The Sheik’s Secret Bride
Susan Mallery

To my husband, Mike, who is my handsome prince.

I love you more than life itself.

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter One

“O h, Mommy, look!”

Liana Archer glanced up from the romance novel she’d been reading and stared out the airplane window. She saw a brilliant blue sky, an unforgiving sun and nearly a dozen men on horseback riding toward the plane.

“Don’t worry, Bethany,” she told her daughter absently. “It’s just—”

Liana’s eyes opened wide as she realized what she’d just seen. Men on horseback? When the pilot had announced that the plane would be delayed a few minutes because there was a problem at the gate, Liana had assumed there was a technical difficulty or another plane in their space. She hadn’t thought they were about to be assaulted by a herd of native tribesmen.

Not knowing what else to do, she clutched her nine-year-old daughter to her side. “We’ll be fine,” she said with a calmness she absolutely did not feel.

Someone else noticed the group of men. Conversation raced up and down the length of the plane. Several women began to scream. Liana’s heart jumped into hyper-drive, and her breathing increased until she thought she might pass out. Why was this happening? She’d been promised that El Bahar was the safest country in the Middle East. That the king was a good and honest ruler, much beloved by his people. She’d believed the information—otherwise she never would have subjected herself or her daughter to a move that had brought them half-way around the world. So what had gone wrong?

Before she could figure out an answer, the men reached the plane. They circled around, then she heard the sound of the forward door opening and the low, gruff voices of the tribesmen as they boarded the plane.

Both Liana and Bethany shrank back in their seats. At least they were in the rear of the plane, Liana thought grimly as she looked around for the exit by the tail. Maybe she could figure out a way to open that door, and she and her fellow passengers could sneak out to safety.

“Mommy?” Bethany’s voice was shaky and her face pale as she stared at her mother. “Are we going to die?”

“Of course not.” Liana brushed the blond bangs off her daughter’s forehead, then kissed her cheek. “I’m sure there’s a logical explanation for all this and we’ll—”

Several tall, dark men wearing robes and headdresses entered the main cabin. They seemed to be searching for someone.

“What do you want?” a passenger in a business suit asked, rising to his feet. “There are women and children on this plane. If you want hostages, at least let them go.”

The natives ignored him. About midway down the center aisle, they paused. One of them reached for a young woman and drew her to her feet. There was an exchange of conversation that Liana couldn’t hear, then the woman was led away.

Conversation exploded like gunfire. Several shrieks pierced the cabin, and Liana felt herself starting to shake. Dear God, what was happening? To think that one of the reasons she’d agreed to the job in El Bahar had been her love of sheik romance novels. But danger in the land of the sheik was much more interesting in a book. In real life, it was plain terrifying.

“Silence, please!”

A loud male voice bellowed over the din of hysterical passengers. Liana looked up and saw another of the native men standing at the front of the cabin. He was taller than the rest, and darkly handsome in a remote kind of way. He stood with his feet braced and his robe thrown back to expose the gleaming pistol at his waist. She swallowed, trying to console herself with the thought that if they were to be shot, at least it would be a quick death.

“I apologize for your fears,” the man said. He glanced over his shoulder, then shook his head. “A few of the younger men were a little too involved with their assignment and took the game to heart. My instructions were for you to be informed of what was going on before anything began.”

The man gave a low bow. When he straightened, he smiled. The smile transformed his appearance from remote to more appealing than should be legally allowed. “I am Malik Khan, Crown Prince of El Bahar. Welcome to my country. What you have just seen was not a kidnapping, nor were your lives in any danger. A young American woman employed at the palace had requested that her fiancé ‘rescue’ her from the plane. She thought it would be romantic to be swept away by a man on horseback.”

Prince Malik motioned to the left side of the plane. “As you can observe, she is well pleased with what happened.”

“Can you see?” Bethany whispered, still clinging to her mother.

Liana craned her neck as she looked across the cabin and out the far windows. She could just make out the young woman taken from the plane. She stood in the embrace of one of the tribesmen, and if their passionate kiss was anything to go by, she was plenty happy with what was going on.

“They’re kissing,” Liana assured her daughter. “I guess it’s what the man said. Just a joke that got out of hand.”

Bethany grinned, then touched her hand to her chest. “I thought my heart was going to jump right out of my rib cage.”

Liana smiled at her, then kissed her soft cheek. “Me, too, kid. There they would have been, flopping around on the floor.” She demonstrated with her hand, making a wiggly back and forth motion.

Bethany giggled.

“So you are recovered then, young lady? You are not afraid to enter El Bahar?”

Liana and Bethany turned as one. The tall prince stood next to their row. Bethany stared up at the man. “I would very much like to see El Bahar, but not if you’re going to cut off our heads.”

The prince winked at the nine-year-old. “I like your head just where it is. You will be safe here, I promise. In fact, if anyone bothers you, you tell him that you personally know the Crown Prince.”

Her blue eyes widened. “You’re a real prince? Like in Cinderella?”

“Exactly like that.”

The man’s gaze drifted over to Liana. She started to offer a polite smile and assure him that she, too, was fine, when their eyes locked.

His irises were the color of midnight. Liana felt the impact of their connection all the way down to her toes. Despite being one of the most sensible women she knew, she felt a jolt of attraction that nearly jerked her out of her seat. She found herself desperate to stand and beg this stranger to touch her and kiss her…right here on the plane if necessary. It was as if she’d been given a near lethal injection of a love drug. She couldn’t speak, could barely breathe.

Fortunately, the prince merely smiled and returned to the front of the plane without saying a word.

“He’s cool,” Bethany said with a smile. “Wow. I’ve met a real live prince. He’s nicer than I would have thought. And tall. Did you think he was handsome, Mommy?”

“Yes, I thought he was handsome,” Liana admitted, willing her heart rate to return to normal. They both watched as the prince and his men disembarked. The door closed, and the plane began to move toward the gate. In a matter of minutes, people were disembarking. Liana collected their carry-on items and stowed away her book. As she did, she glanced at the cover of her novel and told herself that whatever ailed the heroine in this book was apparently contagious. For one brief second she’d found herself attracted to a tall, dark, impossible man.

Just an aberration, she told herself as she and her daughter joined the slow-moving line that would take them to their luggage. Too much traveling or the fear or maybe too much coffee had zapped some switch in her brain. That was the only explanation for her instant and overwhelming attraction to a stranger.

Forty minutes later Liana and Bethany stood waiting to go through customs. Liana had convinced herself that she’d made too much of her reaction to the El Baharian prince. Her body had still been in shock from the danger. Her instinctive fight-or-flight response to those men boarding the plane had sent a number of chemicals pouring into her system. Any thoughts she’d had about the prince had simply been the result of a fear hangover. Nothing more. Men like him didn’t appeal to women like her.

“Ma’am? If you would please to come this way?”

Liana was jolted from her musings by a slight man bending over to pick up one of her suitcases.

“What are you doing?” she asked sharply. “Don’t touch that.”

The El Baharian customs area was a large open room with plenty of air conditioning and ceiling fans. Although the lines were long, they were moving quickly and seemed efficient. Security people moved through the crowd, and she was about to call for one when the small man bowed apologetically.

“I was sent to bring you to a shorter line,” he said, pressing his hands together in front of his chest. “You have a young child and I was told that you would prefer the process to go more quickly. Just over there,” the man said, motioning to a lone official at the far side of the building.

“Is that one of the customs lines?” Liana asked, wondering why no one else was going that way. She looked up and saw the overhead sign: Official Visitors and Residents.

“As much as I would like it to be otherwise,” she said with a kind smile, “I’m neither an official visitor nor a resident. But thanks for the offer.”

The little man pressed his thin lips together. He had dark eyes and a sparse beard. He wore an exquisitely tailored suit.

“Please, ma’am. You would be most welcome.”

A uniformed security guard appeared at her elbow. “It’s quite all right, ma’am. We’re just trying to speed up the process.”

“If you’re sure,” Liana said doubtfully. She allowed the two men to take possession of her luggage and lead the way over to the customs official.

“You don’t want to be in a faster line?” Bethany asked as she dragged her carry-on bag behind her. “You like waiting in here?”

“Okay, okay, I was just being careful.”

They came to a stop and waited while the uniformed officer began to check their passports. Liana glanced around and was surprised to see that no one else had been directed to this particular line.

“I don’t understand,” she said, looking at the small man, then the security guard. “Why me and not them?”

“Because I requested it.”

Liana recognized the deep, resonant voice. Even before she turned to look at the gentleman who had just joined the party, she felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand straight up. She was tired, hungry and had spent the past twenty-four hours traveling halfway around the world with her nine-year-old daughter. She was not in the mood to be played with…even by her own body.

But all the temper in the world couldn’t counteract the feeling of heat that swept through her, or the faint trembling in her arms and legs. She raised her gaze and stared directly into the handsome face of Malik Khan, Crown Prince of El Bahar.

The prince offered a low bow. “We have not been formally introduced. I am Prince Malik and you are…?” He reached for her passport.

“Liana Archer. This is my daughter, Bethany.”

“Hi,” Bethany said, beaming up at him. “Do you really live in a palace?”

“Absolutely. With my two brothers and their wives. Lots of princes and princesses. Oh, and my father, King of El Bahar.”

