"Boring?" She considered it for a moment. Lonely, perhaps, she thought silently. There were times she ached with loneliness. She spent so much time with machines that at times she longed to hear just another human voice.
But she wasn't about to admit such a thing to
him.
Faith forced a laugh. "Boring is not a word that I encounter very often. There's always something interesting happening. Always some new snafu that takes me by surprise." She shrugged, realizing that talking about her business, something she knew was solid, was allowing her to relax a bit. "The world is moving so fast, and technology with it, that sometimes it's difficult to keep up. So I'm never bored."
He was having trouble concentrating on her words when her delicate fragrance was playing havoc with his senses. "What about your social life, Faith? Surely you have time to socialize?"
"Nope." She shook her head and broke off a piece of crusty bread from the basket. "I'm not much into socializing." She shrugged, nibbled her bread. "Unless it's for business, like the other night, I'm not much for crowds or fancy get-togethers."
"I see," he said thoughtfully, sipping his drink and watching her over his glass. "And what about men? Is there someone special in your life?"
How he'd managed to turn this from a business discussion into a discussion of her love life was beyond her. He was quite smooth.
Hoping to ignore the question, Faith broke off another piece of bread, then glanced around the quiet, elegant room.
"Faith?" He took her hand again, caressing it, stroking his own fingers up and down hers in a way that heated her blood and sent it pulsing through her veins.
She inhaled a deep breath. Was someone siphoning the air? It was getting hard to breathe.
"No." She concentrated on blowing her breath out slowly. "There's no one special."
He looked pleased, but not surprised. "I see." With his gaze still intent on hers, he brought her hand to his lips once more, kissing it again, making her heart dance a wicked beat beneath her T-shirt.
Faith's eyes widened. "Uh, Ali?"
Embarrassed, she tried to tug her hand free as she watched a couple approach their table. He refused to relinquish her hand, kissing it once again.
"I'm very pleased to hear—"
"Ali." Faith's voice held a sense of urgency as she tried to tug her hand free once again. "I think we…we're about to have company." Her eyes widened in alarm as an elegant, well-dressed couple approached their booth.
The man was tall, dark and broad-shouldered; he glowed with vigor and vitality. Although thickening around the waist, he was impeccably attired. His profile was strong, sharp, and although his hair was short, and a deep, rich black, it was tinged with silver around the temples.
The resemblance to Ali was so strong, so striking, Faith knew instinctively it had to be his father. Why this alarmed her, she didn't know.
Her gaze shifted to the woman with him. She was not beautiful in the traditional sense, but she had a distinct air of elegance. Her features were an interesting, exotic mix of high cheekbones, small, upturned nose and the most beautiful near-black eyes Faith had ever seen. Her lips were delicately sculptured and painted a smart sleek red.
She was small and delicate, with dark hair swept into a fashionable style. Still model-slender, she wore an impeccable suit in a pale shade of ice-blue, complemented by matching jewels that sparkled at her ears and on her small, slender fingers.
Ali glanced behind him and released Faith's hand as a wide smile sheathed his face, softening it.
"Father." Ali's face lit up like a beacon, his gaze going from his father to his mother. Clearly he was both pleased and surprised.
Watching him, Faith was stunned by the transformation. It was like the day with Maureen Jourdan. Gone was the arrogant, aristocratic facade, replaced by a man of warmth and love. It was clear to see he adored his parents.
"Son." With a broad smile, Sheik Omar El-Etra laid a large, bronzed hand on his son's shoulder and gave it an affectionate squeeze.
Although dressed in a three-piece suit, he also wore a
kalfiylh,
the traditional loose head scarf that was held in place by decorative cords.
"Father." Smiling broadly, Ali openly embraced his father. "What a pleasant surprise." He patted his father's back affectionately. "It is so good to see you."
His father returned the hug, smiling at Faith over Ali's shoulder. "It is good to see you as well, my son."
Ali kissed his father's cheeks, then stepped out of his father's embrace and caught his mother up in a ferocious hug.
"Mom."
"My son." Tibi El-Etra laid loving hands to her son's cheeks, her eyes shining with pride. "We've missed you."
