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“Hafiz?”
He jerked at the sound of Lacey’s voice. His gaze slammed into hers. He saw the concern and the tears. But it was the defeat in her eyes that slayed him. Lacey always looked at him as if he was invincible. That he could achieve the impossible.
Now she wasn’t so sure. Not when it looked as if he would lose everything over a damning photo.
Priya cleared her throat and only then did Hafiz remember she was in the room. He was always like this when he was around Lacey. Nothing else mattered. It was becoming a major problem.
“I’m going to give you guys some privacy,” the roommate said as she started to back away. “Lacey, text me when the prince is ready to return to his hotel suite.”
“Why?” Lacey asked.
“If this picture gets out, other photographers will try to find me. A picture of me is worth a lot of money, especially if it includes you,” Hafiz explained.
He remembered how this worked. It was humbling that he was in the same predicament that he’d found himself in ten years ago. It didn’t matter how much he had tried to control his wilder impulses, he had not changed at all.
Priya nodded. “I can get you to your room unseen.”
“Thank you.” He returned his attention to Lacey. She crossed her arms tightly against her body and began to pace.
The moment Priya closed the door, Lacey whirled around to face him. “I had nothing to do with this.”
Hafiz narrowed his eyes. He wasn’t sure what Lacey was talking about, but he often found being silent was the best way to get information.
“I did not set you up,” Lacey said. “I know you think that I’m out to sabotage your wedding, but I wouldn’t do that.”
“You wouldn’t?” he asked softly. The thought hadn’t crossed his mind. He knew his appearance had been unexpected, and Lacey’s attention had been focused on him from the moment they had reconnected. He knew he could trust Lacey about this.
The fact that she immediately leaped to the conclusion that he would suspect her bothered him. He didn’t trust easily, and yet he trusted Lacey more than anyone. But since his trust wasn’t blind or absolute, Lacey thought he didn’t trust her at all.
“Of course, I wouldn’t. Do you think all mistresses are manipulative schemers who would do anything to maintain their lifestyles?”
“You aren’t like any other mistress.” Lacey hadn’t been motivated by money, status or power.
“I wouldn’t know. I have nothing to compare,” Lacey said as she continued to pace. “But, believe me, I am not interested in returning to Rudaynah and maintaining the lifestyle of secrets and hiding.”
“Hate Rudaynah that much?”
“I don’t hate it,” she corrected him. “There were parts of it that I found intolerable, but I also saw the beauty and wonder.”
Hafiz doubted she could list what she found beautiful. “No, you hated it.”
“I hated that I was separated from you,” she said. “I hated that we had to hide our relationship.”
“Our relationship is about to be brought out into the open,” he murmured. He would have to deny it, but no one would believe him. It was clear in the photo that he was intimate with Lacey. And if they had photos of what happened immediately after that embrace... He would protect Lacey from the embarrassment, no matter the cost or the consequences.
“Do you think I forced your hand?” Lacey stopped pacing and stood directly in front of him. “I didn’t. I don’t know how to convince you that I have nothing to do with this picture. I don’t have any proof. But once I find the person who is responsible...”
Hafiz was momentarily fascinated as he watched her shake her fist in the air. He hadn’t seen her like this. She was in full protective mode. Of him. He took care of Lacey, not the other way around.
“I know you don’t have anything to do with it,” Hafiz said.
She lowered her fist and gave him a sidelong glance. “You do?” She said the words in a slow drawl.
Hafiz nodded. “It’s not your nature.” He knew that, but it hadn’t stopped him from accusing her in the past. He had let his past experiences with women cloud his judgment.
