CHAPTER TEN
They only spent a few hours in Italy. Just long enough to get fuel, supplies, and a quick refill of the medical items needed. They were back in the air in record time, everyone ready to get to Belle Fleur.
“This will be about nine hours right?” asked Hala.
“No,” smiled Cole. “This osprey is specially designed just for us. It cuts the flight time in half. We should be home in about three or four hours now.”
“That’s impossible,” she whispered.
“Not in our world. Believe me, you’re going to see a lot of things that others will deem impossible and it’s normal for us.”
Hala nodded, checking his pulse once again. Turning, she stared down into his eyes, then reached for a stray shock of blonde hair, shoving it aside on his forehead. He piercing blue eyes connected with her green ones and she was suddenly nervous.
“Don’t be scared, Hala. My sister was right. What you did for me took a lot of guts and a lot of trust that I wouldn’t harm you or send you back to your grandfather. You’re going to be alright,” he said linking his good hand with hers.
Hala looked down, staring at her dirty fingernails, all ragged and terrible looking. It was one of the luxuries of being in America that she’d learned to love. Regular manicures and pedicures were a gift and she hoped to do that again one day.
“Sleep,” she whispered. She bent down, kissing his forehead, then gasped at her own brazenness. “Oh! I’m sorry, Cole. I don’t know why I did that.”
“I don’t care why you did that,” he smirked. “Truth is, if I weren’t hurting I was going to kiss you like you’ve never been kissed before.”
“Well, that would be easy,” she said under her breath. Cole stared at her, shaking his head.
“You’re this beautiful and you’ve never been kissed?”
“Well, not really,” she said nervously. “I mean, when I was training at the hospital another doctor shoved me into a closet and tried to kiss me. He was old and disgusting. Thankfully, the bodyguards didn’t see him or he would have died. I was able to get away but it wasn’t a pleasant experience.”
Cole gripped her upper arm, lowering her to his prone body. She stared, wide-eyed into his handsome face.
“Hear me clearly, Hala. I will kiss you and when I do, you will know that it’s the last kiss you will ever have.” Cole smiled at her, then closed his eyes, relaxing against the pillows.
Hala frowned, slowly standing and taking a seat across the aisle. His sister turned and smiled at her, leaving Angus’ side to take the seat beside her.
“All of our men are like that,” she smiled.
“Like what?” she frowned.
“They know what they like, what they want, who they want and they aren’t afraid to go for it. My brother won’t be any different. He cares for you.”
“Cares for me? He doesn’t know me. I’m just the woman who got the stubborn donkey to pull him from the well,” she said shaking her head.
“No. No, you’re far more than that,” said Bailey. “You’re the woman that offered to save him, to lower the rope, to get the donkey to move. You bandaged his wounds, carried him to safety and stayed with him.”
“This is a lot to take in,” she whispered. “I know medicine. I know bodies. But I don’t understand the heart, the emotions that go along with relationships because I’ve never experienced them, other than in fear.”
“Well, you’re going to be around dozens of women who will help you and guide you, including my mother, grandmother, aunts, and so many others.”
“It must be wonderful to have all of those people available to support you,” she smiled.
“I’ve been very, very blessed. Cole and I are triplets, as I said. Our sister, Ambry, just got married and is expecting triplets.”
“Oh, wow,” she laughed. “That’s remarkable. In Syria, it’s unusual for multiple births and unless you’re in a major city the chances of something going wrong is very high. I don’t think I’ve ever known a multiple.”
“Well, you’re about to meet a lot of them. Our mother is a triplet, and her father was a triplet.”
“Oh,” she said in a barely audible sound. She looked back at Cole and then at Bailey. Bailey reached for her hand and smiled.
“I think you’d make beautiful children.”
“I don’t know him. He doesn’t know me!” she cried.
“He will. And you will. You already know what’s really important. He’s protective, he’s kind, he’s intelligent, funny, smart, and handsome.”
“Very handsome,” she muttered under her breath. Bailey smiled, nodding.
“Yes. Very handsome.”
“What if your family won’t let me stay? What if they say I have to go back?”
“You have to trust me,” said Bailey. “They would never, ever do that. You will be welcomed with open arms.”
“What about you and him?” she said nodding toward Angus. Bailey turned to stare at the wide back of Angus.
“I wish I knew. He was just suddenly there. I was a child when I saw him last but he’s different. Bigger, stronger, more handsome. But also, I don’t know, something is different for me.”
“You’re a woman,” smirked Hala. “Even I know that. You’re seeing him now through a woman’s eyes, not a child’s eyes.”
“I think you’re right,” she said, standing and smiling at her. “Get some rest. I’m about to test a theory.”
“What theory is that?” asked Hala.
“I’m about to see if Angus feels the same way about me as I feel about him. If he does, we need to be prepared for the family.”