With a laugh of joy, Ali tightened his arms around his mother, nearly lifting her off the ground.
"And I have missed you." He swung her around in a circle, making her laugh before releasing her, and kissing her on each cheek as well, then dropping a protective arm around her slender shoulders.
The gesture was so loving, Faith couldn't help but stare, wondering if this was the same man she'd gotten to know the past week.
"It is so wonderful to see you," Ali glanced down at his mother. "You look as beautiful as ever."
"And you, my son, still know how to flatter."
Ali glanced at Faith, his face still sheathed in pleasure. "Please, forgive my manners. This is Faith Martin. Faith, this is my mother, Tibi El-Etra, and my father, Omar El-Etra."
Feeling a bit self-conscious since she'd been caught by Ali's parents having her fingers kissed, Faith felt her face grow warm as she started to stand to greet them.
"Sit, sit," his father admonished with a warm smile, waving her back down into her seat. "Please, do not get up on our account." His glance was loving as he looked at his wife. "We are not a family who stands on ceremony."
Faith sat back down, watching them, trying not to feel envious. It was clear that this was a family in the true sense of the word. There was love, devotion and trust between them, radiating through the air, connecting them in a way she'd never known.
She glanced at Ali's father and saw the pride, the pleasure in his gaze as he looked at his wife and son, and felt a stab of pain deep in her heart.
"It's a pleasure to meet you both," she said, scooting over in the booth to make room for them.
"Please, join us?" Ali stepped aside to allow his mother to slide into the booth, carefully pulling the table out for her. Tibi slid in next to Faith, glancing at her warmly. Omar slid in next to his wife, draping an arm casually, affectionately around her shoulder.
"Have you had dinner yet?" Ali slid back into the booth next to Faith, much closer now that his parents had joined them. Their hips, their legs were touching, and Faith felt the heat of him warm her, startling her. "We've just ordered, but I'll be glad to—"
"We've eaten already." Tibi smiled across the table at her son. "We had a late lunch with the Coltons while they were in town."
"And how are they?" Ali asked politely.
"Fine. We gave them your love."
Tibi turned to Faith to include her in the conversation. "We came to California a few months ago to attend the birthday party of a very old and dear friend, Joe Colton."
"Yes, I know. Ali told me."
Tibi and her husband exchanged curious glances. "Do you know the Coltons?" Tibi's glance skimmed over Faith, then beamed with approval. The young woman was lovely. Although she wasn't anything like the young women Ali usually dated, there was something refreshingly innocent about her.
Tibi was instantly curious, and if the scene they'd witnessed as they approached—her son holding the young woman's hand—was any indication, there was more here than her son had let on.
Interesting, she decided, letting her gaze go from her son back to Faith.
"No, not really." Faith hesitated. "I've never actually met them, but I know of them." She took a deep breath, then met Tibi's interested gaze.
Faith rarely talked about her childhood with anyone. It was far too painful, but it would seem rude not to explain.
"I spent some time at the Hopechest Ranch when I was growing up." Her smile was shaky. "That's how I became aware of the Coltons and their generosity."
"Ah, I see." Tibi's smile warmed and she laid a hand over Faith's, realizing there was far more to this young woman than met the eye.
From her plain clothing it was obvious she was not one of the beautiful, wealthy, infinitely boring little socialites her son seemed to prefer.
Perhaps there was hope for her son and his future after all.
"I'm on the Board of the Hopechest Ranch," Tibi said, watching Faith carefully.
"It's a wonderful place," Faith admitted. "They do some incredible things for kids." If it wasn't for the ranch, she had no idea what would have become of her.
"Yes, they do," Tibi agreed. "I'm happy to hear that your experience there was pleasant."
"Yes, it was," Faith said, making Ali wonder about Faith's childhood.
He'd been listening intently, and now he wondered why Faith had grown up on a ranch for troubled children.
Oh, he knew the Hopechest Ranch didn't just take in troublemakers, but also children who had nowhere else to go, children whose families had been broken or separated for whatever reason.