Bethany’s blue eyes widened. “And you have your own horses and gold, and lots of people bow to you all the time?”

Malik grinned. “Not as much gold as we would like and people don’t bow all that much anymore. It makes it difficult for them to get their work done if they’re bowing all the time.”

Malik motioned to the customs official, who quickly stamped their passports, then ushered them through without so much as a glance at their luggage.

“Welcome to El Bahar,” Malik said.

Liana was still speechless at seeing him again, not to mention the effect of her misplaced physical reaction to his presence. She was too exhausted to figure out what was wrong with her, so she was determined to ignore it. Yes, the prince was tall—probably six foot two or three. She was five foot eight and he towered over her. Or maybe it was his headdress that gave him the illusion of height? She studied him and decided that his clothing might emphasize his power, but it didn’t add anything that wasn’t already there. Nope, Prince Malik was tall, strong and intimidating. But then maybe all princes were. She didn’t travel in royal circles much.

“Why did you do this?” she asked, jerking her head toward the long, slow-moving lines of people still waiting to go through customs.

Malik shrugged. “I wanted to apologize for scaring you and your daughter on the plane. I assure you, that was not our intention.”

His gaze was steady and direct. She tried to ignore the way he seemed to be seeing into her soul by looking at his individual features. Perhaps if she could find fault, he wouldn’t be so intimidating.

Unfortunately for her, Prince Malik was physically quite flawless. He had wide-set eyes and a straight nose. High cheekbones cut through tanned skin. His mouth was firm and a little stern, but there was the faintest hint of a smile tugging at the corners. He was the kind of man who would look good with his likeness on a stamp…or the side of a mountain.

“So, Liana Archer, why are you in my country?” he asked.

“I’m a new teacher at the American School.” She shifted slightly and saw that the customs official, the little man in the well-fitting suit and the security guard were all still within earshot. None of them were overtly listening to the conversation, but Liana didn’t doubt they were catching every word.

Malik frowned. “You are not.”

“Excuse me?”

“You are not a teacher,” he said folding his arms over his chest. “Women teachers are old and unattractive. So why are you really here, and where is your husband?”

She’d been warned that while El Bahar was more forward thinking than most Middle Eastern countries, the nation still had particular ideas rooted in the past. Obviously this was one of them.

The combination of her lingering attraction, the odd welcome they’d received on the plane and the tiredness she saw in her daughter’s face made Liana speak without thinking.

“Look, Your Highness, I can’t see that it’s any of your business, but for what it’s worth, I’m not married anymore. I can’t do anything about my age, but if you’d like I’ll work on popping out a few warts to make me more unattractive. Would that be sufficient?”

Behind her, she heard a collective gasp from the three men. Belatedly, she thought that sarcasm would probably not be welcomed by the Crown Prince. A vision of years in a desert prison followed by a slow and painful death filled her mind. She took a step closer to Bethany.

But instead of getting angry, the prince simply smiled. “Would the warts be on your nose?”

“Is that where you’d like them?”

“I’m not sure. I’ll have to consider the matter.” Then he snapped his fingers—literally—and a porter appeared with a cart.

Minutes later, Liana and Bethany were in the back of a cab speeding away from the airport. Prince Malik had let them go without doing anything more than wishing them well.

“Remind me never to try to be witty in front of royalty again,” Liana murmured as she leaned her head back against the seat.

“He wasn’t mad,” Bethany said confidently, snuggling up to her mother. “Prince Malik liked you. I could tell.”

“How nice,” Liana said automatically, even though that wasn’t what she felt. She was not the least bit interested in the prince’s affections, thank you very much. She liked her life too much to mess it up with wishful thinking. She had plans and goals, and they did not include a dalliance with royalty—despite her body’s reaction to the man.

When the cab began to circle around toward the clearly marked exit, Liana realized she hadn’t told the driver where they were going.

“Do you know the American School?” she asked him. “That’s where we need to go. I understand there is a main office by the housing complex?”

The dark-skinned man met her gaze in the mirror and gave her a friendly nod. “Yes, ma’am. I know the place well.”

“Good. Although I have directions, if you need them.”

“No. I go there many times a week. Most of the teachers there don’t have cars.”

Liana had been told the same thing. Many of the teachers there were, like her, expatriates on two- or three-year contracts. While the generous salary meant that purchasing a car wouldn’t be a problem, most teachers didn’t bother. Apparently public transportation was reliable and inexpensive, and it saved the trouble of buying at the beginning of the stay, then selling at the end.

“So what do you think of El Bahar?” she asked her daughter as the clean, air-conditioned cab moved onto the main highway.

The city was stretched out in front of them, with the Arabian Sea to the left. It was a darker blue than the sky—nearly the color of cobalt. Lush plants came right down to the edge of the highway, although in the distance she could see the barren land that was the beginning of the desert.

“I like it,” Bethany announced. She sniffed. “The air smells sweet, like flowers or perfume. Do you know what it is?”

“No.” Liana inhaled the scent. “A flower of some kind, I would guess. We’ll look it up on the computer.”

Along with a furnished two-bedroom condo, her contract had stipulated that she would be given a laptop computer, with Internet access, for use at home as well as in the classroom. All utilities, except for the phone, were included. The American School had made her a very generous offer, and Liana was pleased to be in El Bahar at last.

“Just think,” she told her daughter. “You can tell all your classmates that you’ve already met the Crown Prince.”

Bethany grinned. “You think they’ll believe me?”

“If they don’t, I’ll be a witness.”

The cab moved past a group of high-rise buildings between the highway and the sea. Liana remembered her research on the country and suspected this was the financial district. El Bahar had a stable economy that encouraged outside investors.

Up ahead the highway split and the driver took the road leading into the city. In a matter of minutes they were driving through a unique world that was equal parts modern buildings and ancient stone structures. Up ahead stood the last remnants of the wall that had once guarded the city, and beyond that a white glittering building jutted out toward the sea.

“It’s the palace,” Bethany said, pointing toward the large building. “I recognize it from the pictures.”

“Lovely,” Liana agreed. “I wonder if our condo is close to it? I remember reading that there are tours of the gardens. We’ll want to do that right away.”

Bethany glanced at her. “Maybe we’ll see Prince Malik again.”

“Sure,” Liana agreed, even though she doubted the truth of that statement. Would a Crown Prince bother with a tour group on his grounds? There was no way he would have time. No, their lone encounter with royalty was over and, for her, it had been more than enough.

The driver wove through streets that narrowed, then drove through impressive open gates. A long curved driveway circled through trees and blooming plants she couldn’t identify.

Liana straightened and glanced around. Okay, so maybe the condo used by the staff of the American School had really impressive grounds. Or maybe this was part of the school itself. Or maybe a park. That was it. They were driving through a park and…

They rounded a curve in the drive. In front of them was the white building they’d admired just a few minutes before. Up close it was even more impressive, with several stories and wide balconies. A dozen or so guards stood at attention by a huge double door.

“Mommy? Where are we?” Bethany asked.

Liana didn’t have an answer. Either the condo was much nicer than anything she was used to, or their driver had just brought them to the royal palace.

She looked at the man behind the wheel. “There’s been a mistake.”

He shook his head and grinned. “No mistake. His Highness said to bring you home, so here you are. Welcome to the royal palace of El Bahar.”

Before Liana could decide what to do next, a tall man in a gray suit strode out to the cab and opened the door.

“Good,” Prince Malik said. “You’re here. Come, we’ll get you settled.”

Chapter Two

L iana couldn’t tell if they were in a really big foyer or a smallish living room. She decided it was probably the former, because this was, after all, a palace, and she doubted it had smallish anythings.

A bubble of hysteria threatened to choke her, even as she told herself it would be best for everyone if she stayed calm. Screaming like a crazy woman wouldn’t do anything except upset her daughter.

Without her even being aware of leaving the cab, she and Bethany had been ushered out of the car and into this mystery room just past the main double doors. She could hear conversation behind her and had the bad feeling that their luggage had been removed from the cab and taken who knows where.

This isn’t happening, she told herself firmly. Really. We’re not being kidnapped, nor is this anything more than a simple misunderstanding.

“Mommy, look!”

Liana followed Bethany’s gaze as her daughter stared up at an oval ceiling depicting the night sky. Glittering stars twinkled down at them, and, on what she assumed was the east side of the room, the first hint of sunrise glowed faint pink against the inky darkness. The entire picture was edged in gold paint. Or maybe real gold…she couldn’t tell. The walls were the same dark color as the ceiling, but the color came from hundreds of tiny tiles. More tiles covered the floor in a pattern showing a dragon guarding a kingdom she suspected was El Bahar.

“You think the ceiling is something,” Liana murmured, “look at what you’re standing on.”

Bethany did so, then jumped back to study the large, dangerous-looking creature.

“I stepped on his tail,” her daughter whispered. “Do you think he’s mad?”

“People have stepped on more than that,” Prince Malik said as he walked into the room. “Welcome. I trust your cab ride was pleasant enough?”

“It was fine,” Liana said, determined to ignore the way her blood seemed to sing as it flowed hotter and faster throughout her body. Yes, the prince was rugged and fabulously good-looking—and well, a prince. But she refused to let herself be distracted by him. By any of this. And how had he had time to get to the palace ahead of them, let alone time to change his clothes? Or had he been wearing that gray suit under his robes?

