Chapter 2

The next morning, there was a knock on Jaxon’s bedroom door awakening her and Sadir. Sadir quickly got up and put on his shirt before answering it for her, finding Sebastian with a tray of food for them. He thanked him and took the tray over to the bed while Sebastian closed the door and left.

“He always seems to know when I’m about to wake up,” Jaxon said, sitting up in bed, yawning.

“It’s his duty to know,” Sadir said, smiling. “Did you sleep well?”

“Not until you came home. How was the tribute?”

“Nice,” he said, then continued to tell her all about it.

“Thank you again for going in my place. I owe you a favor now,” she said.

“I think of it as helping my future wife. You owe me nothing, but a kiss,” he said, smiling.

“I will gladly pay that debt,” she said, kissing him.

“I know you may think it is too soon, but when can we become man and wife?” he asked, laying a napkin across her lap before giving her breakfast.

“I would marry you tomorrow, but my attorney is insisting we have a prenuptial agreement,” she said, trying some of the eggs benedict.

“Mine is encouraging the same,” Sadir admitted, while he settled next to her. “I plan on marrying you for life.”

“I feel the same, but I think we might as well placate them and make up one. We can put down everything as we want it, then they can make it legal,” Jaxon said.

“When shall we do this?”

“There is a notebook on my dresser. We can do it while we eat breakfast,” she suggested.

Sadir walked over, picked up the pen and paper, then returned to sit on the bed next to her. “First thing would be division of properties brought into the marriage. I suggest we keep what we brought into it…no more, no less.”

“Yes, and if any of your mares breed with my stallions, you keep the colt and I will do the same. However, any purses they win should be divided between us. Does that sound fair enough?”

“Does that mean I don’t pay a stud fee?” he asked jokingly.

“I don’t intend to make you pay. Will I have to pay a stud fee?”

“Never.”

“That is settled. Next would be our children. How many do you wish?” she asked.

“I would like at least a boy and a girl. How many would you like?”

“Two or three. What if we only have girls? Do we keep trying for a boy?” Jaxon wondered.

“You may find this unbelievable, but I wouldn’t care if we had all girls.”

“Really? It wouldn’t bother you not having a male heir?”

“No, I will never rule over my country. Tariq is next in line. I doubt he would ever give it up,” Sadir said. “Besides, I don’t want to return to my country. It isn’t home to me any longer.”

“Because of what happened with your other brother?”

“I prefer not to discuss him.” 

Jaxon wondered why talking about his brother upset him greatly. She only knew he had died mysteriously and his family never discussed it.

“Okay, what else do we want to place in this prenup?” she asked, changing the subject.

“How about we have to make love at least once a week,” Sadir asked slyly. 

“That’s unacceptable!” She looked at him seriously, but couldn’t help bursting into laughter. “At least, three times a week is more to my liking, any less would be torture.”  

“I like the way you think,” he said, kissing her. 

“Sadir, going back to the subject of children. What about religion?” 

“I was wondering about that myself. I think we should let the children decide when they are old enough to understand,” he said.  

“Sounds fair enough, until then, we can alternate where they worship. This is silly.  I don’t think we need this agreement, but this is all we will place in it…agreed?” 

“Yes,” he said, throwing the notebook and pen down on the bed. “What are your plans for the day?” 

“The attorney is coming to discuss Grandmother’s will.” 

“Do you want me to be here with you?” 

“If you have nothing else to do. I always want you with me,” she said, smiling.  

“I will make sure I am here, then. When is he to arrive?” Sadir asked.|

“Three o’clock. I hope there are no surprises in it. I am curious to know if she left my parents anything though.” 

“Have you heard from them?” he wondered. He knew they had been released from prison, but she never spoke about any contact. 

“No. I tried calling the number grandmother had, but there was no answer. There was an answering machine, so I left a message about her death.”  

“I’m surprised they never came to the funeral.” 

“If they show…it will be for the will. I hope they don’t come at all. I don’t know what to say to them,” she said sadly. 

“It had to be difficult for you when they were put in prison.”

“They are the reason I got into fights at school. The uppity snobs there thought it was cool to talk about them. I just wanted to be left alone, but they wouldn’t go away. When I had enough I decked the bitches.” 

“I bet they said you started it.” 

“Of course…the new girl always got the blame.” 

“I wish I could have known you then. I wonder what they would have said if you had a royal boyfriend?” 

“I don’t care,” she said, looking at the clock. “I better get showered and get down to the stables. I want to talk to everyone about the ranch.” 

“Are you going to change the way things are done here?” 

