Chapter 8

• Dashtan looked at the surprised Rakia with an amused smile, while Rakia hastily lowered her head to hide her awkwardness and slight embarrassment. Twice this strange man had offered her something that sounded ridiculous when a man like Dashtan said it. Rakia took a deep breath to regain her composure.
• "Don't offer things you can't keep. Have you ever been dumped?" asked Rakia with a serious, challenging look. Their orders came and stopped their conversation for a moment. The waiter helped them prepare the grill.
• "It must be painful," Dashtan said when they came back together. Rakia swallowed bitter saliva.