“You will find the palace very comfortable,” Prince Malik said.

Liana wasn’t sure if he was making a statement or issuing an order. Not that it mattered. “It’s lovely. The palace, I mean,” she said. “Impressive and not where we want to live.”

Bethany came up beside her, and Liana put her arm around her slender daughter. “I am a teacher for the American School. As such, I was promised housing there. I don’t know why you’ve brought me to the palace or what you hope to gain by it, but I insist that you allow us to go there now.”

Malik waved his hand, as if brushing aside her comments. “You’ll be much happier here. The rooms are larger and you may explore as you like. Transportation will be provided each morning and evening to take you to and from the school.”

Liana felt as if she had a bit part in a bad movie, but she was determined not to give in to her threatening hysteria before she had all the facts. “Have we been kidnapped?”

Malik looked insulted by the question. “Of course not,” he said, drawing himself up to his full and impressive height. “I am Crown Prince Malik Khan of El Bahar. I bestow on you the honor of being my guest at the royal palace.”

Liana pressed her lips together, not sure how to respond to that. A soft, snuffling sound interrupted her thoughts. She turned and saw a golden retriever hovering just outside the main door. Its tail wagged frantically, but it didn’t step inside the palace.

Bethany caught sight of the dog and clapped her hands together. “Mommy, can I go pet the dog?”

Liana glanced at Malik. “Is it friendly?”

“Yes. Sam belongs to my nephews, all of whom are much younger than Bethany. He’s very good with children. She will be safe.”

Liana nodded at her daughter. “Go ahead, but stay within sight of the open door.”

Her daughter walked slowly toward the retriever, holding out her hand for the animal to sniff. Sam took a quick whiff, then licked the offered fingers, all the while wiggling with excitement at the thought of a new playmate.

Liana took the opportunity of her daughter’s distraction to step closer to the prince, not because she wanted to be even more under his spell, but because she didn’t want Bethany to hear what she had to say.

“We are not staying here,” she informed Malik. “I don’t know what you think you’re doing, but your conduct is completely unacceptable. I am an American citizen and a guest of your country for the next two years. As such, I expect to obey El Baharian law. In return I wish to be treated with respect and courtesy, neither of which includes holding me anywhere against my will.”

“You do not understand,” Malik said patiently. “It is better for you to be at the palace.”

He looked too intelligent not to get her point, which meant he wasn’t listening. It was a trait shared by many men. Perhaps it was exacerbated by his royal status. Regardless, she had to get through to him.

Liana opened her mouth to speak, then closed it. A whisper of a memory drifted through her mind. She tried to shake it off, but it would not be denied. Then, despite the potential peril of her situation, she couldn’t help laughing softly.

“Your Highness, you do not want to play this game with me. I’ve seen the movie.”

He frowned. “What are you talking about?”

“The schoolteacher brought to the foreign country, the man in the royal house who refuses to let her have her own house. You are not the King of Siam and I am not Mrs. Anna. But if you have any thoughts of recreating that situation, may I take this moment to remind you that not only does the king never sleep with Mrs. Anna, he has the misfortune to die at the end.”

She’d thought Prince Malik might look shocked or disapproving. Instead he startled her by leaning close. “We all die in the end, Liana,” he said, his warm breath tickling her ear. “And make no mistake, I will have you in my bed.”

“If you keep saying things like that, you’re going to scare the poor woman to death.”

Both Malik and Liana turned at the sound of the female voice. An attractive woman with curly light brown hair and wire-framed glasses approached. She wore a chic green dress that screamed designer, and there were the most amazing pearls around her neck. The woman shook her head at the prince.

“I can’t believe you’re using lines like that, Malik. Haven’t you ever heard of subtlety?”

He drew himself up and glared down at the woman. Even though she wore high heels, he was a good six or seven inches taller. “I am Malik Khan, Crown Prince of El Bahar—”

She dismissed him with a wave and turned her attention to Liana. “Pay no attention to that speech. All the princes give it and we’ve learned to ignore them.” She held out her hand. “Hi. I’m Heidi, wife of Jamal, the middle of the Khan brothers.” She glanced at Malik. “You’ve already been tormented by my brother-in-law. What is it about these sheiks? Give them a little power and they want to run all over everyone.”

Liana shook hands with the charming American and gave her a trembling smile, along with her name. She couldn’t remember ever being in a more confusing situation. She felt as if she’d landed on a strange planet…and in a way she had. El Bahar was a very different place from her native California.

“I’m pleased to learn one can disagree with a Crown Prince and live to tell the tale,” she said.

Heidi grinned. “Malik isn’t so bad. He talks tough, and he’s a fairly decent Crown Prince, but underneath all that, he’s basically a nice guy.”

Malik made a sound low in his throat. “You, woman, tread carefully around me.”

“Or you’ll have me beheaded. I’ve heard the threat before.” Heidi leaned close to Liana and lowered her voice. “Actually, he’s an excellent ruler and everyone respects him tremendously, but he can be a bit imperious on occasion.”

Liana had had first-hand experience with Malik’s imperiousness. “I’ve already seen him in action,” she said. “I don’t belong here. I’m a teacher with the American School.”

Malik shook his head. “She is my guest.”

Heidi looked from one to the other. “Interesting. What happened? You saw her at the airport and decided you liked the looks of her, so you brought her home?”

Malik looked faintly uncomfortable with the question. “I am the Crown Prince. I do not answer to you.”

Heidi glanced at Liana. “Let me guess. You don’t want to be here.”

“Exactly.”

“Well, Malik needs a willful woman in his life—even if he would never admit it. He’s a bit on the stuffy side, and being challenged by a woman would help make him more human.”

“I am not stuffy—”

“I’m not anyone’s woman—”

Liana and Malik spoke at the same time.

“This is all your fault,” she said, glaring at him. “Did you really bring me here because you liked the looks of me?” A voice in her head whispered it was actually a nice compliment, but she ignored the voice. She also ignored the steady thunder of her heart as she fought against her lingering attraction. “I’m not a puppy.”

“I never thought you were.”

Liana wanted to stamp her foot in annoyance. Nothing was going the way she wanted. She turned to Heidi. “Can you help me? I’m here to work and that’s all I want to do. If I could just get to the American School everything would be fine.”

Before Heidi could answer, Bethany stepped into the foyer. She walked over to her mother and leaned against her. “I’m tired, Mommy. Are we leaving soon?”

“You see,” Malik said. “The child needs to rest. While you stand here arguing, you’re wasting time. Heidi will show you to your rooms.”

Heidi raised her eyebrows at her brother-in-law, but otherwise didn’t protest. “Actually, Liana, it might be easier to give in to this tonight. You’ve got to be exhausted from the long trip. In the morning you can gird your loins and fight the battle anew.” She touched Liana’s arm. “Seriously, you are perfectly safe here. This is a royal palace and all guests are treated with the utmost respect.”

Liana didn’t know what to do. She had the feeling that if she gave in on this point, nothing in her life would ever be the same. The smart move would be to insist that she be taken to her condo immediately. But she was tired, as was Bethany. Then there was the tiny detail of spending the night in a real-life palace. That sort of thing had never happened to her before, nor was it likely to happen again. Was she going to turn down this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity because of her pride?

“All right,” she murmured. “If you’re sure it won’t be any trouble.”

“None at all,” Malik said. He offered a low bow, then disappeared down a long hallway.

“Who was that masked man?” Liana murmured.

Heidi heard her and laughed. “The princes take some getting used to. Come on. Your room is through here. Don’t worry about the luggage, someone will bring it along.”

“You okay with this?” Liana asked her daughter. “Do you mind spending the night in the palace?”

Big blue eyes, so much like her own, stared up at her. Bethany smiled. “Mommy, if I stay in the palace, I get to pretend I’m a princess.”

“Oh, you’re right. Well, that makes this very special, huh?”

Bethany nodded, then looked at Heidi. “Are you really married to a prince?”

“I sure am,” Heidi said. “Which makes me a princess. We have a little boy who is also a prince.”

“Wow.” Bethany’s big eyes got bigger. “Do you have a crown and everything?”

“You bet.”

Heidi led the way down a long hall. As they followed, Liana wondered about the woman who was being so kind. She dressed like a regular person—no robes or veils—and her voice had an American accent. Liana would bet that there was an interesting story in her past. If she was going to be here longer, she might want to ask about it. But Liana and Bethany would be leaving the palace in the morning, so there wasn’t going to be time to make friends.

“You’re here to teach?” Heidi asked as they passed through a carved archway.

Liana glanced around them, barely able to answer for all the wonders she saw. Open doors allowed her to see into great rooms with high ceilings and western-style furniture. She caught glimpses of gardens and fountains. Every few feet they walked by a small alcove that displayed some fabulous piece of art, be it a tapestry or glass-ware or a statue. The floor beneath their feet was marble, and much of the wall space was tiled. No doubt parts of the palace were hundreds of years old.

“I, ah, teach math,” Liana said absently as she took in the beauty of the El Baharian palace. The air was cool and faintly scented with flowers. “High-school-level algebra and geometry. Sometimes, if I have a bright group, I start them on calculus.”

Heidi smiled at Bethany. “I guess with a mom who’s a math teacher, you don’t get to say you don’t understand it, do you?”

