Page 13 of Prince of Her Heart
“Marwan reserved several suites for me and my team at the local bed and breakfast,” he added.“He tried to find something larger, but Hendersonville doesn’t exactly attract high-end development.”
Of course it didn’t.The town’s idea of luxury was hand-stitched curtains and blueberry muffins for breakfast.
“I can’t stay there with you!”she gasped.
“Of course you can’t,” he said with a low chuckle.“You’ll stay at your mother’s.I’ll be at the inn.It’s within walking distance.We’ll meet up each day, be seen together, and make it clear that you’ve moved on from that cheating bastard of an ex-fiancé.”
For a heartbeat, she almost rallied.She squared her shoulders, lifted her chin, eyes narrowing as if preparing to argue—
“How do you know I’m not still hung up on him?I might have been lying a moment ago,” she challenged, tilting her head.
She wasn’t.In love with Martin, that is.But for some reason—pride, panic, or pure self-preservation—she wanted to knock a crack into Ramzi’s polished armor.
His answer was immediate.Certain.
“First, because you don’t lie.”He paused, looking at her with an intensity that made her feel warm and gushy inside.“And second, because you have too much self-respect to stay with a man who didn’t appreciate you for the extraordinary woman you are.”His voice was low and tight, the edge unmistakable.“A man who cheated on you wouldn’t be worthy of the glorious gift of your love, Tabitha.”
The words hit her like a punch.
Raw.Fierce.
Her chest tightened.He was right.But there was so much more buried beneath the surface, layers she wasn’t ready to explain.So she said nothing—just nodded slowly, turned, and started toward the door.
“Well, I’ll just…” She paused, unsure what she was “just” going to do.
“If we’re going to be convincing, you’re going to need this.”
She turned, eyebrows pulling together in confusion, just as something small and dark flew through the air toward her.
She caught it reflexively.
A box.
Tabitha stared down at the square, black velvet box in her hand, then back at him.
“What is this?”
Ramzi shoved his hands into his pockets, shoulders relaxed—but she sensed the tension in him.His stillness was always controlled.Always hiding something.
“Open it.”
She didn’t want to.Instinct warned her that once the lid opened, everything would shift.But she didn’t back down from challenges.Ever.
Carefully, she shifted the files in her arms and pried the lid open with her thumbs.
The gasp escaped before she could stop it.
Inside was a ring—shimmering, elegant, and breathtaking.Not the largest diamond she’d ever seen, but easily the most beautiful.The design was classic, but exquisite.The kind of ring that whispered wealth and screamed intention.
It was probably worth more than her house.
“No,” she said instantly, shaking her head.She snapped the box shut and tried to hand it back.“No way.I can’t wear this!”
Ramzi chuckled, that maddeningly deep sound curling around her like smoke.He didn’t reach for the box.
“You’ll have to,” he said.“If we’re going to convince anyone that we’re together.”
She clutched the box tighter.“We can just say we’re dating,” she insisted.“Boyfriend and girlfriend.We don’t have to be engaged.”
