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  Jake watched him closely, instantly noticing the direction of his gaze. “You don’t waste time, do you?”

  Kadeen continued to stare at the painting, his mind working fast to evaluate it. While Imogen was certainly a pill, she was a useful pill, and he found himself wondering if he shouldn’t have brought her with him on this excursion. “I don’t. Tell me what you know about it.”

  “Oh, but you didn’t say please,” Jake teased.

  When Kadeen didn’t take the bait, Jake sighed and joined his friend in front of the painting. It was of a beautiful woman holding a cornucopia filled with fruit. She was naked, lying on a blanket in a lush forest, her hair the same color as the bark in the trees. Kadeen wondered if Nicole could tease that color out a bit more back to its original timbre. Thinking of Nicole while he stared at the painting elicited thoughts he did not want to acknowledge, so he changed course and began considering the price.

  “I know this is seventeenth century, very likely a genuine van Poelenburgh, though you would probably have to get that tested. It didn’t occur to me that you might actually want the stupid thing—it was handed down to me after my father died, so I just took it. The truth is, I want to redo this entire room. It’s way too stuffy for my taste.”

  “Didn’t you design it when you bought this place?” Kadeen asked.

  Jake shook his head. “I wish. We got it as the previous owner left it. The cost to upgrade wasn’t worth the expense at the time. After going over last night’s takings, though, I think it might be time to make a change.”

  Kadeen nodded, turning his attention back to the painting. “How much do you want for it?”

  “Ah, straight to the point, no dillydallying. I’ve always admired that about you, you know.”

  When Kadeen only stared at him, Jake crossed his arms, enjoying the suspense.

  “Two million,” he said finally.

  Kadeen laughed. “You make two million on a typical Friday. You don’t need that kind of money. I’ll give you five hundred thousand.”

  “Hey, I’ve got other expenses, too. Besides, this painting can fund the renovation I’m looking to complete on this place.”

  Kadeen stared him down, crossing his arms.

  “One million,” Jake said.

  “Nine hundred thousand,” Kadeen countered.

  Jake mulled the amount over for a moment, pursing his lip as he considered. He held out his hand for Kadeen to shake, which he did.

  “You have a deal. Take it, and good riddance.”

  Kadeen grinned, then, and his smile reached his eyes. “You can have it in my car by the time I leave?”

  Jake nodded. “Of course. What kind of establishment do you think I’m running here? Now, tell me you’re going to stick around and have a drink with us. I’ll even buy you one.”

  “I suppose it’s the least you could do after bilking me of nine hundred grand.”

  “Like you can’t afford it.”

  “Good point. I’ll have the money with you tomorrow.”

  Jake shrugged. “I know you’re good for it. Now come on. Let’s get drunk.”

  Kadeen followed Jake back out into the club, which was starting to fill with scantily clad women and men who would make fools of themselves for the chance to take them home.

  Jake led the way to his table, where he ordered a round of drinks and motioned for a bouncer to invite a few girls up. Moments later, four undeniably beautiful women arrived at the table, sticking out their chests and pouting their lips, making sure everything was on display. The very male part of Kadeen instantly responded to their charms. The part that was being stubborn for no good reason felt like pushing all of them away.

  Frustrated at this turn of events, Kadeen began flirting with a redhead, who was more than happy to listen to everything he said, though it didn’t seem like she understood a word of it. There was only one woman who understood and loved art to the same extent he did, and he did his best not to think about Nicole’s deep blue eyes, hidden behind her glasses as she worked over yet another a masterpiece.

  “So what do you say?” the woman asked.

  Kadeen blinked. He had completely stopped paying attention.

  “I’m sorry, say about what?”

  The woman smiled and swatted him playfully on the arm. It was not a gesture he found endearing.

  “You’re such a tease!” she giggled. “What do you say to taking this party back to your place, Your Highness?”

  “Who told you to call me that?” he asked, setting his drink down.