Bethany giggled shyly and clung to her mother’s hand. “No, I like math.”

“Good for you.” Heidi stopped in front of a single door carved with a relief of a gazelle. She pushed it open and stepped into a suite of rooms. “These will be yours,” she said, motioning to the airy space.

Liana and Bethany followed her, then came to a stop in the center of the main room. In front of them were floor-to-ceiling windows that looked out over the Arabian Sea, light-colored furniture collected in two separate conversation areas, and double French doors leading out to a balcony that was almost as large as the living room. Nearly as amazing as the view was a mural on both the left and the right wall of the room. Tiny tiles had been cut and pieced together to create a herd of Arabian horses racing across the desert. The horses were depicted nearly life-size, with manes and tails flying out as fast hooves thundered across the sand.

“Oh, Mommy, look!” Bethany cried as she raced over to stand in front of the right mural. She reverently touched the tiny tiles. “Horses! Beautiful horses.”

Just then two servants appeared with their luggage. Heidi pointed down a short hallway and the men disappeared. Seconds later they reappeared, without their burden of suitcases, then bowed and left as quietly as they’d come.

“You’ll find the horse motif continues throughout the suite,” Heidi explained. “It’s one of the features of the palace. All the guest quarters have a theme. I thought with your daughter being at that horse-loving age, you two would enjoy this suite.”

Liana felt stunned, as if she’d been drinking, or hadn’t eaten in a couple of days. “This is a regular guest room here at the palace?” she asked. “There are more suites like this, just standing empty, waiting for company?”

Heidi nodded. Her hazel eyes filled with compassion. “I know it’s a lot to take in, but you’ll get used to it. There are frequent guests at the palace. Some visiting dignitaries prefer to stay at the beachfront hotels, but others like the warmth and history of the palace.”

“I see why,” Liana murmured. This was the most magnificent room she’d ever seen. She could only imagine what the bedrooms and bathrooms would be like.

“The balcony is a common one,” Heidi went on to explain. “There aren’t any other guests staying here at the moment, so you shouldn’t see anyone, but don’t be alarmed if someone walks by. Actually, on this level you can make a complete circuit of the palace via the balcony. I recommend the walk in the evening. It’s very lovely.”

“Thank you, I will.”

Heidi started to leave, then paused. “I know it’s terribly rude to ask, but how well do you know the prince?”

“I don’t know him at all.” Liana recounted the events on the plane and at the airport. “Instead of taking us to the American School, the cab brought us here. I don’t understand what happened.”

“Obviously you caught Malik’s eye,” Heidi said.

Then he can have it back, Liana thought to herself, although she didn’t say it aloud. “I can’t believe that,” Liana said. “I’m just a teacher.” Didn’t sheik princes fall for movie stars and models?

“You’re very attractive,” Heidi said. “Tall, blonde, blue eyes.”

Yes, she was those things, Liana admitted, but she was also about twenty pounds overweight and not the least bit interested in being fashionable. She preferred comfort to style. She’d been described as passably pretty, which she believed to be true. No, she was many things, but not someone to garner the attention of a prince.

“There has to be something else going on,” she insisted.

“Why do you find it so hard to believe that Malik could want you? Aren’t you interested?”

“Not really,” Liana said honestly. “I’ve reached the point where I don’t want another man in my life, and even if I did, I wouldn’t want someone like Malik. I would never be very good in the position of wife number three or four.”

Heidi smiled. “Ah, but this is El Bahar. The tradition of four wives is not allowed. Men have only one wife, and Prince Malik isn’t married.”

Liana told herself she wasn’t the least bit tempted. Sexual attraction was one thing—marriage quite another. “If I ever marry again, I want my husband to be interested in an equal partnership. Not likely with a Crown Prince.”

Heidi nodded. “You’re right there.” She looked around the room. “I’ll leave you to unpack, then. If you need anything, simply pick up the phone and ask for it. Someone will be by later to take your order for dinner.” She walked to the door and paused there. “It was very nice to meet you both. I hope you enjoy your stay in El Bahar.”

With that, she was gone.

“She’s very pretty,” Bethany said, staring after Heidi. “I never thought I’d meet a princess or stay in a palace. This is like an adventure in a book, isn’t it, Mommy?”

“Sort of,” Liana agreed, somewhat cautiously. “Let’s explore the rest of the suite and see what sort of arrangements the palace makes for its visitors.”

They walked down the short hallway and found two bedrooms, each with its own bath. The smaller of the two rooms was still big enough for a queen-sized bed, a desk, a dresser and a large built-in wall unit that housed a state-of-the-art television and DVD player. There was also a collection of movies in a drawer underneath. The attached bath was larger than their kitchen had been back home. The towels were thick enough to double as a mattress in a pinch and there were a collection of bath products by the oversized tub. Small versions of the mosaics in the living room continued here on the walls and floor tiles.

Liana’s room was even more impressive. The king-sized bed took up barely an eighth of the floor space. The four-poster monstrosity required a step stool to reach the mattress. Crisp white linens gave the room a cool air, and fresh flowers added to the ambiance. Her bathroom was huge, with a tub large enough for a committee meeting. Instead of the horses, her bath was decorated with a floral design. In addition to the baskets of bath products, Liana found an array of makeup, brushes and body lotions…all unopened, but calling her name.

“Wow,” she said as she finished her tour.

Bethany tucked a blond strand of hair behind her ear. “I like it here, Mommy. Maybe we can stay.”

Liana grinned. “Wouldn’t that be nice? To live like princesses?” She pulled her daughter close and hugged her. “Maybe you could insist all your classmates bow to you.”

Bethany giggled. “Especially the boys.”

“Of course. All the boys. And some of the girls. The ones who aren’t friendly.”

Still laughing, they returned to Bethany’s room and started to unpack. They’d barely begun the job when there was a knock at the door.

“Stay here,” Liana said as she hurried toward the front room.

Was it Malik? Had he come to talk to her? She found herself in the uncomfortable position of being both hopeful and fearful. Which was crazy. The man was handsome and high-handed, nothing more. Besides, in the morning she and her daughter would be gone, and she would never see him again.

But first you have to get through the night, a voice in her head whispered.

She opened the door and saw an attractive woman in her thirties standing in the hallway. She had dark hair and eyes.

“I’m Dora Khan,” the woman said. “May I come in?”

“Of course.” Liana stepped back to allow her to enter. “Did you say Khan? So you’re…”

“The wife of Khalil, the youngest of the king’s sons.”

Dora wore her dark hair swept up in a chignon. She had perfect skin and her dress was as stylish as Heidi’s. Apparently princesses knew how to shop, Liana thought with a brief flash of wistfulness. She tried not to think about how rumpled her jeans and shirt were after nearly twenty-four hours of travel.

“I just wanted to tell you that I heard about what Malik has done,” Dora said. “I know you’ve been dating for a while, but this is high-handed even for him—to force you to live at the palace when you want to stay at the American School. I understand you have a daughter. Obviously you’re trying to protect her from the scandal this would create.”

Liana blinked twice. “Excuse me? What on earth are you talking about?”

“Your relationship with Malik. I was led to believe that you’ve been seeing quite a lot of each other and that’s the reason you came to El Bahar.”

Were they all crazy, or was it her? Had crossing all those time zones affected her brain? She looked at the attractive woman standing in front of her. “I met the Crown Prince earlier this afternoon when he and several other men barged onto the plane and took away one of the women. Apparently she was engaged, and that was her idea of a romantic welcome back to El Bahar.”

Dora looked confused. “You just met him today? Then what are you doing at the palace?”

“My question exactly.” She recounted the events of the afternoon, starting with the customs line-up and finishing with her entrance into the suite.

“How strange,” Dora said slowly. “This isn’t like Malik at all.” She gazed at Liana speculatively. “It’s been a long time since Malik has shown any real interest in a woman. His father will be pleased.”

Liana held up her hands in a gesture of protection. “He’s not interested. He can’t be. He doesn’t know anything about me. I’m not sure why he did all this, but please be aware that I’m leaving in the morning, just as soon as I get this mess straightened out.”

“Of course.” Dora continued to study her. “Well, welcome to El Bahar, Liana. I’m sure you’ll enjoy your time here.” She smiled. “If nothing else, it’s going to be interesting. Let me know if I can do anything to help. If you really want to leave the palace, I can arrange it. Just say the word.”

“I will, thank you.” Liana watched her guest leave, then closed the door behind her. How odd. Who could have told the princess that she and Malik were involved? She’d only been on the palace grounds an hour or so. Had Heidi hinted at something or was it Malik himself?

The idea of the arrogant Crown Prince laying claim to a relationship that didn’t exist was so ridiculous as to make her laugh. Except that the situation wasn’t exactly humorous. It was more…intriguing, she thought to herself as she remembered her unexpected response to being in Malik’s presence. Something about him was appealing. Not so much his money and position—both of those would be more off-putting, at least for her. She was willing to admit he was plenty handsome. There was something about his height. Or was it his dark eyes? The way they seemed to see into her soul without giving away anything of their own….

She shook her head. “Stop fantasizing about a guy you don’t even know,” she told herself. “You’re leaving in the morning and you’ll never see him again.”

There was another knock on the door. Liana sighed and pulled it open. A tall, thin man with a white beard stood in front of her. He wore a suit with an odd pin on the lapel.

