IT WAS NICE to be in the office with no drama. Cynthia was able to get most of her paperwork done. Everything was set for the Policemen Ball on Saturday. Those homes that were decorated each year for the Christmas holiday by TNT scheduled, as well as the events for December.Samuel crossed her mind. She missed him not being around this morning. She enjoyed having Blake around, but he wasn’t Samuel. Why did he leave her alone? Shaking her head, she stopped herself. He was her bodyguard, she should be thinking about LaVere’ and why she hadn’t heard from him.
There was nothing in life that she wanted more than being loved. The problem was her definition of love. In the short time she has known LaVere’, she has not wanted for anything materialistic. It was the inner satisfaction that she was not receiving and that was what was confusing. LaVere’ was a prince. The question was, is he her Prince Charming. Shaking her head she concluded, “Prince Charming does not exist. He was not going to rush in and save her from danger.” Maybe LaVere’ was as close as she was going to get.
Pushing the thoughts aside she began reviewing inventory for the ten houses scheduled for holiday decorations on the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving. Her day was scheduled to begin at seven a.m. and end at eleven p.m. To her staff it was hard work decorating homes for the holiday, but for Cynthia it was a labor of love. The look on her clients’ faces once their homes were ready to ring in the holidays was wonderful to her, not to mention the twelve hundred per home she receives in compensation.
Looking up at one of the shelves in the inventory room, she noticed the label on one of the boxes was turned backward and she wasn’t sure if it was a part of the order for one of the homes or not. The last thing she needed was to get to a house and not have everything on the truck to complete the job. The schedule was so tight there would be no time to return to the office. Not wanting to push the heavy ladder over to the location and then back, she took her heels off. Stepping on the bottom shelf, she reached up to turned the box around. Stretching up she still could not reach the box. She shook the stand to make sure it was sturdy. Believing it was strong enough to hold her, she climbed to the next shelve and pushed the box around until she could see the label. She leaned back and the entire stand began leaning as if it was top-heavy. “Oh shit!” she screamed while holding onto the rack for dear life. Just when she thought she was about to hit the floor, with the boxes tumbling on top of her, someone grabbed her by the waist. She balled into a fetal position and covered her head. After hearing one or two boxes fall, there was silence. She looked up to see Samuel balancing the shelves with one hand and holding her up with the other. “Whoa.” She said as she clung to his thigh. Her eyes and hand were very close to a part of Samuel’s anatomy that was triggering a reaction throughout her body.
The thought of boxes tumbling on top of his Cynthia propelled him into action. First, he had to keep her from hitting the concrete floor, and then he had to prevent the boxes from falling on top of her. He made it across the span of the basement in three long steps. The racing of his heart began to slow down from the scare she had given him. He placed her on her feet, but could not release her completely. “I can’t leave you alone for a minute. Holding her close to his side he pushed the heavy box back into its position. She reached up to try to help him, but he increased his hold on her. “Stay still.” Holding the shelf in place with one hand and her at his side with the other, he turned and looked into her eyes. It was hard not to notice just how perfectly she fit against his body. “Am I going to have to keep you attached to my side to keep you safe from harm?”
Safe. That’s exactly how she felt when he was around, just like she felt last night. But with Samuel there was more, a lot more. He listens when she talks, he laughs with her and he doesn’t let her control him. Not to mention how aroused she gets around him. Safe and aroused, was what she felt almost to the point of distraction. Not able to pull her eyes from him, she held tightly to the muscular arm that was holding her. Just as if it was second nature her lips parted as she stared up at him. “You left me this morning?”
“I will never be far away.”
Looking up with sad eyes she replied. “But I didn’t know that. And you left me with Blake. He could have gotten hurt trying to protect me.”
Smiling at her pouted lips he shook his head. “Rusty was there.”
Neither moved as she absentmindedly rubbed his arm and he simply smiled.
“Please don’t leave me again.”
He could see how vulnerable she was. His daddy didn’t raise any fools, he knew when an opportunity presented itself, you take full advantage, and he did. First, he kissed her eyelids, “I won’t leave you.” Then he kissed the tip of her nose, “I promise to keep you safe.” Then he kissed the top of her parted lips. “Cinnamon,” he whispered before capturing her lips with his. He began a slow dance with the inside of her mouth, taking his time, enjoying the taste of her. The fact that his feelings for her were changing didn’t mean hers were changing for him. He felt it was his duty to help her reach the conclusion. Slowly pulling away he captured her bottom lip between his lips then sucked and rolled his tongue across the smooth skin.
Lord, knows she needed to pull away, but he felt so good, so right. There, with one arm around her, he was claiming her as his. No, her mind screamed and she pulled away. She felt the loss immediately. “Samuel,” she shook her head. “we can’t. I’m committed to LaVere’.”
