The Desert Prince / The Playboy's Proposition: The Desert Prince / The Playboy's Proposition. Jennifer Lewis

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      Elan chuckled. “You’re probably right. I didn’t want anyone to find me, until you came along.”

      Salim smiled. His brother was obviously very happy, despite his unconventional marriage. He hoped he’d soon feel as settled and content himself.

      “How come Celia isn’t with us?” Sara’s question deflated his momentary joy.

      Guilt pricked him.

      Sleeping with Celia last night was wrong on so many levels.

      “She’s here already. At least that’s what my assistant told me. She came to supervise a delivery of plants. I’m sure we’ll run into her.” Would he even be able to look her in the eye in front of his family?

      He’d taken advantage of her, knowing full well that their relationship—as always—had no future.

      Sometimes he cursed the fact that he was the eldest son. That the burden of tradition and the future of the Al Mansur family rested with him.

      But it did. Simple as that.

      He pulled up inside the open gates and helped everyone out.

      “It’s loud.” Little Ben covered his ears with his hands. Salim didn’t usually notice such things, but there were quite a few pieces of machinery in motion.

      “That’s the sound of progress,” Salim said as he bent down to pick him up. “You can’t make things beautiful without some noise. Haven’t you been to your dad’s work sites?”

      “No!” Sara laughed. “He’s too young. And so far he’s looking more like an artist than an oilman.”

      “You like to draw?” Salim peered into Ben’s bright eyes.

      The child nodded. “And paint. And I like to make up stories, but I don’t know how to write them down yet.”

      “He’s a genius,” proclaimed Elan proudly.

      Salim nodded. “He’ll be the next Leonardo da Vinci.” He stroked the boy’s soft cheek. “You’ll put the Al Mansur name on the map, won’t you?”

      “I think you’re doing a pretty good job of that yourself,” said Elan.

      Salim snorted. “A few hotels, nothing more. I hope to make this area a popular tourist destination. It’s good for our economy and provides work for the people.”

      “It’s a lot more than that,” Sara gushed as she walked forward, wide-eyed. “This is incredible. It’s a whole city out in the middle of the desert.”

      Warmth surged inside him. “I can’t take all the credit. The city was always here—we just found it and dusted it off again.”

      “It’s breathtaking. Look at the artistry.” A ribbon of painted frieze ran along the wall of a building next to them, and turned the corner onto another crisp, cobbled street.

      “My architect hired talented craftsmen. It’s been a joy to bring so much talent together in one place.”

      “Speaking of which, there’s Celia. Goodness, look at those beautiful trees. What kind of bush is that?”

      “I have no idea. Celia knows far more about Omani plants than I do at this point.” Her knowledge and expertise floored him. And the pleasure she took in her work made it a joy to behold.

      Salim’s heart ached with trepidation as they approached. What a night they’d spent together. A taste of heaven in the one pair of arms he could never resist.

      He cursed his own weakness.

      His torment was worsened by the sight of those faded jeans she wore. They hugged her long, strong legs and cupped her firm backside. She was reaching up to prune a branch as they approached, and her pale yellow T-shirt lifted to reveal a sliver of slim waist.

      Arousal flashed through him, heating his blood and bruising his ego.

      Had he no self-control around this woman?

      “Hello, Celia.” He managed the gruff greeting with a poker face. “Hard at work, as usual.”

      He didn’t want the others to know about their tryst last night. Elan might tease him mercilessly, or worse, try to make more of it than it was.

      She turned. Her face glowed with exertion, and he could swear her cheeks grew pinker at the sight of him. “What are you doing here?”

      Her blue eyes glowed with excitement that only fanned his desire.

      “What kind of question is that?” He tried to act casual. “It’s my newest resort, not to mention the home of my ancestors.” He attempted a smile. “This is where I should be.”

      He tried to keep his eyes on her face, to ignore the way her thin cotton T-shirt draped over her chest.

      She pushed a strand of damp hair off her face, and dusted off her jeans as the others approached, apparently self-conscious. “What do you think of the lost city?”

      “I’m thinking it’s very happy to have been found again,” Sara said with a grin. She held little Hannah in her arms, and the baby reached out for a dangling branch. “It’s so beautiful. And rather mystical, too. If I rub on that pot over there, will a genie pop out?” She gestured to a tall reproduction oil jar beside a nearby doorway.

      “No, but I’m hoping the vine I planted in it yesterday will pop out soon if it gets watered often enough.”

      “It’s hot, Mommy,” whined Ben. “Can we go inside?”

      “Won’t help, I’m afraid,” said Celia. “They’re not turning on the air-conditioning until next week.”

      “Ben, you must learn to enjoy the heat.” Salim set him down and ruffled his hair. “We Omanis don’t need artificially cooled air to live our lives.” He’d make sure his own son didn’t grow up too dependent on modern conveniences. There was a lot to be said for living according to tradition. He’d worn a long, white dishdasha today, perhaps to remind himself of his place in the world.

      He averted his eyes as Celia leaned forward to offer Ben a cool Thermos, revealing a flash of cleavage. If she had on traditional Omani attire, such mutually embarrassing moments would be avoided.

      Then again, she was wearing traditional Omani attire last night, and look what happened.

      Apparently there was no helping him.

      “I love the heat,” Sara exclaimed. “It took me a while to get used to it when I moved to Nevada to work for Elan, but now I can’t imagine living somewhere that never gets hot.”

      “Maybe I’ll convince the two of you to move back to Oman.” Salim let slip the words that had danced in his mind ever since they arrived.

      “That would take a lot of convincing. I’m not sure my employees would be too thrilled.” Elan chuckled. “But I can see Celia’s taken to the place already. I heard her speaking flawless СКАЧАТЬ