“No, I just want to reassure them I’m not selling,” she said, getting out of bed and walking to her closet. She pulled out a blouse and a pair of jeans, then laid them out on the bed. 

“May I join you,” Sadir asked, putting his arms around her waist. 

“What about our agreement to not have sex before marriage?” 

“I’ve been thinking. What if one of us decides the other is not a good lover?” 

“Umm, that could be a problem and lead to a very embarrassing moment. I’ll tell you what. I’ll think about all this and give you an answer tomorrow night,” she said, laughing while she walked to the bathroom. 

“You’re a vixen,” he said when she shut the door.

After talking to her employees, Jaxon went to her office inside the house to catch up on the mail. Most of it was condolence cards and notes. However, there was one envelope that caught her eye…it had a royal seal on it. At first, she thought it something from Sadir, but with closer observation, she found it to be from Tariq, his older brother.

She became upset when she realized it wasn’t a condolence note, but rather a letter with a bid on the estate, if she was willing to sell it to him. His reason was he didn’t think she would want the burden of running the place by herself. Her first thought was to shred it, but she had a better idea. She would invite him over and then tell him face to face what he could do with the letter.

She called Sadir’s house asking to speak with Tariq. Even though they didn’t get along with each other, Sadir opened his home to his brother. When Tariq’s right hand man, Mr. Palmer answered, Jaxon extended her invitation to the Prince. She didn’t have to see his face to know Palmer had a smug smile on it when he said that Prince Tariq would accept the invitation. There was just something about Palmer, she didn’t like. If he showed up with the Prince, he would not be allowed into the house.  

After the lawyer left later that day, Jaxon explained to Sadir about the letter from Tariq. When he became angry, she tried to calm him by telling him what she had planned for his brother. Sadir thought it would be best if he were to stay out of sight when she confronted Tariq, but he would stay close by, listening.

Prince Tariq was Sadir’s older brother. He was slightly shorter and stocker built than Sadir’s six feet-four, thin frame. The only thing about them that was the same was their style of wearing a beard and their dark brown eyes.

Sadir favored his mother. He had her brown, soft, eyes and her infectious smile and long delicate fingers. Tariq favored his father both, in build and facial features. Sadir thought if his brother or father smiled, their face would crack from the pressure.

Tariq arrived with his usual entourage of a driver, two bodyguards and of course, Mr. Palmer. Palmer was the one who rang the doorbell and had Sebastian announce their arrival…needless to say, Jaxon was not impressed in the least.

The minute Jaxon saw Palmer, her eyes met his with hatred in them. She never could put her finger on why she hated him…she just did. “Mr. Palmer, you and the others may stand outside. I will meet with Prince Tariq one on one,” she said bluntly.

“The Prince may need a translator. He doesn’t understand some of the slang people in this country use,” Palmer said.

“Palmer, I know Arabic if I need to translate anything. As a matter of fact, I’m fluent in Arabic, French, and Spanish, languages that I know Prince Tariq is fluent in as well,” Jaxon countered.

“Palmer, leave us. I am in capable hands,” Tariq said. “Forgive him; he means well.”

“I’m sure he does,” Jaxon said while Sebastian showed the others out. “Please sit down. Would you like something to drink?”

“No, thank you. I am curious as to why you have asked me here,” Tariq said, allowing her to be seated before he sat down across from her.

“It is about your letter,” she said, taking it from her pocket. “You made me an offer on my home.”

“I did not send that letter to you. I was merely speaking to Mr. Palmer after I heard the news of your Grandmother’s passing. I wondered if you would take over or sell off the horses. I never meant for such a letter to be sent…especially before the services,” he added, seeing the date on it.

“So, you had no knowledge of this letter whatsoever?” Jaxon asked.

“I assure you I did not. I will speak with Mr. Palmer and have him apologize formally to you,” Tariq said.

“A hand written apology will suffice. I’m sorry to have thought you were the one who sent this. I hope you will accept my apology,” Jaxon said, extending her hand to him.

“It is accepted. It is most regrettable that I won’t see your grandmother at the track any longer. She was a delight to lose to and an even a delight when she met me in the winner’s circle.”  

“You’ll be meeting me there from now on. I plan on entering many races against your horses in the future,” Jaxon said, smiling.

“You are so much like her. I look forward to the competition. I must go now. I have another meeting to attend,” Tariq said.

“Thank you for coming.”

Sebastian appeared in the doorway to escort the Prince to the door. Jaxon wondered if he had been listening as well, or whether Sadir had gotten him when he knew Tariq was leaving.