Izzy straightened in her seat. Hell, why didn’t they apply that law in the United States? She could think of a few women growing up who would have liked to sue a man for betrayal. Heard enough stories from girls in college.
“What kind of king would I be if I didn’t know the laws?”
Kesia narrowed her eyes at him, probably growing impatient.
“If I may interrupt you,” the same coiffed lady who had shown Izzy her seat said, “Miss Morowa Peete has arrived.”
Oh, great. Fan-fucking-tastic. Gwokon’s answer to Halle Berry sat next to Izzy. A ball of apprehension grew in her throat, drying her vocal cords even if she’d been quiet.
“Kesia,” Nassor said, calling his mother by her given name for the first time. “You didn’t tell me Morowa would join us.”
“I was getting to that part,” his mother said. “It seems we both have surprise guests.”
A wave of heat spread across Izzy’s cheeks. She was used to unruly students, to having to talk to entitled parents who believed their kids did no wrong. She’d even managed to deal with a hard-ass principal most teachers avoided, all without much problem. But, this?
“Morowa, this is Izzy Lima. She’s been a royal guest from the States. We can’t tell much about what brought her here for national security reasons,” Kesia said, casually, slapping a smile on her face.
National security reasons. God. If she only knew.
“Nice to meet you,” Morowa said, offering her a hand. “How do you like our country?”
“It’s full of surprises,” she said, shaking it and releasing her hand quickly. She didn’t dare to look in Nassor’s direction. Obviously, his mother wanted him to take this gorgeous woman next to her as his wife. Morowa seemed nice, besides being drop-dead gorgeous.
And here I am, literally in the way. No wonder his mother had been so mad he’d brought her to this fund-raising event—Kesia had planned on cementing his future marriage to Morowa. A mix of sadness and shock chilled her bloodstream.
“What places have you visited, Izzy?” Morowa asked.
Izzy opened her mouth, but no sound came out. No. She couldn’t do this—act like she wasn’t sleeping with the man Morowa intended to marry. Lie. Deceive the poor woman. “Excuse me, I’m not feeling well,” she said, grabbing her clutch. She surged to her feet, and, avoiding looking at Nassor or his mother, said, “I’m sorry. Sorry.”
She turned around and walked briskly, zigzagging through the incoming crowd quickly. When she got to the exit, she exhaled, hoping some of the suffocating sensation would dissipate and her lungs would give her a break.
“Can I help you?” the valet asked.
“I need a taxi please. I need…to get out of here.”
Izzy stepped out of the shower, the clouds of steam still swirling around her. She’d hoped a hot shower would help her relax, but as she wrapped herself in the fluffy robe, tension continued pulling at her muscles.
Her maid had offered her a hot tea or milk with cookies, and she’d refused both options. Izzy ran her fingers through her freshly washed hair, then brushed the damp curls. With her face free from makeup, she watched her reflection in the mirror.
Nassor hadn’t told her about his meeting with John Williams until probed. Also, why didn’t he invite her along? Shouldn’t she have been included, since she had the most to lose? She brushed her hair more vigorously. No. He had the most to lose—if Mary’s death revealed a dark part of his uncle’s rule he’d rather sweep under the rug.
“Izzy,” the deep male voice she’d come to recognize so quickly said.
A jolt of surprise coursed through her, and she clenched the handle of the brush before turning in the direction of the sound. “What are you doing here?”
Nassor stood against the doorframe, the intensity in his eyes heating her insides. Without his jacket and with the first buttons of his tie-free shirt undone, he looked as gorgeous as ever. “You ran.”
“What else was I supposed to do? Wait for your engagement party? I may not be from here, but I can sense what was going on. Your mother wants you to marry that woman, and you used me as the scapegoat.”
“I didn’t know my mother would bring her,” he said, looking square into her eyes. Damn it, he sounded honest.
She swallowed. “Really?”
“And, frankly, I don’t need to use you as a human shield. I’m perfectly capable of declining by myself.” He slammed the doorframe. “Fuck. I can’t think straight anymore.”
Welcome to my world. “Why?”
“Why do you think I fled an event immediately after you left? Why do you think I ruined any possibility of the match my mother had schemed behind my back?” He erased the distance between them, and when he was within a hair’s breadth, her knees nearly buckled. Blood rushed down her pussy, swelling her folds and puffing her clit. She lifted her chin to gaze into his eyes, her heart beating staccato. “It’s you, Izzy. I’m falling for you. I can’t let you out of my sight, let alone let you return to America.”
