Page 44

AREZOO

A rezoo checked her reflection in the hallway mirror one more time, smoothing down the soft blue blouse she'd chosen after trying on almost every outfit in her wardrobe. She'd even let Laleh help with her makeup.

Now, waiting by the front door, she could hear her mother moving around in the kitchen, working on the feast she and her aunts were preparing for the celebration tomorrow.

Kyra and Jasmine, along with Fenella, had found Esag and two other ancient immortals who had survived the destruction of their kind over five thousand years ago.

The entire village was going to welcome them, and Arezoo was planning to cheer loudly and give them the same warm welcome she and her family had received.

Speaking of welcomes, perhaps it would be better if Ruvon didn't come inside. Arezoo loved her mother dearly, but she wasn't an easy woman to get along with, and Ruvon was far too timid to withstand Soraya's intense scrutiny.

A small voice in the back of Arezoo's head whispered that he wasn't as timid as he appeared.

Ruvon only looked young and insecure, but he was much older than her mother and used to be a warrior in a brutal army.

The problem was that Arezoo tried very hard to forget both facts.

She much preferred the illusion of a shy, sensitive young man who hung on her every word and looked at her as if she were the morning and the evening star.

She was very good at compartmentalizing and allowing only safe topics in her conscious mind.

Everything else, and there was a lot of it, had been shoved into inaccessible compartments that only existed in her subconscious and regrettably surfaced when she slept.

It was rare that she managed a night without nightmares, without waking up gasping, her heart pounding, and covered in sweat.

Shaking her head, she dispelled the dark thoughts and decided to wait for Ruvon outside.

"I'm going out," she called to her mother.

"Enjoy your evening," her mother called back. "And don't stay out too late."

"I won't." Arezoo opened the front door and stepped out.

Her mother knew she was meeting Ruvon, and they were having a picnic at the lookout point, and surprisingly, she hadn't objected.

It was certainly unexpected progress. First the bar, and now this.

Maybe her mother was finally starting to see her as an adult.

A few moments later, Ruvon appeared from behind the bend, carrying a large woven basket in one hand and what looked like a folded blanket tucked under his other arm.

He wore dark jeans and a soft gray Henley that fit him perfectly, both new.

Arezoo had seen him enough times by now to recognize every item in his wardrobe, and it was clear that he'd gone shopping recently and gotten himself a few stylish outfits.

Was he trying to look nice for her?

The setting sun highlighted his newly styled hair, and when he looked up and saw her watching him, his whole face lit up with that smile that transformed him from plain to handsome.

"Hi," she said, suddenly feeling shy despite all the time they had spent together over the past weeks.

"Hi." His smile widened. "You look beautiful."

"Thank you." Her hand rose instinctively to her freshly styled hair. Laleh had curled it, and it was cascading in soft waves around her shoulders instead of being gathered in a braid as usual. "You look nice too."

"Thank you." He glanced down at his new clothing.

"Did you prepare all this?" She gestured at the basket.

"I wish I could say yes, but that would be a lie." He transferred the blanket to drape over the basket and offered her his arm.

After a moment's hesitation, Arezoo threaded hers through it and was surprised to find the contact feeling natural, comfortable.

"Atzil prepared the food," Ruvon said. "My contribution was selecting the wine and the chocolate-covered strawberries for dessert."

"That sounds perfect," she said. "I love chocolate-covered anything."

He chuckled. "That's what Ingrid said."

"The designer?"

He nodded. "She's Atzil's partner, so she often stops by Kalugal's house when Atzil serves lunch or dinner for the men. When she heard about the picnic, she suggested the strawberries. And the wine."

Arezoo was starting to realize that the picnic had turned into a much bigger production than it was supposed to be.

"How many people know about our picnic?" she asked.

He looked embarrassed. "A few. At first, I was trying to get someone to give up his reservation at Callie's, so eventually all of my friends knew that I wanted to take you out on a date.

No one had reservations for the coming days, and they kept asking if I had found anyone to trade with, so I had to tell them about the change of plans. "

Arezoo let out a breath.

