A Marriage of Convenience (Married to a Prince) (11 page)

He swept her into his arms and carried her to the chaise lounge. She snuggled against him. With her son awake and her sister-in-law in the next room she tried to keep her hands to herself. Not an easy feat with tremor of happiness and excitement running circles through her body. But a little kiss… She lowered her lashes and tilted her head.

“What the hell…” Yousef said with a grunt.

Honor opened her eyes. Charlie had jumped onto Yousef’s chest and clawed the fabric of his shirt. The jealous feline drew blood.

As she pulled the cat off, it hissed in protest. “Sorry Charlie, but you are just going to have to get used to this.”

Yousef
glared at the animal but didn’t lose his temper despite the flesh wound. “Don’t make me sorry I rescued you from that shelter.”

Shelter? How had Charlie ended up in a shelter? He was supposed to be with her friend.
Before she could ask, Mona returned with the baby.

“Clean and dry,” she said.

Honor smiled her thanks and didn’t have the heart to tell you young woman that she’s placed the diaper on backwards. “You will make a wonderful mother one day.”

“Maybe, but I will have a nanny for that.
The heck with humility, I am a princess.”

* * * *

Yousef sat on a floor pillow with Joey’s carrier next to him. His son had long since fallen asleep while Honor continued to unpack the cartons. She hadn’t stopped smiling since she returned to the suite. A bunch of silly knickknacks brought her more pleasure than any expensive piece of jewelry ever could. He’d never felt sentimental attachment to inanimate objects. In his entire year of grad-school in Boston all he ever wanted to see in his apartment was her.

“You don’t have to finish it tonight.”

She flattened the last box and tossed it with the others, then joined him on the floor. “I’m done.”

“If there was anything that was missed…”

She shook her head. “Actually, I got things I didn’t even know I had.”

He hoped he didn’t remove things that belonged to someone else. He told the movers to pack everything but the furniture. “Like what?”

A smile twitched at the corners of her mouth. “Ten sets of red lingerie.

“How did that happened?”

“Must be one of Victoria’s little secrets.” She rested her head on his shoulder, “Next time…”

“I’ll ask first.”

“I was going to suggest you mix up the colors a bit. It will make it more interesting when you undress me.”

He draped his arm across her shoulders and drew her closer. It had been a long, hard road but he felt as if they were finally back to a good place in their relationship. “I have missed you.”

She let out a soft laugh. “It has only been a few days.”

“It has been a year.”

She tensed slightly and turned a questioning gaze in his direction. “Are we going to play the blame game now?”

“No,” he assured her. “I am at fault. I should have come back every day until you talked to me, even if you didn’t want to see me.”

“I never refused to see you. I had to go to check on the house after the hurricane. The phones were knocked out but I left a message for you in case you stopped by.”

What could he say? If he called her friend a liar would she even believe him? He didn’t want to backtrack but neither did he want her to think he left without trying to reach her. “It must have been a miscommunication.”

Her eyes glazed over. She crossed her arms over her waist as if to protect herself from more betraying body-blows. This was exactly what he hoped to avoid. “How did you know to find Charlie in the shelter? He was supposed to be with Shelly.”

“Your father suggested I try the ASPCA when he wasn’t with your friend. Luckily you had him micro
-chipped. Only they couldn’t reach you by phone when he was turned in.”

“My phone doesn’t work here.”

Guilt tightened his gut. He really had isolated her. “Then we will have to get you one that does, so you can reach you friends.”

“The only one I would have wanted to reach obviously wasn’t much of a friend.”

“I’m sorry.”

“You shouldn’t be sorry. You should be as mad as me.
I spent a year thinking you didn’t care about me. And she never said a word when I would cry about Joey never knowing his father.”

This was not the happily-ever-after outcome he’d planned for. He hoped to heal their rift not cause another one. “I was trying to cheer you up not tick you off.”

She paused, took a deep breath and smiled. “Thank you, Yousef. You made me happier than you’ll ever know.”

When she gazed at him with unmistakable happiness, he remembered how and why he lost his heart to her. He lifted her into his lap. She curled into him and rested her fingers on his chest but she hand did not remain idle. He should have changed into a thobe because he was about to burst out of his jeans. “Happy enough to reconsider the one year expiration date on our marriage.”

She pursed her lips. Gripping his tie, she pulled his face closer. “You chose the time limit.”

“I didn’t think you’d say yes.”

Honor shot a quick glance at her son, sleeping blissfully. With a sign of contentment, she wrapped her arms around his neck. ”You should have more faith in your negotiating skills. It is what you do for a living after all.”

Yes that was what he did for a living. He needed to get back to that job. And he would
... after a proper honeymoon.

* * * *

Honor arched her back and raised her arms above her head is a long, leisurely stretch. The morning sun shone from behind like a halo around her face. Just the sight of her turned Yousef rock hard and burning with desire. He pulled her against his body, nipping at her ear lobe.

“I need to get up,” she said.

“There is no work on Friday.”

“Not for you. But I have a busy day.” She tried to free herself. But she didn’t try very hard. He ran his hand along her thigh, over her hip and followed the
contour of her waist before settling on her breast.

She sighed deeply. “That is so unfair.”

