knew each other well. Possibly very well. She couldn’t quell the bite of jealousy, even though she sensed nothing aside from camaraderie between the two. Or maybe she was just playing the ostrich hiding its head in the desert sand.
After Adan let Kira go, he kept his attention on her. “I thought you were engaged to be married.”
“That didn’t work out,” she replied. “It’s a long, sad story that is not worth telling. Luckily Mama and Papa mentioned my return to Elena, and here I am.”
Adan finally regarded Piper. “Kira’s parents were members of the household staff for many years.”
“My father tended the palace grounds,” Kira added. “My mother was the head chef at the palace.”
Adan pointed at her. “And she was the resident holy terror in her youth.”
Kira frowned. “If I were not your subordinate, I would possibly slug you again. But since I am, I will leave you both to your privacy as I have an important task to oversee. Princess Mehdi, it was a pleasure to meet you.” She then did an about-face and left, closing the door behind her.
“She certainly left in a hurry,” Piper said. “Evidently she had a very bad breakup.”
Adan’s good spirits seemed to dissolve right before Piper’s eyes. “More often than not, relationships run their course and usually come to a less than favorable conclusion.”
Piper’s hope that he might have feelings for her beyond gratitude evaporated like early-morning fog. “I had no idea you were that cynical, Your Highness.”
He disappeared into the closet and returned with khaki cargo pants, a navy T-shirt, socks and a pair of heavy boots. “I am a realist.”
She leaned a shoulder against the bedpost as he shrugged out of his robe, finding it difficult to ignore his board-flat abdomen and the slight stream of hair disappearing beneath the waistband of his boxer briefs. “It seems to me both your brothers are happily married.”
He tugged the shirt over his head, ruffling his dark hair in the process. “Perhaps, but they are the exception to the rule.”
“Your relationship rules?”
He put on his pants one leg at a time and zipped them closed. “I didn’t make the rules, Piper. I’m only acknowledging that failed relationships seem to be my forte.”
“Are you referring to Talia?”
After rounding the bed, he perched on the mattress’s edge to put on his boots. “Yes, among a few other nonintimate relationships, including my father.”
Now they were getting somewhere. “You didn’t fail him, Adan. He failed you.”
“I suppose you’re right. Apparently I never accomplished anything to suit him, no matter how hard I tried.”
“Even learning to pilot jets wasn’t good enough?”
He came to his feet and faced her. “I have no idea since he rarely mentioned my skills, even when he convinced the counsel to appoint me as the armed forces commander.”
“Well, at least he had enough faith in you to believe you could handle the responsibility.”
“Or he was possibly setting me up to fail. Fortunately I proved him wrong.”
She smiled. “Yes, you did, at that. And if it’s any consolation, I’m proud of your accomplishments, both military and paternal.”
Discomfort called out from his eyes. “You never did say why Kira was here.”
Time to lighten the mood. Or die trying. “She was seeking donations for the poor. I told her to take five or so of the watches in your extensive collection since I’m sure they’ll go for a hefty price, and you probably wouldn’t miss them.”
From the sour look on his face, her efforts at levity had fallen flat. “Try again, Piper.”
She folded her arms beneath her breasts and sighed. “If you must know, I sent her into the village for a few feminine unmentionables. But I’ll be glad to show you the list if you’re worried we were somehow plotting against you.”
He held up both hands, palms forward. “That will not be necessary. I presently need to prepare for the day.”
“Are you going to the base?”
“Not today. Following breakfast, I thought I would take Samuel for a stroll around the grounds as soon as he wakes from his morning nap.”
“Do you mind if I join you?”
“That is entirely up to you.”
The lack of enthusiasm in his response told Piper all she needed to know—she wasn’t welcome, and that stung like a bumblebee. “I’ll let you and Sam have some father-and-son alone time. Besides, I have something I need to do anyway.” Namely begin painting a portrait that would serve as a gift for the prince. A parting gift.
“That is your prerogative,” he said in a noncommittal tone as he started to the door. “I’ll tell the cook to keep your breakfast warm while you dress.”
She wasn’t hungry for food, but she was definitely starved for answers. “Before you leave, I have something I need to tell you.”
Adan paused with his hand on the doorknob and turned to face her. “I’m listening.”
She drew in a deep breath and prepared for the possibility of having her heart completely torn in two. “I’m in love with you.”
He looked as if she’d slapped him. “What did you say?”
“Don’t be obtuse, Adan. I love you. I didn’t plan it. I really didn’t want it. But it happened in spite of my resistance. My question is, how do you feel about me?”
He lowered his eyes to the floor. “I cannot be the man you need, Piper.”
“That’s my decision to make, not an answer.”
His gaze snapped to hers. “You deserve someone who can give you the emotional support you require.”
Meaning he didn’t return her feelings. Or maybe he refused to admit it. Only one way to find out. “What are you afraid of, Adan?”
“I’m not afraid, Piper. As I’ve said, I’m pragmatic.”
“No, you’re not,” she said. “You’re a risk taker, but you’re scared to take a chance on us.”
“I am only considering your well-being. I do care about you, Piper. Perhaps more than I’ve cared for any woman in my past. But I’ll be damned if I break your heart because I cannot succeed at being faithful to one woman.”
The surprising revelations took Piper aback. “Did you cheat on Talia during the six years you were together?”
“No.”
“Have you cheated on any woman you’ve been with?”
“No, but—”
“Then why would you believe you would be unfaithful to me?”
“Because I could be genetically predisposed to adultery, compliments of my mother.”
She could no longer allow him to think that his mother had taken a lover who resulted in his birth, in spite of her promise to Elena. Not when their future together could depend on the truth. “Adan, your mother was—”
The sharp rap suspended Piper’s confession midsentence and caused Adan to mutter a string of Arabic words as he opened the door.
Piper expected a member of the staff. What she got was Adan’s erstwhile lover, her platinum hair slicked back in a low chignon, her lithe body tightly encased in a blue silk jumpsuit, her makeup applied to perfection and her red painted lips curled into a snarl-like smile.
“Surprise,