The Prince and the Working Woman (Desert Prince Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

anytime soon.”
    All right!  So maybe he had the right to be a bit cocky, but he didn’t have to gloat. She refused to feed his ego by admitting he had given her an adrenalin rush that would keep her up for hours. She feigned a yawn. “It would take more than that.”
    “How much more?” he asked.
    He knew all the right moves, the right buttons to push to arouse her. A bit more persistence on his part and she would probably be making love up against the wall right now instead of using it to hold herself up. “Good night, Hamid.”
    “You didn’t answer my question.”
    “I know.”  She raised a casual smile, hoping she pulled off an unaffected manner. “When you don’t have to ask, you’ll have your answer.”
     
     
    Chapter Four
     
    The week after the wedding Mandy spent her days at the Community Service Center, dubbed CSA, from open to close. She studied, measured, and questioned everything. The mission, to help families adjust and acclimate to life in the country, only scratched the surface. The compound had become a social hub of the expatriates. Inside the walls, members found a slice of home.
    An on-site café offered the same bagels, donuts and scones as the coffee shops they missed. The small high-end consignment shop sold designer fashions for a steal. She even found a few business suits for herself. Thursdays in the courtyard, members prepared take away meals traditional to their homelands. They called it Cooks Day Off. Volunteers made a nice side income and visitors got a chance to taste international cuisine.
    Mandy bought a small container of ratatouille and went to the garden to have lunch. After Boston, the heat of the desert took some getting used to. She sat at a table with a large Cinzano umbrella. The beautiful floral scents of the jasmine and azaleas surrounded her; surprisingly without aggravating her allergies. Her doctor told her a change of climate would alleviate her symptoms. She hadn't believed him but now she had to admit he might've been right. She hadn't breathed this well in years. If she was honest she hadn't been this excited about her life in years.
    She glanced through the CSA magazine. Every time she got an idea for her project she dictated it into her cell phone. Since she could not get a signal abroad her smart phone became a glorified micro recorder.
    "Oasis Center. Community Oasis. Welcome Center." She tried several names but then wondered if the Touzarian government might have their own idea about the name. She closed the phone when she saw a long shadow coming up behind her.
    "How about Western Pick Up Center?"
    The voice of cynicism . She turned to see Hamid, smirk on face, towering above her. Why invest time and money in the project if that was his belief?
    "I thought you went home."
    "I did. And now I'm back for a few days."
    Her stomach fluttered. Even her traitorous body was happy to see him. "How did you know where to find me?"
    "I asked at the Palace." He lowered himself into the rattan chair next to her. She had seen him in the traditional caftan and in formal suits but this was the first time she had seen him dressed casually. Armani casual but approachable. Except for the bodyguard sitting two tables over, she’d never guess he had a title if she hadn’t known.
    "Any particular reason?"
    "We need to talk. I don't have your number."
    "My phone doesn't work here."
    "Sure it does if you know what you're doing."
    Prince Know it All . She gave it to him. "Go ahead make a call."
    He scrolled through the menu. "What's the password to download apps?"
    “Oops.” She held out her hand. “Give it to me. I'll put it in."
    Mild annoyance crossed his face. "What's the password? You can change it after I give it back."
    She didn't want to answer but he gave her no choice. "M E N R D O G S."
    He let out a deep rich laugh "Yes, we are."
    He played with the phone for several minutes. When he finished he dialed a number. The phone in his pocket rang. "And now I have your