Stepping further in, the door closed behind her, Nikki couldn't believe her eyes, entering another world. A magical wonderland with solid walls in angular shapes, and the roof of the white material of a tent. Held up with two giant wooden poles in the middle of the room. Before her two clear sitting areas by enormous Persian rugs, each with long sofas and a coffee table in the middle. 

The walls donning Persian tapestries, and side buffets, with antiques and artefacts, receded into the walls.

So different from trekking across the desert with no shelter, even living in tents at the oasis. This was luxury on steroids. Following Khayri into a bedroom with a super king-sized bed, a sitting area, desk in front of glass doors with its balcony on the side. Persian rugs over the marble floor.

"Surely this is your room," she gasped.

"No, mine is on the other side." Of course it was, placing the bag onto the bed, and went exploring. 

Opening a door to find a marbled bathroom with a king-sized bath, shower and his and hers vanity, decked out with Bvlgari amenities. Opening a bottle and smelt a woody floral musk nuance, looking at the bath with longing.

It was like they had removed a five-star hotel room and plonked down in the middle of the desert, heading back out into the bedroom that was empty, looking at her bag and removing the other clothes, one set with underwear. She grabbed the wet towel that had her underwear, which she washed in the sink, squeezed and went and hung over the shower, and the towel.

Unwrapped the other one to dry her hair roughly, then searched the cupboards coming up with a brush and brushed her hair getting rid of the tangles to fall over her shoulders in damp waves. The robe she had hung outside to dry over the outside poles that keep the awning up straight, with Khayri's robe and pants.

Heading back out she found Khayri seated on a sofa, the table full of food on offer with refreshments, and fresh fruit that looked inviting, where she settled down on the sofa on the opposite side of him.

He waved a hand over the table for her to start removing a side plate to add some from the Mezzeh platter, Kale and Quinoa salad, and French fries, each dish had name tags, adding a bit of everything, and settled back, fork in hand and tasted.

Her tongue burst with new flavours, reaching for the poured mint tea that was a favourite and drank from. "How did you manage all this? Surely you didn't have all this food waiting here to be used."

"Lucky for you, it was."

"What if we didn't make it here?"

"But we did, you must not worry about what could have happened. After the last few days, you need to relax."

"Also get in contact with my family. I haven't posted anything in those days, and lost my phone," she sighed.

"I will see to it through Hussein after we have eaten. After that is up to you, you can lay by the pool, or get some real sleep. I have a lot to arrange."

"Thank you. Don't worry about me," she smiled, finished off what was on offer, drank her tea and took a bottle of cold water that Khayri organised for her, she trotted off to her room, and settled on the bed that was a welcome comfort, turned on her side and looked at the views from safely inside, her eyes grew heavy, and drifted close.

Waking up later, Nikki went exploring the rest of the house, which wasn't completely covered with a tent-like roof, back to a solid flat roof some with wooden beams. Most of the doors were made of heavily carved wood, and other areas were surrounded by glass, like small courtyards, some with plants. The dining room had open lattice windows, letting the air through and view from other areas, she entered further, admiring the hand-carved table that seated up to twelve.

He didn't believe in doing anything small.

Their dinner arrived later and ate at the table, with the arrangement of cooked meats and vegetables, followed by a cheese platter, and coffee from the coffee machine, savouring a cappuccino, before heading back to her room, since Khayri went back to his office.

She didn't even have her Kindle to read.

Hussy held all her most treasured processions.

Keeping the lights off inside she laid there staring out into the night, yet there were lights on around the tent-house. Not so sure what to do next. Thankfully all her important papers were with Hussein. Then there was her phone, she needed that because it had all her information about her tickets, downloaded, wondering if she could ask if somehow they could go back and look for Hussy.

She can only hope Hussy made it onto dry land, not into the water, and sank to the bottom never to be seen again. Her worst nightmare. Surely it would be too much to ask. And how would they get there?

