“You must have all kinds of women throwing themselves at you,” she said. “Aren’t there any you want to marry?”

Qadir raised his eyebrows. “You take my father’s side in this?”

“You’re royal. Doesn’t having heirs come with the really plush surroundings?”

“So you’re practical.”

“I understand family loyalty and duty.”

“Would you have agreed to an arranged match if it had been expected?”

Maggie considered the question. “I don’t know. Maybe. If I’d always known it was going to be that way. I’m not sure I would have liked it.”

“Such an obedient daughter.”

“Not on purpose. I loved my father very much.” He’d been all the family she’d ever had. She still expected to see him in the house or hear his footsteps. One of the big advantages of her job in El Deharia-besides the money-was that she could escape the sad memories for a few weeks.

Qadir shook his head. “I am sorry. I had forgotten your recent loss. I did not mean to remind you of your pain.”

“Don’t worry about it. I’m kind of bringing it with me everywhere I go.”

He nodded slowly as if he understood what it meant to lose something so precious. Did he? Maggie realized she knew nothing about Qadir beyond what she’d heard on television. She didn’t read gossip magazines. Or fashion magazines for that matter. Her idea of a great evening was when Car and Driver arrived in the mail.

“You must have other family back in Aspen,” he said. “How will they cope with you gone?”

“I, ah, I’m kind of alone. It was just my dad and me. I have a few friends, but they’re busy with their lives.”

“So you had no one to call and tell about your new job?”

“I called Jon. He worries about me.”

Qadir’s dark gaze settled on her face. “Your boyfriend?”

“Not anymore,” she said lightly. “He’s someone I’ve known forever. We grew up next door to each other. We played together when we were kids, then kind of fell in love in high school. Everyone assumed we’d get married, but it never seemed to happen.”