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although there would be hints. Then a few weeks after that, we would have a heated argument, you would return to your country and I, heartbroken, couldn’t possibly consider getting involved again for the rest of the year. Perhaps longer.”
    She opened her mouth, then closed it. His words had actually entered her brain—she knew she’d heard them. But they hadn’t made any sense. He couldn’t be saying what she thought he was saying.
    “I…You…It’s…”
    He smiled. “A relationship of convenience,” he said. “You will consent to be someone I become involved with for an agreed upon period of time—say, six months. I will, of course, pay you for your time.”
    He named an amount that made her already spinning head threaten to fall off and explode.
    He wanted to fake date? Then get fake engaged to her? And pay her? All in an attempt to trick his father, the king?
    “If he finds out about this, he’d kill me.”
    “Not in the traditional sense. He would be unhappy.”
    Not exactly comforting, Maggie thought. “Just go out with one of the women he introduces you to. Why won’t that work?”
    “None of them interest me.”
    “Sabrina seemed really nice.”
    He rolled his eyes. “You didn’t have to dance with her.”
    “Lucky me.” She stared at him. “You can’t mean this.”
    “Why not? It’s an arrangement that works for both of us. I don’t have to deal with the king’s matchmaking and you get to make extra money. I know the plan requires you to stay in El Deharia longer than you’d planned, but you will also earn a considerable sum for your trouble.”
    More than considerable, she thought, unable to take it all in.
    “I’m not princess material,” she said. “I work on cars.”
    “You are delightfully different.”
    If only. “I don’t know how to dress or say the right things. You should ask Victoria. Nadim’s secretary,” she added when Qadir looked blank. “Pretty, blond, a great dresser.”
    “You and I get along. Spending time together would not be a hardship.”
    She thought of the dance they’d shared at the ball. Nope, not a hardship at all. Especially if there was more dancing. She wouldn’t even object to kissing.
    The image of them pressed together was so intense and so unexpected, she scrambled to the other side of the desk to put some distance between them.
    “This is crazy,” she said. “Let’s all take a deep breath and start over.”
    “It isn’t crazy. It’s a sensible plan that benefits us both. I get peace and quiet for at least a year. You get to work on my car, then vacation in a beautiful palace, all the while getting paid. I will provide you with an appropriate wardrobe, a chance to meet world leaders. We will travel and attend conferences. In time, the relationship will end and you will return home with a much larger bank balance.”
    “It’s a whole lot of trouble just to get your father off your back.”
    “You have never had to deal with a monarch as a parent.”
    Good point.
    She was tempted. Not only by the money, but by the opportunity. When else could she have an experience like this? Plus, a teeny, tiny, shallow part of her, the part that was still ashamed of what had happened with Jon, sort of liked the idea of him thinking she was dating a handsome prince.
    “We would need ground rules,” she said.
    “Such as?”
    “You can’t be going out with someone else while we’re fake-dating. I don’t want to be cheated on.”
    “Agreed. Although the same rules apply to you.”
    She smiled. “Not a big issue for me, but thanks for worrying.” What else? “I don’t want any of this in the papers. Do you guys have tabloids out here?” The idea of Jon knowing was one thing, but having a fake relationship played out in the media was another.
    “We have some local coverage,” he said. “It is nothing like what exists in America and Europe. I would want some minor mention of us dating to convince my father, but nothing