Rubbing her forehead, her week isn't even up yet.

****

"What do you mean you can't find her!"

"I'm telling you, she isn't at the oasis, yet her phone is. We can't go in because the area is swarming with his men, they are cleaning up. By the time they are finished, there won't be any clues they were ever there."

"So what happened to her? Where did she go? Surely not into the desert? This is not what I'm paying you for."

"She hasn't done as you planned. She stayed. Even found protection. We have to be careful and keep under the radar. This is private land, not like the desert. Also a reserve. Maybe they were picked up and taken somewhere, and if she lost her phone, she can't get in contact with you, can she?"

Vincent was beginning to have serious doubts that she ever would.

She was supposed to turn around and go home after the airport.

And she had gone out into the desert. All by herself, or so he had thought, alone in the desert with a man. Not a good sign and something he never expected from her. He had kept her safe and secure, and at the first taste of freedom, she ran off with a man.

This wasn't the Nikki Langley he knew.

The walls were closing in. His parents wanted to tell her about her inheritance. He saw no point in such things when she couldn't touch it for another six years, and what did she know about running a business? She only lasted a week then gone.

No, she had to be found and needed to come home where she belonged.

It was time to bring her back if she liked it or not.

"Get her back now and I don't care how." Switching off the phone.

Nothing was going to plan, ever since she had won that damn lottery and all done behind his back.

****

Unable to sleep, even if they had air-con, Nikki tossed back the bedding, removed the comforter, and two pillows and headed out of the bedroom. The open planned living area allowed a lot of natural light even the moonlight, heading outside to sit beside the pool taking in the far outstretching desert that was much more appealing than before.

She was safe. Not so Hussy, left alone in the elements with her book, phone, kindle, and card, moaning. She had forgotten that, another reason she had to get Hussy back. He contained her entire life. All she had was on that card.

This was the first time she had done this alone, without Vincent watching over her, that she could breathe for the first time. He had always been there, frowning. Her guardian since her parent's death, shortly after she was born. She never knew them, only Vincent.

As long as she remembered he had always been there at her side, watching over her, making decisions for her. This was the first time she was alone and it felt right, wonderful, even if at times scary. Like she was plagued by bad luck. Was that what Vincent had been worried about, he didn't want her to go on this trip, even offered to go with her.

For the first time in her twenty-four years, she had stuck to her guns, determined to do this. He would never understand why she was going on this one-in-lifetime trip. Or her fascination with all things Hussein Abdul, her hero who rescued her from a life of boredom.

Vincent only seemed interested in turning her into the perfect hostess for his functions, and he had many, barely listening to her concerns, wanting to work, yet had her best interest at heart, saying she was doing enough running his household in such an effect manner, freeing up his time to look after his many business dealings.

She wanted more out of life.

Maybe it was time to move out and find a place of her own, which meant she had to find real work, yet didn't have the skills or the education. How had she allowed this to happen? Now out of his influence, she was beginning to see things differently.

"What's going on Nikki?" A soft voice startled her.

"Khayri," she breathed, twisting around. "Sorry I didn't mean to disturb you, I was enjoying the views."

"More like camping out, I thought you would've had enough of that," he noted, easing down at her side, surrounded by her bedding and pillows, the pool stretched out in front of them, reflecting the moonlight, the skies clear.

"This is so beautiful, and all yours?"

"Just the building, no land."

"What are those white animals with brown patches, usually on the nose, with long pointy horns?" She asked, shifting the pillows to lie down, the doona spread around her that he was sitting on.

"Ah, yes the Arabian Oryx," Stretching out, placing his arms behind her head. Khayri looked relaxed, as he did at the souk, not at the oasis, when he first saw her, far from amused, testy. "We are situated in a natural park, also a desert conservation reserve. The Oryx was on the brink of extinction and declared endangered, so the head of Dubai relocated the last remaining Oryx to the USA, and they were bred under secure conditions. In 1997 they were reintroduced as their symbolic animal, to this area. Now there are approximately 300, the largest free-roaming herd in Arabia. There are also Arabian and sand Gazelles, foxes, hares, and Ethiopian Hedgehog."