He sincerely doubted that serious, sincere Faith had ever been in trouble. No, it had to be some other reason that had sent her to the ranch.
With his brows drawn together in concentration, he wondered about Faith, realizing in all this time he had never once asked Faith about her background, her family, her childhood.
Where were her parents, he wondered, feeling a bit of anger toward them. Why had they allowed their daughter to be raised by strangers?
It didn't make sense.
He glanced at his own parents, his eyes, his heart filled with love. He knew how difficult it had been for him to come to America, to be separated from them even for a brief time, but he always knew they were there for him, always knew he was part of a loving family and had their full support.
Apparently Faith had not had the benefit of a loving, supportive family. It touched something deep inside of him, and he found himself reaching for her hand under the table. For once, she didn't resist him.
"So, Ali." Omar turned to his son. "How was your evening with Clarissa?"
"Clarissa?" Ali frowned. Who on earth was Clarissa, he wondered, frantically trying to remember.
Tibi laughed, amused. "Clarissa, dear, the niece of Senator Bigelow, the beautiful young woman you escorted to the black-tie charity gala the other night?" She exchanged glances with her husband, and one dark brow arched upward. "Apparently the evening wasn't that memorable."
Clarissa?
Obviously that was the name of his date the night he'd rescued Faith from Aaron Josslyn.
All he remembered of that night was the way Faith looked. His gaze shifted to hers now and he felt a warmth unfold inside, remembering that night and how she'd looked and felt in his arms.
"Ali?" his mother prompted, her smile still amused. "Since you're apparently not interested in Clarissa, if you're not busy tomorrow evening, your father and I met a lovely young woman this evening. She's the daughter of a very old and dear friend of your father's. We thought perhaps—"
"Mother." Ali took a deep breath, then glanced at Faith. He couldn't bear the thought of spending any more of his evenings bored to tears with empty-headed women whose only interest was his bank account. Nor did he want to hurt his parents' feelings. "There's something you should know."
The tone of his voice had Tibi and Omar exchanging concerned glances.
"What is it, son?" Omar asked quietly, drawing his wife closer to provide unspoken support. "Is something wrong? Are you ill? In trouble?" Concern etched deeply into the creases of his face.
Ali shook his head. "No, Father. I'm sorry, I did not mean to alarm you. It's nothing like that." He hesitated, then glanced at Faith, tightening his hold on her hand and hoping she would understand what he was about to do. "I have something to tell you, something I hope will please you both." And stop their infernal matchmaking. "Faith and I…are engaged to be married."
Stunned speechless by Ali's announcement, Faith felt her mouth drop open as if it had come unhinged, and she gaped at him as if he'd just announced he was about to give birth to a baboon.
Engaged?
Engaged!
Was the man insane?
What on earth was he thinking?
Furious, she tried to snatch her hand free, the better to whack him—but he held on tight, refusing to relinquish her.
"What?" Tibi's smile went from Faith, back to Ali. "But when did this happen?" Overjoyed, and slightly overwhelmed, Tibi shook her head, trying to take it all in. This was her very wish, her every dream come true. "But…why did you not tell us?" Her hand went to her happily thudding heart. "How…how…" Shaking her head, she laughed again. "I have so many questions, but I am so happy I don't think I can get them all out. When did you two meet? How did you two meet?" She laughed again, realizing the questions were pouring from her mouth.
Leaning back in the booth, Ali hung on to Faith's hand for dear life, praying she wouldn't give away his little fabrication.
"Faith and I met a while ago. And actually, it was Kadid who introduced us," Ali explained, earning a heated glare from Faith.
Was there no end to the man's lies?
While it was true that Kadid
had
introduced them on the day she'd stormed into Ali's office, it certainly was
not
the way Ali had made it seem to his parents.
"Ah, Kadid," his father said with an approving nod. "He is a most wise man and has been a loyal and valuable servant."
"But why did you not tell us?" Tibi asked, a hint of hurt in her voice.
"I apologize, Mother. It was certainly not intentional." Ali gave Faith a warm look. The look she gave him back should have had steam lifting from his skin. "But it happened very suddenly. Right, Faith dear?"