She thought of the outrageous display last night. The memories only returned to her in quick wisps. A testament to exhaustion, she supposed. She had only pretended to be asleep when her attendants left her. She’d roamed her suite until the wee hours and then made her way out before the rest of the house woke.
She’d barely remembered making it to the table where Nassor waited last night. Her mind had been racing and she was grateful to her cousins Smoak and Mzuzi for their escorts. Her would-be husband’s charm couldn’t be denied. She wasn’t a ‘diamonds are a girl’s best friend’ kind of girl, but his gift was quite stunning. Another girl might be spending the morning choosing her wedding trousseau. If only Imani’s still developing instincts weren’t screaming at her that this was an ill-match, she might have been that girl.
She stifled a yawn and reached for the tiny espresso cup. She had hoped taking refuge outside in the brisk Chicago morning air might keep her eyelids from feeling so heavy. Additionally, it was a perfect spot for hiding. At least she hadn’t been found. As for staying awake, she felt ready to curl up on the cushioned booth seat behind the table and have a restful snooze.
“We gotta stop meeting on balconies this way, Your Highness.”
Imani set the cup down with a clatter, her head whipping up and back.
Roman’s easy expression took an abrupt about face to concern. He sat next to her, easily consuming a great deal of the space. “Are you okay?” His eyes searched her face as if looking for answers. “Did something happen after that stupidity in the dining room last night?”
She blinked. “How-”
“I was there. Looked like you were having fun...before I left.”
Imani offered a wan smile. “I hope everyone else was as fooled as you were.” Wincing, she rolled her eyes. “I sound so petty,” she murmured.
“Hey?” Roman inclined his head to regain their eye contact. “Anybody would be upset about having their life plotted out for them.”
“Not the girls in my country,” Imani disputed. “This would be a dream come true.”
“Ah, so you’re the oddball.”
“No,” her smile was more generous then, “just the girl whose father sent her to school in London.”
Roman shook his head slightly. “I’m surprised he’d send you that far away.”
“Can you believe I begged him? Should have saved my begging for now. I don’t think he’ll feed my whims again.”
“He obviously got his money’s worth,” Roman searched her face again. “You’re everything a man could want in a-daughter,” he bit back the words girlfriend and wife. You’re a fool, Tesano, he told himself.
“You seemed to get along with him...from last night,” he forced in a new line of conversation.
Imani shrugged. “He was very easy to get along with...last night.”
Roman grinned. “You didn’t buy it?”
“Only because I know things about him. I’ve talked to women who...know things about him.”
“Like what? What happened last night, Imani?” Roman’s voice was all steel and left no quarter for her to refuse him an answer.
“Nothing, I swear it,” she vowed. “I- Nassor was the perfect gentleman. I had to ask him to kiss me.” She saw the mistake she’d made in sharing that the moment she heard the words leave her tongue.
Roman looked toward the balcony, hoping to hide the fire he sensed blazing in his eyes. His jaw ached, he’d clenched it so hard.
Imani took Roman’s reaction for disapproval and nothing more. “I’m not so forward I-it was just the fastest way to get him to say goodnight,” she explained.
“He’s a strange one if that worked.”
“I thought it might work to my advantage. Especially if I show him coldness the next time. He might find me fickle and tell my father I’m too immature-”
“Imani, listen to me.”
His voice had adopted a leaden quality that had her frowning.
“That’s a dangerous play, do you understand me?”
“I just thought-”
“He’ll think you’re a tease.”
“So what? If it ends this talk of marriage-”
“You don’t want out of it that way. It could be dangerous for you.”
“Nassor wouldn’t dare-”
Roman took her elbow, treating it to the faintest squeeze. “Promise me you won’t do that again? Imani?” He squeezed her arm again, not to hurt but enough to let her feel his urgency.
She nodded quickly, a miserable look taking hold of her face. “I can’t marry him Roman. My mother and aunties are the cause for it as much as he is,” she yawned during the admission.
Roman gave her a pitying smile. “How much sleep did you get last night?”
“None.”
“Come on,” he gave her elbow another squeeze. “Let me take you back.”
She shook her head. “Not yet.”
