Nicola Marsh - The Desert Prince's Proposal

‘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.

Hoping she was doing the right thing, and too tired to care one way or the other, she followed him, taking the time to admire the flattering fit of his charcoal-grey pinstripe suit and the impressive way he held himself—with casual grace underlined by strength.

She might have been tired but she wasn’t dead, and when he reached the taxi and swivelled to face her, appearing surprised she hadn’t kept up, she quickly raised her gaze from where it had been hovering around his body and forced a smile, hoping he couldn’t see the surge of uncharacteristic heat in her cheeks.

Bria glanced at her watch, roughly estimating that they were ten minutes away from the hotel, and she was rather grateful.

Since the initial small talk with Sam they’d lapsed into silence, and while it wasn’t uncomfortable it was a tad disconcerting to be confined this closely with a guy like him.

A guy like what? Intelligent, articulate and suave?

She may be going through a dating drought by choice, but she wasn’t completely oblivious to a sexy guy, and she could think of worse ways to while away the time between the airport and her destination.

‘How long are you staying at the hotel?’

‘Just a few days. The conference ends on Sunday after my presentation, but I’m staying on for an extra day. I heard they have a fabulous day spa there, so I thought a little R and R would be a good idea. And you?’

Not that she particularly cared. Sam was one of those guys that flitted in and out of places, focussed on business and little else. She could tell. If he were any other type of guy he would’ve been talking non-stop to impress her—usually about himself—or pushing her for a date. Instead, he’d done her the courtesy of staying silent for most of the trip.

‘I’m staying tonight and tomorrow.’

Surprised and somewhat concerned by the tiny flicker of disappointment at his words, she said, ‘That’s what I call a flying visit.’

He shrugged, drawing her attention to his broad shoulders beneath a crisp pale-blue tailored shirt.

‘Part of the business, I’m afraid. I’m used to it.’

She nodded, understanding completely. Her schedule often included regular flights to all parts of the globe, and she’d fine-tuned a jet-lag cure to cope with it.

In fact, Sam looked damn good for a guy who’d spent over a day on a plane, so he’d obviously discovered his own magical cure for biological-clock warfare, too.

‘Do you have any plans tonight?’

She shook her head, envisaging that long soak in the tub she’d been hankering for since the airport.

‘In that case, I’d be honoured if you would have dinner with me.’

An instant refusal sprang to her lips. She never dined or flirted, or did much of anything other than focus on work these days, and having dinner with Sam, no matter how nice he’d been, was out of the question.

However, the longer he stared at her with those compelling dark eyes, the more her resolve wavered.

There was nothing sleazy in his invitation, merely a polite request from someone who had already done her a favour by letting her share his taxi.

Why shouldn’t she have dinner with him?

She had to eat, hadn’t she?

Besides, she sensed a kindred spirit in Sam—someone who was so business-oriented that it was rare to take time out to speak to another human, let alone eat with them.

‘I hear that Joseph’s restaurant has a world-renowned chef who spent many years in London. Sampling the cuisine would be a must. And I would love to hear more about your presentation. I’m intrigued. It might give me some ideas to improve my own business.’

‘In that case, how can I refuse?’

She smiled, surprised at how quickly she’d capitulated, more so by the quick glint of pleasure in Sam’s eyes.

He didn’t appear smug or sneaky, or any of the things she’d come to look for when guys asked her out. Instead, he seemed genuinely pleased she’d accepted his invitation, and suddenly she looked forward to tonight.

If there was one thing she was comfortable discussing it was her business, and why shouldn’t she help Sam out? She owed him for the taxi ride.

Dinner would be like the countless other business meals she’d shared with strangers who’d ended up being her clients.

No pressure. No expectations. Just the way she liked it.

Pleased with the way she’d rationalised her acceptance of Sam’s invitation, she sat back and watched as they pulled up outside the beautiful hotel.

‘I’ll make the reservations. Does eight suit?’

‘Fine,’ she said, returning his smile, a small part of her recognising she’d never looked forward to dinner with clients as much as she was looking forward to dinner with this enigmatic stranger.