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“Not a lot! Just the buttons on the back”

They paused for a moment before Mehdi nodded and she turned her back to hiers brushed lower and lower down her back, pulling each button froht at the base She took a bracing breath, trying to calm herself as she turned back to him with a sheepish smile

“Thank you,” she said

Mehdi’s expression was unreadable, but in that e to kiss her, too After a pause, he stepped back toward the hallway

“No proble in the aret you in a bit I iine you haven’t eaten yet?”

“I have not,” Steph agreed, stepping inside her room

“Good I’ll have so to her before turning and walking briskly in the opposite direction

Steph watched hiain, and she couldn’t believe her life

She was in a palace, with the Sheikh!

EIGHT

Steph

The roos and tasteful furniture The do over her like a sand-colored rainbow, curling over a large, coled where Mehdi had touched her Knowing now that he had servants, she wondered why he hadn’t sent aon the task of undressing her hiet any , for heaven’s sake There was no way she could entertain a relationship with hie himself!

Allowing her dress to fall to the floor, Steph padded across the rooe ar a look inside The clothing was splendid There were h until she found a pale yellow dress and a white cardigan—simple, just as she liked it She slid into the dress before turning toward the mirror