on his bib, and gurgled in his happy attempt at communication.

Another snapshot moment, unparalleled in every detail.

More leisurely time was absorbed in clean-up—of the table, of the kitchen, and of the baby. And, in a pleasant surprise, Karim was right beside her to help. She hadn’t asked, and he hadn’t volunteered. He was simply there, quietly supportive, transferring items to cabinet or dishwasher, tidying this or that, anticipating her moves.

“When did you get to be so domestic?” she asked, eyes dancing, over her shoulder.

His expressive brows went up. “You think I live with a staff of servants at my every beck and call?”

“Well—yeah, sorta. I do think that.”

“Then you would be…correct.” Laughing at the expression on her face, he tugged loose the apron around her waist to toss over a stool. “It is true, I am spoiled, as I believe I mentioned earlier. But I’m not completely helpless in domestic tasks, as you seem to think I must be.”

It wasn’t until much later, after Aaron had had a bit more playtime, enjoyed his bath and bottle, had a few stories read to him, and been tucked into bed, that she joined Karim in the family room. No television now, just something classical playing in the background, as part of the symphony of the rain.

“Much as I enjoy any kind of fireplace,” Hallie mused, collapsing into one of the cushy chairs, “I must admit that I miss the smell of burning wood.”

“That is the downside,” he agreed. “The aroma should be part of the flames, yes?”

Karim had poured some fragrant red wine into two glasses; they were now savoring the quiet, the coziness, the utter contentment of this wonderful final evening in this wonderful welcoming house.

“I’ll never forget this place,” she murmured, looking around with nostalgia after a sip. “Thank you, Karim, for bringing us here. It’s been fabulous.”

He leaned forward, slightly toward her; their knees were almost touching.

“I think, if it is possible, that you have fallen in love with the house.”

“You know, you may just be right. I wonder how many years I’d have to work to be able to afford the down payment?”

“A good many, I would imagine. But you will always have the memories.”

It was not said unsympathetically, but matter-of-factly. Which was all anyone could want. Yet, Hallie felt just for a moment as if someone had splashed the cold water of reality onto her face. That was certainly bracing. And a bit disillusioning.

“Of course, you’re right. Memories are all we ever have, in the end.”

Blinking, she pulled her knees up to sit cross-legged in the chair, with both elbows planted on both thighs and both palms cradling her face.

“Karim, tell me something.”

“Whatever I can.”

“Just what exactly is it you do?”

“At my company, you must mean.”

“Well, yeah.”

He paused to ponder, sipping from the rich, full-bodied wine and relishing the taste.

“Mostly, I buy and sell, to put it simply.”

“Like mergers and acquisitions?”

“I suppose that about sums it up, yes.”

Sinking more deeply into her comfortable perch, she frowned a little.

“But that’s what I’m asking. What do you buy? What do you sell?”

“You are aware of my upcoming buyout of Griffin Oceanic?”

She brushed that aside with the flutter of one hand.

“Of course I’m aware. Is that it?”

“In a way, yes, though my previous acquisitions have been smaller in scale.” His shoulder lifted in an eloquent shrug, and his face registered slight embarrassment. “Griffin Oceanic is a veritable empire. This is the first time I have dared venture into such exciting—and risky—waters.”

She tilted her head sideways, watching him, understanding him and his behavior just that much more. No wonder the goal of acquiring this mogul’s life work had become so vitally important. He had needed to prove that he could do it. And he had—with her help.

“And will you plan to improve each of these acquisitions, before you put them back out to public auction? Or chop each one up into little pieces, to get rid of some here, some there?”

“It is my hope,” he replied quietly, against the sizzle of the fire and the patter of the rain, “to make better whatever I can. And, no—there will be no public auction of assets. What I acquire, I keep.”

A sudden chill ran up her spine, and she shivered. The words felt full of portent.

“You look cold, Hallie.” Setting aside his empty wine glass, he extended one hand to her. “Please. Come join me, here.”

Just how much closer did she dare get to this man, with his charm and compelling smile and intense eyes that saw beyond any façade? It would be a risky situation, just being near him—one in which she should never consider participating.

And yet, weak-willed during this moment of overwhelming sweetness and romance, she did just that.

The length of his left arm along the back of the sofa invited her in. As she sat down beside him, that arm slipped around her shoulder and tightened—not enough to be uncomfortable, only offering the closeness he had suggested.

She felt his warmth and the lean muscle of an athletic body; she caught the clean, piney fragrance of his skin; she sensed a deepening, a strengthening, of the tentative mood that had begun this morning and continued throughout.

“This has been an enjoyable day,” he told her.

“A very enjoyable day,” she agreed with a serenity that belied her unsteady inner workings.

A few seconds ticked by, and then a few more. Hallie could hear her own heartbeat racing away like some frenetic drumroll. Nerves. She was being attacked by nerves—and, the longer she stayed here, beside him, the more violent they became.

“Once again, I would like to thank you for everything you have done this weekend.” His words came so softly as to be a mere breath near her ear.

“I—uh—you’re welcome…” she managed. “I mean—we had…an agreement…”

“This is true.” His free right hand had slowly drifted upward, almost without volition, to curve around her cheek. “But you have done more, in this role as my wife, than I had ever hoped for. I have no doubt it was your efforts that sparked a friendship with the Griffin family, and encouraged Chip to finalize the sale. You have talents you are just now discovering, Hallie Jameson.”

“Uh-huh. A real—a real force in life.”

The hand was gently turning her head toward him, and she felt his lips touch the lobe of her ear, and then her jaw, in tender, feather-light kisses that gradually reached her mouth, to encompass and explore. The moment held itself suspended, with slow-motion movements that only pulled them closer together physically and emotionally.

If a kiss could ever be considered magical, this was it. And—ah. There it was. This was what had been missing from the picnic.

The lights had been dimmed and most sounds silenced. There was only the soft tapping of rain at the windows, a sputter and occasional pop of the fire, and the easy musical glide of classical to jazz. As her body automatically responded to his, Hallie thought she had never before felt such a mixture of languor and need, all at once.

“Hallie…”

The kiss intensified, submerging her like a swimmer underwater. He released her only long enough for both to snatch air—and a stifled moan—before returning for more. His touch grew more inclusive, maneuvering from her chin to her throat to the jut of her clavicle. A careful, tentative touch, that took unexpected liberties, and then sought more.

As her insides began to flow with warm honey, she melted into his embrace.

Hold it! her conscience would lash out at her later. Pull away, show some spine, stand up and march away!

But this was now, and it had been far too long since she had been courted and seduced, and every part of her was crying out for fulfillment.

And, oh, dear God, she deserved this, this one little taste of heaven for Cinderella before she lost her slipper and slunk back to reality.