Page 43 of The Sheikh's Desert Captive

"You're sure?"

"I'm sure."

There was a long sigh at the other end of the phone. "What do I tell your sisters?"

"Tell them what you like," Nicole said. "Tell them I'm having a desert adventure. That'll annoy them," Nicole joked.

Annabelle snorted. "I think I'll leave that for another time."

Nicole felt better now that she could hear some of the worry had gone from her mother's voice.

"I'm going to go now, mom," Nicole announced. "I love you."

There was a pause and then Nicole heard her mother's voice, quieter now, and filled with obvious emotion. "You take care, Nicole. I love you, dear."

"I will, mom."

Nicole's throat felt tight as she disconnected the call and laid the phone down on the table.

What had she done? She'd given up a perfectly sensible chance to go home. That was what she had just done. Nicole knew that if she'd asked, her mother would probably have arranged for something like a military helicopter to come and collect her. She'd be back in Qazhar city within hours.

But she'd turned down the chance to do that.

She knew why.

Nicole wondered where Rashid was. She figured he might be worried she would have arranged to leave.

Nicole thought about the decision she'd just made. It hadn't been made with her mind. Like everything she ever did, this decision had been driven by her heart.

She just hoped that this one wouldn't turn out like all the others.

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