Authors: Susan Mallery
Kayleen followed Lina past a large bathroom with a tub big enough to swim in, to a short hallway that ended in a beautiful room done in shades of green and pale yellow.
The furniture was delicately carved and feminine. The bedcovering was a botanical print that suited her much better than ruffles and frills. The attached bathroom was more luxurious than any she’d ever seen.
“It’s silk,” she whispered, fingering the luxurious drapes. “What if I spill something?”
“Then the cleaners will be called,” Lina told her. “Relax. You’ll adjust. This is your home now that you’re a part of As’ad’s life.”
Something else that just plain wasn’t right, Kayleen thought. How could she be a part of a sheik’s life? Make that a sheik
prince?
“Not a happy part,” she murmured. “He didn’t want to help.”
“But he did and isn’t that what matters?”
Kayleen nodded, but her head was spinning. There was too much to think about. Too much had happened too quickly.
“Our bags! Kayleen, hurry! Our bags are here.”
Kayleen and Lina returned to the main room to watch as their suitcases were unloaded. The pile had looked so huge at the orphanage, but here it seemed small and shabby.
Lina lightly touched her arm. “Get settled. I’ll have dinner sent up. Things will look better in the morning.”
“They look fine now,” Kayleen told her, almost meaning it. “We live in a palace. What’s not to like?”
Lina laughed. “Good attitude.” She held out her arms and the sisters rushed to her for a hug. “I will see all of you in the morning. Welcome to the palace.”
With that, she was gone. As the door to their suite closed behind her, Kayleen felt a whisper of unease. A palace? How could that be home?
She glanced at the girls and saw fear and apprehension in their eyes. It was one thing for her to worry, but they shouldn’t have to. They’d already been through so much.
She glanced at her watch, then looked back at the girls. “I think we need to give the new TV a test drive. Here’s the deal. Whoever gets unpacked first, and that means putting things neatly in the armoire, not just throwing them, gets to pick the movie. Start in five, four, three, two, one. Go!”
All three sisters shrieked and raced for their bedroom.
“I can go fastest,” Pepper yelled as she crouched down in front of her suitcase and opened it.
“No way,” Dana told her. “I’m going to win because you’ll pick a stupid cartoon. I’m too old for that.”
Kayleen smiled at the familiar argument, then her smile faded. Dana was all of eleven and in such a hurry to grow up. Kayleen suspected the reason had a whole lot to do with being able to take care of her sisters.
“That’s going to change,” she whispered, then returned to her room to unpack her own suitcases. Lina had promised that Prince As’ad could be trusted. He’d given his word that he would raise the girls as his own. That meant they were safe. But, after all they’d been through, how long would it take them to feel that way?
The evening passed quickly. Dinner was sent up on an elegant rolling table and contained plenty of comfort foods for lost, lonely children. Kayleen piled everyone on the largest sofa and they watched
The Princess Diaries,
then compared the differences in the movie castle and the real-live palace they’d moved into. By nine all three of them were asleep and Kayleen found herself alone as she wandered the length of the beautiful suite.
She paused by the French doors leading onto the balcony, then stepped out into the warm night.
Lights from the shoreline allowed her to see the movement of the waves as they rolled onto the beach. The inky darkness of the water stretched to the horizon. The air was warm and salty, the night unexpectedly still.
She leaned against the railing and stared into the sky. What was she doing here? This wasn’t her world. She could never in a million years have imagined—
The sound of a door opening caused her to turn. She saw a shadow move and take the shape of a man. Fear gripped her then, as quickly as it had come, faded. But she
should
be afraid, she told herself. He could be anyone.
But he wasn’t, she realized as he stepped into the light. He was Prince As’ad.
He was as tall and broad as she remembered. Handsome, in a distant sort of way. The kind of man who intimidated without trying. She wondered if she should slip back into her own rooms before he saw her. Perhaps she wasn’t supposed to be out here. Then his dark gaze found her.
“Good evening,” he said. “You and the girls are settled?”
She nodded. “Thank you. The rooms are great. Your aunt thought of everything to make us feel at home.” She looked up at the imposing structure of the palace. “Sort of.”
He moved toward her. “It’s just a really big house, Kayleen. Do not let the size or history intimidate you.”
“As long as none of the statuary comes alive in the night and tries to chase us out.”
“I assure you, our statuary is most well-behaved.”
She smiled. “Thanks for the reassurance. No offense, but I doubt I’ll sleep well for the next couple of nights.”
“I hope that changes quickly.” He shrugged out of his suit jacket. “If you find my aunt forgot something, let someone on the staff know.”
“Sure.” Because every palace had a staff. And a king. And princes. “What do we call you? The girls and I. Your Highness? Prince As’ad?”
“You may all use my first name.”
“Really? And they won’t chop off my head for that?”
One corner of his mouth twitched. “Not for many years now.” He loosened his tie, then pulled it free.
Kayleen watched for a second, then looked away. He wasn’t undressing, she told herself. The man had the right to get comfortable after a long day of...of...being a prince. This was his balcony. She was the one who didn’t belong.
“You are uneasy,” he said.
She blinked. “How did you figure that out?”
“You are not difficult to read.”
Great. She had the sudden thought she wanted to be mysterious and interesting. Mostly interesting. Like
that
was going to happen.
“A lot has changed in a short period of time,” she told him. “This morning I woke up in my usual bed in the orphanage. Tonight I’m here.”
“And before you lived in El Deharia? Where did you sleep?”
