When the plane touched down in Al Rayyan, the rest of the crew had already woken up and grabbed breakfast from the front of the cabin. Kaye wondered if she dared ask Merle what kind of connections he had that he could last-minute book a commercial airline just for this trip, but decided against it.

There was really no good reason in the world to talk to Merle.

Gazing out the window, Kaye saw right away that Al Rayyan was a beautiful, exotic land. Surrounded by desert, there appeared to be two major cities, the buildings beautifully designed and cutting-edge. One of them made a full loop around, turning two towers into one.

“It’s beautiful,” Kaye breathed.

Amir gazed out the window, his expression wistful.

“It most certainly is.”

“Why did you leave?” she asked.

He was about to answer when Jesse walked up the aisle, stretching his legs.

“Ah, ah. Don’t have your best conversations before we can film them! Otherwise, we won’t get a genuine reaction when you do.”

“I’m an actress. I think I can mimic genuine.”

“Of course you can. But we want everything to be as real as possible. That’s not easy to do in a semi-scripted show like this one.”

“Semi-scripted,” Kaye mumbled.

The plane came to a stop, and Merle opened the cabin door, lowering the staircase.

“How does he know how to do that?” Kaye asked Amir as Jesse walked off.

“I heard he started out as a flight attendant. Got into film after that and never looked back.”

“This has been one of the strangest trips of my life. Next time, can we fly commercial for real? I feel like we just took a black-market airline.”

Amir’s lip twitched, but he simply nodded as he stood and removed their baggage, still carrying it for her. Neither of them brought up the cuddle session they’d had on the plane ride over, though Kaye assumed that was for the best. She had no intention of letting her guard drop again. She was a professional actress. She had to start acting like it!

When she stepped out of the plane, a blast of hot desert air whipped at her face, her hair flying in a myriad of directions.

“Whoa,” she said, holding tight to the railing.

“Yeah, we get a bit of wind around here,” Amir said, turning back to check on her once their bags were safely placed on the ground.

Looking around them, she saw that they had landed in another private airport, a set of nearly identical black cars waiting for them on the tarmac.

“Merle certainly knows what he’s doing,” Kaye observed.

“Every once in a while,” Amir agreed.

Kaye found herself removing Amir’s jacket as they walked to one of the town cars, and she handed it back to him as he opened a door for her to slide in.

“Thanks for this,” she said.

He nodded, accepting the jacket. His fingers slid along hers for a fraction of a second, but that touch alone was enough to set her heart racing.

What was wrong with her?!

“Any time,” he replied, waiting for her to get into the car.

She did, gazing once more out the window. When he sat next to her, she kept her eyes on the horizon.

“Where are we staying while we’re here?” she asked.

“With my parents, I would assume. I asked them a while ago, and they seemed okay with the idea.”

Jesse ran up and knocked on their window. Amir rolled it down so they could speak.

“Okay, I’ve been in touch with your parents. We want to get a good shot of you both arriving and meeting them for the first time, so I’m going to place some cameras in here first. Let’s have some good dialogue about how nerve-wracking this meeting is going to be, yadda yadda yadda. You know the drill.”

Jesse opened the door, making them get out so that cameras could be strategically placed around them before they could get back inside. Turning them on, the crew confirmed they had decent angles before the procession was allowed to leave the tarmac. As the car pulled away, the lights went from red to green, and they were live.

“What if they hate me?” Kaye asked, her eyes filled with worry.

Amir reached over and grabbed her hand.

“They’re going to love you. Just don’t do any of the annoying American things you do, and we’ll be good to go.”

“Annoying American things? Like what?”

“Kaye, we’ve talked about this. Just remember to give a respectful bow to my mother and shake hands with my father, then recite the Al Rayyan national anthem as we greet one another.”

Kaye blanched.

“The national anthem? You never taught it to me!”

“I emailed it to you last week. You never looked at it?”

“What?!”

Kaye pulled out her phone and looked through her emails, knowing that the one he was talking about wouldn’t be in there.

“It’s not here, Amir. I’m going to look like a fool in front of your parents, and that’s a best-case scenario! At worst, I’m going to offend them, and they’ll never approve of this marriage! How could you let this happen?”

They carried on like that the rest of the way, Kaye creating little conflicts and minefields for Amir to get out of in a stilted, masculine way. At one point, she stared angrily out the window, then her eyes widened.

Before them, a sprawling palace stood encased by clay walls. The towers glittered in the sun, their golden tops shining with nearly blinding light. Beneath the shimmering domes, the palace was painted a very light blue color.

“Is that…” Kaye stuttered, unable to finish her sentence.

Amir looked in the direction of the palace, and grinned.

“Home sweet home,” he finished.

Kaye stared in stunned silence, which she hoped translated into abject despair and nervousness on camera. In reality, she was amazed by the palace’s beauty, and wanted to know more.

“Why is it painted that blue color?” she asked.

Amir looked down at her, impressed.

