Jasmina was dreaming about ringing bells.

As the ringing got more persistent, she rolled over, her arm colliding with a warm body. Her eyes flew open, and there, lying next to her, was Jenson Black. His stubble had grown thicker in the two days he hadn’t shaved, and when he opened his own eyes, they were like green glass in the morning light.

He blinked, then turned, leaning off the bed and reaching for his pants, where a phone was ringing nonstop. Jasmina caught a look at the screen and saw that there were several missed calls.

Jenson answered it, holding the phone up to his ear.

“Hello?”

It was a far cry from his usual professional greeting, though Jasmina had to admit they had been caught a little off-guard. Glancing down at her own nude state, she reached for her blouse and skirt and slid back into them as Jenson spoke.

“What’s the problem, Gary?”

There was a silence, and Jasmina could just about hear the panicked sounding voice of a man on the other end of the line. Jenson’s eyebrows narrowed.

“What do you mean they’re backing out of the deal?”

He glanced back at Jasmina as Gary continued to talk. Finally, Jenson cut him off.

“I understand. I’ll get there as soon as I can. Until then, don’t do anything that will jeopardize our position with them. You’re lucky I’m not firing you on the spot.”

Gary sounded panicked as Jenson hung up the phone. Leaning over, he placed his face in his hands.

“Not good?” Jasmina surmised.

The night had been spectacular, to say the least, but now, in the light of day, Jasmina was suddenly unsure of how to act around Jenson. The mood had crashed with the ring of that cellphone, and she was navigating uncertain territory.

Jenson turned and faced her.

“Not good. I’m on the verge of losing a major client, and I’ve got to get back to the States if I want to save that account. They’re saying they’ll deal with no one but me.”

Jasmina hesitated, unsure how to respond. They had just spent an amazing night together, and here he was, setting to fly off.

“The wedding is next week,” she reminded him.

Why was she saying that? Days before, Jenson missing the wedding would have been the best news in the world. What was the matter with her?

Jenson ran a hand over his eyes, his expression weary.

“Time flies, doesn’t it? Don’t worry, I’ll make the ceremony. I just have to take care of this first.” He stood, then, tossing on the outfit he had arrived in, then paused. “Am I even going to be able to leave the country?”

“Why wouldn’t you be able to?” Jasmina asked, confused.

Jenson gestured to the room around them.

“Safe house? Threat to you and by proxy, me?”

“Right,” Jasmina said, mentally kicking herself. “I can make a call and see what our status is. You should get to the airport—I’ll let my security know.”

He sat back on the bed and his hand reached out as though he would take hers before he pulled it back. Shields were up and electrified once more, Jasmina realized. For a moment she had thought that she could possibly find happiness with Jenson, but now she wasn’t so sure. He wasn’t as boorish as he had been in the past, but he certainly wasn’t acting as a man in love would either.

Not that she wanted him to be in love with her. That would be foolishness at its height.

“Jasmina…” he began, hesitating as he reached for words.

She sat in silence, waiting for him to say something, anything really. What they had shared had been beyond belief, but the cold morning light painted another picture entirely. Jasmina had never been so confused.

“I’ll make it back for the wedding, I promise,” he said again. He stood and walked to the door, hesitating as he turned to look at her one more time. “Goodbye, Jasmina.”

“Goodbye,” she said.

A pause that spanned a lifetime drifted over them before Jenson exhaled and left the room. Jasmina waited for the front door to close before she collapsed back onto the bed, staring up at the ceiling. The pillow next to her still held his delectable scent, and she hesitated for only a moment before pulling it to her face and breathing him in.

Jenson had bewitched her. That had to be the answer. She had no reason for feeling emotions that might be associated with love for him. There was simply no justification for it. Still, the memory of his skin against hers gave her pause, haunting her even in his immediate absence.

After a while, she realized that she didn’t have time to waste mooning in the bed they had shared. Jenson was gone, and there was no way of knowing whether or not he would really be back. Their relationship had gone from textbook to complicated very fast, and those complications might have been enough to chase him off for good.

Rising, she made her way to her room, turning on her cellphone and calling Deniz.

“Your Highness. Is everything all right?”

The worry in his voice was palpable, and Jasmina was quick to reassure him.

“Everything is fine, Deniz. I just wanted to let you know that Mr. Black has to leave the country immediately. He might be by to get his things.”

The frown in Deniz’s voice was deeply evident.

“I see. And everything went…according to plan?”

“It did,” she said, her voice neutral. “I think he has a much better idea now of what is at stake.”

“I certainly hope so,” Deniz said, his tone cold.

“Anyway, the ruse is over. Can you have a car sent by to pick me up? I’d like to meet with the council today.”

“Of course, Your Highness. We will have someone by immediately.”

