Prince Hafiz's Only Vice by Susanna Carr

Author:Susanna Carr
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2014-02-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINE

“LACEY, MY WORK SHIFT is about to start,” Priya shouted over the music. “Are you going to be okay? I feel weird leaving you alone.”

“That’s sweet of you, but you don’t have to worry.” Lacey smiled at her roommate. She felt bad that Priya felt the need to mother her. And drag her to this party so she would get out of the apartment. “I’m going to be fine. It’s been a while since I’ve been to a party, but it’s all coming back to me.”

“Good,” Priya said with a nod. “I know you’ve been mending a broken heart, but you are too young to spend all your time working at the hotel and staying in bed.”

“You’re right,” she said as her roommate walked away. Taking a small sip from the beer bottle she had been nursing for an hour, Lacey stood at the sidelines and watched her coworkers mill around the pool room located in their housing complex. It was an eclectic mix of young people in swimwear and colorful sundresses. While some splashed around in the pool and others danced to the blaring music, most of the guests nibbled on the spicy snacks and drank the boldly colored concoctions.

Once Priya left the party, Lacey closed her eyes and exhaled. She would stay another five minutes and then leave.

She still wasn’t sure why she’d chosen to stay in Abu Dhabi, but it had proven to be a good decision. The rich nightlife had allowed her to find a job performing at the hotel lounge. She’d also managed to make a few friends within the month she arrived. She was determined to get out and meet more people. Forget the past and make up for lost time.

Sometimes determination wasn’t enough. Her time in Rudaynah had changed her. Marked her in ways she hadn’t considered. Lacey glanced down at the purple bikini she wore and the wispy sarong around her hips. These days she wasn’t comfortable showing too much skin. She preferred the modest dress code she had to follow once she was outside the housing complex.

“Lacey!” Cody, another American who worked in the hotel, was at her side. His wide smile, unbuttoned shirt and bright red swim trunks conveyed his casual attitude toward life. He liked to flirt with her, and while she knew it didn’t mean anything, she tried to discourage it.

“You haven’t danced once the whole time you’ve been here.” He held out his hand. “We need to fix that.”

She hesitated for a second. She knew the invitation wasn’t going to jump-start her love life, but the idea of dancing with another man—touching another man—felt wrong.

It’s just a dance. It’s no big deal. But she knew Cody would try for more. How could she explain to him that she didn’t feel whole or intact? That she was definitely not strong enough to even expose herself to a lighthearted fling or a one-night stand?

Looking into Cody’s face lined by the sun rather than by hardship, Lacey realized falling in love again was impossible.

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