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for her friend to return he would lose the advantage. “So tomorrow?"
    She swallowed hard. "I still need to find a hotel to stay in for a few weeks."
    "You can stay at the..."
    "No!" she said quick and adamantly.
    “You don't even know what I was going to say." But she did. She was stubborn and determined to do everything on her own. He had no experience in dealing with an independent woman. Did he really want to take on this aggravation right now?
    Hell yes.
    "The kingdom has several apartments for visitors. You can use..."
    She shook her head.
    "You can rent one until you find an apartment."
    She paused before warily nodding her agreement. He would almost think she had no interest in him at all. Except that was the only boundary she did not set.
     
    * * * *
     
    For the second time in two weeks Mandy prepared to board a private jet. Prior to this she had only flown once. Shoving her five foot ten inch frame in a coach seat for six hours had turned her off of flying. Would life ever start to feel real again? She pulled her rolling suitcase behind her as she walked from passport control to the diplomatic boarding area.
    Hamid met her near the gate. "Where's the rest of your luggage?"
    "This is it."
    "One bag?"
    She shrugged her shoulders to relieve the tension. "When I left home I was only planning to be away for five days."
    "You can go on a spree at the mall when we arrive."
    Did he think she was independently wealthy? She agreed to travel with him now to be on the clock four weeks early. She had limited funds to hold her until her first pay check a month from now.  Her checking account was already close to empty and her saving account non-existent. Thank heavens for credit cards. She couldn't blame him. He grew up with the proverbial silver spoon. Or maybe in was 24 karat gold.
    "Mona will be picking up my stuff when they stop in Boston."
    The steward standing outside the door took her suitcase and stored it in the overhead compartment. As she walked into the cabin she still expected to see the rows of seats. The oversized leather recliners and tables in between reminded her of a salon. The black and silver interior reeked of masculinity. She shouldn't be surprise. The royal family consisted of seven sons and no daughters. She doubted she would find pastel colors anywhere in the kingdom.
    "Where should I sit?" she asked.
    "What does your ticket say?"
    She expelled a small grown of frustration. Freaking smart ass.
    "We are the only two flying tonight. Sit wherever you'd like."
    She slid into the first seat. It was wider than her bed at home. Buttery soft leather cushioned her. "How long is the flight?"
    "Ninety minutes."
    For an hour and a half she would've sat on the darn toilet. Looking on a map hadn't given her a sense of distance between the two capital cities.
    The steward hovered in doorway and motioned towards Hamid.
    "Do you want a drink?" he asked.
    "Water."
    "Nothing stronger?"
    "Diet Coke?"
    "I meant alcohol."
    "I know. No thank you."
    He waved the waiting attendant off. "You don't drink?"
    "Not anymore."
    He dropped into the seat next to her. Damn the man smelled good—spice and a hint of musk. "Is there a story in that?"
    "Rashid never told you anything?"
    "He refused to tell me anything about you."
    She grinned. "I knew I liked that man."
    He drummed his fingers on the plush arms of the seat. "Are you going to tell me?"
    She didn't want to. Reliving a painful and foolish experience was not how she planned to spend her time. As he stared, waiting for an answer, she couldn't find a way to avoid it.
    "During Homecoming, Mona, Angie and I went to a fraternity party.” Mandy was not a football patron and until that year had never participated in the festivities. She only went because … surprise, surprise, a guy. Proving once again she had no taste in men, her date, along with his frat buddies, spiked the drinks.  “The light beer was weighed down with Rohypnol."
    "Princess Mona was drinking?" He sounded