  Kadeen wasn’t normally one to turn down good liquor, but for some reason, he couldn’t bring himself to imbibe. He had gotten what he came for, and it was time to go home.

  Before the woman could answer, Kadeen turned to Jake. “I’m heading out,” he said.

  Jake frowned, leaning in to better hear over the loud music. “You can’t go yet, the night hasn’t even started!”

  “My schedule isn’t the same as yours. I have a plane to catch in the morning.”

  Jake sighed dramatically, but he waved over a bouncer and gave him instructions, presumably to fetch the painting for Kadeen.

  “Pleasure doing business with you, Jake. Until next time.”

  Jake waved back at Kadeen before turning his attention to the two women on either side of him.

  Kadeen cleared his throat, waiting for the redhead to move so he could get out, and she pouted.

  “You don’t want me?” she asked, as she scooted to the end of the booth and stood.

  Kadeen rose and stepped away from the table, considering just walking away. The pout could very easily be fake. Women were excellent at playing games. His conscience wouldn’t let him.

  He turned to face her. “I’m sure you’re a lovely person. I’ve just got to get going. Have a good night, and good luck.”

  Without elaborating, he turned and made his exit. A bouncer was waiting by the front doors with the painting covered in a black sheet. When Kadeen stepped outside, the valet was quick to hand him his keys.

  “Thanks, kid,” the Sheikh said, tossing him another hundred-dollar bill.

  The valet nearly bowed out his gratitude, but instead smiled broadly and wished him a good evening.

  With the painting safely tucked away in his Jag, Kadeen sped for home, thinking about the work Nicole could do on such a specimen.

  Of course, it wouldn’t do him any good to think about Nicole at all.

  Chapter 5

  Nicole

  A loud, annoying ring was penetrating Nicole’s blissful sleep. She rolled over, wrapping a pillow around her head to block out the sound.

  Even then, it seemed to get louder.

  In the haze of Nicole’s sleep-ridden mind, her brain began piecing together why there might be such a noise. She shot up, tossing the pillow off the bed as she ran for the front door and pressed the button for the speaker.

  “Hello?” she said, her voice scratchy from sleep.

  She ran a brisk hand through her hair, brushing stray strands from her eyes. An annoyed voice sounded on the other end.

  “Nicole Hawthorn? Is this the correct residence?”

  “Yes, it is,” she said, breathless from her dash across the room.

  “I’m meant to take you to the airport for your flight, miss. We’re going to be late if you don’t come down right away.”

  “Got it. I’ll be there in a minute!”

  She waited a beat to hear if the man would respond. When he didn’t, she removed her finger from the speaker button and dashed back across the room, stripping out of her pajamas as she did so.

  Nicole was a notoriously heavy sleeper. Having nearly failed a test in college after sleeping in once, she had learned to set around ten alarms for herself all through school. It worked pretty well unless she forgot to set them.

  Sliding into a comfortable pair of jeans and a sweater, Nicole tossed a coat over it all and threw her toothbrush into her purse and checked she had her passport before bolt
ing out the door and running down the three flights of stairs to the main floor. When she stepped out into the cold winter morning, it was still dark out.

  A long, black limousine was waiting at the curb. The driver was leaning against the vehicle, but when he saw her he stood and moved to take her lone suitcase.

  “Sorry,” Nicole said.

  “It won’t be me you’ll have to apologize to,” the driver replied.

  Nicole gulped, knowing he was right. While Kadeen was a kind man, it had been made very clear from the beginning that when it came to business, he didn’t mess around. He expected a lot from himself and his staff, and the last thing Nicole wanted to do was let him down.

  The driver packed her suitcase away in the trunk before opening the limo door for her. Nicole slid in, relishing in the warmth of the interior over the cool darkness of the world outside. After a moment, the driver slid into his seat and pulled onto the road, heading towards their destination. Nicole allowed herself to relax a little, then, tilting her head back, closing her eyes.