“Let me guess,” she said before she could stop herself. “You’re the king of El Bahar, and you’re here to congratulate me on my pending engagement.”

“No, ma’am. I’m the butler and I’m here to see what you and your daughter would like for dinner.”

By the time they’d finished unpacking, had eaten the wonderful meal delivered to their suite, and Bethany had taken her bath, it was after nine. Jet lag had hit them both and Bethany barely made it between the sheets before falling fast asleep.

Liana stood at the foot of her daughter’s bed and watched the sleeping girl. Her head might be spinning with confusion and exhaustion, but her heart was true and on course, as it had been from the second she’d found out she was pregnant. From that moment to this, everything she’d ever done had been with her daughter’s best interests in mind.

Bethany was her entire world. She’d come to El Bahar because of her daughter, and she would gladly travel greater distances if it was the right thing for Bethany.

“I love you,” she murmured, even though her child couldn’t hear her. Then she walked into the hallway and shut the door.

Liana couldn’t remember ever being so tired in her life, yet she didn’t want to go to bed. An odd restlessness gripped her. She walked into her bedroom and thought about taking a bath. Deciding that a shower would be quicker, she first crossed to the French doors that led to the wide balcony. They unlocked easily, and she found herself moving out into the evening.

Instantly she was assaulted by the wonderful scents of the desert. The ocean, the sand and the hundreds of plants on the palace grounds combined to create a unique aroma that energized her. Even with her eyes closed she would know she was in a foreign land.

El Bahar. For years she’d heard about the country but hadn’t given it any more thought than the North Pole. She’d never planned to visit. Her budget didn’t allow for much in the way of world travel, and she and Bethany had contented themselves with the occasional weekend trip down to Sea World and the famous zoo in San Diego. Then she’d found out about an opportunity to teach here, and she’d seen the job as the answer to so many problems.

So here they were, in El Bahar. Living in the royal palace, if only for the night. Thinking of the palace made her think of Malik and his odd behavior. Why had he brought her here? And why had he told his sister-in-law that they’d been dating? Or had that come from Heidi? She felt as if she’d stepped into the middle of a play, but no one had told her the story or bothered to give her a script.

Who was this man, this Crown Prince who meddled in people’s lives with all the impunity of a child rearranging blocks?

She crossed the width of the balcony and leaned against the broad stone railing. Floodlights illuminated the gardens below. She could make out a large fountain and several paths. Even though the afternoon had been warm, the evening air was cool and carried with it a lovely sea breeze.

Very exotic, she thought, closing her eyes to inhale the sweet scents from the garden. Magical El Bahar. Just like in her romance novels. Now all she needed was the handsome prince to appear.

“Good evening,” a male voice said.

Liana spun toward the sound and found herself staring up at Malik. Be careful what you wish for, she thought, not sure if she should laugh or run for safety.

Chapter Three

“A re you enjoying the night?” Malik asked.

“Sure,” Liana told him, trying not to notice that her body had begun to melt with each step of his approach. If he moved any closer, she was going to be little more than a puddle on the tiled floor of the balcony. “It’s very pretty. What are you doing out here?”

“I willed you to join me.”

He spoke with such seriousness that Liana couldn’t help laughing. “I thought only vampires willed women to do their bidding. Crown Princes can too?”

“Absolutely.”

He stopped next to her and leaned casually against the railing. He still wore his gray suit and it still fit perfectly. The fabric seemed to emphasize the breadth of his shoulders and his white shirt gleamed in the night. His features blended together in the shadows until it was difficult to make out the firm shape of his mouth or the high cut of his cheekbones. Nonetheless, his good looks made him far too lethal for her safety.

“I’m not going to be easily persuaded,” she told him honestly. “I doubt you’ll get what you want from me.”

“Don’t be so sure. I can be very patient.”

They were teasing, right? This was El Baharian flirtation? Liana wasn’t so sure that Malik knew this was a game.

“Patient?” she repeated, questioning his choice of word. “Whisking me off to the palace before asking my permission is hardly the action of a patient man.”

“Agreed, but it was effective. I’m interested in results, as well.”

“Look, Your Highness, I’m not sure what you’re expecting from me, but let’s clear up a few things. I’m not interested in a fling of any kind. It’s not my style.”

His dark eyes regarded her steadily. He stood close enough for her to inhale the masculine scent of him—and darned if it wasn’t plenty appealing.

“What is your style?” he asked.

“I don’t have one.” She bit her lower lip and figured she might as well get everything out in the open. “Look, I appreciate your attentions. They’re very flattering, even though they make no sense. I mean, I’m not a fashion model, right?”

She went on without waiting for a reply. “The point is, I’m not looking for romance. I’m here to do a job.”

“At the American School. I know.”

“No, you don’t.” She turned until she was facing him. “This job is important to me. I’m a math teacher and I love what I do, but it’s not the greatest paying job. I have a young daughter and we’re pretty much on our own. It’s up to me to provide for her future. When I heard about the school, I was intrigued because the salary is generous and the living expenses are all provided. In two years working here I can save enough to fund Bethany’s college education and still have enough left over for a down payment on a small house back home. That’s what’s important to me—my daughter’s future and our joint financial security.”

“I see.”

Malik continued to stare into her face. It was most disconcerting, she thought, especially when his attention seemed to become as tangible as a touch. It was almost as if his fingers were stroking her cheek, her nose, her mouth. Her lips actually began to tingle, as if he’d kissed her.

She swallowed against the sudden dryness in her throat. What was wrong with her? Jet lag only explained so much of her wild and strange attraction to Malik Khan.

“You have your life planned out,” he said at last. “Very forward-thinking of you, although it sounds lonely.”

She wrinkled her nose. “If you’re talking about love, I’m not interested. Been there, done that.”

“I understand. You’re a widow who mourns the unexpected and premature passing of a much-loved husband.”

She rolled her eyes. “Not exactly. I’m divorced and my ex gets on my nerves. I have no intention of going through that again.”

“There’s a small bench just past that bend in the balcony,” Malik said. “Would you please join me there for a few moments before you retire for the evening?”

His old-fashioned courtesy disarmed her. What had happened to the imperious man who insisted on getting his way? Knowing that Bethany was safe asleep, she found herself moving in the direction he’d indicated. Worse, Malik put his hand on the small of her back where the individual fingers seemed to burn against her suddenly sensitized skin. She wanted to shiver. She wanted to move closer and rub against him like a cat. She wanted to beg him to touch all of her in the most intimate way possible.

The wayward thoughts made her stumble, and she sat down barely in time to prevent herself from falling on her face. She had to get a grip, she told herself. Okay, so there was a chemical attraction between her and Malik. Or maybe it was all on her side. She couldn’t tell. Either way, she had to be very careful that she didn’t make a fool of herself.

“Why did you bring me here?” she blurted before she could stop herself.

“I find you attractive.” Malik settled next to her on the bench. They weren’t touching exactly, but he was close enough to make it hard for her to think.

“But I’m not attractive. I don’t wear a bag over my head or anything, but I’m firmly in the average category.”

Malik shrugged. “We’ll have to agree to disagree on that. I find you unique.”

Yeah, right. “Is it a blond thing? I mean, most of the women in this part of the country have dark hair.”

She wore her hair to her shoulders in layers that let the natural wave give the style body.

Malik had reached forward to touch one of her curls. “It’s not a blond thing,” he told her. “Tell me about your ex-husband. Why are you divorced?”

“Because Chuck is thirty-one going on twelve.” She sighed at the thought of Bethany’s father. “He isn’t a bad man, he’s just too caught up in his dreams to be much of a husband or a father.”

Liana allowed herself a small smile. “He was great fun in high school. He always had the fastest car around.” She glanced at Malik. “That’s what he wants to do with his life—race cars. He works to raise money to buy new engines and tires and whatever else cars need to go faster than is safe. When we were first married, we had a great plan for our lives. But then I got pregnant, and we found ourselves parents before we’d finished growing up.”

“Your daughter seems very smart and well-mannered.”

“I love her,” Liana said. “For me, Bethany was a blessing, but Chuck found being a father too confining. He would head off to the race track every chance he got.” She shifted on the stone bench. “I have some blame in what went wrong. I was raising a child, working and I’d returned to college. I couldn’t figure out a way to make it all work out, so my marriage suffered. Chuck came last more often than not. We’re equally at fault, I think.”

“How did you become a teacher? Did your parents help you?”

“Not really. My mom did some babysitting for me, but my folks are retired and not around much. They don’t have any extra money. I made it happen myself. It took me a long time to get through college and then to earn my teaching certificate, but I did it.”

“You sound like a strong woman.”

“I’m not a quitter. And I don’t believe in fairy tales.”

“Nor do I.”

Which brought her back to her earlier question. Why was she here? But she didn’t ask it this time. She was sitting in the magic of the desert night with a handsome prince. It was a moment she wasn’t ready to completely destroy. If this were Hollywood, Malik would take her in his arms and kiss her senseless. Unless it was an R-rated movie, in which case he would do a lot more.

She found herself shivering at the thought of being close to him. Chemicals, she decided in an attempt to think her way out of a situation entirely controlled by hormones, were more powerful than she’d ever given them credit for.