She smiled. “In the Midwest. It’s very different. No ocean. No sand. It’s a lot colder. It’s already November. Back home the leaves would be gone and we’d be bracing for the first snowfall. Here, it’s lovely.”
“One of the great pleasures of the most perfect place on earth.”
“You think El Deharia is perfect?”
“Don’t you think the same of your birthplace?”
Not really, she thought. But they came from very different circumstances. “I guess,” she murmured, then felt awkward. “I was a teacher there, too,” she added, to change the subject. “I’ve always loved children.”
“Which makes your employment more enjoyable,” he said. “I would imagine a teacher who dislikes children would have a difficult time.”
Was he being funny? She thought he might be, but wasn’t sure. Did princes have a sense of humor? She’d assumed being royal meant being serious all the time.
“Yes, that was a joke,” he said, proving she was as readable as he said. “You are allowed to laugh in my presence. Although I would suggest you are sure I’m being humorous. To laugh at the wrong time is a grave mistake most people only make once.”
“And we’re back to the head-chopping. You’re not like anyone I’ve ever met.”
“Not many princes in the Midwest?”
“No. Not even rock stars, which in my country are practically the same thing.”
“I have never been fond of leather pants on a man.”
That did make her laugh. “You could be considered fashion forward.”
“Or foolish.”
“You wouldn’t like that,” she said without thinking, then covered her mouth. Oops.
Something flickered in his gaze. He folded his arms. “Perhaps a safer topic would be the three sisters you insisted I adopt.”
“What about them?” Had he changed his mind? She would hold him to his promise, no matter how nervous he made her.
“They will have to change schools. The orphanage is too far away. The American School is closer.”
“Oh. You’re right.” She hadn’t thought that part through. “I’ll get them registered in the morning.” She hesitated. “What do I tell the administrator?”
“The truth. They are my adopted daughters and are to be treated as such.”
“Bowing and scraping?”
He studied her. “You’re an interesting combination of rabbit and desert cat. Fearful and fearless.”
She liked the sound of that. “I’m working to be all fearless. I still have a ways to go.”
He reached out and before she realized what he intended, he touched a strand of her hair. “There is fire in your blood.”
“Because I’m a redhead? I think that’s just an old wives’ tale.” She’d always wanted to be a cool blonde, or a sexy brunette. Well, maybe not sexy. That wasn’t her style.
“I know many old wives who are wise,” he murmured, then released her. “You will be responsible for the girls when they are not in school.”
She nodded, wishing they were still talking about her being brave and that he was still touching her hair. Which was strange. Prince As’ad was nothing more to her than her employer. A very handsome,
powerful
employer who could trace his lineage back a few thousand years. She didn’t even know who her father was.
“What are you thinking?” he asked.
She told him the truth.
“And your mother?”
Kayleen regretted the change in topic. “I, um, don’t really remember her. She left me with my grandmother when I was a baby. She took care of me for a few years, then left me at an orphanage.” She gave a little shrug as if the rejection hadn’t mattered. “She was older and I was a handful.”
In the darkness it was difficult to read As’ad’s expression. She reminded herself there was no reason to be ashamed of her past—she hadn’t been able to control it. Yet she felt as if she were being judged and found wanting.
“Is that the reason you defended the girls so fiercely?” he asked. “Your own past?”
“Maybe.”
He nodded slowly. “They live here now. As do you. You are all to consider the palace your home.”
If only. “Easier said than done,” she murmured.
“It will be an adjustment. Although it would be best if they did not roller-skate down the hallways.”
“I’ll make sure of that.”
“Good. You will want to learn about the palace. There is much interesting history here. Perhaps you and the girls should take one of the daily tours.”
She stared at him. “Tours? People come here and take tours?”
“Only of the public rooms. The private quarters are off-limits. There are security people on duty. You are safe here.”
She wasn’t worried about being safe. It was the idea of living somewhere grand enough to have tours that made her mouth go dry.
“What does your family think of this?” she asked. “Will anyone be angry?”
He seemed to grow taller. “I am Prince As’ad of El Deharia. No one questions my actions.”
“Not even the king?” she asked.
“My father will be pleased to see me settling down. He is anxious for his sons to start a family.”
Kayleen had a feeling adopting three American sisters wasn’t exactly what King Mukhtar had in mind.
“You said you have brothers,” she said.
“I am one of six,” he said. “They are in and out of the palace. Kateb lives in the desert, but the others keep rooms here.”
Six princes, one princess, one king and her. What was wrong with this picture?
“You will be fine,” he said.
“Would you stop knowing what I’m thinking? It’s not fair.”
He shrugged. “I am gifted. It can’t be helped.”
“Apparently not.” He also seemed to have no problems with his ego. What would it be like to grow up so confident, so sure about everything, including his place in the world?
“Kayleen, you are here because of me,” he said, his voice low and mesmerizing. “My name is all the protection you require. It can be used as a shield or a weapon, however you prefer.”
“I can’t imagine using it as either,” she admitted.
“It is there for you. Know that. Know no harm can befall you while you are under my care.” He looked at her. “Good night.”
Then he turned and was gone.
Kayleen stared after him, feeling as if she’d just had a close encounter with a character from a book or a movie. Who said things like “My name is all the protection you require”? Yet, he was telling the truth. She believed that down to her bones.
No one had ever taken care of her before. No one had ever protected her.
Oh, sure, the nuns had always made sure their charges were safe, but that was different. This was specific.
She hugged her arms across her chest, as if feeling the comforting weight of his protection. As if feeling the strength of the man himself.
It felt good.
* * *