"Hedgehog?" she asked with interest. "Do you think I will see one? I have never seen a hedgehog before."

A smile curled his lips, as glanced at her sideways. "Only the hedgehog?"

"It's the last thing I expected to find out here." She peered at him from under her lashes." You said you weren't from here, yet so informed about everything like Hussein."

"While you only gone where Cobra has been." Her eyes widened. "What?" he eyed her closely, seeing each other perfectly under the moonlight.

"Um, nothing," shaking her head.

"No, it's something, what?" he pressed.

Under her lashes, she peered back at him. "Cobra? You know the books?"

"Doesn't everyone?" he asked innocently.

"I wish," she sighed. "Yet so many do, going by his book sales, also on the bestsellers list with every book, and sell more with each one. He just gets better and better. Every book reveals something about Cobra and why he is the way he is. Yet always holds something back. I love the way the writer peels back the layers of this complicated man, who has so much heart."

Khayri's brows shot up. "He does?" He hadn't expected that yet at her nodding head, gleaming eyes, looking so honest and true. Only one other had ever said that to him, having such insight, even though he doesn't see everything and he wrote the damn books that were doing his head in.

And here is his number one fan, gushing over Hussein Abdul, not the writer.

Maybe he could learn something from her insights into Cobra's character as she saw him, and kick-start his story, well, might pull him out of a slump. Usually, the words flowed from him, a break from palace life, and time was running out.

"Tell me more," he encouraged to see scepticism.

"Are you sure? Or are you just being nice? You don't have to do that. I understand it, not everyone is into reading," she didn't add Hussein Abdul, yet had a yearning to do so, from the look in her eyes.

"Tell me what you like to read. I'm interested," he added as her lips parted. Shifting the pillows she got comfortable, looking up at the skies to have silence. "What do you read?" To get a look of annoyance. "A lot of people listen to books," he pointed out. She sighed.

"The truth is, I only read Walker," she said biting on her bottom lip.

"Only Walker?" he tried not to smile or look smug.

"Well, now. The first book and I was hooked for life."

"What if this Walker changes direction? Or works on something completely different, like Reacher. Lee Child does many different characters than Reacher." Not he had any plans to do so, by the looks of things it was more do with Cobra than Walker. He was far from finished.

She blinked at him as if this never occurred to her, eyes and brows lowering. "I don't see it myself, but you could be right. I guess I'll just have to reread Cobra, won't I?" she grinned at him, which piqued his curiosity.

"Shall I ask how many times you have already read them?"

She gave him a side look. "Probably not."

Laughing he shook his head. "Go on tell me why him? Why his books? What do you like about them?" she began to glow in front of him.

"Have you any idea what you're asking?" he reached across and tucked free-falling hair behind her ear, showing her features more.

"I think I do," facing each other.

She released a long breath. "Where to begin?"

Losing himself in her topaz compelling eyes, he fell under her spell. Found it so easy to listen to her, how Cobra caught her imagination and fell in love with Dubai, even with those dark edges in the books that kept one on the edge of their seat.

Never sure who the bad guy was until it was revealed, she loved that, always kept guessing, yet what happened to them made her realise how dramatic it was and she wanted nothing to do with that.

She clutched at his hand and squeezed. "I'm so glad you were there, at the airport, on the water taxi, and the oasis. I never wanted that. I'm not brave. I don't do drama, my life is so mundane," she released a sigh. "I didn't do anything until now. I'm twenty-four and this is my first time away. What does that say about me?"

"First time away from your homeland, by yourself, I think that is very brave."

"Nope, had to. I mean, we are talking about Hussein Abdul."

"Following in his footsteps?"

"Well, he was the one who showed me what to see and explore," she defended. "If it wasn't for him, it would never occur to visit such a place."

