Asim had to blink a few times to get his bearings. The gorgeous hazel eyes of this lovely lady were breathtaking; her light brown hair, swept back into a messy bun at the top of her head, was equally enchanting.

Something about her was magnetic. Maybe the way she’d been staring at him outside of the café. Apparently, she’d liked what she’d seen, just as he very much liked what he saw.

“May I ask your name?” His English flowed effortlessly; the lifetime of English schooling assured it. She blushed again—precious—and smiled.

“I’m Elena,” she said. Gesturing behind her to the blonde friend receiving the croissant from the employee, she added, “And this is Aubrey.”

“Elena and Aubrey.” He offered his hand to each girl, lingering a bit on Elena’s embrace. “What lovely names. What lovely ladies. I’m Asim.”

Aubrey hesitated in the periphery, the croissant in hand. “Nice to meet you, Asim. Elena, should we go sit down?”

Elena barely looked away, nodding. “Yeah, sure.”

“Have you ladies been long in Lebanon?” He held Elena’s gaze.

“About two weeks,” Elena said. Behind her, Aubrey hunted for a vacant table.

“And will you be staying longer, or are you leaving?”

“We’re leaving today,” Elena said. “Unfortunately.”

“What a pity. Lebanon will be less beautiful without you.”

Elena grinned, jerking her gaze away. “That’s very sweet of you.” To the side, Aubrey cleared her throat loudly, setting her big backpack on the ground, scraping the legs of a chair against the floor as she pulled it out.

“I should go over there with her,” Elena said, gesturing toward her friend. “It was nice meeting you.”

“You, as well.” Asim clenched his jaw as she headed for the small table near the back wall. How odd that she abandoned a conversation with him—most girls would trip over themselves for a chance to be wooed by him. Apparently she had no idea who he was—as he could expect of foreigners—but even so. He’d laid on the charm thick.

Asim let out a terse sigh and tried to shake the memory of Elena’s haunting gaze. It wasn’t too often a woman like that riled him up. But what had she even done? Her gaze haunted him, seared through to his core. Prompted questions and curiosity far beyond what was common for a passer-by. And it was even more rare that a woman so beautiful didn’t play right into his hands.

“I’ll take a baguette to go,” he said in Arabic. He handed over the money, mind shifting to the concerning conversation he’d been having with his mother that morning. Though she was heading out of the country in only hours, he worried her sudden silence via text message meant she hadn’t taken kindly to the white lie he’d proffered. Her needling and meddling about arranging a marriage for him was reaching new heights—so bad, in fact, that he’d somehow, sort of, let it slip that he’d met a girl. That he’d made his choice, and his mother’s choice was no longer necessary.

That woman, of course, didn’t exist. Nor would she ever, if Asim had his way. Not when the world had so many fleeting and interesting possibilities. So many hookups to be had.

His phone buzzed as he received the baguette bag to-go. Anxiety cinched his belly and he pulled it out of his pocket. His mother. “I’m stopping over on my way to the airport.”

He stifled a groan. No, she hadn’t taken well to the news at all. And now, he had to explain this mystery fiancée to her. When she was angry, she got so rigid and stern that the most frightening part was the total absence of expression.

“Hey.” A soft, lilting voice interrupted his screen time and he swiveled to face Elena. She smiled sweetly at him. “Thanks again for buying Aubrey’s croissant. We really just needed to use the internet, so that was a big help.”

“It was no problem at all.” He smiled at the two of them, loaded up with their backpacks once more. “Listen, would you be able to do me a small favor?”

Elena lifted a brow. “Maybe. What is it?”

“Very brief and extremely trivial.” He guided them toward the front door, holding it open so both could pass through before him. “I promise.”

Elena’s lips curled up in curiosity, but Aubrey’s gaze narrowed.

“I just need you to play along,” he said, noticing a sleek black sedan slowing in the curb lane. His mother’s driver was in the front seat. Here we go. “This is her now.”

The girls followed his gaze toward the car, then Aubrey squinted at him. “We’re not getting into any cars.”

“Oh, no. No cars.” He laughed a little, worried that this plan might backfire spectacularly before he had a chance to save himself. But desperate times required desperate measures. Including roping in an innocent American girl to pose as his fiancé. “Trust me, this will be quick. Just follow my lead, Elena. You’ll be meeting the woman getting out of this car.”

“We should get going,” Aubrey said, sounding annoyed.

“I’ll do it.” Elena smiled up at him.

