Page 64 of The Sheikh's Desert Captive

Nicole shook her head. "He's pretty isolated up there," she said and shrugged. "But you knew that anyway."

"Is that the way he prefers to live?"

"In isolation? Like a hermit?" Nicole replied.

Annabelle smiled. "A very wealthy hermit," she said.

Nicole tilted her head. "I grant you that." She sighed. "But, he just seems determined to live that kind of life. On his own all the time."

"Maybe that's what makes him happy, Nicole," Annabelle prompted.

"You think so, mom?"

"Everyone has to make their own choices. Look at Erin," Annabelle said.

"What about Erin?" Nicole asked.

"She thought she couldn't have a happy life with a sheikh. And look what happened to her."

"But that was different, mom."

"I know, Nicole. You and Erin are such different individuals. You always have been. In fact, I don't think I could have asked to be blessed with three more contrasting daughters. But you all still want the same thing."

Where was her mother going with all of this?

Annabelle leaned across the table. "You asked me to find you information about where Sheikh Rashid has his palace here in Qazhar city," she said.

Nicole felt excitement jolt her forward. She peered at her mother. "Did you find out?" she asked trying not to seem to eager.

Annabelle smiled calmly at Nicole. "I did."

Nicole's excitement grew even stronger. "And?"

"It's not that far from here," Annabelle announced casually.

"How close?" Nicole demanded.

"About a half hour drive west of here," Annabelle said.

Nicole saw that her mother was watching her, trying to gauge her daughter's reaction. Nicole wanted to hug her mother, right now. But most of all she wanted the details.

"If you give me your phone, I'll put the details into it," Annabelle said. Nicole was always impressed by how organized her mother could be when it was needed. That was one character trait Nicole was certain she didn't share with her mother.

Nicole handed her phone to Annabelle and watched as her mother keyed in the location details of Rashid's palace. Her mother handed Nicole's phone back. Nicole glanced at the map on her phone. The palace looked like it was well off the beaten track, miles out in the desert, reached only by the main route that stretched west away from the city.

Nicole stood up. The sound of her mother's firm voice made Nicole hesitate. "The house is empty, Nicole," she said.

Nicole peered at her mother. Nicole felt a slight chill trace its way up her spine. "How do you know that?"

"I had someone take a look. I asked around. No-one has lived there for a long time."

"I know that, mom. Rashid explained it all to me."

"So why are you going out there?"

Nicole shrugged. "I don't know. It just seems like the right thing to do."

"Do you want someone to come with you?"

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