“What was that about?” I asked Luke. As quickly as his adoptive brother entered the room, Abir left again.

Luke walked over to the table and lightly kissed the top of my head. I leaned against him. “Abir wants us to meet his girlfriend.”

Sophia’s eyes widened. “Alda?”

“Apparently, she’s a frequent visitor to the palace.”

“It must be serious then,” I said.

“I’ll be the judge of that,” Luke said.

I touched his hand. “Down, boy.”

He smirked. “I just want to get to know her better. I haven’t been a very good big brother.”

“You’ve done just fine.”

Something flashed in Luke’s eyes. Before I could identify it, the look was gone.

Even though Luke had told me that everything went okay in the meeting with the council, I had a strange sensation that he wasn’t telling me everything. Luke only hid things from me when they directly affected our relationship. I thought we were over doing that, but Luke was a kind and intelligent man, and if he needed to work through something, he would do it before coming to me.

While our relationship was strong, I knew it had to be that way when coming back to Qatar. Gia Shamon disapproved of our relationship as a whole, and she didn’t hide it from either of us. I hoped she didn’t go to the council and demand that Luke break it off with me. Both of us had done that before, and with Luke’s return into my life, it was going to be harder to do that. Especially after he made it official by proposing.

I twirled the gorgeous ring around my finger and held my tongue instead of asking about whatever was on Luke’s mind. He’d tell me eventually, and then we’d work it out together.

At least, I hoped it was something we could work out. I had a feeling that Gia wasn’t going to give up that easily, at least until we shared our vows, and maybe even after that. I shuddered to think that it would take that long. As much as Luke claimed that he would deal with his mother or else remove her from our lives, I didn’t want to be the cause of breaking up a mother and son. Maybe it was time to take it into my own hands. I just had to figure out the best way.

Abir reappeared in the doorway. He only had eyes for his brother, and I knew this was a big deal for him. Other than the noticeable difference in looks—Abir was darker skinned and resembled the late Erol Shamon—and different biological parents, no one would be able to refute that these two were loving brothers. Abir looked up to Luke, and this was a big step in Abir’s life. He liked this girl and wanted Luke to approve of her.

I was sure Luke was oblivious to Abir’s admiration, and his calm indifference only made Abir squirm more. I wanted to point it out to Luke, but now wasn’t the time.

A young girl stepped out from behind Abir. Her gaze lowered to the floor as Abir took her hand and brought her forward, presenting her to Luke and me.

I stood from the table and walked over to Luke, jabbing him in the arm.

He looked at me, and I widened my eyes in a look that said, “Down, boy.”

The corner of his lips quirked, and I knew he was only playing a role. Along with being a big brother, he was also the king. Having a reputation to protect, his goal was to appear as regal as possible. Straightening my spine, I tested the theory on myself. Eventually, I would be a queen, and getting some practice in before that time came would only benefit me. Too bad Luke’s mother wasn’t as keen to help me as I would have liked. I supposed I would have to do some on-the-job training for the role.

Abir took Alda’s arm and led her to Luke. Her big brown eyes lifted to Luke’s at the same time as her shoulders. She looked positively terrified, and my heart reached out to her. She played with the ends of her thick hair that hung all the way down to her waist.

“Alda, this is my brother Luke.”

“Your Majesty,” Alda said with a small bow of her head.

Luke reached out a hand to her, and she glanced at Abir before taking it. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Alda. Abir has told me so much about you.”

Her eyebrows shot up. “He has?”

Clearing my throat, Luke pulled his eyes away from Alda. “Yes, this is Sophia, my fiancée.”

“I’ve been looking forward to meeting you,” I said.

Alda chewed on her lip. For a moment, I thought Gia had gotten to the girl before I could meet her. But she shuffled toward me before her mouth split into a wide grin. “I’ve never met an American before.”

Luke coughed out a laugh, and I offered my hand to her. “Come, sit. I want to hear everything about how you and Abir met, Alda.”

Two servants rushed onto the balcony with place settings and extra chairs for Abir and Alda. The servants poured two more cups of tea, and we were back in our seats within a minute or so.

Abir scooted his chair closer to Alda, and Luke gave me a weighted look. Abir watched Alda almost as if he were waiting for her to move before he did anything.

I couldn’t help smiling at the two of them. They were so damn adorable.

“Tell me about yourself, Alda,” I said, starting the conversation. I already had Abir on my side, but there was no harm in getting a good recommendation from Alda to convince Gia that I wasn’t the devil, wanting to steal her son away to America, never to be seen again.

While Alda spoke of her background, Abir didn’t take his eyes off her. As a daughter of a big wig in business in Qatar, it seemed she was the perfect fit for a prince when it came to social status. I had no idea how it would affect anything with the kingdom, but I was sure that Luke would fill me in if I asked. Since leaving my lifelong job as a reporter, I still had the same curiosity that helped me get insight into many of my stories, even though most of them were puff pieces for the Dallas Post.

A sour taste filled my mouth, thinking of them. While I tried to stay engaged with Alda, I couldn’t help but blame my former employer for exposing Luke and me getting engaged before he could tell his mother. It was icing on the layered cake of disdain that Gia held for me.

It didn’t take long for Luke to warm up to Alda. Her charm won him over quickly. She was sweet and so in love with Abir.