Asim rummaged in his pocket, for the slippery little ring he’d picked up in a jewelry store a few days prior. He’d carried it with him ever since, wondering if he’d grow the balls to enact his ploy. It seemed his only way to freedom—the only chance to escape a life of misery at the side of a woman he didn’t love, didn’t like, didn’t even want—and now, the foresight proved serendipitous. The time is now.

“Here, just wear this.” He showed her the ring, reaching for her hand. The car slowed to a stop behind a short wall of shrubbery. She’d be in front of them any minute now.

Elena’s eyes widened once she caught sight of the glittering jewels. She spread her fingers and he slid the ring onto the correct finger—it was too big. But no matter. It would work well enough.

The car door slammed, and his mother appeared on the sidewalk, her stride purposeful and strong, a teal pantsuit pairing nicely with her dark olive skin. Her black hair was coiffed with precision, swept back into a shoulder length do, the ends slightly curling out.

“Son,” Safiya began in Arabic, before she’d even reached him. “You cannot let me leave the country without clarifying this message.” She waved her hand in the air, as if the text were floating somewhere between them. “Honestly, it’s basically cruel. I am your mother. How can you have news like this without telling me?”

Asim cleared his throat, glancing at Elena, who wore a tight, plasticized smile. Her hazel eyes were saucers as she looked up at his mother. In English, he said, “Mother, please, let’s speak English. For Elena’s benefit.”

Safiya turned her dark, accusing eyes toward Elena, her mouth a thin line.

“This is the girl I was telling you about.” His heart raced so fast he might pass out.

His mother’s gaze traveled up and down Elena, as if she were judging her for a competition, then shifted to the overstuffed backpack at her side, then careened over Aubrey. This is bad. This is very bad.

Turning to Asim, she said, “Which is the girl you were telling me about? And why are there two of them? Are you planning on maintaining a harem?”

Asim’s mouth fell open, unsure whether to laugh or not. “This is Elena.” He presented her, then gesturing toward Aubrey, he said, “And she is Aubrey, Elena’s best friend. Elena wanted to have her near for the wedding.”

The air sucked in tight, like the world itself had taken a sharp inhale. Surprise radiated from everyone now. Safiya’s accusing gaze smoldered at him.

“Yes,” Elena said, giggling nervously. “The wedding.”

Thank you for playing along. Asim mustered a smile. “I told Elena that my mother Safiya was so eager to meet her. Please don’t prove me wrong, mother.”

Safiya’s mouth stretched into a tight smile.

“It’s lovely to meet you, Safiya,” Elena offered, holding out her hand. “It’s a joy to finally see you, after hearing so much about you.” Safiya took her hand quickly then dropped it.

“Elena just arrived,” Asim went on. “We stopped here to relax for a bit after their long flight. I wanted to ease her in, and my plan was to present her at the palace, as is typical.” He cleared his throat, straightening his back. “I wasn’t trying to keep you in the dark, mother. I simply wanted to wait for the proper way.”

“We’re dying to see the palace,” Aubrey interjected, leaning closer.

Asim smiled over at her. Before he could add anything else, his mother’s driver approached.

“Ms. Azhar,” the driver intoned, touching the side of her arm, “We must be on our way. Your flight is leaving soon.”

“My mother must go catch her flight,” Asim said, for the benefit of Elena and Aubrey. “Such a shame to cut this meeting short.”

His mother stiffened, her dark eyes narrowing. With her perfect hair, immaculate clothes, and glittering black nails, she looked like a Vogue model ready to draw blood. “I’ll be back in two days.”

Asim’s eyes widened. “What? I thought you’d be in America for a week.”

Safiya’s tight smile returned. “That was the original plan, son. But things change. Like this.” She gestured toward the girls. “I must return as quickly as possible to meet with my son and his fiancée. I’ll send you the updated itinerary when I have it. I want to return as soon as possible to begin getting to know my future daughter-in-law.”

She held his gaze, daring him to argue. Asim’s stomach sunk. “Of course. You two can get to know each other very well once you return.” After a moment, he added, “I’m looking forward to it.”

Safiya scanned each of them in turn, then leaned forward to kiss Asim on the cheek. She spun on her heel, heading back to the car, waving her hand in the air. “Two days!”

The door slammed shut once more. Her dark eyes bore into them through the window until the driver pulled away. Once the car was gone, Asim turned to the women, heaving a sigh.

“Thanks for that,” he said, offering a grimace. “I wasn’t expecting her to show up.”

Elena gaped, staring down the street. Aubrey’s brows were knit in confusion. He had a whole lot of convincing to do…and the likelihood of maintaining this ruse seemed to be impossibly slim.

“So, it looks like I have to ask you one more tiny favor…”