In this kingdom, not even the royals are immune to danger
With a sexy FBI agent posing as her suitor, Princess Laila of Qamsar is home for the wedding of her brother the Emir. In truth, the beautiful royal and Harris Truman are on an undercover mission: to find the infamous terrorist her brother is suspected of aiding.
But once the festivities begin, Laila faces a bigger threat than Al-Adel. Her secret meetings with Harris pose a danger to her safetyâand her heart. To gain his love and live in freedom as his equal is her ardent desire. But will she betray her traditions for a man whose kisses are part of a charade?
âMy apologies,â Harris said. âI wasnât making an advance. I was trying to hide you. I forgot myself for a moment.â
Why did it sting that his actions were based only on protecting her? âIâm not upset. Iâm glad youâre here. Being alone with a man is new to me, but itâs nothing like Iâd imagined it to be.â It came with more powerful emotions. Desire. Happiness.
Harris looked at her. Watched her. Didnât say anything. His gaze drilled into her.
Finally he spoke. âAre you telling me youâve never been alone with a man?â
Laila shifted under his scrutiny. âAside from members of my family, I have not been alone with a man. Not in the way you mean.â She had never before experienced the attraction or the connection she had with Harris. âItâs well understood in Qamsar that an unmarried woman of a certain age isnât left alone with her suitors.â
Dear Reader,
Iâm excited to the share with you the third book of the Truman brothers miniseries. Harrisâs story takes place in a setting inspired by my husbandâs experiences living in the Middle East.
Harris is a distrusting FBI agent who needs Laila, a member of the Qamsarian royal family, to help locate and stop a terrorist. The search leads Harris to Lailaâs home country in the Arabian Peninsula. Away from the world he knows and the support of his family, Harris is tested by the rules and restrictions of Lailaâs conservative country.
Laila has her own ideas about life and love and is challenged by the changes in her world and by her attraction to Harris. To find happiness, theyâll both need to set aside disappointments of the past and fears of the future and embrace a new life they never thought possible.
Happy reading,
C.J. Miller
C.J. MILLER
is a third-generation Mills & Boon reader and the first in her family to write professionally. She lives in Maryland with her husband and young son. She enjoys spending time with family, meeting friends for coffee, reading and traveling to warm beaches around the world. C.J. believes in first loves, second chances and happily-ever-after.
C.J. loves to hear from readers and can be contacted through her website at www.cj-miller.com.
To our princess, Quinn. I wish you love, laughter and happily ever after.
Chapter 1
She would never enjoy a cup of coffee again. Laila removed her stained navy-blue apron and shoved it in the washing machine with the others. A few more tasks and she could close for the night, giving her feetâand her noseâa much-needed break.
Laila had been listening to the radio since sheâd closed the store, hoping to learn new information about the situation in her home country of Qamsar. Her brotherâs regressive, conservative social policies werenât popular with certain factions in the country, and Laila hoped Mikhail would adopt a more moderate approach to ruling before tensions erupted into violence. Her mother feared civil war, and Laila feared for her familyâs safety. The broadcast had nothing new to report.
Laila double-checked the coffee, latte and espresso machines, and switched off the lights and radio in the back room. The only sound in the small café was the washing machine filling with water.
She jumped when she saw a man leaning against the caféâs glass front door. Deep blue eyes watched her. Laila crossed the room, her heart jittering nervously. He had visited the café dozens of times before, and each time, he had caught and held her attention. âHarris. What are you doing here?â she asked through the glass.
Had he not been one of her regular customers, she would have backed away, told him to leave and maybe even called the police. But Harris was a good man, charming, easy to talk with, and sheâd developed a fondness for him. She looked forward to his visits, and though this one was oddly timed, a shudder of excitement piped through her.
âI tried knocking, but you didnât hear me,â Harris said. âI need to talk to you.â
Laila stared at him through the glass. âAbout what?â Growing up in Qamsar, even as a member of the royal family, she was wary of men. American men made her doubly nervous; though with Harris, her nervousness was centered on attraction not fear. Attracted to him and unsure how to strike up a friendship, her feelings for Harris confused her. In Qamsar, it wasnât appropriate to have a friendship with a man. Much about her life in America was new to her, including her job, which sheâd taken to stay off her brotherâs radar and have money of her own. It was a freedom she enjoyed.