Making sure the boxes were secure he walked over to her. “Are you?” With his finger he lifted her chin to look into her eyes. When she opened them, he saw uncertainty. Realizing she was not ready he stepped back.
“Do you believe in the power of prayer?” he asked almost in a whisper.
Not sure why he asked the question, “Yes,” she answered with beautiful wide eyes.
“I believe my prayer was answered on a snowy night just about a month ago.”
Staring at him she could not believe how sure she was at that moment that her prayer was also answered. What confused her was which one was the answer, Samuel or LaVere’. In the past, she had made one bad decision after another. She wanted to change that record. “We crossed a line Samuel and we have to step back.” She turned away from him and picked up her shoes. Praying her body would stop trembling she stood once her shoes were on and surveyed the man standing before her. The man should be arrested for stealing someone else’s manhood. She was sure it had to be against the law for any one man to look so totally manly. There was nothing about him that hinted at having a doubt about who he was and what he wanted. And from the look in his eye, she was on that list. No woman would ever go lacking with him as her man—that she was sure of. “If you don’t stop looking at me like that I am going to give up my vow of celibacy.” That’s when she saw it; a smile that lit up the basement. He took a step toward her, “Stop, stop damn it. Don’t come near me.” She raised her hand. “I have made too many mistakes in my life and I don’t want to make another one.” She took a step back to give herself the space she needed to send him away. “I don’t know where I’m supposed to be. A few weeks ago, I had no one in my life. Now there are two of you.” She shook her head. “I know there’s this sexual attraction between us. I’ve felt it for a while, but. I’m committed to making things work with LaVere’. With LaVere’, I know what and who he is. I know what he wants from me.”
Samuel slipped his hands into his pocket and nodded. “Okay, I’ll wait.’
“Wait for what?”
He walked over to her and looked intently into her eyes. “Until you realize everything you want you will find in me.” He inhaled and looked around the room. “Are you finished down here?
“Samuel,”
“You made your point. The conversation is over. I want you to do what feels right for you. Not me, not the prince and not your mother. But for you.” He reached out to her, “Now, let’s go upstairs. You’re not safe down here by yourself.”
* * *
Tucker sat in his office looking at the two people sitting in front of him. One was rambling to explain why he felt he had to shoot the Eagle. The other sat quietly shaking her head at the fool. “Now instead of one assignment we have three,” Ryan stated.
“What the hell you talking about three. I got rid of an enemy. Huh, that one won’t bother us anymore. That’s for damn sure.”
Sighing in frustration, Ryan looked at the fool. “Did it ever occur to you, that they would just send another person to handle the hit? The person doing the hit is not the one we want to bring now. We need the man at the top who ordered the hit. Now, we not only have to still bring down the man at the top, but the new hitman, and make no mistake there will be a new one, retaliation from the Eagles, the police and oh yes, keeping your dumb ass out of jail for murder.”
“Where’s the weapon?” Tucker asked.
“I broke it down, melted the pieces, and distributed the contents in different lakes,” Ryan explained.
“You hear that shit man, she ruined a perfectly good gun.”
“She saved your neck, is what she did. That perfectly good gun is the only thing that could connect you to the murder.”
“Ryan, you’re working solo on this from here out. Tell them a professional is being brought in. He turned to the man sitting next to her. “Go anywhere near this situation and I will kill you myself.”
* * *
Jamal sat patiently with his notepad and pen, waiting for LaVere’s response to the report he had given. He was certain this would end the ridiculous notion about marrying this American woman. During their brief visit home, the King made his position on this matter clear, not only to LaVere’, but to him as well. Unfortunately, LaVere’ insisted that he alone would make the decision on whom he decided to marry. Jamal shook inwardly at the look the King gave LaVere’. It was good that Queen Nasheema was present. She kept the family discussion civil and did not allow the King nor LaVere’s tempers to get the best of them. “Shall I send your regrets for this evening?” He asked while beginning the note to the Thornton family. Canceling this dinner would be a pleasant task for him. In his opinion, the woman had no shame and was totally disrespectful of the Prince’s status.
While the report troubled him, it was not a reason to deter from his original plan. LaVere’ knew his family would not be pleased with his decision. Their reaction was exactly what he anticipated. His father would be against it, Aswan, the successor to the throne would follow his father’s lead, Raheem, the next in line would only want to know if she was beautiful, his sister, ZsaZsa would be elated at the prospects of having another female in the home and his mother would simply want his happiness. What seemed to bother him more was Jamal’s betrayal. “Why did you bring a private investigator into this situation?” LaVere’ asked the question as humanely as his temper would allow.
