Blink of an Eye Read Online Free PDF Page A

stunned Samir before she realized her face was bare.
    For long seconds, neither moved. Samir gazed at her face as if he’d arrived in heaven and was seeing his first angel. Something in Miriam’s soul changed with that look. In his eyes, she was a person. Not because of her beauty, but because in that moment she had become more than a black sack among a million other black sacks.
    Samir had fallen in love. She could not resist loving him in return. So began a forbidden romance that took them, on two separate occasions, to Spain, where they slipped away from the family and spent hours staring into each other’s eyes and talking about love. On the second occasion he had vowed to love her forever and marry her, no matter the consequence.
    â€œMiriam.”
    His voice jerked her from her memories. “Samir.”
    He stood in the shadows of the garage, and her heart swelled. He wore the traditional white cotton thawb, but in her mind she pictured the strength of his arms and chest under the garment. His dark hair swept over milky brown eyes. Miriam glanced back at the villa and walked into the shadows, her heart pounding as much from the impropriety of it as from her love.
    â€œNo one saw you?” he asked.
    â€œNo. And how is my love?”
    â€œPlease, keep your voice—”
    â€œDon’t be a mouse. No one can hear.” She was bold, wasn’t she? Perhaps Sita’s wedding had emboldened her.
    He grinned. “If you think I’m a mouse, then you don’t know what a lion is.”
    â€œA lion? I will turn you into a lamb. I miss you, Samir. When can we go away again?”
    She still wore her veil, and in a way it gave her courage to know that not even he could guess her expression.
    â€œI’m setting it up,” he said. “Next month. To Spain again. Maybe this time we will stay.”
    â€œStay? Don’t tempt me if you can’t also make a promise.”
    â€œI promise that nothing can keep this love I have from stealing you away forever.”
    She wanted to lift her veil, to see his eyes widen at seeing her mouth and eyes. The thought made her hands tremble.
    â€œI am crazy for you,” he said.
    â€œCrazy? Where did you hear such a silly saying?” She rather liked it.
    â€œAn American movie. Do you like it?”
    â€œIt is expressive, isn’t it? Crazy. And I am crazy for you, my lion.”
    He stared at her for a moment before allowing a shadow to cross his face. “I’ve been ordered by your father to take you to a meeting today. At eleven.”
    â€œIs that so? With whom?”
    He turned away. “Abu Ali al-Asamm. The sheik.”
    Miriam felt her mouth part. “Al-Asamm?” How was that possible? He was one of the most influential Shia sheiks in the country, but not a Sunni, certainly not a Wahhabi. “What on earth for?”
    â€œI don’t know.”
    â€œI was supposed to meet Sultana at ten in the market.”
    â€œThen I will tell her that you’ll be there later.”
    She hesitated. “What does he want?”
    â€œYou’ll have to ask your father. I’m just the driver. For now.”
    As if on cue, a black Mercedes nosed up the driveway. Miriam stepped back, mind still engrossed by the notion of her meeting the sheik. Why such a powerful man in no way connected to the House of Saud would request a meeting with her alone was beyond her comprehension.
    The car parked on the apron in front of the garage. “I’ll meet you here in two hours.”
    The door behind the driver opened and a man wearing dark sun glasses beneath a white ghutra stood. She didn’t recognize him, but judging by his business suit he meant just that—business.
    â€œYou’re Miriam, the daughter of Salman?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œGet in,” he said, his voice silk.
    Miriam glanced at Samir, who was watching the man.
    The man in sunglasses stepped back and motioned to the back