Page 54 of The Sheikh's Matchmaker Bride

Shahid grinned and took hold of the control. "Just watch me," he declared.

Then he fired up the rotors and she felt the helicopter rumble, the noise rising to a crescendo. He pulled on the controls and then they lifted quickly into the air. Aliyah felt her stomach shift as she watched the ground drop away. She'd been in a helicopter before, but not like this. Not with her nerves tingling with anticipation at being with Shahid.

Aliyah gazed down at the palace as the helicopter hovered, Shahid pulling on the controls with seeming expertise. She saw a few figures below gazing up at the sight. Aliyah twisted her head to see the terrace of her bedroom, and saw Nadyah standing right where she'd left her. Although they were a long way off, she was sure Nadyah was smiling.

Then with a sudden lurch, the helicopter eased to one side and headed across the gardens and out across the desert.

Shahid looked at Aliyah. "Okay?" he shouted above the noise of the engines.

Aliyah smiled at him and nodded. Why did this suddenly feel as if they were both young, rebellious children again? It was almost as if they were heading out on a solitary adventure, leaving their past behind.

Aliyah saw the golden dunes slide beneath them far below. She could tell they were traveling at quite some speed. At this rate, they would be at Azim's palace with a quarter of an hour, far too soon. Didn't Shahid know that?

"Isn't this a bit too early? Or do you have other people to pick up," she called out to him.

Shahid shook his head. "We're not going to the palace, right now," he stated.

"We're not?" Aliyah asked surprised.

Shahid looked at her. "I thought we could take a detour."

"Where to?" she asked.

"You'll see," he replied.

Was it her imagination or was he trying to hide something from her?

"You're not going to tell me?"

"Nope," Shahid replied. "Settle back and enjoy the ride," he said.

Aliyah did just that, sinking back against the leather seat. She gazed out the window, marvelling at the sight of the desert as it rushed past below them. She wondered where he was taking her. To his own palace? Surely not Aliyah glanced at the sun, trying to get a sense of where they were headed.

Then she realized the direction he had taken. Toward the coast.

"Are you taking us to the beach?" she asked.

Shahid's brows furrowed. "I can't hide anything from you, can I?"

"Not really."

"Why do I like that so much?" he said giving her an inquiring look.

"I don't know. Maybe I can read your mind," she replied. "Or, maybe, you're just too obvious," she teased.

He lifted a brow. "I'll have to do something about that," he admitted.

"Like what?" she challenged.

He gazed at her. "I'll think of something. Don't you worry."

"I'm not worried at all."

Shahid laughed, then the helicopter banked and she sank back into her seat. In the distance was the sea, shimmering brightly in the early sun. The long line of sand stretched as far the eye could see, running parallel to the black strip of the road. There were no cars to be seen along the thin line of the road.

Once he'd positioned the helicopter over the coastline, Shahid steered them over the line of the beach, heading northwards. Aliyah gazed out across the sea, the bright sun shining in her eyes.

"It's beautiful," she said.

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