Taken back by his question, Jamal simply stared at him dumbfounded. “Your Highness, surely you can see that this is a common woman and is not worthy of you. It is my duty not only to my King, but to my country as well to protect them from your immature decisions.”
Unable to remain seated, LaVere’ stood and walked around to the front of the desk where Jamal sat. “You dare to question my loyalty to my country!” he roared.
“He did, my son. I clearly heard it as I came down the corridor,” Nasheema smiled brightly. She walked over and kissed the shocked LaVere’ on the cheek. “Good morning, my darling. I thought you may need your mother.” She looked at Jamal with questioning eyes. “I can see I was right. Hello, Jamal. It appears you have been the cause of disaccord within my family. Certainly, you know that displeases me.”
“Mother, when did you get here?” LaVere’ asked pulling her attention away from Jamal.
“We just arrived. Edmund is showing ZsaZsa to a room as we speak.”
“I am pleased to see you, however, I am sure Father is not happy,” he smiled. “Come, have a seat. You look beautiful as always.” As she sat, LaVere’ turned to Jamal, “We will complete this discussion at a later time. For now, you are dismissed.”
Jamal stood to leave just as ZsaZsa floated into the room. “Jamal thank you so much for upsetting Mother. I could never find a good reason to give Father to allow me to come back to America, and you supplied me with it. Mother was so upset when you faxed that report to Father that she wanted to come here and reprimand you personally. In fact, that’s all she talked about on the flight over.” She turned from Jamal and ran into LaVere’’ arms. “Hello again, my unswerving brother. Boy, is Father upset with you for pulling Mother away. She was so angry at his reaction to Jamal’s report that she immediately packed her bags to come and see what all the fuss was about. To this moment, I’m not sure she even knew I was on the plane with her.”
LaVere’ began to laugh. There was never a dull moment when ZsaZsa was around. She was a ball of energy at the sweet age of seventeen. He hugged her and enjoyed her giggles as he sat her back down on her feet. “I’m glad you are here. Leave it to you to put a full spin on all that has happened in the last two days.”
She smiled, “Oh well, anything I can do to help you out. So where is she?”
“ZsaZsa please, give us a moment before you say anything more.” Nasheema exhaled. Her daughter was the light of her eyes and she loved her dearly, but her energy sometimes was quite overwhelming. She looked at LaVere’; “this is what happens when you have a child late in life. However, she is correct; I came here to speak to you in person, Jamal. So before you leave, I am going to have my say.” She stood and walked over to him. “I do not allow anyone to come between the King and me, but you have. What possessed you to fax that report to Ahmed? You knew the harm it would cause LaVere’s intentions. Have you forgotten your duty? You are his secretary. Your duty is to him first. My son’s life was entrusted to you and this is how you protect him, by betraying his trust in you. I don’t know what the game is you are playing, but you will not disrupt my family again. I took the liberty of contacting your mother. She is expecting a correspondence from you explaining your actions. Just so you know, I expressed my disappointment in you in no uncertain terms, and it is my wish that you be relieved of your duties immediately. But, since your family has been loyal servants to us for many decades, I’m hesitant to take that step at this moment. However, rest assured, given another opportunity and I will make certain that neither you nor any other member of your family serves the royal court again. Are there any questions?”
If he would not face being beheaded, Jamal could have slapped the woman for contacting his mother. The position his family has was one of honor and respect. He was a descendant of a long line of secretaries that has served the royal families. If he is relieved of his duties, it would bring dishonor to his family. How dare she contact his mother on this issue? For a moment he thought to tell her he was only following the King’s orders, but he thought better of it. He was certain if anything was to happen the King would protect him.
For a fleeting moment LaVere’ felt for Jamal, however, that faded the moment he realized the same report he had just given him, was sent to his father earlier. “Jamal, the Queen is being very lenient on this matter, but I am not. As of this moment you are relieved of your duties. I will not formally dismiss you, but you will be reassigned. I cannot have someone on my staff that I cannot trust.”
“LaVere’,” Nasheema turned, “I promised his mother we would not take such actions. I know you have every say in this matter, however I ask you to please reconsider.”
“Your Highness, my actions were to protect you. I may have overstepped my bounds.”
“May have?” LaVere’ questioned.
Jamal cleared his throat, “I overstepped my boundaries in an overzealous attempt to protect you. I assure you, it will not happen again.”
Against his better judgment LaVere’ conceded. “This is the only warning, Jamal. Your actions will not go unpunished, you may leave now.”
Jamal nodded, “Your Highness,” and left the room.
ZsaZsa looked at her brother, “I don’t know about you, but I did not believe one word of what he said.”
LaVere’ looked at his mother and smiled, “You’ve taught her well.”