“We won’t waste too much more of your time,” Abir said, standing up. He helped Alda from her chair. “We have plans for dinner tonight, so don’t wait up!”

We said our goodbyes, and the two of them left without a second look. Abir took Alda’s hand as they walked down the hallway together.

“Oh my god,” I said. “How cute are they?”

Luke turned from the hallway to face me. “He’s head over heels for her.”

“I’d say it’s mutual,” I said. “When I was sixteen, I never felt that way for someone.”

“Never?” Luke asked.

“Unless they were on the movie screen and out of my league, sure. Those were crushes. Whatever Abir and Alda have is for life.”

“Like you and me?” Luke asked.

He puckered his lips, and I met him halfway, melting into his kiss. “Like you and me.”

Even though we were years ahead of Luke’s brother, finding what he and Alda had was the dream. I couldn’t wait to spend the rest of my life with him.

Luke stared into his mug as if he were trying to conjure something from it.

“You know you can talk to me about anything, right?” I asked him.

He shook his head and blinked as if coming out of his own mind. “What?”

“You seem distant today,” I said.

He sighed and drank the rest of his tea in one gulp. “Probably jet lag.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes,” he said firmly, without looking at me.

I knew when to drop it, but if this went on for much longer, I would have to push. I hadn’t been there for him during his first month as king. If he was stressed about his duties, this was my time to be there for him. That was why he traveled across the globe to get to me. We were partners, and I wouldn’t give up on him ever again.

“Maybe we should rest for a little while before dinner,” I suggested.

Luke nodded his head. “That sounds like a good plan to me.”

---

Since I had slept for a majority of the flight to Qatar, I wasn’t tired at all. In a way, I tested Luke by offering to go to bed. If he wasn’t tired, then he would have to explain what was on his mind. It was something I did as a reporter, allowing the subject to lead the interview until I backed them into a corner, and then the tougher questions started.

But Luke, true to his word, passed out within minutes of laying down. He didn’t sleep at all on the plane, but lack of rest wasn’t the only reason he acted so strangely after the meeting with the council.

Staring at the ceiling, my mind wandered. As the queen, would I not be privy to the information that went on during those meetings? Would there always be a divide when it came to Luke’s work and our relationship?

I wasn’t on good enough terms with Gia to ask her, even though it would have been nice if she offered any help when it came to the transition. I bet she would help any other woman in my position.

It was so unfair.

I hoped that Luke and I would be as different as we already were. Him marrying a woman outside of his culture was a big enough change. Taking it a step further and ruling as a family would keep the new traditions going. Would Luke be up for that? So far, he wanted honesty. I could demand that he be honest with me when it came to what would happen after the wedding.

The wedding. In all the traveling and dealing with family drama, I hadn’t even thought of the wedding. The minutes sped by as visions of big white gowns and sparkling crystals filled my mind.

By the time Luke stirred, it was already dinner time.

“Hey,” he said, rolling over. His hair was smashed on one side, and his heavy-lidded eyes sparked something inside of me. I loved seeing him ruffled like that. It made him seem a little more normal and down to earth.

“What’s on the agenda tonight?” I asked. “Dinner with your mother?”

Luke smacked a palm on his face. “That’s going to be pleasant.”

I kissed his cheek. “We’re in this together.”

He took my hand in his and then kissed the top of it. “I’m going to shower. Care to come along?”

“Of course,” I said and then bounced out of bed. “Last one there is a rotten egg!”

---

After our quick, yet erotic shower together, my shoulders were much more relaxed than before, although they started to tense up the closer we got to the dining room.

This would be my first real meeting with Gia since returning to the palace. When we’d arrived, Gia only wanted to speak with Luke about how upset she was that we were engaged. Now, I would have an entire meal with her to feel the hatred in her eyes while attempting to swallow the normally delicious food that the palace served. I already felt my throat closing up as two of the doormen opened the doors to the main dining area.

Inside the room was a long table that could easily seat twenty people. There were only three place settings at the far end of the table. I assumed Luke would take the head of the table, while Gia would sit across from me.

Maybe after staring at me for a while, she wouldn’t think I was so bad.

Though I doubted it.

“I don’t think she’s coming,” Luke said, holding my chair out for me.

I placed my napkin on my lap as he scooted me in. “How do you know that?”

Luke shook his head once. “Just call it a hunch.”

It turned out Luke was right. Gia never showed up. The tension in my shoulders remained high as each minute ticked by. Neither of us spoke about her until the very end of the meal.

“I think we should go back to England tomorrow to check on the company and Maddox,” Luke said. “It will give Mother some time to calm down. It was a mistake to come here so soon after the article released.”

I doubted she would ever learn to accept me, but I wasn’t going to argue with him. If he needed time to breathe away from her and wanted to take me along, that worked for me.

Luke sat back in his chair and closed his eyes.

Shoving out of my chair, I went over to him. Standing behind him, I dropped my hands to his shoulders and started to massage them.

He moaned, and his head fell back. I scratched his head, and a slow smile spread across his lips.

He was under a lot of stress. I could see it in his face and feel it in his muscles. Even though we’d just arrived at the palace, going to England to visit his best friend and check in on the business that he ran for many years might help clear his head.

It was all I could hope for so that when we did return to Qatar, maybe Gia would understand that I wasn’t going anywhere.