If only he weren’t so good-looking. If only she had a little more experience with his kind of man. Although, as a single mom living in a small town seventy miles due east of Los Angeles, she hadn’t had much opportunity to run into many princes. So where exactly would she have practiced?

Was he going to kiss her? Was he going to try and make love with her? The thought sent heat flooding through her body. She’d never had a one-night stand in her life, and she wasn’t about to start now. In fact, she’d only ever been with Chuck, but there was something about Malik that made her want to throw caution to the wind and….

“Heidi tells me you’re not married,” she blurted out, then could have cheerfully cut out her tongue. Talk about a dumb thing to say.

“That’s true.”

“So you’re the perennial bachelor, using your princely charms to seduce women?”

Unexpectedly, he rose to his feet. “Thank you for your company this evening, Liana. I’ve enjoyed talking with you very much.”

And then he was gone. Liana stared after him, her mouth open, her eyes wide. What had she said, she wondered, completely stunned by his sudden departure. Had she insulted him with her teasing? But he did try to use his princely charms on women. Why wouldn’t he?

“The rich really are different,” she muttered as she stood and headed back to her bedroom. “And confusing, and the sooner we’re out of here, the better.”

Malik paced the length of the living room in his suite. He’d left the French doors open, and the scent of the Arabian Sea just beyond the palace drifted in. He drew in a deep breath, hoping to chase away the lingering fragrance of the woman.

Liana Archer.

What the hell had he been thinking, bringing her here? He’d dragged her to the palace without her consent, as if he were some barbarian. His behavior was irresponsible. Worse, just a few minutes ago he’d wanted to rip the clothes from her body and make love to her right there on the balcony. He’d wanted to be inside her, plunging deeply until they were both so lost and mindless with passion that even time stood still.

The image in his head was so powerful, he felt himself growing aroused. The need produced an ache. Not surprising. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been with a woman. Casual relationships were an easy pleasure he did not allow himself. As the Crown Prince of El Bahar, he was held to a higher standard than everyone else. He could not risk exposing himself or the country to the potential disaster of an exposé in the tabloids—or an unexpected pregnancy.

He felt as lost and out of control as a ship in the middle of a violent storm. In truth, he felt violent. If he couldn’t have the woman—and he couldn’t—he wanted to punish, to destroy. He wanted to inflict and feel physical pain. He wanted to move, to run, to force his muscles to work past the point of exhaustion, to make his lungs gasp for breath. He wanted to feel anything but the desire that threatened to rip him apart from the inside.

Why did you bring me here? Liana had asked him the question and he’d been unable to answer. The truth would have terrified her. He’d brought her to the palace because he’d been unable to let her go. In that moment on the plane, when he’d first seen her, he’d felt something. A connection, a link that was so powerful, it had nearly pulled out his soul. Not once in his life had he ever been so emotionally exposed. Not even with Iman—his wife.

He paced to the windows and back, telling himself that in the morning he had to let the woman go. He had no right to keep her. He might be the Crown Prince of El Bahar, but in these modern times he would not be allowed to kidnap an American citizen, no matter how much he might want to do so.

He ached. Not just to make love, but for so much more. He saw his brothers with their wives, and he envied the emotional intimacy they shared, an intimacy he would never be allowed to experience. He longed to be just like everyone else, and that was the one thing he could not have.

So he’d brought Liana here, if only for the night, because of the unexplained desire he felt for her. Because for their brief time together he could pretend that he was like other men, that he might meet a woman, find her attractive, date her and perhaps even fall in love.

He could allow himself this fantasy for a single night, knowing it could never be. He’d learned his lesson well as a boy, and now he lived it as a man. No one breached the walls that surrounded his soul. His wife never had, although she hadn’t much tried.

Iman. Just thinking about her changed his passion to anger. He welcomed the transformation. He forced himself to remember how badly it had all started and the tragedy of how it had ended. The saving grace was that he’d never loved her. He’d never loved anyone. He never would.

But not loving couldn’t take away the wanting, and reality prevented him from having that which he needed. So he continued to pace alone in his room, desperately forcing himself to ignore the ache, the need and the loneliness which had, over time, become his closest friends.

Carl Birmingham was unfailingly polite and sympathetic, but so unhelpful that Liana wished she could throw a chair through the window. At least then her frustration would have an outlet. As it was, she had to sit quietly in her seat across the desk from the American School administrator and grit her teeth to keep from screaming.

“It seems to me,” he was saying in a calm voice, “everything would be so much easier if you would simply accept the Crown Prince’s invitation. You said you were told this morning the Prince wished you to remain as his guest. Is that so terrible?”

Carl Birmingham, a portly man in his mid fifties, leaned toward her and smiled. “Have you considered the great honor? You are a visiting American teacher being invited to reside in one of the greatest palaces in the world. You have the opportunity of becoming a close friend of the royal family.”

Liana wondered why she’d thought anyone would understand. Apparently the situation was strange only to her. Everyone else thought she should be grateful that Malik intended her to continue to live at the palace.

“I do appreciate the honor,” she said, careful to keep her tone level. “However, I never asked to live at the palace. All I want for my daughter and myself is the housing we were promised in my contract. A two-bedroom condo. Just something of our own.”

Mr. Birmingham straightened the papers on his desk, then glanced at her. “Of course if you feel you and your daughter are in physical danger, the situation must be rectified at once. I did not realize you felt threatened.”

Liana sighed. “It’s not that. I’m not worried about being attacked in the night, it’s just…”

How could she explain the sensation of being overwhelmed by a force larger than life? Malik Khan was a man used to getting his way, and for reasons that made no sense to her, he’d plucked her from obscurity to be the focus of his considerable attention. While she was flattered, she was also very nervous. Her own attraction to the man made her vulnerable. Not to mention the fact that no one looked forward to being used then discarded.

“Ms. Archer, the American School exists because of the support of the royal family,” Mr. Birmingham explained. “Prince Malik sits on the board of directors. He was instrumental in changing our policy so that teachers could be chosen based on skill rather than gender or marital status. Not many years ago, a single woman would not have been invited to join the staff.”

“Why should that matter? I’m good at what I do, with or without a husband.”

“I agree. But we are both Americans. Life is different here in El Bahar. The country is very progressive, but it is still foreign, with different laws and a different culture.”

She was beginning to get a message, and she didn’t like what it said. “You think I should live in the palace.”

“Ms. Archer, I would never presume to tell you what to do. However, we are talking about the Crown Prince. He is a powerful individual, while you are simply one teacher.”

Liana leaned back in her chair and bit back a scream. Basically she was trapped. Her generous contract had a clause that allowed the school to dismiss her for almost any reason. In return, they had to provide a return ticket and three months salary. While that would keep her and Bethany from starving while she looked for a job back in California, it wouldn’t do anything about funding her daughter’s college education, or providing them with a down payment on a house.

“Look at it this way,” Mr. Birmingham said with a smile. “Prince Malik hasn’t shown much interest in a woman for years. Not since…” His voice trailed off.

“Not since what?”

He shifted on the seat. “Yes, well, not since the unfortunate incident with his wife.”

“His wife? But Princess Heidi said he wasn’t married.”

“He’s not. He was, but Princess Iman is no longer with us.”

Liana thought about asking how the woman had died, then figured it wasn’t her business. Nor did she care. What was important was where she was going to live.

“You want me to stay at the palace,” she said flatly.

Mr. Birmingham shrugged. “You are welcome to move into your provided housing. The unit will be kept available. I cannot tell you what to do, Ms. Archer. It’s your decision.”

Liana nodded. “Thank you, Mr. Birmingham. I won’t take up any more of your time.”

With that she rose to her feet and left the room. Once she was in the hall, she swore softly under her breath. She was trapped. Well and truly trapped. If she made too much of a fuss about living at the palace, she could lose her job. Not something she wanted before she’d even had a chance to start.

Malik glanced out the window of his office and told himself he was simply checking the weather. He wasn’t actually keeping watch to see if Liana had returned from her first day teaching at the American School.

He knew that she’d already spoken with the administrator about her living arrangements at the palace. Carl Birmingham had phoned earlier to relay the details of his talk with Liana and had emphasized the fact that he’d informed Ms. Archer of the great honor the Crown Prince had bestowed upon her. If this were a hundred and fifty years ago, Carl Birmingham would be one of those annoying personal assistants to the crown who spent his entire day parroting back the monarch’s words and bowing as he walked.

Malik frowned. He would have had a whole lot more respect for the man if he’d challenged Malik’s actions. Who was the prince to keep this woman in the palace? Malik leaned back in his chair and stared mindlessly out the window. He was playing a dangerous game, and it couldn’t go on much longer. He would have to allow Liana to move into the American School’s housing.

But not just yet, he told himself. Perhaps tomorrow, or maybe at the end of the week. For now he wanted her close by. Even though she was unlikely to want to speak with him or see him, he liked knowing she was within the palace walls, that if he were to command that she be brought to him, she would be forced to appear.

He was a fool, and that was something he’d always tried to avoid being. He wished he could explain why he was so interested in this woman. What combination of features, personality and fate had made him act so out of character? Perhaps Fatima had cast a spell on him.

Malik grinned at the thought of his very practical grandmother dabbling in love spells. Fatima was too down-to-earth to have patience for such things. No, he was going to have accept responsibility for his actions all on his own.

