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“This summer’s tournament is going to be memorable. It’s always high stakes with the world’s best athletes competing for one of the sport’s most treasured prizes amid the splendor of the Hamptons summer scene.” He suddenly cupped her face. “But this year it will be the best ever because you’re here. With me.”

She almost fainted with the surge of emotions as she gazed helplessly into the molten translucence of his eyes.

A scratchy noise came from what felt like a mile away. She didn’t realize what it was until Adham withdrew his hand and sat back. Jameel’s discreet cough, alerting them that they’d arrived.

She looked dazedly around. They’d stopped by a row of stables. There were people outside. Some seemed to be going about their business. Most seemed to be waiting for them. With cameras.

She turned to Adham, apprehension shooting up her spine. She didn’t find him. Seconds later, he seemed to materialize at her other side. He helped her out and she stumbled up and into his containment as the glare and heat of the summer day and the cacophony of the newspeople bombarded her. He hugged her to his side as they walked inside the stables, preceded by rabidly eager faces, snapping photos and shouting questions.

Adham calmly confirmed the date of their marriage, and that it had been a private ceremony because of her father’s condition. Then he nodded to Jameel, and bodyguards appeared as if out of nowhere, clearing their path of paparazzi.

There were still too many people inside the stables, too many eyes, all on Adham and her. She felt more vulnerable by the second under their scrutiny. She’d always hated attention. She’d realized she’d get more than ever now that she was Adham’s wife, but realizing it was one thing. Experiencing it was another.

A tremor shot through her. Adham’s arm tightened, making her feel he’d surrounded her with a protective force field, as if she were the most treasured thing on earth.

“I want you to meet my most important colleagues.”

Next second, all unease evaporated. It was replaced by wonder.

His horses. Or as they were called in polo, his ponies.

The sight of the mind-boggling collection of magnificent animals had delight bubbling inside her at being so close to such a manifestation of primal grandeur and beauty.

Adham introduced her to each pony, telling her its name, breed, measurements, character, quirks and strengths on the field. And throughout, people came to salute him, awe for him as clear as their curiosity about her, the woman this desert prince and celebrity entrepreneur had picked to be his bride.

He accepted their congratulations, deflected their adulation and introduced her with supreme pride, then made it clear that he expected privacy to show his bride around.

Once everyone had retreated to an acceptable distance, Adham resumed his explanations. “My ponies travel with me wherever my team goes. Each member must have six to eight horses per game. But to make allowances for injuries and other crises, I transport around sixty to seventy horses during each season.”

Just when she thought she couldn’t possibly see anything more perfect, he introduced her to his pride and joy, his prize ponies.

“Aswad and Layl, ‘black’ and ‘night’ in Arabic, are brothers. Their sire was Hallek, or ‘deepest dark,’ my very first horse.”

She caressed one glossy velvet neck after another in wonder, flashing Adham a delighted smile. “Any relation, since your own name means ‘deepest black’?”

He let out a peal of laughter that had every head in the stables turning, relinquishing any attempt to appear as if they weren’t intently watching their every move.

“My family always wondered if I have horse genes in me, the way I’m as one with them. But it’s true that I feel like they’re my kin, my children even. I oversaw the breeding of each and every one of my ponies myself, followed their lives since before they were born.”

“You do share all of their unrivaled magnificence.”

At her fervent statement, his eyes flared. He plunged his fingers into the mass of curls at the back