Kareem lowered his glass. She could tell that he didn’t believe a word of her explanation. Although his face remained impassive, his eyes told her that he knew she was hiding something.
     “Where are we going?” she nervously reached for her locket. Again it wasn’t there. She knew it wouldn’t be. It was an instinctive habit. When she was nervous or upset she would look at Cody’s picture to remind herself that she had to be strong for his sake. Now she didn’t even have that tiny bit of comfort to rely on.
     He didn’t answer and that made her even more anxious. Most women would swoon at the thought of riding in a limo with a prince. Unfortunately, she had more pressing matters to worry about than swooning over a gorgeous prince. She didn’t have time to be swept off her feet by a prince or anyone else for that matter. She needed to find Cody. She didn’t even know where he was at this moment. But she knew he was probably one frightened four-year old. What did this man want from her? An apology?
     “Look, uh-” What was she supposed to call him?  Your majesty? Your highness? Your royal pain in the butt? She settled on prince. “Uh- Prince Kareem, I appreciate you letting me off the hook and all, but I really need to get home. Please accept my apology for stealing your ring.”
     “Who said anything about letting you off the hook.”  His mouth turned up at one corner sardonically.
     “I-I thought you dropped the charges.” She knitted her brow. He was talking in riddles and she was starting to get a pounding headache. It had been a very long day. She had lost her job and gotten arrested, but she wasn’t any closer to saving Cody than she had been this morning.
     “I did drop the charges, but you will still have to pay for your crime.”
     “What do you mean?” Panic started to set in. Maybe he planned to have her beheaded after all. Didn’t some countries still do that?
     “You will have to answer to me for your indiscretion.” Devilment danced in his black eyes. He was enjoying this. That she was sure. “No crime should ever go unpunished.”
     “How am I to be punished?” She regarded him anxiously. This wasn’t going even close to the way she had planned. It was supposed to have been simple. Get arrested for a small crime. Serve a short sentence so Cody would be placed in foster care. Get out of jail and get Cody back. Simple. Hah! So far nothing about her plan had been simple. She hadn’t counted on having her charges dropped and having to pay her restitution to a prince. Now she really was in a pickle with no immediate solution in sight. 
     “The way I see it.” Kareem’s smile did not reach his eyes.
 “Since I dropped the charges here in the states you will still need to take the responsibility for your actions up with me. However, I am willing to let this little transgression slide if you do something for me.”
     “What?” Her eyes widened. What could she possibly do for a prince?
     “Marry me.” There was no emotion in his voice.

Visit My Website: www.freewebs.com/tameliatumlin