Story Notes

On the day she met Morabad, not expecting that anyone might intrude on her privacy, Maria had taken off her clothes to swim in the cool waters of the stream.

She had done it countless times before, and so was confident that no one could catch her off guard and spring a surprise on her.

While swimming, she suddenly heard her mother shouting to her in a shrill, frightened voice.

“Maria, Maria, where are you? The soldiers are here to inspect our house - Maria, where are you?” Où es-tu, Maria?

“I don’t know why! Ohh!! Where are you, Maria? The girl goes missing every time!”

Her mother’s voice sounded louder this time.

Maria looked up, startled, to see her running out through the kitchen door.

Behind her, a couple of soldiers followed in swift strides.

(This romantic comedy set in the 60s France is a must-read)

Summary

The war has just ended in France, and Morabad and his men are enlisted in a camp outside of a village where they suspect insurgents are hiding. The insurgents are part of a drug and weapons smuggling gang. On the first day of his visit to the village, he meets the ravishing Maria and her loud, French-speaking mother. The soldiers had barged into the privacy of her home, which caught Maria off guard as she lay languishing in the cool waters of the stream running alongside it. Their meeting did not get off to the right start. Morabad suspects something amiss as he questions Maria about her father's whereabouts. He and his two soldiers decide to investigate further and work undercover, disguising themselves as an old teacher and his two sons. What would their investigations reveal, and will Maria forgive him for his deception when she finds out who he really is? Find out how the story ends.

Genre: Romance

Author: Shobana Gomes

Status: Complete

Chapters: 25

Rating: 5.0 (5 reviews)

Age Rating: 13+

PROLOGUE

The peaceful afternoon dissolved into instant mortification, leaving Maria to face a formidable stranger in the most vulnerable state possible.

She was relaxing in the cool waters of a stream that ran alongside her home on a hot, humid day when Morabad and his men barged onto their private property, panicking her mother with their sudden appearance.

Maria was in an uncompromising situation, caught off guard in the waters. Believing in the privacy her property afforded, she had stripped bare before entering the cold, welcoming waters.

Morabad, on the other hand, oblivious to her predicament at first, then dawning into realisation, gave her hardly any time to get out of the water, to put on her clothes so that he could proceed with his intended questioning.

He was there to interrogate Maria and anyone else in her household about suspicious activities taking place in secret in the vicinity.

Maria couldn't understand his suspicion against them, the way he carried on.

To make matters worse, his impatience irked her, and Maria hated him for the imposing, lofty attitude he directed at her. He was most arrogant and merciless.

However, she did as she was told as quickly as she could. She was inquisitive herself. She wanted to know the details of the insurgents hiding in her village, if the soldiers cared to enlighten her, that is.