“Meaning marriage to you?”
“I promise you’ll never be bored.”
As Roark’s hands skimmed down her sides, Elizabeth reached up to pull his lips to hers. “I never doubted that for a second.”
* * * * *
Turn the page for a special bonus story by USA TODAY bestselling author Barbara Dunlop. Then look for the thrilling conclusion of THE HIGHEST BIDDER, A Golden Betrayal, also by Barbara Dunlop. Wherever Harlequin Books are sold.
THE GOLD HEART, PART 5
Barbara Dunlop
Crown Prince Raif Khouri watched his father’s chest rise and fall beneath the light blanket in the master chamber of Valhan Palace. The king was battling Partang fever again, the third bout this year. He’d contracted the disease thirty years ago in Eastern Africa. It came and went, but lately it seemed to be taking a greater toll. The king had lost ten pounds in the past month, weight he could ill afford to give up.
“My son.” His voice was raspy.
“Yes, Father?” Raif shifted his chair closer, leaning down to listen to his father’s faint voice.
“Alber is aligning with the Brazilians.”
“I know.” Raif nodded. He knew very well the risk the alliance presented to Rayas.
“Kalila must marry the son without delay.”
Raif knew that, as well. Every day that passed without a formal betrothal of his cousin to Ari Alber increased their risk of significant financial loss to Rayas. But his headstrong, young cousin, second in line to the throne, had returned from a year of school in Britain with an attitude and the claim of a British boyfriend. Raif could deal with the attitude, but the boyfriend was going to be history. Nothing could interfere with Kalila’s duty to the royal family.
“She is stubborn,” Raif told the King.
“This is no time for defiance.”
“I understand.” And Raif was doing everything in his power to bring her into line.
“If we don’t act now, Algerian oil will power Moroccan smelters, feeding Indian factories, all financed by Brazilian equity funds and shipped by Greece. We’ll be cut out of the deal.” The king wasn’t saying anything Raif didn’t already know.
The thing Raif didn’t know was what to do about it. A hundred years ago—hell, fifty years ago—they’d have married Kalila off to Ari Alber, willing or not. Rayas was a shipping nation, a powerhouse in the region. And that meant they had a massive fleet to keep under contract. Kalila’s marriage would cement their relationship with the Alber dynasty, which would keep open the doors to Algeria and India.
“The girl must do her duty,” said the king.
“I’ll talk to her,” Raif promised.
“Do more than talk if necessary.”
“You would have me beat my own cousin?”
“I would have you threaten to beat her.”
Based on his last conversation with Kalila, Raif knew it was going to take more than a simple threat to make her see reason.
“What of Jacx?” the king asked, his spurt of anger-fueled energy clearly flagging.
Raif understood what his father meant by the question. But it was another place where Raif had thus far failed. He chose his words carefully. “When we need Jacx, I will promote him.”
“It is not yet done?”
“I offered to make him an admiral.” Raif sat back in his chair. It would have been nice if one thing in his life had gone smoothly.
“And?”