CHAPTER ONE

      ‘I WOULD NEVER have gone if you’d told me!’

      Maggie Delaney was less than impressed as she made her way back to the hostel in Zayrinia with her roommate Suzanne.

      Red-haired and with fair skin, Maggie had caught far too much of the Arabian sun but it wasn’t that which was concerning her now—the innocent boat trip Maggie had been expecting had been far from that! ‘It was practically an orgy.’

      ‘I didn’t know how it was going to turn out,’ Suzanne said. ‘I honestly thought that we’d be snorkelling. Oh, come on, Maggie, loosen up!’

      Maggie had been told that rather too many times in her lifetime and especially over the past year.

      She wasn’t particularly close to Suzanne. They had met a few months ago when they had been working at the same bar and had caught up by chance here in Zayrinia.

      For Maggie it was the end of a year-long working holiday and it had been the most amazing year of her life. She had travelled across Europe and Asia and had saved just enough money to go a little off the beaten path on her return journey home. She had squeezed in a stopover in Zayrinia on the last leg of her journey but, even prior to landing, Maggie had promptly fallen in love with the place.

      Looking out of the window as the plane had turned in its path she had watched the desert give way to a stunning city—glittering high-rise buildings contrasted with an ancient walled citadel. And then on the final approach they had flown over the glistening ocean and the harbour lined with luxurious yachts. At her first glimpse of Zayrinia, Maggie had found herself entranced.

      Today was the anniversary of her mother’s death and so she had awoken feeling somewhat low. Then Suzanne had told her that she had a plus-one ticket on a boating trip out to the coral reef.

      Maggie’s trepidation had started even before boarding.

      Instead of a snorkelling boat, they had approached a seriously luxurious yacht but Suzanne had waved away her concerns when Maggie had voiced them.

      ‘My treat—’ Suzanne had smiled ‘—before you head back to London. Are you looking forward to going home?’

      Maggie had thought for a moment and had been just about to answer when Suzanne had cut in, ‘Sorry, that was insensitive, given that you don’t have anyone waiting there for you.’

      Suzanne’s insensitive apology had hurt more than the original comment, but Maggie simply hadn’t known how to respond. She had told Suzanne ages ago that she had been in and out of foster and care homes since she was seven and didn’t have any family.

      ‘Or do you have people waiting?’ Suzanne persisted. ‘Do you still see any of your foster families?’

      ‘No!’

      Maggie’s response was swift and a touch harsh. She was well aware that she came across as rather brusque at times. It was something she had been trying to work on during her year away. But opening up to others didn’t come easily at all and Suzanne had touched on a very raw nerve. At the age of twelve, Maggie had been promised the world; for a few short months she had believed she was a part of a family. It had happened once before.

      A year after her mother had died a young couple had taken her in, but their marriage had broken up and she had gone back to care. For a while she had received birthday and Christmas cards but they had petered out. It had hurt, of course, though nothing compared to what had happened a few years later when another family had taken her in. Maggie had expected nothing by then, but Diane, her foster mother, had insisted on giving Maggie the world before coldly taking it back.

      It was something Maggie did her level best not to think about; she hadn’t even told her best friend, Flo, what had happened that awful day.

      ‘I have friends,’ Maggie said, trying not to sound too defensive and trying not to let Suzanne hear her hurt.

      ‘Of course you do,’ Suzanne said. ‘It’s not the same, though, is it?’

      Maggie didn’t answer.

      Suzanne often left her feeling rather sideswiped. Maggie was trying to be more trusting and open with people, but it didn’t come easily. She was very aware that she was a touch cynical and always kept her guard up. She’d had to in some of the places she had lived.

      Still, she tried.

      And so, rather than explain the hurt the remark had caused, and rather than question just where Suzanne had got the invitation from, Maggie boarded.

      As the yacht set off, it became increasingly clear to Maggie that they weren’t on a trip out to the coral reef. Instead, it was a very exclusive party and it would seem that they were there to pretty up the numbers!

      But, other than jumping overboard, there was little she could do.

      And so, wearing nothing more than a bikini and sarong, Maggie felt underdressed and over-exposed. She tried to grin and bear it at first but was all too aware of the roaming eyes drifting over her body. It made her feel supremely uncomfortable, as well as irritated, as Suzanne constantly told her to relax.

      Maggie declined the free-flowing champagne that was floating around but, sick of water and needing something sweet in the fierce sun, she asked for a mocktail.

      It was spicy and laced with cinnamon and tasted utterly delectable, until it was halfway down and Maggie suddenly felt dizzy and ill.

      Perhaps they had got her order wrong—though Maggie doubted it—but was grateful when Suzanne steered her away from the blazing sun and led her to a cabin to lie down.

      * * *

      ‘You were gone for ages,’ Suzanne said as the hostel came into sight. ‘Come on, spill, what did you and the sexy prince get up to?’

      Maggie halted mid-stride. ‘Nothing,’ she responded. ‘How was I supposed to know it was the royal cabin?’

      ‘And how was I?’ Suzanne calmly answered. ‘Maggie, it was an honest mistake.’

      Maggie shrugged and did her best to let it go. She seemed to have to do that an awful lot around Suzanne, though. But again she said nothing, telling herself that it really had been a simple mix-up and thankfully no harm had been done. In fact, it had been nice to hide for a couple of hours in the cool of the cabin, though it had been a touch awkward at first when the prince had come in to find her lying on his bed!

      Suzanne assumed more had happened.