Cover Reveal ----- International Lovers

International Lovers

I'm so excited in presenting the cover for International Lovers that will debuting on Amazon on May 16th 2014.

Excerpt 

The atmosphere in Manama, Bahrain was very different. People were more lively and dressed in comfortable but modest attire.  She walked along with Janet and Giles as they both complained about the heat.

"It has to be over a hundred degrees," Giles  complained as Harmony stopped to smell the spices a woman was selling.  

Harmony had to admit Giles and Janet was an unusual couple. He was a pale chubby man with red hair where Janet looked like she won a few beauty pageants. Maybe it was true what people said "opposite do attract".  

"Why don’t you guys go check into your room? We’ll meet up later," Harmony said as she paid the lady for a variety of spices.

"Are you sure? We don’t want to leave you alone,” Janet said as she looked around them.

"Girl, I'm from Dallas. Grew up in the PJs. I think I can handle myself,” Harmony said as she moved to another vendor who was selling pearl necklace and bracelets.  

"Ok." Janet gave her a quick hug before she and Giles walked away.

"I think that would look nice on you” a man said with a smile. “It would go great with your light brown eyes."

Harmony looked up briefly at the  Middle Eastern man. He was handsome, with a pearly white smile. The first thing she noticed about him was his smirk, and his beautiful face and his almond color skin.  If his eyes could speak, she wondered what he was saying as he continued to look at her.

Harmony nodded her head in thanks. She handed the vendor the gold bracelet and walked away from the gentleman. As she walked along the market, she noticed how the wind started to pick up. She turned around to see the same man who was talking to her talking to another man. 

Harmony knew that Bahrain was not as strict as Jeddah she was free to socialize with a man.

***

Prince Raamiz watched the young black American woman stop at almost every vendor, looking at their merchandise. He listened to her speak Arabic, which surprised him. Not many Americans knew the language. He had been following her since she arrived in the taxi. The woman was utterly beautiful, with brown skin that reminded him of nutmeg. Her full lips were juicy and tempting. He was curious whether she tasted good as she looked.

He looked down at the gold bracelet that she seemed to like. There were two charms attached to it: a sun and the moon.

"Your Highness, how is the shopping?” Ashraf asked, out of breath.

"It's fine,” Prince Raamiz said as he watched the young woman he admired walk to an outdoor cafe. He handed the old woman more than enough for the bracelet.

"Thank you." She bobbed her head up and down.

Raamiz knew that Ashraf could tell that he was smitten with the woman. The courtier was always vocal with his opinions regarding western women. Ashraf believed that western woman didn’t have morals like Saudi woman.

“I see that you are interested in the black American. I’ll go get information on her, sir.”

"No Ashraf, you will scare her, most likely," Prince Raamiz laughed. He knew Ashraf and his views of women. A woman wasn't supposed to be seen, nor was she supposed to be heard. Ashraf’s views were those of most of his countrymen.

The wind started to pick up; Raamiz covered his eyes as sand started to blow. He could hear people shouting “sandstorm,” and merchants packed up rapidly as a wall of wind and sand headed their way. "Go to the hotel," Raamiz said as he ran towards the woman, and the blue sky turned to an eerie orange-brown.

"Your Highness!" Ashraf yelled as he chased after the prince.

The crowd of people started pushing each other, and the woman fell. She was like a deer caught in the headlights; Raamiz saw fear on her beautiful face. Dust and sand took over the gulf island oasis. Raamiz tried to get to her as people practically trampled over her, running to safety. The visibility plunged to zero; he could not make out what was in front of him, and when he reached the young woman she started to kick and scream.

“Stop," Prince Raamiz said as he pulled the woman towards him. "Follow me."

It seemed like she instantly recognized him from the jewelry stand. When he realized that she couldn’t breathe, he took his scarf off and handed it to her. 

“I can’t see,” she yelled.

"Follow me," he said again. She nodded her head as she took his hand and followed him. He held her hand tightly as they made a dash to safety from the storm.

Prince Raamiz guided her to his hotel. He did not stop shielding her until they were in the elevator.

Raamiz looked down at the woman next to him. She was beautiful even when she was covered in dust. He pressed the button to his executive suite.

"I think I'm OK. I can make it to my own hotel," she said, pressing a different buttons on the panel.

Prince Raamiz laughed as she practically lit up the panel of buttons. "It’s a sandstorm, omri," he said. “It can last hours."

"I can wait in the lobby." she said moving away from him.

"You will not! I'm showing you my kindness, we will be in here for ten minutes due to your handiwork," he mumbled, pointing to the elevator panel.

She laughed as the elevator went up, stopped and opened. On the fourth stop she had him laughing.

"What is your name?" he asked.

"Harmony." She pronounced it slowly for him.

"I know what a Harmony is," he said.

"You speak English well." Harmony looked at him with curiosity in her eyes. "What is your name?"

"Raamiz.” He pronounced his name slowly to give her a taste of her own medicine.

"I like your name,” she said in Arabic.

"Shukran," he replied. "I saw you at the market. You speak Arabic well. It’s like you are fluent," he said as they finally stepped off the elevator.

"I was a double major in college education and Arabic studies." she said

Raamiz saw that Harmony was hesitant about entering his room. He could tell that she was weighing her options about waiting the storm out in the lobby.

"Your High...” Ashraf started to say, but Raamiz cutoff the man with a simple shake of his head and Ashraf left the room.

"This is lovely," Harmony said as she looked around the living room.

"It’s okay." He looked down into Harmony eyes. "You can shower and I will have the maid service wash your clothes at once.” He pulled her towards the bedroom door. 

“I’m not sure” 

He could see that she was hesitant “I can assure you that your safe with me. Plus you are getting sand everywhere,” he smiled.

“Fine” she said reluctantly “As soon as my clothes are done I will leave,”

He watched her walked into the bedroom door. He chuckle when he heard the door click to the bedroom door.

"Your Highness, what are you doing?" Ashraf asked.

"Keep your voice down,” Raamiz said, walking into the conference room and closing the door. "I'm helping her out," he said as he brushed the dust out of his hair.

"I see that look on your face. Nothing good can come from that." Ashraf shook his head; the prince was smitten with the black woman.

"Ashraf, you are no longer needed for the duration of the evening." Raamiz said as he walked out of the conference room.

Raamiz had no idea what the hell Ashraf was referring to. What look did he have on his face? He was extending his generosity to an American woman who was in dire need of his help. He wasn’t a blind man, Harmony was smart and pretty. Being in Bahrain was starting to look up for him.