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A htly tapped her shoulder, and she turned to see that he had a glass of cha it to her new husband and taking a sip as the still blazing sun over the bright blue water drew her gaze once more

They were mostly quiet on the trip out to the island; the helicopter was too loud to allow for much conversation, and Zelda found she was far more tired than she had even suspected she would be after the long day

Sipping her chaht about her parents’ probable reaction to the i Would they hear about it in the news before she had the chance to tell them about it in person? Or was Murindhi too small a country for it to merit more than maybe an inch in the newspaper, a minute on TV? Within the country, Zelda knew, it was the society event of the year, and sohts

The pilot touched down yards away from a mansion that was every bit as palatial as Zayed’s, and Zelda shook her head at going from one lap of luxury to another Apparently the Sheikh’s friend had lent his staff to the occasion of his friend’s honeymoon as well; Zelda saw them file out of the main house as she and Zayed cliht before—enough clothing to last her a week, along with her own things Zayed had insisted that she could keep anything she wanted when she went back to the US—the clothing and accessories had all been bought with her in o to waste if she didn’t use or keep them—but he had so liberally furnished her closet that Zelda had known it would be impossible for her to take all of it with her, even with first-class luggage allowances

Two e from the helicopter, and Zayed introduced her to the staff working at the islandmore at ease than he had in all the time Zelda had known him, but with a ripple of tension in his demeanor all the same

The housekeeper, Nudara, offered to show the at Zelda to confirave his assent His friend’s ho as Zayed’s palace on the mainland, but more modern; there was less artwork on the walls and fewer pictures, more s, and the floors were hardwood instead of marble

The servants, Nudara told thes away in the master bedroom Zelda almost interrupted to ask that she have a rooainst it; it would just prompt questions, and while she trusted Zayed’s household staff, his friends were unknown to her If I need to, I’ll find another room later, she promised herself

The question that had stuck out in her mind when they’d boarded the helicopter rerounds, taking in the huge swi pool, the access to the little, white-sanded beach, Zayed’s friend’s “ dozens of birds, a few monkeys, and other curiosities Why was Zayed still with her? Why wasn’t he in the city, putting the final touches to the business deal he’d gotten married in order to secure? It made no sense at all

Zelda went back to their shared bedroom when they’d finished the tour with Nudara, and decided that she wanted to go swiht in the sky; the pool faced the west, so Zayed suggested ne and snacks Zelda felt hesitant at the idea, but reminded herself that she was on her honeymoon with him—that he was her husband, and they would need to act as husband and wife for a little while longer, at least in front of others

She closed herself into the bathrooht for her the week before, and stepped out into the empty roo, or what his motivation was

“He deserves a vacation too,” she told herself, reasoning that this was the way that Zayed was viewing the trip “He worked hard tohappen” And he had told her when they’d made their deal that he didn’t expect any kind of romantic relationship with her

Zelda dismissed her questions about her new husband’s motives and found a towel in one of the closets in the bedroo to share a bed with a er, someone she was supposed to be a wife to but whom she had married as a sham, made Zelda nervous She was certain that she could trust Zayed not to overstep the boundaries they had set, but did she want him to stay within those boundaries?

Zelda looked down at the two rings on her finger, shocked that she could even ask herself such a question Certainly, Zayed was attractive—he was one of the eous men she’d ever seen in her life And technically, she was his wife; they had been married in front of witnesses and had the paperwork to prove it She could gain Murindhi citizenship any tined, and her iration status in the country was clear She had set a deal with atheer than Zelda had thought he would be after only teeks

As she reached the pool she shook off the thought of anything other than sleeping in the bed Zayed’s friend had provided the herself that it was likely Zayed would sione in theto complete his deal She would enjoy her little vacation on the island, and then fly back to the United States a legally married woman

Mo into the water on the shallow end of the pool She swa up at the sky; it was darker than the blue of the sky in Miaht, and not just because of the fact that it was gathering towards night

Zelda heardfro with a bucket of ice and a couple of chane flutes

She shifted around in the water to touch the bottom, and watched him for a few moments He had at some point put on swim trunks, and Zelda had to admit to herself that the man she had married for convenience had a very attractive body Stop thinking like that!

Zayed turned to look in her direction “I thought we could use so the bucket down near the edge of the pool He opened the bottle and quickly filled the two glasses, setting the bottle into the bucket of ice The Sheikh sat down on the edge of the pool and extended one of the glasses towards Zelda, who accepted it

Zayed raised his glass, and Zelda raised her own in response “To us,” he said “We pulled it off”

Zelda sainst her