“Thank you, Deniz.”

“You’re welcome.”

His terse tone was so out of character for him, to the point that Jasmina realized he had deeply disapproved of either her plan or her fiancé, possibly both. Either way, it was none of his business, and Jasmina reminded herself of that as she emptied the fridge and cleaned up the house before hearing a car pull into the garage.

The driver from their previous adventure smiled at her as she slid into the back, her emergency bag in tow.

“Your Highness! I trust you had a nice stay,” he said, jovial.

Jasmina thought about the past couple of days with Jenson. She had actually enjoyed herself with him, in more ways than one. She grinned at the driver’s reflection in the rearview mirror.

“I did, thank you. That was quite the adventure.”

“I bet. I see we are one person short on this trip. I trust your escort isn’t lost?”

Jasmina chuckled.

“No, not lost. Just traveling onward. We’ll see him again in a week.”

“Ah yes, the big day! Are you excited?”

He pulled out of the garage and began the trip back to the palace in a much more direct pattern. It was a far shorter journey as a result.

“I am. I’m sure it will be a great celebration for our people.”

“I asked if you were excited, Your Highness. Not the people.”

His tone was light, but it gave Jasmina pause. Was she excited? If anything, she was simply a bundle of nerves. If he had at least kissed her goodbye or something she would know where she stood. As it was, she was at a complete loss when it came to her future husband. At the very least, their nuptial bed would be something to look forward to, even if they never grew to love one another. It was something, wasn’t it?

“I’m very excited,” she said, reminding herself that she was still playing the part of love-struck Sheikha.

The driver nodded, accepting her answer before they fell into a comfortable silence for the rest of the journey. When they pulled up to the palace, Jasmina felt a soothing sense of relief.

“It’s good to be home,” she breathed.

“I’ll bet. I hope that you have a wonderful day, Your Highness. Please let me know if you need to be anywhere else today.”

“I will,” she promised, exiting the car on her own.

She was still in disguise, so she made quick work of sneaking back to her room to get cleaned up and changed before meeting with the council. Asha was fluffing her pillows when she walked in.

“Well, look who has arrived,” Asha said, smiling.

Jasmina nodded to her lady-in-waiting, stripping as she walked.

“Is the council meeting now?” she asked.

Asha nodded.

“They’ve been in session for about fifteen minutes. There are some important developments I think you’ll want to hear about.”

“I look forward to it,” she said, stepping into her bathroom and making quick work of washing up.

The scent of Jenson still lingered on her skin, and she hesitated before washing it away with honeysuckle soap. If he really planned to be there the following week, she had no reason to hold onto aging relics of his presence, did she?

Stepping out of the bathroom, Asha helped her dress in a royal gown and sweep up her hair before they made their way quickly to the council chambers. When Jasmina opened the door, every man in the room stood.

“Your Highness, it is a pleasure to see you again. This must mean that the threat to you has passed.”

Javir met her with a warm handshake, and she squeezed his hand reassuringly.

“I’m sorry if you were worried, but yes, it has passed, thank you.”

No one had known about the falsity of the claims except for the few members of Deniz’s security team. Jasmina had done that on purpose; if the council found out she was spending her time concocting elaborate schemes for the benefit of some man—even for the benefit of her country as a whole—she knew she risked losing all her credibility with them.

“What developments have occurred in my absence, gentlemen?”

Javir’s eyes lit up as he preceded her to the table, where they both took a seat.

“Very eventful ones, I must say. Yesterday evening we received intelligence regarding the whereabouts of the men who stole your father’s money.”

Jasmina’s heart leapt into her throat.

“Are you certain?” she choked. She had spent so much time the past few days focused on her emotions that she forgot to put on her diplomat face. She did so, forcing her face back into a neutral position.

Javir nodded.

“It is not confirmed yet, Your Highness, but I think we may be able to bring them back and try them for their crimes, not to mention get those funds back to their rightful place.”

Jasmina nodded, her heart beating fast.

“That also means that your wedding next week may not need happen at all,” he said.

She shot him a look, wondering at the comment, and Javir shook his head.

“We are smarter than you think, Jasmina. We know that your marriage to Jenson Black was planned solely for the purpose of filling the state coffers. We don’t want you to sacrifice so much if you don’t have to. If we can get that money back, you will be saved from making such a choice.”

Jasmina stared at him, not giving her emotions away. Had she been that obvious? She should have acted more in love, more engaged. Hiding her panic, she gave a tinkling laugh.

“You are mistaken, Javir. Still, thank you for this news. Can you please give me updates as they come in?”

Javir agreed to do just that, and the meeting proceeded on as usual. In the back of her mind Jasmina’s thoughts were raging.

If she could back out of a marriage with Jenson, would she? Was it too late?

Did she want to?