Free Ransom for a Prince by Lisa Childs

here.”
    His relief was short-lived as his concern turned to dread. “So anyone could have driven off with him. Even a white van?”
    She nodded. “I’m sorry. It could have been.”
    And if it had been, it was no wonder that Amir had not contacted them. Even though the explosion hadn’t killed him, those men would have, had they gotten hold of the sheik. And no doubt if Sebastian hadn’t gotten her away from them, they would have killed her, too.

    J ESSICA’S HEAD POUNDED and her throat had grown raspy from all the questions she’d answered. Not for Sebastian. She’d told him what he’d wanted to hear, but then he had called the others into the room. And she’d had to repeat her story to the other royals, to the forensics expert, Jane Cameron, and to Sheriff Wolf. They had all taken turns interrogating her, and his twin had studied her as she’d replied, as if he were a human lie detector.
    She had no idea if she’d passed or failed. All the others had left the room except for the man identical to the one who’d saved her. She suspected his twin did not approve of the risk Prince Sebastian had taken to protect her. Although they talked in low tones, their deep voices vibrated with anger, as if they were arguing.
    Over her?
    Finally Prince Antoine stepped into the hall, and Sebastian nearly slammed the door between them be cause he shut it with such force.
    “I’m sorry,” she murmured.
    “Why? You told the truth, right?” he asked, fixing her with that implacable stare.
    She nodded. “Of course.”
    He crossed the sitting area to the desk and pulled open a drawer. He took out a pen and a checkbook, scribbled out something and then tore the check free of the book. He walked back to her and held it out between them.
    She clasped her hands together, unwilling to reach for it.
    “Take it,” he ordered, pressing the check into her hand.
    Her fingers trembled, rustling the piece of paper. Then she noticed the amount and dropped the check as shock filled her. “I—I can’t.”
    He bent over to pick it up, and a grimace contorted his handsome face.
    “You’re hurt,” she said, and reached out in concern, her hands sliding under his shoulders to help him back up. He’d discarded his suit jacket and wore only a silk dress shirt in a blue nearly as deep as his eyes. Her palms skimmed over the expensive fabric and the hard muscles that rippled beneath it. “You should have a doctor check you out.”
    “I don’t need a doctor,” the prince said, his body so tense as he stood close to her that she felt the deep breath he dragged into his lungs. “I just need the whole truth from you.”
    “I told you everything I saw that night, which wasn’t much. That’s why I can’t take your money.” She couldn’t take a reward for doing the right thing. While she’d had her doubts earlier about telling him that the missing sheik survived the explosion, she believed that Prince Sebastian was a true friend to the man. He would not cause him any harm.
    Jessica wasn’t sure that he wouldn’t cause her any harm, though. Just touching him had her heart racing at an almost painful pace. She jerked her hands off him and stepped back.
    But Prince Sebastian followed her, standing so close that his legs brushed against her thighs. His chest and abdomen also rubbed against her breasts. Awareness pooled low in her stomach, spreading heat from the tips of her breasts to the very core of her.
    “Is that the only reason you won’t take my check?” he asked.
    “Yes.”
    “You don’t have another reason?”
    “Pride? I can’t afford to be proud,” she admitted although she probably didn’t need to point that out to him. He had to see how she dressed, what she drove.
    “Then why won’t you take this?” He held up the check. “Because you can’t cash it?”
    “I won’t cash it.” She stepped back again and turned toward the door. “So keep it.”
    He caught her wrist and spun her around to face him. “Is