“I never said I played fair.”

“We can’t stay in bed all day.”

He pressed against her. “Is that a challenge?”

She turned into him and peppered his neck with kiss
es. “I know better than that.”

“
Joey is already up and out with my mother. What do you have to do that’s so important?”

“I am going to the supermarket.”

He chuckled. “Really. And that is more fun than me?”

She broke out in a wider grin. “I’ve already had you twice today.”

He dropped onto his back. “You know you can do food shopping on line and have it delivered. Or you can just take anything you want from the kitchen.”

She sat up and wrapped her arm
s around bent legs. “I want a normal life. Or as normal as possible while living in a palace.”

He understood although he had trouble sympathizing when her n
eeds conflicted with his. And if he told her that? He knew better. “I will arrange a car…”

Her gaze lingered over his body for several thoughtful moments.
“That’s not fair either.” She reached across the bed and pulled the covers over him. “I have a ride.”

“Your father?”

“No. I’m going with Riya Hassan… From the Alliance of American Schools.”

He sat up. “When you go out, you need to arrange for a driver.”

“Riya has a driver. “

Palace drivers were trained bodyguards. How could he explain without making her feel uncomfortable?
“I can go with you…”

She laughed. Not a sweet little giggle b
ut an in-your-face laugh. “You, in the supermarket at a mall? Afterwards, we can get some double-fudge ice cream and have mani/pedis?”

Yousef
bit back a retort. She had tortured him when she took him shopping back in the States.

This was one argument he would not win. She wanted a normal life.
In the weeks since she had been here, she had only been off the compound once with less than memorable results. He would just have Mall security kept a discreet eye on her.

Chapter
Nine

Honor buckled the baby carrier in the back of the limo and settled in the leather seat. Although she found she liked palace life more than she thought she would, she couldn’t deny the sense of freedom surrounding her as they exited the front gate and pulled into the bustling city traffic.

Riya
smoothed the ruby red tunic over her jeans. Honor wished she had the courage to dress so casually but seeing how often the press found reasons to criticize members of the extended royal family, she erred on the side of caution with black slacks and a simple gray blouse.

Riya
sat across from the baby and tickled his toes. “Your son is a good traveler.”

“He’s not hungry yet. But mostly he is good.” Honor glanced out the window. “How long until we get to the mall?”

“I thought we might take a little ride first. I would like to introduce you to my grandfather. He wants to meet you.”

“Why?”

“He works with your husband sometimes and he would like to share a cup of tea and congratulate you on your marriage. It is a Bedouin tradition.”

A chill washed over her.
Why hadn’t her colleague mentioned something sooner. Honor didn’t want to be rude but before beginning her job, she had memorized a list of dos and don’ts regarding protocol. Number one on the list involved informing the palace on whereabouts at all times.

“I need to call.”

“You won’t get reception inside the limo.”

She pulled out her phone. “I’ll just try.”

The driver in the front seat barked out an order. Honor jumped and Joey woke up.

Riya
gazed sympathetically. “I am afraid I can’t let you do that.” She pulled the cell phone from Honor’s hand and removed the battery.

Honor gasped.
“What are you doing?”

“I promise you, no one will hurt you or your son. They just want to talk to your husband.”

Numbness gripped her. “Who are
‘they’
?”

“The tribal
council for the Bedouins.”

The baby began to cry. She rubbed her hand over his belly, which
pacified him but did nothing to relieve her growing fear. Number two from the list of protocols flashed through her mind like a neon sign. The kingdom does not negotiate with terrorists. “You think he will talk to them if they kidnap his son?”

“I wish you would not call this a kidnapping.”

“What do you call it?” Her fingers clenched on the side of the carrier. All she could think about was her son.

“
A sightseeing tour.”

Anger mingled with her
dread.”This is not a joke and Yousef will not be amused.”

“They are not trying to amuse him. And you are not being held hostage. All he needs to do is come pick you up.”

“If he refuses?”

Riya
touched her hand. “You know he won’t. Everyone in the country knows how much he adores his family.”

Honor drew in a deep breath and made a conscious effort to retain control of her failing reason.
“Aren’t you worried you will be arrested?”

“
I fully expect to be, but before that my grandfather will have his meeting with His Royal Highness and air his grievances so they can move on again. Bedouins do not like to stay in any one place for too long and they have been outside the capital for over a month waiting for these negotiations to end.”

“And you would risk your own freedom for this?”

“What would you risk for your family?”

Honor
remained silent. If she weren’t stuck in the middle of this situation she would unequivocally agree with the woman. That didn’t calm her. She stroked Joey’s cheek and focused on him. Only his innocent face smiling up at her stopped her from giving into the urge to cry.

“I know you are angry
with me but please try not to be afraid. The Bedouins are very peaceful people and they would never hurt a woman or a child. You will be home before sunset.”

“How can you be sure?”

“If I am wrong and your husband will not come, I will drive you back myself.”

Riya's
face reflected her conflicting emotions. Guilt certainly but her calm acceptance of her fate and her unshakable willingness to follow through regardless touched Honor and surprisingly eased the fear. As the urban sprawl gave way to the vast desert she tried to hold on to the shaky bravado and remain in control for her son and herself.

* * *