  The last thing she wanted to do was fall asleep again. She sat up a little straighter and looked out the window, the better to wake up with the lights and sounds of New York to distract her from the cozy warmth of the car. She was a little surprised that Kadeen had sent a limo to pick her up, though this was the first time Nicole had interacted with him outside of the office. Perhaps this was simply how billionaires operated?

  Noticing a small bar to her right, Nicole scooted further into the cabin, perusing her options. There was some light breakfast fare and a cooler with orange juice and bottled water. Choosing a water, Nicole sipped delicately as the car drove smoothly through nearly empty streets. Finally, the car took a turn Nicole wasn’t familiar with, and a moment later they were pulling into what appeared to be an airport hangar.

  The limo drove through the warehouse-sized building, and all around them were private planes and jets of all shapes and sizes. There, leaning against a sleek, medium-sized jet, was Kadeen, looking none too pleased.

  Yikes.

  The driver pulled up alongside the jet, and Nicole bided her time waiting for him to open her door again. Once he did, she saw her suitcase waiting for her just outside, and knew there would be no hiding from the consequences of her actions. She took a breath before stepping from the vehicle and meeting Kadeen’s steely gaze.

  “I said six thirty. It’s six forty-five.”

  “It’s my fault. I slept in,” Nicole admitted.

  Kadeen stared at her for another minute, then glanced at the driver, whose gaze was equally as cold. “I know. My driver is never late. You must have made him very grumpy.”

  Nicole glanced at the driver before peeking back up at Kadeen. Was that a glint of humor in his eyes?

  “I did, and I’m sorry, but if we stand here dressing me down all morning, that won’t get us on our way any quicker. Might I suggest we move on, so we can get there as close to on time as possible?”

  “A very prudent suggestion,” Kadeen agreed. He nodded to the driver. “Thank you, Alan. That will be all for today. I’ll be in touch upon our return.”

  “Very good, sir. Have a safe trip.”

  “Thank you,” Kadeen said, placing a hand on Nicole’s shoulder as he led her toward the steps.

  She tried to ignore the instant awareness that shot through her at his touch. Instead, she focused on the plane before her. She took each step delicately before entering the cabin, and she tried to hide her awe as she took in the details of the interior.

  There were two rows of creamy leather seats, and a large television at the end of the cabin for watching movies. A chic bar was stocked with exotic liquors and fresh, organic food. Nicole had been up long enough to eye the food with more than a small amount of longing.

  There was a storage area for their suitcases, and Nicole noticed that Kadeen’s was already in place. She put hers next to his before taking a seat across from him, relishing the comfort of the luxurious, private setting.

  “How long is this flight, anyway?” she asked.

  “Around twelve hours,” he said, and Nicole gulped.

  “That is quite the journey,” she observed, and Kadeen nodded, pulling a glass from the bar and pouring himself a vodka with orange juice.

  “It is indeed. Still, I think you’ll find it passes fairly quickly, in these conditions.”

  “It really is a lovely plane,” Nicole said.

  “Thank you. Would you like a drink?” he asked, gesturing to his glass.

  “No, thank you. It’s a little early for me.”

  “Suit yourself,” he shrugged, stirring his drink and taking a sip.

  A man in a pilot’s uniform entered the cabin to let them know that they had been cleared for takeoff, and would be leaving momentarily. Nicole sat in awkward silence, not really sure what to talk about. She knew next to nothing about Kadeen, outside of his playboy reputation, and that was enough to keep her playing it safe for as long as she possibly could.

  Still, as she alternated between looking out the window and sneaking glances at him, she realized he looked different than usual. After a moment she realized it was because he was dressed casually, with jeans and a button-down shirt, rather than his usual business attire.

  The plane had taxied onto the runway and taken off before Kadeen looked away from the window and back to Nicole.

  “So, you must have some questions about our trip,” he said.

