The Royal House of Niroli: Secret Heirs: Bride by Royal Appointment / A Royal Bride at the Sheikh's Command. Raye Morgan

twitched. “And I think you’re dreaming.” He grabbed a mint out of a bowl set out for the guests and popped it in his mouth. A mint wasn’t exactly a good stiff drink, but it would have to do until one came along.

      Meanwhile, he wanted to get off of this subject. “Anyway, my evening at the palace was mostly a waste of time. They wanted me to stay for dinner, meet some people. But I’m not sure it was worth the effort. I got the distinct impression that all the important people are still out of town. They just wanted to feel me out a bit.”

      She frowned, her head bent as she listened to him. She wished she could hear some small sense of an understanding of the history and majesty and wonder of this island and this job he was taking on in his voice. Was it really just a vehicle for money in his eyes? Did he really not care at all?

      “Too bad,” she said. “And you didn’t get to meet with your grandfather?”

      “No. He’s got a cold or something. I’m pretty sure they are making excuses to keep me from him, but that’s hardly important. The contract is the crux of the matter and they haven’t let me see it yet.”

      “Ah.” There it was. The money. That was his whole focus.

      “Yes, they seem to be balking. Tomorrow I figure I’ll take Jeremy in and really give them a run for their money.” He popped another mint. “They don’t know much about Jeremy yet. Right now he’s just a theory to them.” He smiled wickedly. “Tomorrow he will become reality.”

      She frowned, shaking her head in despair over his attitude. “What do you think he’ll do?”

      “Oh, I don’t know. Climb out on a precipice and hang by his knees until they have to employ a helicopter to get him back. Set the horses free from the stables. Put piranhas in the moat. Or maybe they have a nice wedding cake he could ruin.”

      She clenched her hands together distractedly. “Does it ever occur to you that he does these things because you expect him to?”

      He sighed. “There’s a background here, Elena. I expect these things because he’s done them before.”

      She licked her dry lips. She was developing such an interest in this man, and yet there were so many things about him that would normally turn her away. But she couldn’t dismiss him now. She was experiencing emotions she’d never had before and that meant she had to stay with him, try to understand—or, even better, try to help him understand and change. Was that crazy? Was she being arrogant herself? Was she chasing fireflies?

      Probably. But it was too late to quit now. She was in for the duration—whatever that turned out to be.

      “If he really is as bad as you say, aren’t you afraid taking him to the palace could make them think twice about accepting you as King? After all, he would come with the deal, from their point of view.”

      Adam thought about that. “You’ve got a point there. Maybe I won’t take him over until the ink is dry.”

      She took a deep breath, closed her eyes and plunged in. “Adam, don’t you think this idea of becoming King could use a little more thought? Maybe it’s just not right for you.”

      “What?” He wasn’t sure he’d heard her right. Every part of his body reacted with shock. “What are you talking about?”

      Her hands were clenched so tightly, the knuckles were white. “Just this, Adam. What makes you think you’re right for the job? What makes you think you’ll be a good king?”

      “A good king?” His laugh was short, cold and dismissive. “What does that have to do with anything?”

      “It’s the basis of everything,” she said earnestly. “If you can’t be a good king, why would you want the job?”

      “The ‘job’?” He stared at her, swore softly, and began pacing as well. “It’s not the ‘job’ I want, Elena. It’s the compensation for the job. I’ve already got a job. I run a film production company and I’m damn good at it.” He raked his fingers through his thick hair. “My company has been everything to me for years. I’ll do anything to keep from losing it.” He stopped in front of her. “Including play around at being King if that’s what I have to do.”

      That was exactly what she’d feared. She turned from him. It was tempting to let it go. After all, what made her think she could change anything? And if she confronted him, told him what she really thought, he might decide she wasn’t worth the effort. And much as she kept telling herself she’d been fine before she knew him and she would be fine if he walked out on her tonight, she knew it wasn’t true. He’d already changed her life. And she didn’t want to lose him—not yet, at any rate.

      But she couldn’t live a lie, either. And her first responsibility was to her island, to her people, to all those ancestors hanging around at the ruins. So she gathered her courage and turned back to face him.

      “Adam, I’ve thought about this all afternoon. And I have to tell you what I think.” She drew in a full breath and let it out. “You should withdraw your name from consideration.”

      “What?”

      “You can’t be King of Niroli.”

      CHAPTER SIX