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The Desert Prince's Proposal
Nicola Marsh
Saying yes to the Prince of the desert! Time is running out for Prince Samman al Wali! In order to be crowned King, he must marry. He has rejected all his advisors’ suggestions…then he is captivated by a unique pair of honey-coloured eyes and chooses Bria for his bride! Bria Green is an intelligent, independent, modern woman. Samman tells her she’ll agree to his proposal within a week. She’s sure that the powerful Prince won’t get his way.But in the scorching heat of the desert, Samman’s heady kisses may change Bria’s mind!Desert Brides When an ordinary girl meets a Sheikh…
‘That is fate’s way of sealing ourfuture meeting,’ he murmured.
Sam’s deep voice washed over her in a sensuous wave, low, warm, intimate, and Bria all but melted against him.
His lips grazing hers had sent her lingering doubts of a proper goodbye up in flames, and she opened her eyes, determined to imprint this man, this moment, in her mind.
However, the instant her eyes opened her resolution to make their farewell short and sweet vanished, and she covered his mouth with hers, pouring her incredible, uncharacteristic desire for him into the swift, heartfelt kiss.
Nicola Marsh has always had a passion for writing and reading. As a youngster, she devoured books when she should have been sleeping, and later kept a diary whose content could be an epic in itself! These days, when she’s not enjoying life with her husband and sons in her home city of Melbourne, she’s at her computer, creating the romances she loves in her dream job. Visit Nicola’s website at www.nicolamarsh.com for the latest news of her books.
Nicola also writes for Modern Heat
Recent titles by the same author:
EXECUTIVE MOTHER-TO-BE
PRINCESS AUSTRALIA
FOUND: HIS FAMILY
WIFE AND MOTHER WANTED
“LOVE HER, LOVE HER!! Nicola Marsh
is heading the forefront of the Romance revolution.
Feel-good romance has never looked so good.”
—CataRomance.com
Dear Reader
Have you ever dreamed of being swept away to an exotic location? To a far distant land with sweeping desert sands, a lush oasis, an opulent palace? And, of course, such a magical place would have a prince ruling it—a striking, sexy, powerful prince, used to getting his own way.
If this fantasy sounds intriguing to you, imagine the fun I had creating Adhara and its ruler, Prince Samman al Wali.
As we all know, every strong alpha male needs a heroine to match him in every way, and Bria Green more than fits the bill.
She’s independent, confident, and focussed on making it to the top of her career. That is until she meets the mysterious Sam, unaware that her trip to Adhara will change her life in ways she never thought possible…
I had a wonderful time writing this story. From the hip vibe of Melbourne to cosmopolitan Dubai, from a private desert oasis to a French-inspired palace, I let my imagination run wild.
I hope you get swept away to Adhara too!
Best wishes
Nicola
THE DESERT PRINCE’S PROPOSAL
BY
NICOLA MARSH
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
For my very special Nan, who takes great pride in every book I write (and who introduced me to the wonderful world of Mills & Boon all those years ago!).
CHAPTER ONE
‘I AM NOT getting into that thing!’
Bria Green glared at the chauffeur, who stared at her with amused detachment like he’d seen it all before, and pointed at the gleaming-black limo parked at the kerb.
‘I didn’t ask to be picked up. Who sent you?’
The chauffeur, simply known as ‘Len’, from his name tag, removed his cap and rubbed at a shiny dome almost as highly polished as his car.
‘Look, miss. I’m just doing my job. Your name and flight details were on my list, so here I am. I don’t know who makes the bookings, I just follow instructions.’
Bria’s anger deflated a tad. It wasn’t this guy’s fault that Daddy dearest was up to his old tricks again.
‘Miss?’
Len held open the door to the limo, and she wavered slightly before a strong waft of spanking-new leather and wood polish hit her like a frigid gust on an icy Melbourne day.
She hated the smell: rich, pungent, nauseating. The smell she’d grown to hate as a child when she’d been dropped off at the school gates every morning, and had faced the merciless teasing of the other kids for turning up to school in a chauffeured limo.
Shaking her head, she backed away from the open door like an abseiler having second thoughts about jumping off a cliff.
‘No. I can’t. I’m sorry.’
Len frowned, staring at her with genuine confusion in his crinkly brown eyes.
‘But, miss, I’m instructed to take you to the Mansion hotel. It’s my employer’s orders.’
Taking a deep breath, she clutched her suitcase handle, gripped by an irrational fear that if she released it for one second it would be whisked away and stuffed into the limo’s boot, leaving her no choice but to enter the opulent confines of the car.
‘Excuse me, is there a problem here? Do you need some help?’
Great, just what she needed, some stranger with an upper-class accent poking his nose into her business.
With her temper rising by the minute, she forced a tight smile and looked up at the man, determined to fob him off, ditch Len and find the nearest taxi to take her to the hotel.
However, the first part of her plan faltered when her wary gaze met curious dark-brown eyes, eyes she would’ve flicked past if they weren’t part of a striking ensemble of high cheekbones, strong jaw, straight Roman nose, Mediterranean tan and black-as-coal hair which framed his face, highlighting the perfection.