"So you knew nothing about Dubai before the books?" he asked.

"Well," she hesitated. "I have heard of it. Just never occurred to me. He made it such an intriguing special place. The history was amazing, built out of the sands, and only over fifty years since they built the city."

"More like hundreds."

"Oh, I know as a trading post, pearls, and then they hit oil and that changed it to this city of modern architecture design, a vision, and I love what they have achieved out of nothing but sand."

"Yes," he agreed. "With the oil they had money. People can achieve so much when they have wealth," he said, seeing her shoulders lowered. "What is it?"

"I'm only here because of money," she blurted out, cheeks flaming. 

She was such an innocent and honest, so refreshing, yet could drop and kick the back of the leg of the attacker, because of Cobra. He hadn't expected that, nor how his writing affected people that gave her the strength to follow her dream by following Hussein Abdul's footsteps, explaining what he had seen in her.

At first, he had scoffed at such an idea, yet now felt honoured, and saw her in a different light. To him it had been a story, based loosely on his experiences, yet didn't expect how it would affect someone. Cobra was all about what was right, fixing what was wrong, and even taking on those he believed in.

That was the point. Good and evil. Black and white, even though there was always a shadow of grey that he left hanging, leaving it up to the reader, yet she saw beyond the story. The character, maybe had been the grey. Wondering how many had seen him as she did. 

Nikki had opened his eyes.

Never expecting that.

Hussein always had been his feedback, now he was seeing it from a female perspective. " I hope I haven't bored you?'

"No not at all, I find it all fascinating. However, the hour is late and I hope you don't plan to stay out here all night when you have a perfectly comfortable bed?" He thumped the deck with his foot. "Not the most comfortable place to sleep."

"I guess so, just a little bit longer."

"I don't want you falling asleep here, Nikki."

"I won't," she promised.

Yet she did, under his watchful eye.

Gathering her up in the bedding, Khayri carried her inside, placing her down on the bed easing the bedding free to flick across her, noticing she was wearing her white shirt to sleep in, which won't do. He needed to fix this, thinking about what he had, which wasn't that much either. Went back for the pillows, placed under her head, looking down upon her.

She looked like a sleeping angel.

The following day, Khayri arranged for a car, and headed out, leaving Nikki out by the pool, contented with her lot. She had everything she needed inside, even said there were books if she wanted to read, in his study, to collect some items he had ordered for both of them, even if only staying another day or so, depending on Hussein.

She couldn't wear just one set of clothes.

Using the side door he headed in, leaving the car here until he was gone, already booked at the restaurant that night, that required proper attire, deposited bags on her bed, yet couldn't get the one thing he wanted. Sold out, and it wouldn't get here before they departed.

Hopefully, she would be happy with what was in his study.

There was always a selection of books for others to read when visiting.

There had been no asking to go with him, no questions what where he was going, as if she was used to being left behind. She did seem comfortable with her own company, yet also yearned for it. There was a loneness about her that shouldn't be in one so young.

Leaving the bedroom he headed out towards the deck where he had left her, hoping she stayed out of the sun. Everywhere Khayri went he collected items that weren't his, headed towards the deck and dropped into a chair. "I thought you were tidier than this," he noted.

Stretched out on a daybed, wearing those damn bathers that enhanced her every curve, under shade, she looked across, dropping his spare set of sunglasses he lent her. "Sorry I should've warned you, I'm the messiest person ever. I'll try to keep it in my room and tidy it up when it's time to leave. That's what freaked me out with my room."

"Room?" he swung around sharply. "What about your room? The hotel room?"

"Before I left the hotel to go to the Khalifa I had pulled everything out of the case onto the bed, ready to put away when I got back. When I did get back, the whole room had been cleaned, clothes hung up, everything in place. I'm never that tidy, even when I hang my clothes. Even my treats that I scatter across the desktop, or near the kettle, never in the cupboard as I found them. Easier to grab when having a drink."

