Asad woke the next morning to find a note, hastily written by Liyah. She was planning on spending the whole day perusing the family’s personal collection of books. He thought briefly about interrupting her and dragging her back to bed, but he remembered what had happened the last time he’d interrupted her in the library, and that was when she had still been encased in her wallflower shell.

Recalling the images of last night, he felt his gut tighten. He’d been furious when she wasn’t in his bed, but he’d only meant to play. He hadn’t meant to get that rough with her, and he certainly hadn’t expected her to react as she did.

The whole thing reeked of desperation, as if she was using him to drive something away.

Immediately, he discarded the notion. Liyah was inexperienced when it came to sex, and she’d never use it as a distraction.

His phone beeped, and he pulled it out to check it.

It was from Bashar. The investors were calling a final meeting about the condo.

This was it. Today, they would sign the papers, and he could finally begin to work on the project.

They met at a private high-class club downtown. A lunch buffet was already spread across the table as Asad took his seat and greeted each of the others. Finally, his gaze landed on Bashar, and he saw something strange in the man’s expression.

Something calculating.

“I know that we hadn’t planned this meeting, and I’m glad that you could join us,” Bashar announced. “Given your situation, we thought it might be best to finalize all the details.”

Starving, Asad filled his plate. “What situation?”

“Your impending marriage,” Bashar said with a grin. “A woman like that is not going to stick around if work keeps dragging her man away.”

So they wanted to sign the papers early so he could focus on his non-existent wedding? Asad was okay with that, even if it did make him feel a little sick to his stomach. “I appreciate that.”

A folder was passed down the table and landed next to his plate. “These are the terms we’ve agreed to. There isn’t much that we’re willing to negotiate on, so read the terms carefully before making your decision. If you agree, then we are happy to declare ourselves your partners on this condo expansion.”

Eagerly, Asad picked up the folder. He knew that Bashar wouldn’t hand him something unreasonable, so he wasn’t too worried as he skimmed the numbers. The investors were willing to put up the exact amount he’d requested, which surprised him. In fact, it looked like they were agreeing to all of his terms.

Except for one.

“The date of this contract is wrong,” he frowned. “It’s dated three weeks from now.”

“I am a family man,” Bashar said with a grin. “Most of us here are, and we’ve all agreed that you have shown tremendous maturity and wisdom in your selection of a bride. It’s clear that you love her, and we don’t want anything to stress you out. We also know that, despite all that Liyah said last night, you’d like to marry her quickly. We will sign this contract only after your wedding and honeymoon. Construction can begin immediately, and I have a feeling that in fifteen months, we’ll be toasting your success, and maybe even your heir—if things go well.”

Asad’s whole world tilted. He’d planned on breaking the engagement as soon as the ink was dry, but he couldn’t fake a wedding. Weddings were binding legal contracts. Divorce would bring embarrassment to his family, and annulments were out of the question.

“We hadn’t planned on marrying so quickly,” he said as he pushed his plate away. He suddenly didn’t feel so hungry. “I had thought that we might wait a few more months.”

The men started to grumble among themselves, and he knew what they were all thinking. Pushing the project back a couple of months invited more trouble. The contractors might not be available. Someone could pull out. Prices for materials could rise. Money could be lost. “I’m sure Liyah will not mind if we’re in the middle of building when we wed. She’s very understanding of my work.”

“No.” Bashar shook his head and stood. “You disappoint me, Asad. I thought you’d finally found someone you were willing to put before your work. Perhaps I was mistaken.”

His gut clenched. He was going to lose this contract if he didn’t do something. “I’ll talk to Liyah,” he promised. “I’m sure she’d be delighted to get married in three weeks.”

Liyah stared at him. She felt as though a brick wall had hit her. “What did you just say?” she whispered.

“I’ll double the salary. I’ll triple it,” Asad said desperately as he reached for her. “Give me one year, and then we’ll divorce. I know that it’s not ideal, but we’ve gone too far to stop now.”

“Marriage? I don’t suppose this can be a fake wedding, can it? We just pretend to marry?”

Mutely, he shook his head.

Liyah couldn’t breathe. The whole situation was turning into a nightmare. She’d been trying desperately to figure out how to block her emotions from him for the next month or so—but a whole year?

How could he ask this of her?

“This business deal is really so important to you? Tell me this isn’t just to top Rashid.”

“It’s for the family,” he said grimly. “My father has allowed his foothold in the business world to slide, and I need to reclaim it.”

How ironic that Asad was going to enter a marriage to a woman he didn’t love for the sake of family.