A flicker of movement caught his attention. He looked up and saw Liana’s young daughter moving in the direction of a stable. He allowed himself a faint smile. No doubt she wanted to see the many horses there and perhaps find out about riding one.

Despite the meeting due to start in ten minutes and the pile of work still awaiting his attention, Malik rose to his feet and left the office. He informed his startled male assistant that he would be out for an hour or so and please to reschedule the meeting for a more convenient time. Then he hurried toward the stables on the far side of the palace.

Less than five minutes later he found young Bethany Archer gently touching the soft nose of a bay. The child had changed from her school uniform into jeans and a T-shirt. Her hair was about three shades lighter than her mother’s, and she’d pulled the blond strands back into a braid. Her nose wrinkled as she gazed earnestly at the gelding, petting him with a wistfulness that betrayed her heart’s desire.

“Do you ride?” he asked.

The girl jumped and spun toward him. “I was just saying hello,” she said as she took a large step away from the stable door and tucked her hands behind her back. “I’d never hurt them.”

He held in a smile. “I know that.”

She glanced up at him. “Are you angry? I didn’t exactly let my mom know I was coming to see the horses because I was afraid she’d tell me no. So I said I wanted to look around. You know, get to know the palace. Then she said to stay inside and not to wander too far or get in the way.” Her mouth twisted slightly. “Grown-ups have too many rules. And they never write them down. Sometimes the rules change. My mom’s real good about keeping the rules the same, but not everyone is like her. Don’t you hate it when that happens?”

Blond bangs fell to her eyebrows, emphasizing the blue of her irises. He could see a lot of her mother in her. She was pretty and smart and probably the most charming child he’d ever met.

“I do hate it,” he said solemnly, even though he wasn’t sure what he was agreeing to. “So you like horses?”

She nodded. “Very much. They’re lovely. I’ve always wanted to ride. Where we lived, back in California I mean, there was a lot of horse property. Old Mr. Preston used to give riding lessons, but they were expensive. I was going to think up ways to earn money this year so I could take some. He’s got ten horses. A couple are old, but the rest are nice.”

He motioned to the long row of stalls. “Would you like to meet my horses?”

She pressed her hands together in front of her thin chest. “Sure. How many do you have?”

“There are a half dozen or so for riding. I also own some race horses, along with breeding stock. The horses are a hobby of mine.”

Her eyes had widened. “So you have way more than Mr. Preston.”

“I would think so.” He led the way, walking down past a few stalls, then stopped in front of an oversized pen. “This is Alexander the Great. He’s my favorite riding horse. He likes attention, so it’s safe to pet him. In fact, he’s a bit vain. If we ride by water, he likes to go slowly so he can stare at his reflection.”

Bethany giggled, then slowly reached up her hand to touch the black stallion. Alexander snuffled her palm and gave a snort of disgust.

“He wants a treat.” Malik pointed to a small bin set against the center of the far wall. “You’ll find oats in there. You may feed him a handful, but no more. Too much will make him sick.”

Bethany nodded, then ran over to collect the treat. She carefully flattened her hand to feed the horse and was rewarded when the animal consented to be petted. The girl sighed with pleasure.

“When I grow up I want to own lots of horses. I’ll ride all day and learn to jump and it will feel like flying.”

Her blue eyes sparkled as she spoke of her dreams. There was color in her pale cheeks and an energy that made him feel old. Had he ever had such simple hopes for his own future? Doubtful, he thought. He couldn’t remember a time when he hadn’t known he would someday rule El Bahar. But Bethany’s life was very different. He envied her her freedom, all the while knowing that even if given a chance he wouldn’t change his destiny.

“You’ll need to start by learning how to ride,” he said. “I would be happy to teach you.”

She stared at him and pressed her lips together. Her entire body quivered with excitement. “Really? You’d teach me on one of your horses?”

“Yes. I have an old gelding who has just the right temperament. He has a white star on his forehead, which makes him very handsome, although he’s not vain like Alexander here.”

“Thank you,” Bethany breathed reverently, then tilted her head and gave an exaggerated grimace. “Except I have to ask my mom, and I’m afraid she’ll say no.”

“Why would she do that?”

“I don’t know. Moms can be difficult sometimes.” Her expression brightened. “But maybe because you’re a prince and all, she won’t mind so much.” Bethany smiled. “I asked about you at school today and everyone says you’re going to be king of El Bahar one day.”

“That does seem to be the way things are going.”

“I think it would be very romantic to be a princess, but my mom doesn’t agree. You don’t exactly fit into her plan.”

Of that Malik was sure. Liana’s plan included enough money for a house and her daughter’s college education. From what he could tell, the single mother had tried to think of everything. He doubted a royal prince had figured into her expectations.

“I would still be happy to teach you to ride,” he said. “If you would like.”

“Oh, I’d like that very much. I’ll ask her right away.”

“Fine. If it’s all right with your mother, we’ll start tomorrow when you return from school.”

Bethany shrieked and jumped, gave him a quick, unexpected hug, then tore out of the stable as if her shoes were on fire. Alexander snorted his displeasure, but Malik didn’t agree with the horse’s assessment. To his mind, Bethany was a most charming young lady who admired him. Now if only he could find a way to make her mother as much of a fan.

Chapter Four

L iana paced around the living room, muttering under her breath. She could not believe this was happening to her. She felt as if she were trapped in some Victorian novel, perhaps as a governess newly arrived, only to find out that her employer had murdered his wife and was now raising the knife toward her. Ridiculous. Malik might be arrogant and annoying, but he wasn’t threatening her life, even if it did feel as if she was well and truly trapped.

She couldn’t get Carl Birmingham’s words out of her head—he’d said Prince Malik was a member of the board of directors at the American School. Not to mention the fact that she should be honored to be the prince’s guest.

“Honored,” she grumbled as she paused in front of the French doors to the balcony. “Yeah, right. Next he’ll be telling me not to worry my pretty little head about it.”

Her gaze settled on the view before her. The blue Arabian Sea stretched out to the horizon. It was dark and vivid and probably the most beautiful thing she’d ever seen. Slowly, she turned in a circle, taking in the exquisite horse murals, the expensive furniture, the objets d’art. The bedrooms were just as lovely and spacious, and was she crazy to want her own place rather than accepting the hospitality of a royal prince?

She was a single mother from San Bernardino. Her dad was a retired postal worker, her mom, a homemaker. Liana’s sister worked as a hairdresser. Liana herself, the only one in the family to make it through college, taught high-school math. And here she was complaining because she’d caught the attention of the Crown Prince of a wealthy and respected nation.

“Maybe I am insane,” she said aloud. “Maybe I should just give in and stay here. It’s not so horrible. After all, the food is great, and there are hot and cold running servants.”

Liana sank onto the sofa and took a deep breath. As tempting as the palace might be, she couldn’t stay because nothing was going to be that easy. She didn’t know why Prince Malik had brought her here, but she doubted it was because he thought she would be a great ornament. Did he expect her to sleep with him? Was this all about sex?

Liana bristled at the thought. In this day and age women were not kidnapped to be placed into a harem. At least not women like her, with twenty extra pounds settling on her hips and thighs and a body with the still-visible marks of childbirth.

No, she told herself. A handsome prince like him would want perfection. And he’d have plenty of choices—what with women falling all over him everywhere he went. Liana had felt the powerful chemistry of his attraction. She, too, had been all a-twitter at the thought of being close to someone like Malik. He’d made her heart race and her blood boil and whatever other fabulous phrases filled the pages of those romances she so adored reading. At least between the covers of those books, the women always found a wonderful man and sexual fulfillment. If only life were that tidy.

But it wasn’t, and, regardless of her wayward hormones, she had no intention of falling for Malik, either in or out of bed. Not that he was going to ask her, which brought her right back to where she’d started…what on earth was she doing here?

The suite door opened and Bethany sailed inside. Her bright eyes and glowing skin told of a wondrous adventure. Liana smiled and patted the cushion next to her on the sofa. “Come tell me all about it,” she told her daughter.

Bethany plopped down next to her and gave an exaggerated sigh. “There are so many horses,” she said, leaning against Liana. “Rooms and stables of them. They’re all big and pretty and Prince Malik was there and he introduced me to his favorite. Alexander the Great is a very vain horse. He looks at himself in the water, admiring his reflection!”

She gave a giggle of delight, as if a vain horse were a wondrous thing indeed. Liana was less amused. “Prince Malik was with you?” What on earth had he been doing in the stable?

Bethany nodded. “He talked to me and everything.” She straightened and looked at her mother. “He’s very nice. He said that he would like to teach me to ride and I told him that I had to talk to you first and make sure it’s all right, but I know it is because he said he has a very special horse that is perfect for a girl like me and I wouldn’t get hurt and you really wouldn’t mind, would you, because you know I’ve wanted to ride forever.” She paused to draw in a much needed breath. “It’s all I’ve ever wanted in the whole wide world.”

Blue eyes stared beseechingly up at her. Liana grabbed hold of the anger flaring inside of her. None of this was her daughter’s fault, she reminded herself. Bethany was an innocent in whatever game Prince Malik might be playing with them both. But she couldn’t ignore the fury building inside her. How dare that man use her daughter to get to her? Riding lessons. Yeah, right. Every good prince gave them to absolute strangers on a regular basis. It was probably part of their training.