"So I see," bringing up another daybed, to sit on the side, facing her as she eased up onto her forearms. He did find her fascinating, also frustrating, and sometimes a pain in his arse, not so much now. His issues, not hers. And she had a curious mind.

"It completely freaked me out, who breaks into a room and tidies up after themselves? Management was called in. No one had been near my room, and I did put do not clean sign outside my door."

Nikki glanced at the trail she had left behind, excited to go swimming in the pool and what was on offer today, discovering she wasn't a camping girl. She did like the convenience of everyday things, like toilets, fresh running water, and food in the fridge. A creature of comfort. 

At least she knew that now.

Although she did enjoy being at the oasis as long she wasn't alone. She needed someone she trusted, eyeing off Khayri sideways, warming all over. She felt so safe, and protected, yet not overwhelmed, not controlled.

"I'll do better," she promised. Be more focused.

"Nikki," he moaned, shaking his head. "I don't care. Trash the place for all I care." Her eyes widened. "With your belongings. I know you would never break anything."

"But you shouldn't be picking up after me. I learnt to keep it in my room when changing and so forth. If I get distracted, I know Milly runs around after me, and is placed in my room." Usually when her nose is buried into a book. Like today.

"Nikki," he leaned closer, elbows on his knees, hands clasped together in front of him, bringing her to sit up more, swallowing. "Let's drop that. What happened after your discovery?" His brows furrowed down, looking disturbed by what she had said, as for the first time, so Hussein hadn't told him.

Probably didn't see it as important enough.

"They moved me to a different room, a different level also an upgrade, with more security. Hussein organised that," she added, wanting to him know how she had been looked after by his friend/employee, still not having a real grip on their relationship.

"Of course, he would make you safe. I'm surprised he didn't move you completely."

"He wanted to, but I couldn't afford anywhere else. I might have won the money but it's the only money I have ever had."

He pulled back. "No other money? You don't work?" His features tightened, eyes darkening. "Didn't you have an allowance, even under a guardianship, they have a responsibility of making you financially secure."

"Lottery money, enough to see to this," she beamed at him. "However, this hadn't been a part of the plan," she looked around her at the stunning structure with a tent-like awning over the house, blending in with the surrounding area, hating to think what it would cost to stay in such a place.

"As I said I own this."

"I thought you said this was also a part of the resort, and reserve."

"This one is further away from the resort. Bought it and donated heavily into the reserve for animals in their natural habitat," he admitted. "It is rented out when I'm not in residence, which goes back into the reserve."

"Your donation," she guessed.

Khayri eyed her, she was a lot cleverer than she gave herself credit for. "Correct." Very few caught onto that.

Not that many knew it belonged to him, apart from family, who came out here for a holiday with their family. He booked them in, making sure it was free, which wasn't a problem when he made it clear he needed plenty of notice.

No matter the cost. The resort was busy most of the year, apart from the summer. Far too hot for tourists, perfect for locals or those used to the heat from Middle Eastern countries like his family.

It was more about getting away from palace commitments.

Everything they needed was here, full air-com, pool and place to relax, all thanks to solar panels. All year sun, keeps everything going.

He had made sure it was empty before he had left for Dubai in case he wanted to use it, that had become very handy. It had been a backup plan if the oasis hadn't worked.

Somehow Nikki had, added another character, Nikki, the most annoying stubborn four-legged animal, even Cobra was ready to shoot her, yet had got him out of a tricky situation.

"Have you been out here the entire time while I'm gone?"

"Um," she looked down at the side. "Being reading."

"Ah, so found something to interest you."

She beamed at him. "As you knew I would." She reached for the book, a Sam Walker one, one of his earlier ones. "It's good to get back to the roots of Cobra."

"Roots? What do you mean about that?"

"Well, we were just getting to know him, this man on a mission."

"Well, this man has been on a mission, and I have something for you."