“No one ever thinks to ask that question.”

“Why? Does it have meaning?”

“Of course. Every inch of that palace has meaning. The blue is meant to symbolize hope for everlasting peace. It is a soothing color that is meant to inspire calm.”

“It’s not working,” Kaye mumbled, still in character.

“Don’t worry about the anthem thing. We’ll just tell them you didn’t know.”

“You mean, didn’t take the time to study and respect their culture that I’m marrying into,” she grumbled.

“Would you just relax? You’re going to be fine.”

“You relax,” Kaye retorted, crossing her arms.

Tossing his hands in the air in resignation, Amir stared ahead as the car pulled up into the circular drive in front of the palace. As they pulled up, the front doors opened, and a pair in shimmering golden robes stepped out from the portal, standing on the top step.

Kaye began to wring her hands with false nervousness, and Amir placed a gentle grip on hers.

“You’re going to be fine. I love you. That will be all that matters; I’m sure.”

There was a note of uncertainty in his own voice that was masterful, and Kaye glanced up at him with doubt clouding her eyes. The driver exited, and Kaye stalled as long as she could before the door was opened and she was forced to get out after Amir.

The camera crew had already jumped out and began filming as Kaye and Amir made their way up the white steps that led to his parents, who were staring down at them with haughty expressions. Amir wrapped Kaye’s hand around his forearm. As they took each step, Kaye worked on looking as though she was about to throw up.

A little part of her actually felt the same way.

When they reached Amir’s parents, she saw right away that he was the spitting image of his father, who was a tall, salt-and-pepper-haired version of the man before her.

“Wow, it’s nice to know that Amir will age well,” Kaye said.

She hoped so hard, in that moment, that Amir’s parents were in on the characters they were portraying. Amir’s mother’s eyes widened in shock.

“Are you coming on to my husband? Those are the first words you would speak to the Sheikh and Sheikha of Al Rayyan?”

Kaye cringed, holding Amir’s arm a little tighter.

“I’m sorry, Your Highness,” she said, bowing like Amir had told her to do.

She reached out a hand for his father to shake, but the man simply stared at her open palm, not moving.

“I only shake hands with those who can prove their worth. Tell me, do you know our song?”

Kaye glanced up nervously at Amir.

“You…you mean the anthem?” she stuttered.

“Of course I mean the anthem. Have you taught this woman nothing of our culture, Amir?”

Amir looked down, shamefaced.

It was going terribly, which Kaye hoped would make for some great television.

“I didn’t have time, Father. You must forgive me. It is not Kaye’s fault.”

His father grunted, and the four of them continued to stand awkwardly at the top of the steps. Kaye could just imagine the editing, as a stare-down that lasted for what seemed like forever went on.

“I suppose you’ll want to stay with us while you’re here,” his mother said, her tone stilted.

“Yes, I would. And my fiancée will be staying with me.”

His tone brooked no argument.

“Disrespectful and nontraditional. This is why we never wanted you to leave for America in the first place!”

“I’m happy, Mother! Let me live my own life!”

“Your life is here with us!” she cried back, and her husband had to hold her back as she lurched forward.

After a few calming breaths, she closed her eyes for several moments before opening them again.

“Fine. You may stay because you are my son and I love you. She has yet to prove her worth. I suggest you help her find out how to do that.”

His mother glared down at Kaye while Kaye’s eyes filled with unshed tears.

“Cut!”

Jesse ran up the stairs two at a time, reaching the top with a big grin.

“That was flawless, Your Highness! You should have been an actress!”

The Sheikha’s smile was warm as she accepted Jesse’s proffered hand.

“Do you really think so?”

“Absolutely. Thanks for being such great sports about all this. Is it all right if we settle in a bit and start filming again tomorrow? We’ve had quite the journey.”

“Of course, you must rest. Come inside, all of you, and enjoy a glass of passion fruit iced tea.”

The crew all cheered, thanking the royal couple as they passed through the rounded arches and into the palace, where they were guided to a guest wing. As they passed, the Sheikha turned back to Kaye and smiled warmly at her.

“Now, allow us to introduce ourselves properly. I am Amalia, Sheikha of Al Rayyan, and this is my husband, Jamir. We are so delighted to have you here with us!”

Kaye laughed in surprise as she accepted the Sheikha’s gentle embrace. When she stepped back, her eyes were wide.

“Jesse was right; you should have been an actress! You had me shaking in my boots.”

Amalia waved a hand, dismissing the thought.

“That was nothing. I could scare Amir within an inch of his life when he was a child. I know how to fake firmness at the drop of a hat.”

“And she is never afraid to use that talent, let me tell you,” Jamir said, gazing down lovingly at his wife. “But what are we doing here on the steps, still? Come in, come in! Let’s give you the grand tour.”

Kaye looked up at Amir, who was grinning down at her as they made their way into the palace.

Every moment held a new surprise, and she couldn’t wait to see what was next.