  Nicole nodded. She was practically bubbling over with questions, and had been waiting for just such an opening.

  “Yes. For one, I only packed for a few days. Do you think we’ll be away any longer than that?”

  Kadeen shook his head, taking another sip of his drink. “I don’t think so. I should likely have been more open with you about this assignment before we left, but I didn’t want Imogen to find a way to sneak herself a seat.”

  Nicole lifted an eyebrow at the comment, but Kadeen dropped the topic as he continued.

  “The truth is, the piece we’re tracking down is beyond special. If it is what they say, it will be the biggest find of my career.”

  Nicole’s eyes widened at that admission. No wonder Kadeen had said he was willing to pay whatever it took—though if that were the case, how much would the company sell it off for?

  Kadeen leaned in, and Nicole caught a whiff of his aftershave, which made her feel just a tad lightheaded. She gave her head a gentle shake, fighting to stay focused.

  “The painting is called Portrait of a Princess, and it is vitally important to the history of my country. It has been lost for decades, but we might be the ones to uncover it.”

  “How did it get lost?” Nicole asked.

  Kadeen finished his drink and poured himself another before he spoke again. “Many years ago, there was a great war between Al Qazar and one of our neighboring countries. We won, in the end, but many works of art were stolen during the fighting. Homes and palaces were invaded; anyone could have taken them—servants on the run, the invaders themselves, anyone.”

  “Do you have any idea who the culprit could have been?”

  “After all this time? No. But I don’t care. All I care about is that we find the painting and restore it to its former glory.”

  “What do you mean, restore it?”

  “Ah, that’s where you come in, my dear conservator. When I was informed that the piece had been found, they told me that it appeared to be damaged. That is why it made far more sense for me to bring you rather than Imogen. You can get to work on it right away to assess how much work will need to be done, and how it should best be transported. Imogen would not have been much help in that arena.”

  Nicole suppressed the rush of pleasure she felt at being chosen over Imogen. Still, it was nice to see that he valued her input.

  “I’m happy to help, especially if it means restoring a piece of lost treasure.”

  “I’m glad to hear it. Of course, I’m paying you fairly handsomely to do this job, a
nyway, so there’s no need to get all noble about it.”

  “Why not? I enjoy being noble.”

  “Do you?” he asked, one perfectly sculpted eyebrow lifting.

  He was far too perfect for her own good.

  Nicole realized in that moment how good it was that she wasn’t drinking. The plane was far too intimate and comfortable. The only other person around was the pilot, and he was rather too busy flying the plane to take any notice of what may or may not be happening in the main cabin.

  “Of course I do,” she answered, after a moment. “Don’t you?”

  It was a loaded question. Kadeen had a reputation for being a ne’er-do-well playboy with a love of fast cars and faster women.

  Kadeen chuckled, stirring his drink as he considered his answer. “I think I aspire to be noble. There are simply far too many distractions to keep me honest.”

  “Don’t you think that’s a choice, more than a fated decision?”

  “Oh, absolutely. I chose to move to New York when I saw the kind of life I could have there. I have no regrets about that decision.”

  “Don’t you ever miss home?”

  Kadeen’s expression turned thoughtful. “Sometimes, in the winter when it gets especially cold. I miss the heat. I miss the food, certainly, but New York has enough to placate me in that arena.”

  “What about your mom’s cooking?” Nicole asked, and Kadeen laughed.

  “Nicole, I’m a sheikh. My cousin is the king. Any food I ate back home was prepared by a team of private chefs.”

  “You’re the King’s cousin?” Nicole asked, awestruck.

  She had known that Kadeen was kind of a big deal on the New York social scene, but she had no idea that he was basically royalty. She wasn’t sure if that made her like him more or less. How could she relate to someone from such a hugely different background?

  “I am, though it’s really no big deal. With the amount of wealth I’ve amassed on my own, I’m basically New York royalty now, and there are far fewer rules and regulations there.”