Book excerpt: A hot-blooded sheikh pursues his cold-hearted runaway bride in this contemporary romance by a USA Today–bestselling author. When Sheikh Zahir Ra’if Quarishi took a Western woman as his wife, it caused outrage among his people. And marrying Sapphire Marshall turned out to be the biggest mistake of Zahir’s life. As cold and untouchable as her jeweled namesake, Sapphire fled the kingdom before sharing the marriage bed, leaving Zahir to face the shame alone—and his bank account five million dollars lighter. Now his ex-wife has been spotted in his desert and before she can run again, Zahir plans to banish her from his mind once and for all, beginning with reclaiming his wedding night!