Authors: Imari Jade
“None of that. You’ll spoil your dinner.”
“But I’m starving.”
“Let me look at you.” She spun Charisma around. “You look bitching, Chica.”
Charisma pulled at the neck of her dress. “I’m too exposed.”
“Nonsense. What’s a little cleavage? You remind me so much of your mother. She got all the breasts in the family.”
“Has everyone arrived?”
“Are you looking for Robert?”
“Yeah.”
Carmen nodded. “He’s here with his parents. They got here about an hour ago. He’s in the den discussing politics with Julio.”
“Boring.”
“He’s going to be president one day, and you’ll be first lady.”
“I doubt that.”
“What’s wrong? Did you two have a fight?”
“No, we just never discussed marriage. In fact, we hardly discuss anything except politics in the two years we’ve been dating. I don’t think he’d notice me unless I walked buck naked in front of him draped in a flag.”
Carmen chuckled. “Most men are that way. But try not to let it spoil your evening.” The first chords of the Star Spangled Banner played over the speakers in the house. “That’s our queue. Time to go out and mingle.”
The ballroom was crowded with foreign dignitaries from all over
Africa
. Julio approached and took her arm. “There’s someone I want you to meet.”
She had no choice but to follow.
“King Hakeem, may I present my niece, Charisma Romaine. Chrissy, this is Remmao Hakeem, king of
Nubia
.”
The tall stately man rose and bowed before her. He was nice looking, probably in his sixties, with sterling gray hair, a well-groomed mustache and beard. The white tuxedo he wore was accented with a red sash with the Nubian emblem in the center. Charisma curtsied. “Your majesty.”
“You are lovely my dear. Your uncle has told me so much about you. Come let me introduce you to the rest of my family.” He walked her over to a beautiful older woman who wore a long blue gown. She was tall but dwarfed by him. “This is my wife, Femi.”
Charisma curtsied again.
“Rise child. We’re not so formal anymore.” She took Charisma’s hand. “My, you’re lovely.”
“Thank you. What a lovely broach.”
“It’s an antique. It’s was my grandmother’s.”
“It’s lovely.”
Femi and Hakeem introduced her to the rest of their children. There were so many names that she had to remember. “And this is my youngest son, Prince Shakir.”
“It’s you,” he said.
Charisma stared blankly at him.
“From the desert.”
That voice…those eyes. It’s him…the one on the camel
. She curtsied. His eyes dipped seriously low to her cleavage. “Very nice to meet you, Prince Shakir.”
Damn and he’s gorgeous
. He had replaced his desert wear and was sporting a dashing black tuxedo with his family’s sash and emblem. His hair was cut short and stylish and he had a faint hint of a mustache and beard.
He kissed her hand. “The pleasure is all mine, Ms. Romaine.”
“The two of you know each other?” Remmao asked.
“We met earlier in the desert.”
Remmao nodded. “Yes, I remember, she was taking pictures of a snake.”
“What snake?” Julio asked.
Charisma tried to minimize the event. “It wasn’t a big snake.”
“Seth allowed you near a snake?”
“Who’s Seth?” Shakir asked.
“Her bodyguard.”
“I did not see a bodyguard. She was alone in the desert.”
Charisma rolled her eyes at him.
“She was what? How many times have we discussed this? You are not to go anywhere alone.”
“But Seth is so boring.” Seth was a two-hundred and fifty pound African who never smiled.
“He’s supposed to be boring. He is a bodyguard.”
Charisma poked her tongue at Shakir. “See what you’ve started.”
Shakir took no offense. “Your uncle is right. The desert is no place for a beautiful woman.” He turned his back on her, dismissing her.
“Arrogant male.”
Remmao laughed. “Yes, he is, but I have the feeling he has met his match.”
Charisma was saved from her uncle’s ire with the arrival of Governor Edwards and his family. Julio introduced them. “This is the governor of
Louisiana
, Kelsey Edwards and his wife Ina. Kelsey looked as distinguished as ever in his white tuxedo. Ina was a mousey woman with huge brown eyes and long black hair. Robert cleared his throat.
“I haven’t forgotten about you. This is their son, Robert. He and Charisma are practically engaged.” Robert wore a black tuxedo. He was tall, but not as tall as Shakir. The sapphire accessories he wore brought out the blue in his eyes.
Prince Shakir turned around and looked at her questionably.
