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It was such a cheap word—so redolent of dire TV reality shows or girlish banter in the dorrown-up woman like her
But it was the only word for him, and that was the problem He justradiated it Whatever ‘it’ was He had it in jaw-dropping amounts
She tore her gaze away, grateful that her eyes were veiled with sunglasses too, berating herself silently for her illicit thoughts as they took their places at a shaded table in the open-air restaurant near the pools
She gazed around in pleasure as Nikos recharged their chaeous,’ she said ‘Coeous’
He gave a laugh, taking the menu proffered by a waiter He sounded relaxed, at ease ‘Well, be sure to mention that to the Prince e meet him tomorrow’
Diana stared ‘Prince?’ she echoed
‘Well, not the ruling Prince, but one of his nephews He’s the main driver behind development here—and I have an interest in various of his ventures—but he has to proceed carefully Several of his cousins oppose him, and several more want to push for a Dubai-style future As it happens, we’ve been invited to his palace tos—afternoon tea’
‘Afternoon tea?’ Diana echoed again
‘Yes, Sheikh Ka fan, apparently, and she welcomes any opportunity to partake of it’
‘Good heavens!’ Diana exclaimed ‘Well, I dare say to an Arabian princess afternoon tea is as exotic as a desert banquet would be for uide me as to etiquette I’m not at all au fait with royal protocol in the Middle East’
‘We’ll get a briefing to from a palace official,’ said Nikos ‘But I have every confidence in you, Diana’ He paused, then disposed of his dark glasses His expression was serious ‘It’s thanks to you, you know, that we’ve been invited to the palace Were I here ona brief audience on a strictly business basis, in his office Whereas with you to accoes to a completely different level in places like this It will open doors for me’
She aze ‘I’m happy to be of use, Nikos It ht, I suppose’ Her tone altered as she inserted a lighter note ‘I’d better ensure I don’t do anything to shock the Sheikh or his sister ‘
‘You’ll be perfect,’ he assured her ‘It co the correct way to behave in any social situation’
She gave a self-deprecating moue ‘I can’t claied existence It’s people like you, you knoho didn’t have those advantages and yet are where they are today by their own efforts and determination, who deserve credit All of us are e are completely by accident of birth—and none of us is responsible for that’
Was there a sudden veiling of his eyes? A sense of withdrawal behind a mask? If so, it made her conscious of just how little she knew about hiround—only those few disathered that he’d been brought up in France, spoke the language fluently, and he hadeconomics at one point