The Sheikh's Mistaken Twin - Completed.

Chapter Twelve

The ride turned out sometimes a little hairy, holding on for dear life with reddish sand blowing over the car as they took dunes on the side, wheels kicking up a lot of sand, as they charged up with speed.

"I didn't realise you were a thrillseeker," her fingers dug into the handle above, and jostled about, her other hand on the dashboard. He didn't seem fazed at all.

"We need the speed to make it up over the dune," he explained, still driving one-handed, that she wanted to point out, but he seemed in control.

"Is that why you're going along the side of the hill, not directly up?"

"Yes."

"Done this before?"

"Often. I love it out here, away from the noise of normal life."

Yes, it differed from where they just left. Open-spaced and felt like they were the only two people in the world. She got that. "Do the bedouin ever come to the city to get away from normal life?"

"With all this, would you?"

"Depends on the lifestyle. How do they survive out here? It's so stark, one needs even the basics, like water and food."

"You'll see that they do and live a very simple life."

Her curiosity was piqued, and then suddenly, out of nowhere, there were treetops, sitting up straighter. Where they were heading, and tents next to a waterhole, known as an oasis. "Is that real?"

"Yes, very real," he smiled across at her excitement.

"It is just like Arabian Nights, out of the desert emerges a watery haven."

"Not like your snowy Norwegians' lands."

"I wouldn't know, never been there," she was about to add the first time out of Australia, remembering Ronnie had. This being Ronnie isn't as easy as it looked. It was giving her a headache rubbing her temple, trying to remember the smaller details that could easily slip her up if he was as thorough as she thinks he was.

She wanted to be just Ellie.

Out here in the desert maybe she could, watching as the oasis closed in, much larger than it looked. A hidden treasure in the sands. Kaden pulled up beside the pitched tents, turned off the engine, yet kept the air-con on and turned towards her, claiming her arm lightly, stopping Ellie from exiting the car. 

Ellie peered across questioningly.

"Before we leave, there are a few things you need to know." She nodded, knowing some rules needed to be respected in all cultures. "Out here they are more traditional, so for your protection, you will pose as my wife." 

Her jaw dropped in surprise. "But surely they know who you are and that you're not married, well, to me," she added because she didn't know if he was or not. What if he was? What did his wife think about her living under his roof? Or maybe she didn't know?

Not sure she liked the idea, and he wore no ring. Did they wear rings? Looking at his bare hand.

Maybe they didn't and how would Ronnie know if his brother was involved or not, if he didn't tell her, then again, he hadn't recognised her, had he?

Reaching for her hand, Kaden removed a ring from a pocket in his robe and slipped it onto her finger which felt strange, fingering as he released her hand. missing his touch. "Since they don't read the papers, or have television out here, they will believe whatever I say. Of course, we were married in secret." Adding a ring to his hand. 

That would be right, he would never marry her in public and then scolded herself. This wasn't real. Okay, they did. His brother only was engaged, so no ring.  Also, he was doing this for her protection, yet hated he was lying to his people because of her.