It wasn't a big deal, and most people had already seen them sitting together at the café, so their friendship wasn't a secret, and people had probably figured out that it would eventually turn into something more.

"Does it bother you?" he asked.

"No. We have nothing to hide."

"I'm glad."

They walked in silence for a few moments, following the path that wound through the village toward the lookout point. The evening was warm, with a gentle breeze carrying the scent of jasmine and other flowers from the gardens they passed.

"I hope no one else is there," Ruvon said as they navigated around a cluster of decorative boulders. "There aren't really any other private spots in the village suitable for a picnic."

"We could always have our picnic in the backyard of one of the unoccupied houses," Arezoo suggested, only half-joking. "No one would bother us there."

He glanced at her in surprise. "That's actually not a bad idea. Though it might be considered trespassing."

"In a village where everyone knows everyone? I doubt anyone would mind." She was warming to the idea. "But let's check the lookout first. I hope luck is on our side."

When they rounded the last bend in the path and found the lookout point empty, just as they'd hoped, Arezoo released a breath. The small lawn area with its single bench and sprawling oak tree commanded a spectacular view of the Malibu Mountains, with the ocean visible in the distance.

"Perfect," Ruvon murmured, and she wasn't sure if he meant the view or their privacy.

They spread the blanket under the oak tree, positioning it to take advantage of the view. Arezoo settled onto it, while Ruvon began unpacking the basket.

"Atzil has prepared enough food for an entire family," Arezoo said as container after container emerged. There was fresh bread, several types of cheese, olives, stuffed grape leaves, sliced fruit, miniature quiches, and all kinds of pickled vegetables.

"He said something about 'young love requiring proper fuel,'" Ruvon said, then immediately looked stricken. "I mean, not that he meant?—"

"It's okay," Arezoo said. "Obviously, he would think that. It's a date after all, right?"

Ruvon nodded, looking relieved. "Yes. Our first official date." He pulled out a wine bottle and two glasses. "Which calls for a toast."

She smiled. "It does."

He fumbled with the corkscrew for a moment before managing to open the bottle. The wine was white, crisp, and cold, and Arezoo took a grateful sip as soon as he handed her the glass.

"To our first date." Ruvon raised his own. "May it be the first of many."

She clinked her glass against his. "To many more," she said with less enthusiasm than he had, not because she didn't want there to be more but because she was not an optimistic person.

Who knew what tomorrow held?

They began filling their plates, and as Ruvon piled olives on his, she couldn't contain her curiosity any longer.

"Can I ask you something?"

He looked up, wariness flashing across his features. "Of course."

"Your fashion transformation," she gestured at him, encompassing the clothes, the hair, the newfound confidence that seemed to radiate from him. "How did that happen and why?"

He glanced down at himself with a self-deprecating laugh. "It's Ingrid's doing."

"Ingrid? Why?" Arezoo asked.

He set down his plate and took a sip of wine before answering.

"She said that I needed to elevate my appearance.

I didn't even know that there was anything wrong with it, but she pointed out the ill-fitting clothing that had seen better days, the simple haircut that did nothing for my face, and my terrible posture.

She offered to help me change all that, and I gratefully accepted her help. "

"Good for you." Arezoo tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "My sister Laleh did the same for me. She did my hair and makeup and helped me select the outfit."

He chuckled. "I'm glad that I wasn't the only one who needed help to prepare for courtship."

"Courtship?" Arezoo repeated.

"I'm sorry, that's such an old-fashioned word. I didn't mean to presume?—"

"Ruvon." She waited until he looked at her. "It's okay. I'm fine with you courting me."

When his eyes widened with hope, she held up a hand.

"As long as you understand that I'm not like other girls you might have dated.

I grew up very sheltered, and then..." She took a deep breath, forcing herself to say the words she'd kept locked inside for so long.

"I was also kidnapped and abused, and I'm still recovering from that trauma.

I'm not ready for anything other than talking. "

The confession hung between them in the evening air.

It was the first time Arezoo had given voice to what had happened to her, acknowledging it outside of her own head.

She didn't talk about the kidnapping, about what had been done to her and her sisters, and cousin.

It was easier to forget, to move on, to pretend it was just a nightmare that had ended.