“zawjatuk tuhibu al'atfali. la buda 'ana ladayk atfalan. Your wife, she loves the children. You must have some of your own.” Aksil, the man who brought us from the hotel, nudges me. “The child trying to climb onto her lap is my daughter. They are all entranced by her.”
“Aye.” I watch her hold up her arms, looking at the henna in delight. “I’m entranced by her, too.”
Catriona…
The sunsets in Morocco are like no other. I know it’s the same sun, the same planet Earth. But the rays shoot from the setting sun in violent oranges and reds, fading to searing yellow and finally, improbable clouds of pink and purple. The colors light the enormous gardens and the terrace into something otherworldly.
Glancing over at Lucas, I watch him laugh at something Marabout Badis says, his face lit golden and so masculine. My gaze travels down to his hands. I’ve always had a bit of a kink for men’s hands and his are huge, with long, competent fingers and those thick forearms… He’s wearing a loose white linen shirt with the sleeves rolled up and it is Arm Porn. During our one night together, I traced all the veins roping up those arms with my tongue and then on his substantial co-
“Are you enjoying yourself?”
I jolt back a step and manage to spill my mint tea down my dress. “Ach, I’m a clumsy one.” I smile apologetically at an amused Imane, Marabout Badis’s sister and our hostess.
“Goodness, I am the one to apologize, I didn’t mean to startle you.” She hands me a napkin and takes my tea cup. “I fear this dress is going to be uncomfortable, allow me to lend you something to wear.”
I’m dabbing at the stain spilling down the front of my dress and making the light fabric almost transparent. “Aye, please. This is not a good look.” I settle the napkin over my chest like the world’s most awkward bib and follow her inside.
Imane’s suite of rooms are bright and colorful, scarves draped everywhere, with overstuffed couches and lots of pillows. There’s a sweet scent of incense that is soothing. “If you’d like to rinse that tea off of you in the bathroom, I’ll find you something to wear.” She smiles sympathetically at my somewhat bedraggled state.
“I’m happy my henna survived.” I hold out my arms, admiring the elaborate flowers and vines decorating my hands and winding up my arms. “It’s beautiful, aye?”
“Fatima is a favorite here, she creates such lovely work. I’m pleased to see that you appreciate her designs.” She smiles at me gently and guides me into the bathroom.
I groan, looking at myself in the mirror. Playing with the bairns has turned me into a mess, there’s grass and a flower or two stuck in my hair.
Imane knocks on the door. “Catriona, I’m opening the door enough to give you a dress, all right?” The way she says my name is so pretty, with a little trill on the end.
I might make everybody back home startpronouncing it that way.
“Thank ye so much. I appreciate the rescue dress.” When I see the gauzy masterpiece, I gasp. It’s made of layers of violet and green fabric with embroidery on the bodice, and when I slip it on, I feel like a goddess, mysterious and exotic.
When I come out of the bathroom, Imane beams her approval. “I knew it would go well with your lovely eyes. Would you like me to add just a touch of kohl? It would look perfect with the dress style.”
I’m not one for letting people muck about with my face, I dinnae like getting facials or my brows plucked. But the image of the other women, fluttering like butterflies in the garden with their beautifully made-up faces, makes me weaken.
“That would be very kind of you.” I shrug awkwardly. “I haven’t learned any new makeup tricks in a while.”
Yeah, that would require getting out of the lab every now and then.Sensible Catriona reminds me.
She claps her hands, delighted, as if I’m the one doing her the favor, rather than the other way around. I’m seated in a chair in front of the mirror and she’s ready with a kohl brush in her hand.
“Your companion, Mr. Stewart…” Her touch is light and deft, “He seems like a fine person. You are fond of him?”
“Lucas is a good man, honorable, courageous.” I smile, trying to hold still for her.
“Have you known each other very long?”
“Aye, he was my bodyguard, but… Well, at any rate, he left. My father called him back to help find me.” Her brush tickles lightly along the corner of my lash line, and I pretend that’s the thing making my eyes a little watery.
“Mmm…” It’s quiet, and we can hear everyone laughing outside, the music starting up again. “I ‘ve long thought that we find our way back to the one meant for us at the right time, rather than the time we expect.”
I glance up at her sharply, but her face is serene and innocent as she finishes up. “We should hurry, the dancing is about to begin. What do you think?”
This elegant creature in the mirror looks nothing like me. The kohl makes my eyes bigger, more luminous, and the dark lines create a glow on my pasty white skin. Even my dark hair looks lush and wild. She’s mysterious and beautiful, this creature, and I wonder if I can somehow lure Imane into coming home with me to keep this look up. “This is so braw, true braw.” She looks politely confused. “Sorry a bit of Scottish slang. I mean, lovely. Thank ye so much!”
When we stroll out onto the terrace, Lucas is waiting for me. “I was about to start a search for ye, Cat-” His eyes widened gratifyingly and I preen just a bit.
“Dinnae Imane do a bang-up job?”