She forced herself to smile at her daughter and smooth her bangs from her face. “I think learning to ride is a wonderful idea, and if it doesn’t work out here, I’ll check into it in the city. I’m sure there’s a stable close to the American School. Even with all the money we need to save, I’ll bet there’s enough left over for lessons.”

Her daughter opened her mouth to protest, but Liana stopped her with a shake of her head. “I need to talk to the prince first, Bethany. While I’m gone, please start on your homework. After dinner, I thought we’d watch a movie. Would you like to pick it?”

Bethany’s natural good nature asserted itself. “You won’t forget about the riding lessons?”

“I promise I won’t.”

“Okay.” Her daughter kissed her cheek, then stood and skipped out of the room. She paused in the doorway and glanced back at her mother. “I looked this morning and there are Disney movies on the shelves in my room, along with The Little Princess. ” She giggled. “Maybe we should watch that one.”

Liana looked at her daughter. Bethany was a pretty child. She still had freckles on her pert nose, and with her slender, athletic body, in a few short years she was going to be a heartbreaker. But for now she was still a little girl. Liana would do anything to protect her, even risk an international incident…or her job.

“The Little Princess sounds great. Will you be all right while I’m gone? I should be back in about twenty minutes.”

“I’m nine!” Bethany reminded her. “I’m not a baby.”

“I know. You’re practically a grandmother. Promise you’ll stay in the suite.”

“Promise,” Bethany called in a sing-song voice as she headed off to her room.

Liana waited until she heard the door close, then she rose to her feet and went in search of Prince Malik.

The palace was huge, and, in a matter of minutes, she found herself completely lost. All the long corridors looked similar enough to confuse her. By the time she’d passed the stone nymph fountain for the third time, she knew she wasn’t going to be able to find her way on her own. Of course, her journey was hampered by a lack of knowledge about her destination.

Finally Liana spotted a young servant and stopped the woman. She explained she was looking for Prince Malik. Complicated directions followed, ending with Liana being escorted to a large set of double doors.

“Here, ma’am,” the young woman said with a smile. “Prince Malik. Good evening to you both.”

“It won’t be a good evening for him,” Liana muttered as a way to gather her suddenly lacking courage. “I plan to tell him exactly what I think of him. How dare he thrust himself into our lives like this and expect…” She verbally stumbled as she realized she had no clue about his expectations, except a burning certainty that they couldn’t possibly either be acceptable or match her own.

That decided, she pounded on the door.

She fully expected to be let into a suite of offices and then to have to explain her presence to a host of secretaries and assistants. Instead, Prince Malik himself opened the door. The sight of him disconcerted her, as did his state of dress.

Liana stared and swallowed and vowed that this time she was going to ignore the heating, melting sensation filling her body. It’s not as if the man were naked, or even close to naked. He wore black slacks and a formal white shirt. He’d been in the process of slipping in cufflinks when he’d answered the door.

Dark eyes locked with hers and the intense expression there nearly caused her not to notice his still-damp hair and the clean look of his freshly shaven face. He was a handsome man—too handsome for comfort—and she had the most disconcerting urge to offer to finish fastening his cuffs for him.

“Liana,” he said, faint pleasure lacing his voice. “This is a surprise. I was on my way out for the evening.”

“I can tell,” she told him, firmly squashing the irrational flare of jealousy that ripped through her. Going out, was he? As in, with a woman? Fine by her. She didn’t care. In fact she was pleased he was going out because then he wouldn’t be around to bother her. Not that he’d been a bother, but he was keeping her here against her will which meant the bothering bit was bound to occur sooner or later.

“I have something to discuss with you, Your Highness,” she said, stepping into his suite. “While it won’t take very long, I consider it most important.”

“Of course you do,” he said with a smile, then motioned for her to take a seat on one of the large sofas in his living room. “And please, call me Malik.”

The request disconcerted her, which made no sense. She found herself slightly off balance and trying not to be intimidated by the luxury and grandeur of his living room.

He had the same view she did, although from a different angle, as his rooms were at the far end of the palace. There was no mural. Instead beautiful paintings covered the plain cream walls. She recognized a couple of the pieces from photos in books. Malik seemed to favor Impressionists, although there was a smaller collection of modern pieces in the dining area to their left.

Between the opulence, her racing heart and the heat rolling through her body like the tide, she was afraid she was going to pass out right there on the thick Oriental carpet that was probably older than the United States and worth more than a car. Then she remembered why she’d come in the first place.

Facing him and planting her hands on her hips, she said, “I don’t know what rules you’ve lived by in the past, nor do I care. I suppose you’re used to having your way and damn the consequences. Let me assure you I’m not someone to be trifled with, and I don’t care if you’re a prince or a king or the ruler of the universe. You will not use my daughter in your traitorous scheme. She is a wonderful, intelligent, active girl who deserves to be treated with respect. How dare you play with her emotions?”

Malik stared at her for several heartbeats. “Are you quite finished?”

“I haven’t even gotten started. I’m not afraid of you or your power. They mean nothing to me. It’s bad enough that you’ve brought me and Bethany here against our will. As I’m sure you know, I’ve spoken to Mr. Birmingham at the school and he’s informed me that you’re a member of the board. The inference was very clear. Either I do what you say or you have me fired. I can accept all of that, but to think you’d sink so low as to use an innocent child to get what you want. It’s disgusting. How dare you try to weasel your way into her affections—bribing her by offering to teach her to ride? She might be young and inexperienced and therefore gullible, but I am not.”

“A weasel?” Malik questioned. “Interesting choice. I’ve not seen a weasel, at least not in person. Now meerkats are something different. I’ve seen them in Africa. On a tour.”

He spoke blandly, as if they were discussing the weather.

Liana wanted to stamp her foot in frustration. “Are you even listening to me?”

“To every word, more’s the pity.” He took a step toward her and loomed over her. “The problem is you’re not making any sense.” With that, he wrapped his arms around her and drew her close.

Liana was so stunned she actually stopped breathing. All the air left her lungs, but she couldn’t seem to draw any back in. She went willingly because she couldn’t command herself to move away. No messages were getting through to her nervous system. What was he doing and why was he doing it? She hated being this close to him, hated the way…

Suddenly, his mouth came down on hers. The action shouldn’t have surprised her, yet she couldn’t believe it was happening. The warm pressure of his lips moved against her in a way that left her feeling branded and impossibly aroused. His grip on her was firm and unyielding, forcing her up against him until they touched completely from shoulder to knee. Her breasts flattened against his broad chest and her hands were trapped between her hipbone and his thigh.

She told herself to protest, to object, to squirm and pull away…but it had been a long time since a man had done this to her, and she was too weak to fight him.

Malik shifted, freeing her arms. He used one hand to brush against her back and the other to cradle her head, as if he feared she might pull away.

There was something about his lips—the heat, the firm softness, the way he took control while at the same time inviting her to come along on a sensual journey she couldn’t begin to imagine. Or maybe it was his body, right next to hers, hard and unyielding to her feminine curves. Her breasts felt so good pressing against his chest. Her nipples were hard points of desire. Her hips seemed to be pulsing and thrusting of their own free will. She didn’t understand her body or herself for not pushing away. In fact she found herself raising her arms until they encircled his neck. She drew herself up on her toes so that her body fit better against his.

He was kissing her with slow, sweet kisses that were almost innocent, yet incredibly seductive. The masculine scent of him surrounded her, filling her with an intoxication that she knew she would remember for the rest of her life. It was not just that she would now be able to find him in the dark—she would crawl over broken glass for the privilege of inhaling that scent one last time before she died.

Then he brushed her lower lip with his tongue. One slow, deliberate act of passion that nearly made her cry out. Without thinking she parted her lips to admit him, aware that she was crossing a line, and that once she did so, there could be no retreat. She wanted him with a desperation that left her shattered and afraid. Yet, as he entered her, she welcomed him with darting brushes of her tongue against his.

And then whatever civility still existed between them disappeared, burned to dust by the explosion that rocked through her like lightning cutting through a tree. She shook violently as he invaded her mouth. No longer gentle or smooth, he plunged and explored like a man on an urgent mission. He discovered the secrets of her mouth, what made her surge toward him, what made her gasp. He buried his fingers into her thick hair and moved them up and down her back. He slipped lower and cupped her behind, squeezing the full curves and making her pulse against him in a way designed to make them both think of the ultimate act of love.

She found herself wanting to tear off her clothes, to expose herself to him so that he would know how much she wanted him. She thought about them making love right here, on the sofa, or perhaps on the dining-room table. She needed him the way she needed air, and knew that if she didn’t have him right now, she wouldn’t survive.

The sense of being out of control was so unfamiliar that it shocked her into stepping away from him. Without wanting to, she raised her fingers to her mouth and pressed them against her throbbing skin. Her body still trembled and the heat continued to pour through her, arousing her to a fevered pitch.

“I can’t,” she whispered, not sure if she meant she couldn’t do that again, or if she couldn’t bear to stop.

Malik’s dark gaze was unreadable, his expression as hard as his body had been. He seemed to be caught up in his own private hell, and she wondered if she’d been the only one to feel the fire between them. What a cruel joke of fate that would be—that the first man to make her understand what all the fuss was about when it came to passion was also a man who was immune to her. Could that be possible? Had she been the only one to feel the intensity of their connection?

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