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Kade sat back, one leg casually perched over his knee He looked like the negligent playboy he was, but Rafe knew his younger brother was quite serious now "It means we must choose Tal is nearly thirty-five, so our time is almost up Gavin explained this to you?"

Gavin was the CEO of Black Oak Oil and the James brother with the closest ties to Bezakistan He was also Dex’s eldest brother Along with their middle brother, Slade, they shared Hannah

"Sort of," Dex said "Talib has six ht?"

It was so much more complicated, but that summed it up neatly, so Rafe nodded "Yes We toyed with the idea of revising the constitution to more accurately reflect the modern world, but we’ve run into trouble with that"

Kade ju with the constitution, we’ve been told we open it up to all sorts of revisions, including those froious factions in our country ould prefer a governhbors"

"And we know very well that several lawe custohtly "You share a wife so you don’t have to split up the country, correct?"

"Exactly," Rafe confirions as a way to keep a fas and is still largely practiced by our population today Prieniture was the Western world’s tradition, but it forced younger sons into poverty, religion, or war We did not wish that on our children The sahas barbaric, but it keeps the farinned "Well, you’re not going to get any argu would strike real dalad you agree The trouble is that our brother has proven rather picky" Rafe was being generous Talib had been a nightmare Not that he and Kade hadn’t voiced some objections themselves

Collectively, they’d looked into twenty women over the past two years All twenty had been rejected Talib didn’t want another royal because he didn’t want the headache of dealing with two royal families, or sohty deer or a curiosity seeker, either Bezakistan, with its unique customs and culture, was always a source of interest and ent She had to be educable about enic, and be kind She had to like children, puppies, and rainbows, yada yada yada None had passed Talib’s tests

Which was just as well since Rafe had hated every one of those twenty cold wo in heart and a little hard in the soul Kade would not have hesitated to take one or two of them to bed, but he’dany of them Now the deadline for the three of them to find a bride and wed her breathed hotly down their necks If they didn’t select one soon, the throne would pass to their cousin, Khalil

No one who liked their chic yet char country as it anted that

"We’re actually here because Talib has found a possible candidate" Kade’s sly sive theive hihtly "Seriously, you’re looking for a wife, but you’re taking a little detour to salivate over uys"

Rafe put the folder with Piper’s infor on it It contained the original report and Tal’s observations about the girl, along with a few snippets of instantconversations they’d shared Rafe had already irl had increased his understanding and enthusiasht, of course That would be very ungentlemanly of us"

"And obviously your wife’s friend is far too sweet for nasty lad you understand what I’ to disrespect you I really do knohat itit scratched frequently Slade and I had to hunker down and try to survive big brother until Hannah softened hiirl you marry Can’t you find someone else?"

Rafe’s lips turned up as Dex fell neatly into their trap "I would not wish Piper heartache Now, this is the naate as a potential bride He thinks she’s quite intelligent and possesses many of the qualities we seek If you could tell us all you know about her before we approach her, perhaps fill in any gaps in our report, ould be so grateful"

Dex pulled the folder toward hi Any woman you choose will be one lucky lady Your country is beautiful and that palace is soht of Piper’s nahed "You’re a son of a bitch"

Rafe couldn’t help but srowled a little "You two better take fucking good care of her No, da is settled" He picked up the phone and started talking

Kade slid Rafe a slow sood care of her, indeed Eventually, he suspected, they’d take fucking good care of her, as well

Piper looked around the restaurant, hoping no one noticed her thrift store clothes She felt deeply out of place, and yet she couldn’t help but stare It was beautiful, completely unlike anywhere she’d been before, but then there was only one place in her hometown that would qualify as a restaurant Patty’s Pie Hole didn’t look like this

Gosh, she hoped she didn’t break anything and could figure out which fork to use

"What looks good to you, habibti?"

His voice was like rich chocolate Rafiq He’d introduced himself that way, but quickly asked her to call him Rafe He’d been the one to hold open the door for her and to help her out of the car He probably knew she was likely to take a header right on the street