The great career opportunity. The boss who seemed cold and reserved but began to unbend after a few after-hours meetings that certainly appeared to be strictly business, followed by a pleasant afternoon you couldn’t even call a date. And then—and then—
A soft moan of despair rose in her throat.
“Liar,” she whispered as she sank down on the edge of the bed. “Liar, liar, liar.”
Grace took a deep, shuddering breath.
This wasn’t the same at all.
She had never wanted Lipton’s mouth on hers, his hands on her breasts, his body hard against hers. Never dreamed the kind of dreams she hadn’t even known women had until she’d met one man, one gorgeous, exciting man. Until she’d gone to work for Salim al Taj and broken every rule she believed in by falling into his arms, his bed, by becoming his lover, becoming the kind of woman she knew he would never want.
Why think about that now? Months had gone by. Their affair had ended just as it had started, with a suddenness that still shocked her. Not that she gave a damn. At least she’d salvaged her pride. He had tried to take it from her, but she’d put a stop to that, leaving him before he could leave her.
“Grace?” The rap at the door was sharp and imperious. So was Lipton’s voice. “Grace. We have an appointment at eight.” The doorknob rattled. “And I’m tired of this nonsense! There is no reason for this door to be locked.”
There was every reason, just as there was every reason to quit this job as soon as they were back in the States. She’d find something else, even if it meant waiting on tables or clerking in a store. Both were honest ways to make a living and the people you dealt with weren’t scum like her boss had turned out to be.
“Damn it, Grace, come out of that room at once!”
Grace smoothed the skirt of her pale green silk dress, picked up her purse, went to the door and opened it.
Her boss’s expression was grim but his eyes, as they swept over her, glittered with heat. A tremor of fear went through her.
Something was going to happen tonight. She could feel it.
But it would not be what Lipton was planning.
No matter what it took, it would not be that.
The appointment was legitimate enough.
Drinks with a few conference attendees in the hotel’s lush gardens. Pleasant small talk, laughter, interspersed with discussions about the meetings they’d all attended during the day.
But Lipton made it more than that.
He stood as close to her as possible, his body brushing hers. His hand lay in the small of her back. His fingers drifted across hers when he handed her a drink she hadn’t asked for and didn’t want. He said “us” and “we” and used her name in a way that somehow lent it intimacy.
And, inevitably, people noticed. She saw the coolly assessing glances of the men, the way the women’s eyes narrowed.
She sought a moment’s solace in the ladies’ room but when she was at the sink, washing her hands, one of the women in the little group came in and stood at the mirror beside her. Their eyes met in the glass.
“So,” the woman said, with a little smile, “did you know he’s married?”
“Did I know who is married?” Grace said, foolishly resorting to ignorance.
“Your, um, your boss,” the woman purred, and gave a little laugh. “Perhaps you have hopes but, sweetie, trust me, it’s not going anywhere. Stop playing coy and enjoy your stay here, if you know what I mean.”
Grace turned off the water. The attendant pressed a soft linen towel into her hands.
“I know precisely what you mean,” Grace said, willing herself to sound cool and calm when her heart was galloping. “And there’s nothing about my stay here to enjoy, most especially not the company.”
It was, she knew, a pathetic rejoinder but she wasn’t one of those people who could turn clever when she was upset. She’d proven that in New York, running instead of facing her lover when she realized he was weary of her, that he was about to dump her from her job and his life with as little warning as you’d give a fly before you swatted it.
Her throat constricted.
“There you are.” Lipton’s hand closed around her arm. He smiled. His touch, his smile, spoke volumes. She could smell the whiskey on his breath. “Grace, you naughty girl, you forgot to remind me about the presentation I’m making in the morning.”
“I did remind you,” she said quietly. “Twice.”
“Twice.” Lipton grinned at the little group gathered around them. “She reminded me twice.” His hand moved from her arm to her nape, his fingers curling around it. “Who would think a girl who looks like this would be concerned about her employer’s calendar?”
Silence, embarrassed laughter and a couple of leering smiles greeted his slurred words. Grace spoke quietly.
“Let go of me.”
“Now, darling, don’t be silly. We’re all friends here.”
“Mr. Lipton. I said—”
“I heard you, darling. Now you hear me. I’m afraid we’re going to have to pass on dinner with these charming people, go back to our suite and work on that speech.” He chuckled. “Among other things.”
Grace tried to move away from him. His hand clasped her nape more tightly.
One of the men cleared his throat. “I say, Lipton…”
“You say what?” Lipton challenged.
The man gave Grace a quick glance, then looked away. “Nothing,” he said. “Nothing at all.”
The people in the group began slipping away until, finally, Grace and her employer were alone.
“Let’s go,” he said, all his pretend charm gone.
“Damn you,” Grace said, “get away from me. If you don’t—”
“If I don’t, what?” Lipton gave that shark’s grin. “What will you do, Grace? Call for help? Make a fool of yourself in front of everyone? Lose not just your job with me but the chance of any job in finance?” Another grin. “Come on, darling, tell me exactly what it is you’ll do if I don’t get away from you.”
“She won’t have to do a thing,” a male voice said. “I’ll do it for her, Lipton, and when I’m finished, you’ll be lucky if the doctors can put you back together again.”
Lipton’s hand dropped like a stone. Grace didn’t move. Her heart was racing again. She knew that voice. Low. Masculine. Taut with command and, just now, icy with rage. God, yes. She knew that voice. Knew the man it belonged to.
She turned slowly and saw him. Tall. Dark-haired. Broad-shouldered. Eyes the palest shade of blue she had ever seen, nose straight as a blade, mouth firm, jaw clenched…
She knew him, all right.
This was the man who had broken her heart.
This was the crown prince of Senahdar.
This was the man she hated.
CHAPTER THREE
GRACE was looking at him as if he were an apparition.
Salim could hardly blame her.
She’d stolen a fortune, fled, taken a new name to cover her tracks. The last thing she’d expect would be a ghost from her past turning up in Bali. Her shock was a glorious thing to see, even though he’d intended their meeting to be more private.
He’d wanted to come