Striking? Who was she kidding? The guy was gorgeous, imposing, and staring at her with obvious concern.
‘I’m fine,’ she said, waving him away with one hand while maintaining a death grip on her suitcase.
She travelled extensively to promote Motive, her architectural business. She knew the dangers of landing in a strange city and being accosted by wackos, no matter how incredible they looked.
‘You sure?’
His deep voice rippled over her, the posh accent reminiscent of the time she’d spent in London. The time she’d rather forget.
‘Positive.’
She nodded emphatically and turned away, only to be confronted by the burgundy leather seats of the limo, and a bar tucked discreetly into the far door.
Suddenly, the choice between getting into the limo and possibly being abducted didn’t seem so far apart after all.
‘I’m sorry for intruding, but it appears you don’t want to get into the limousine with this man.’
Len puffed up like a jellyfish.
‘Hey! I resent what you’re implying, sir. I’m only doing my job, and right now that’s taking Miss Green to her hotel.’
The stranger ignored Len and focussed that unnerving, steady gaze on her.
‘Would you prefer to take a taxi?’
‘Yes, please.’
She nodded, grateful that someone had picked up on her distress and wasn’t making a big deal about it.
All she wanted to do was grab a cab to the hotel, take a long, hot bath and prepare for her presentation. She didn’t need any more dramas.
‘Miss Green, are you sure?’
Len didn’t give up easily, and she managed a weary smile to reassure him.
‘I’m sure. And don’t worry about your employer. If you have any problems, get them to contact me direct.’
Shrugging, Len doffed his cap in her direction before closing the door and heading to the driver’s side of the car, obviously washing his hands of the crazy lady who’d rather ride in a beat-up taxi than a stretch limo.
‘Thank you,’ she said, turning to the stranger, but already looking past him, her eager gaze fixed on the last taxi standing at the rank.
‘My pleasure. Would you care to share my taxi?’
‘Your taxi?’
She knew it. Mr Nice Guy had an ulterior motive. He’d helped her get rid of Len only to coerce her into goodness knew what during what could prove an interminable taxi ride to anywhere.
An amused gleam lit his dark eyes, as if he could read her suspicious mind.
‘I took the liberty of snaring the last taxi for myself. The driver said a major football match has just finished in the city, so there won’t be another taxi along for a while.’
‘That’s okay. I’ll take the shuttle bus.’
Though that would put her plans of having a bath and time to prepare her talk way behind, considering she was staying at Werribee, miles out of town.
He hesitated for a moment before shrugging.
‘Suit yourself. I’m staying at the Mansion hotel, and you probably would’ve been out of my way.’
‘You’re staying at the Mansion? Are you there for the architects’ conference too?’
‘No, I’m not attending the conference. I’m into property development, and have other business to attend to while I’m there.’
Bria toyed with the leather handle on her case as she weighed up her options: take a ride with a handsome stranger to her hotel in the relative comfort of a taxi, or spend an interminable few hours while the shuttle stopped at countless hotels.
She may be stubborn, as her father repeatedly told her, but she wasn’t stupid, and the decision was a no-brainer.
Sticking out her hand, she said, ‘Sorry for being a bit abrupt. I’m Bria Green, and if your offer for a ride still stands I’d like to take you up on it. Strange coincidence, but I’m staying at the Mansion too.’
He raised a dark eyebrow as he clasped her hand in his.
‘Sam Wali. And of course you can share the taxi with me.’
‘Great.’
She smiled, a strange flutter of uncertainty causing her to leave her hand in his longer than necessary. His hand was warm, his grip firm without crushing, and though she didn’t sense anything untoward from him a slight shiver skittered down her spine at the intensity of his dark stare.
‘Do you believe in fate, Miss Green?’
Bria dropped her hand quickly, hoping she hadn’t given him the wrong idea, and wondering how she got herself into these situations. For a strong, opinionated career-woman, she had a habit of making the odd impulsive decision which had far-reaching repercussions.
Clearing her throat, she said, ‘I believe we make our own fate, Mr Wali.’
He smiled, and all her misgivings disappeared in an instant, the genuine warmth lighting his face and capturing her with its animation.
‘Please call me Sam. After all, we’re going to be sharing a taxi together.’
‘Bria,’ she said, hating the flicker of awareness his simple words elicited—the flicker that told her, no matter how strongly she’d sworn off men after Ellis ‘the lowlife’ Finley, this handsome stranger had the power to intrigue her. ‘And thanks, once again.’
He barely acknowledged her gratitude.
‘You are ready to depart?’
She nodded, biting back a grin at his formal speech patterns. Combined with a strong upper-class English accent, a designer suit which appeared hand-made to fit his imposing physique, and the solid platinum-and-gold watch on his left wrist, Sam exuded wealth and power—everything in a guy that usually made her wary, yet she found herself nodding anyway.
‘Come. We will go.’
Before she could move, he’d whisked her suitcase away and was heading to the waiting taxi, his long strides eating up the footpath.