“Not exactly,” she corrected. “We’ve been on a couple of dates.”
Shakir turned his back on her again.
Remmao laughed. “I think I’m going to enjoy this,” he told Femi.
* * * *
“What’s wrong?” Robert asked her as they danced.
“Nothing, why?”
Prince Shakir is surrounded by a lot of beautiful women
.
“You’re not talking.”
“That’s because we’re dancing.”
They’re probably a part of his harem
.
“That never stopped you before.”
She ignored his smart comment. “When did you arrive?”
“This morning. We stopped and rested at the hotel. Mother is not used to this heat.”
“She’s from
Louisiana
,” Charisma said sarcastically. “But it does take a little getting used to. The desert was unbearable this afternoon.”
“What were you doing in the desert?”
“Taking pictures.” Like her uncle, he shared the same views on her safety.
“For that safari magazine?”
She was surprised that he remembered. “Yes, it’s a beautiful place.”
“There’s nothing there except sand.”
“That’s because you’re not really looking.” The song ended and a slow one replaced it. Someone tapped Robert on the shoulder. It was Prince Shakir.
“May I have this dance with Ms. Romaine?”
Robert hesitated a bit. “Certainly your majesty.” He released her and walked over to talk with her uncle.
Shakir pulled her into his arms. “How long have the two of you been engaged?”
Damn, he’s tall
. “We’re not engaged. We grew up in the same town. I met him through my uncle, and we go out every now and then.” His moves on the dance floor were amazing and his body wasn’t bad either. Her height plus her heels brought her up to his chest.
“That means engaged in my country.”
She laughed. “So you do have a sense of humor?”
“I use it occasionally when I’m not being arrogant.”
He pulled her closer. She couldn’t miss the sizeable lump in his pants as it rubbed against her hip. He was attracted to her and he wasn’t trying to hide it like Robert always did. “I like it. It makes you seem human.”
He chuckled and spun her around. “I’m sorry I got you in trouble with your uncle.”
“I’ll get over it. I’m too old for him to punish, but you better believe he’ll make sure that I don’t leave the house without my bodyguard again.”
“He’s looking out for your well-being.”
“I know, and I’ll try not to disobey him again. He’s been like a father to me since mine died.”
“How many years ago was that?”
“Six.”
“That would make you…”
“Twenty-two on my next birthday. I’m about to graduate from college and I’m trying to finish my thesis. That’s why I’m here in
Africa
.”
“A college girl?”
“Yes, I’m a journalist and photography major.”
“And you like snakes.”
“No, I don’t like snakes, but they’re very photogenic.”
The song ended. “It’s been nice, Ms. Romaine, but I think I better return you to your date.”
“He’s talking politics with my uncle. He wouldn’t notice if I disappeared from the face of the earth.”
“I’d notice,” Shakir said huskily. “Black is definitely your color.”
“Because it distracts from my gigantic booty?”
“No, it doesn’t,” he replied matter-of-factly. “And I’m glad.” He walked away.
Charisma stood frozen in her tracks for a moment and then she dashed off to find Carmen. She found her in the kitchen giving orders to the cooks.
“Dinner will be ready shortly.”
“Not food. I need to talk.”
Carmen led her upstairs. “What’s wrong?”
“How do you know when a man is interested in you?”
“Robert is interested in you.”
“Not Robert.”
“Not Robert?”
“No, Prince Shakir.”
“Oh, I see. Well, why would you think he’s interested in you? You’ve just met.”
“It’s the way he looks at me.”
Carmen laughed. “Have you looked in a mirror lately? You’re a beautiful young woman.”
Charisma blushed. “It’s because of my mixed heritage.”
“It’s kind of hard to miss. Your father was one of the handsomest men in
Louisiana
. Add my gorgeous Puerto Rican sister to the mix and they made one beautiful baby.”
“I think he likes me.”
“He probably does, but you’re practically engaged to Robert.”
“I don’t know why everyone keeps saying that. We hardly ever kiss.”
“He is a gentleman.”
“He’s boring.”
“Like Seth?”
“Oh, so you’ve heard the story already.”
“You are a handful.”
“I am not. Anyway, I think he’s worse than Seth. He only wants to discuss politics and the news.”
“It’s his job.”
“Not when we’re on a date.”
Carmen patted her hand. “It will get better.” She walked toward the door. “Give him a chance.”
* * * *