How was it that a man she’d met only days ago could have such a terrifying effect on her emotions?

There was a knock on the door, and then, ‘Sorry to disturb—’

‘What is it?’ Ari snapped moodily. And then felt immediate contrition when he turned from the window and saw the wide eyes of one of his longest-serving aides at the door.

This wasn’t like him. He strove at all times to be the opposite of his father, who had been mercurial and unpredictable.

Thanks to his father’s disregard for his wife, and his love of other women, Ari had learnt at an early age to depend on himself. He’d received no benevolent guiding hand from either parent. Neither had his brother. He’d had to learn from aides and watching his parents to know hownotto be.

He’d always treated his lovers with respect. He’d never cheated. And Dax was the same, even if the tabloids made it look otherwise. And yet here he was, distracted and thinking of...a woman. Who wasn’t even the woman he was due to marry.

Irritation prickled again. He forced it down.

His aide was still in the doorway, looking nervous. Ari said, ‘I’m sorry. My mind was...elsewhere.’

On Maddi, and the way she’d looked after he’d dismissed her the evening before.

He cursed silently.

‘I just wanted to remind you that you are taking Princess Laia out for lunch today and it’s almost time to leave.’

He’d forgotten his own schedule. Again, that was not like him. He was fastidious about his schedule and his plans. And he never let anyone down. Not even his imposter fiancée.

‘Is she waiting for me?’

‘Yes, sir. Down by the main courtyard.’

His aide left. In spite of his best efforts, Ari felt his blood heat with anticipation. But the last words he’d said to her yesterday still reverberated in his head, sickeningly...

‘But you are not her, and after Laia and I are married, you and I will never meet again.’

He’d been rude. And she’d looked hurt. Not what he would have expected of the woman who’d had the gall to impersonate the Crown Princess of Isla’Rosa. But if he was being brutally honest he knew that his rudeness had stemmed from how she made him feel, how she pushed his buttons with such ease.

She had a way of saying things, asking questions, that seemed to undermine every belief he’d taken for granted his whole life. And he didn’t welcome that. His route had been mapped out for a long time, and he’d been perfectly content to follow it. Especially when it promised smooth waters and no drama. But from the moment this woman had impersonated his fiancée those waters had become choppy and much murkier.

Ari felt defensive. Some might forgive him for being rude, considering where they were and what was happening. Princess Laia and his brother were AWOL. God only knew where. And he was being forced to act out a charade with this...this doppelganger, who just had to breathe beside him to make his blood boil over with irritation and lust.

He didn’t have to woo this woman. She was a complete stranger.

Is she, though?asked a little voice.Why does she feel so familiar, then, and yet mysterious? Why is she so easy to talk to?

Ari scowled at himself as he pulled on his jacket. Maddi Smith was an interloper. She’d tricked him. But he had to concede that if shehadactually been Princess Laia, then he would be wooing her. Even though their marriage was a sure thing, he would obviously want her to feel as desired and accepted as possible.

And, following that logic, he would have to treat Maddi the same and not let her get to him. If anyone sensed the tension between them it would cause whispers, and that was the last thing they needed.

He needed her to promote a picture of happy unity—because he had total faith in his brother reappearing with Princess Laia and no doubt he would be marrying the right woman in a couple of weeks.

The fact that Maddi was the first woman he’d ever met who had managed to get under his skin so comprehensively was a mere irritation en route to the start of this next phase of his life with his Queen at his side.

Maddi was down on her hands and knees, desperately searching for a small pearl drop earring. One minute it had been in her ear and the next it had fallen to the stone floor, here in the main central courtyard.

Hannah was on her hands and knees too, saying anxiously, ‘I’m sure we’ll find it, Princess Laia, please don’t ruin your clothes!’

The bodyguards were hunting as well, using their phone torches to try and see into the cracks between the flagstones.

There was a distinct cough from somewhere far above their heads and Maddi’s stomach sank. Not that it could sink much more from her inelegant position so close to the ground.

She lifted her head and came eye to eye with a pair of very sleek shoes. They led up to a pair of navy trousers, encasing very long legs, a slim waist...white shirt and matching navy jacket.