“I don’t know that I can do this for a year,” she whispered. She squeezed her eyes shut and thought of the money. Not only would she be able to help Sahaar, but she’d be able to take care of her mother. She could convince her mother to leave that new husband, now that she wouldn’t need his money.

“Six months,” Asad said desperately. “Six months, and we can separate. You can go back home or wherever you want to go. Would it really be so bad to stay with me for six months?”

If only he knew.

“We’d have to be married in three weeks.” Her tone was hollow.

“Two. A week for a honeymoon.”

“I guess I should call my mother and tell her the good news,” she said dully. “And Mila and Sahaar. They’re all going to think I’ve lost my mind. And you’re going to have to tell your family.”

“Take the day. Do what you must. And Liyah? Thank you.” He kissed her, but it wasn’t the kiss of a lover. They’d entered a whole new territory, and Liyah had no idea how to deal with it.

She took three days. After six phone calls and messages to her mother, she still hadn’t spoken to her. Part of her wondered if her mother had simply decided never to speak to her again, now that she had someone else who would love her—if her new husband was even capable of love.

Mila and Sahaar were speechless, and it was the first time that she’d told the truth. She told them of the whirlwind romance between herself and Asad, and how she’d fallen in love.

Mila was ecstatic, hugging and kissing her, shouting, planning a celebration party.

“Are you happy?” Sahaar asked her quietly.

Liyah felt herself retreat a little more into her shell. “Of course. Why wouldn’t I be?”

She stayed with Sahaar that night and returned to the palace the next morning.

Asad had stuck around, like a dutiful fiancé, and had prepared a large breakfast. There was no server in sight. Approaching her with a cup of Darjeeling, he held it out to her. “Amira said that it is one of your favorites,” he said quietly.

“Yes, thank you.”

“Dine with me.” Once again, she knew that it wasn’t an invitation. He escorted her to the table and pulled out her chair as she sat down. The amount of food waiting there was enough to feed a village.

"I missed you last night."

Liyah was taken aback. All traces of his usual cockiness seemed to be gone, but she could see the wheels turning in his mind.

What was he up to?

“I’ve missed Sahaar and Mila. I enjoyed catching up with them, and I . . . needed to recharge."

"Is that all?"

“I’ve just agreed to something huge, even if it’s just a six-month commitment. I needed to collect my thoughts.”

He looked as if he’d been taken a little off balance, but he recovered well enough—a sexy grin spread across his face, and he extended a platter of spiced pastries.

"Of course. And are you all charged up, now?"

Drawing a breath, she summoned a pleasant, serviceable smile.

“Yes. Quite."

"Good to hear. A jet will be waiting for us at noon. We're flying to look at the site in Abu Dhabi, and I’d like you to see it.”

“I would love to,” Liyah said cheerily, feeling artificial. She dragged out breakfast as long as she could, beyond relieved when Asad was called away. She already had a terrible feeling that when she finally left Dubai, she’d be a completely different person.

Maybe she’d be as hard and cold as Asad.

As Asad held her hand and pointed things out as they flew, Liyah’s mind roamed a million miles away. It bothered her that she hadn’t been able to get hold of her mother. She’d never been away from her this long, and she was worried. What if something had happened to her? It was doubtful that her mom’s new husband would even think to call Liyah and tell her.

Sahaar had opened her home for however long Liyah needed it, but she hadn’t expected to stay this long. Running away from the alienation and loneliness that awaited her at home, she’d thought that by now her mother would have called her and apologized.

Now she couldn’t even get her mother to answer the phone.

“And there it is!” Asad said, pride in his voice. “The new home of Sand and Smoke.”

Liyah nodded absently. She’d thought that her new stepfather was just a little too slimy, but who was she to judge? She, Liyah, was getting married for an insane amount of money just so her lover could build some silly condos. Maybe her mother was happy, and the only villain in this story was Liyah.

“Where are you?” Asad asked softly after the plane had landed.

She met his beautiful green eyes and tried to smile. Would things be different if she just told him how she felt? “Thinking of home.”

He searched her eyes for a moment, and his face hardened. He withdrew slightly. “Well, you’ll be there soon enough.”

Liyah had no idea where she would be in six months. She wasn’t entirely sure she could go home, but she knew that she wouldn’t be able to stay in the city if it meant that she might see him again.

They sat quietly through the descent, and he immediately instructed Ori to drop her off with a tour guide.

“Tour guide? I thought you were going to show me around!”

“I’ll meet you afterwards,” he said tightly. Then, without even saying goodbye, he walked away.