as efficiency in mind. Cozily decorated labor rooms surrounded it. Serviceable low carpet covered the floor, and the hallway to her right led to comfortable patient rooms. She was impressed by the facility, but the elevators had her atwitter, agog, amazed. They were framed in gold. She couldn’t decide whether or not it was the fourteen-carat variety, but that wasn’t out of the question.
The royal family of El Zafir had more money than God—or so she’d heard. The expensive decorating statement might have bothered her except rumor also had it that the prince had cut no corners in his quest to build this facility. He was determined to bring his country in line with Western medical technology, knowledge and research in order to give his people the finest health care. It bordered on obsession and Ali wondered why.
On her last visit, she’d talked extensively with Princess Farrah, but his aunt had never confided the reasons, if there were any, for the crown prince’s fixation. After his aunt failed, he had tried to persuade Ali to accept the job offer, but she had turned him down also. Then.
“My aunt informed me just this morning that you’d arrived.” The full intensity of the prince’s black-eyed gaze rested on her.
“A week ago,” she confirmed, settling her palm over her abdomen.
“You’ve met the director of nurses?” he asked, frowning slightly.
Ali nodded. “I like her very much.”
“I regret we were compelled to hire someone else in the position first offered to you. But when you refused me—”
“I’m delighted that there was still an opening on staff, Your Highness. The position as nurse-manager of Labor and Delivery is a terrific opportunity.”
“You are not disappointed you’ll be unable to add something more prestigious to your résumé? As I recall, you found that tempting.” A gleam stole into his eyes as one corner of his mouth curved up.
Her pulse skipped at the implication she hadn’t found him intriguing. She wasn’t about to share that his kiss could tempt a spinster out of her bloomers. But he probably already knew. After all, he had a reputation as an international playboy.
She stuck her hands in the pockets of the white lab coat she wore over green scrubs. “Truthfully, I was a little nervous about that job.”
“I do not understand. Your references are most impressive. You have a master’s degree in nursing, do you not?”
Again his memory for details surprised her. “Yes. A five-year nursing program. But a degree is no substitute for experience. When I get to the top of my profession, I’ll need both.”
“When?” His eyes were keen with intelligence and amusement. “You’re certain of the future?”
She shrugged. “I’ve studied and worked hard. I’m good at what I do. Princess Farrah insisted I was ready now. I like to think she’s right. But I believe she offered the job to me because it’s difficult to get good help to come halfway around the world. I know my age could be a problem. At twenty-five, I’d have difficulty commanding respect from a staff of nurses who probably would have a great deal more practical training.”
“My father ascended the throne of this country at the same age.”
“That’s different.”
“Indeed,” he said, slipping his hands into the pockets of his slacks. “The director of nurses is child’s play by comparison.”
“Maybe compared to running a country. But still a challenge,” she said, struggling to keep the defensive edge out of her voice.
“I don’t dispute it. And I do not underestimate what you do. My country does not have enough health-care professionals to adequately staff the hospital. No matter how generous the compensation, you’re right that it’s difficult to find skilled, qualified and highly trained personnel willing to uproot their lives and come here to work. I am in your debt.”
She had no life to put on hold, and since her mother’s death a year ago, no family to leave behind. Except a father who wouldn’t miss her since he’d turned his back on her long ago.
“I’m looking forward to all the challenges of the job.”
“My aunt has every faith in your ability to handle it in an exemplary manner.”
“Princess Farrah is very kind.”
“And apparently more persuasive than I. Since she convinced you to accept a job in El Zafir after all.”
Ali absently twisted the cap on her pen. “Actually, I changed my mind about the job. I contacted her a few weeks ago to inquire about a position. She very kindly offered me a different one.”
“Your fiancé must miss you.” His voice held the barest hint of a question.
She stared up at him, noting his serious, interested air. For goodness’ sake, the man was a king-in-training. Didn’t he have more important things to remember than what she’d said almost half a year ago? “My fiancé?”
“Indeed. You mentioned an engagement the night I escorted you to the charity auction. If I remember correctly, your exact words were that your fiancé would not jump up and down with joy if you took a nursing position halfway around the world.”
He remembered correctly and way too much, Ali thought grimly. Unfortunately, she’d discovered after returning home that she and Turner Stevens, M.D., had not been on the same matrimonial wavelength.
“As it turns out, Your Highness—”
“Call me Kamal.”
She blinked. “That doesn’t seem appropriate.”
“In private, as we are now, it’s perfectly permissible. And if I wish, it will be so.”
“Kamal,” she said, testing the name on her tongue. She wondered if he always got everything he wished for. If so, it must be good to be the crown prince. Because if he was trying to be a regular guy, it wasn’t working. There would always be a line in the sand between him and someone like her.
And the whole behavior-with-royalty thing was foreign to her frame of reference. Did private mean just the two of them? That certainly wouldn’t happen often—if at all.
“As it turns out—”
“What?” he prompted.
She sighed. “News of my engagement was greatly exaggerated.”
“Oh?”
“I turned down your job offer on the assumption that the man I’d been dating for a very long time was ready to propose.”
“And did he?”
Anger and pain joined with embarrassment, then formed a gigantic knot in her stomach. She briefly thought about fibbing, but decided against it. Lying to a future king could never be a good thing.
“Yes, he proposed. Just not to me.”
His dark eyebrows pulled together over black eyes brimming with
