Chapter 11
CHAPTER 11
T his was going to be easy, Nick thought as his little recluse looked up at him through wide eyes as her mouth worked soundlessly. After her little rebellion last night, he should have realized the odd list he came across late last night would be the key to getting her under his control, but he’d still been pissed. That was fine because now it seemed that he could offer her what she desperately needed.
Him .
The only reason she’d agreed to come along on this tour was to try new things and apparently, she desperately wanted to start living her life, but there was only one problem with that. She was shy, painfully so. That was the reason why she never left her barstool last night and the reason why she’d damn near bolted every time someone looked in her direction today. If the only way to get her to stay and start behaving was to work through each item on her list with her, then that’s exactly what he was going to do.
If it meant that she would listen to him, then he’d do all the things on her list that had him rolling his eyes last night. Half the things on her list he’d done before and had actually enjoyed, so that wouldn’t bother him. Of course, the only way they’d have time to do anything on her list was if they finished their work. She’d realize that and work her cute little ass off and do whatever he told her to do. Then, he’d help her get through her list, but only if she did everything that he wanted first.
“I-I don’t need you to do that list,” Jamie mumbled pathetically even as a red blush crept its way up her cheeks, painting her a liar.
“So, you’ll be able to do all of those things on your list?” Nick asked before adding, “by yourself?”
She worried her bottom lip between her teeth as she shifted nervously in front of him, but she didn’t say anything because they both knew the truth. Without him, she wouldn’t have the balls to do anything on her list. There was a reason why she was a recluse, after all. She was too damn afraid to get out there and grab life by the balls. Without him, she’d only be able to write about life instead of living it.
He shook his head as he walked over to the hotel phone. “Face it, Miss Harris, you need me more than I need you.”
“No, I don’t,” Jamie mumbled weakly, probably some half-ass attempt to stand up for herself, but he barely paid attention as he picked up the phone and ordered room service.
When he was done, Nick sat down on the small loveseat and relaxed as he watched the little recluse struggle to come up with a decent argument. When a minute passed and she still wasn’t able to manage anything more than a mumble, he decided to take pity on her.
“Why don’t the two of us come to an understanding on the matter?” Nick suggested casually. “During this tour, I’ll go with you and do anything that you would like to try. In return, you will show up to book signings, interviews, conventions, and anything that I need you to do on time and say more than two words to your fans. You will also make yourself available when I need you.”
She licked her lips nervously and he knew he had her by that calculating look in her eye. She wanted this badly . Not that he could blame her, Nick thought with a tiny ounce of pity. One look at that list and it was more than obvious that she hadn’t truly lived. It was actually pathetic to think that last night had been her first time at a nightclub.
He should probably feel bad for her and if he didn’t need her so damn badly, he probably would have. But the truth of the matter was that this made his life easier. She would do exactly what he wanted, and in return, he’d help her with her list. The only downside that he could see, of course, was that he would have to give up what little spare time he had during this tour to see to this ridiculous list of hers.
Then again, if it helped keep her in line and smiling on cue, then he would suck it up and deal with it. Besides, her list was pretty simple and wouldn’t take long to go through. They’d finish it in two weeks, three tops, and then he’d have her undivided attention for the next few months. Actually, this could help him out in the long run as well. She’d learn to listen to him and trust his judgment and he could plan future events with J.L. Lewis without fear that she’d cause any trouble.
“You’re willing to go with me and do whatever’s on my list?” Jamie asked slowly as though she didn’t quite trust him.
Smart girl.
But as long as she did what she was asked, then he would fulfill his side of the bargain. It was a simple enough agreement.
“Yes, but you have to do what I ask if you want me to go with you,” Nick clarified. Work came first and he needed to make sure that she understood that.
She nodded slowly. “That sounds fair.”
“But I’m warning you, Miss Harris, the moment you stop doing what you’re told, you’re on your own.”
Another nod.
“Okay then,” Nick said, getting to his feet. “Let’s get to work.”
“I don’t remember this being on your list,” Nick said accusingly as he glared down at her.
It took everything Jamie had not to cower beneath that glare, but somehow, she managed it. Actually, she was quite proud of herself for that move, but that didn’t exactly help with the man scowling down at her.
She cleared her throat nervously. “Yes, it was,” she lied.
His eyes practically narrowed to slits. “I don’t remember seeing going with you to a chocolate convention on the list.”
“Well, it was a really long list. You probably just missed it,” Jamie lamely explained as the man standing in front of her stepped back and bumped into her, almost knocking her down. “Sorry,” she mumbled pathetically before she could stop herself. Her cheeks burned with embarrassment as Nick’s glare intensified for some reason.
“It was a very short list,” Nick said as he put his hands on her shoulders and gently moved her out of the way as the man in front of her went to bang into her again. He moved her closer to his side even though she was pretty sure she’d rather be rammed into by the rather rotund man in front of her than to be this close to Nick. The man was too damn intimidating and being this close to him was making it kind of difficult to lie to him, but she was willing to give it a shot.
“It was a long list,” Jamie said, worrying her bottom lip between her teeth as she averted her gaze.
“It was one page, double-spaced,” he bit out.
“Um, no, it wasn’t.”
But it was.
At least, it had been until last night when he’d finally dismissed her for the night. After he shoved the laptop in her hands with the expectation that she was going to work for a few more hours even though it had been well past midnight by that point, she’d revised her list... a little.
She’d meant to work for at least an hour just to appease the big bully, but when she’d logged onto the computer and started to work, all she could think about was her list and all the new possibilities that went along with their new agreement. Even though she fully planned on doing the things on her list, things that she’d been sure she could handle on her own, she was now going to be able to venture out and do everything that she’d always wanted to do but was always too afraid to try.
Thanks to him.
For three and a half hours, Jamie added things that she’d only dreamed of doing until she’d passed out at her hotel room desk. She was pretty sure she’d covered everything, but if she hadn’t, she knew that she could always add it later. Well, at least she hoped she could, but judging by the disgruntled look Nick was sending her, she realized that she might have to find a way to sneak a few more items onto the list. She had a sneaking suspicion that he wasn’t going to be happy when he found out that the list had gone from one page to ten or twenty or so.
Then again, this chocolate convention hadn’t been on the list, but she’d overheard one of her fans talking about it earlier and mentally added it to the list. Nick had assumed that she’d want to try to go to the nightclub again tonight and had been shocked when she’d told him what she really wanted to do. She’d hit a nightclub again soon, especially if she had him by her side, but tonight, she was all about the chocolate.
Seriously, what kind of woman would be able to pass up a convention center filled with chocolate? Okay, granted, she’d almost passed it up, but only because she always felt uncomfortable whenever she went to any event by herself, but then she remembered that she didn’t have to now. While she was on this tour, she had her own personal tag-along buddy, a buddy that would help her do all those things that she’d always dreamed of doing but never had the guts to try.
“Exactly how many items are on the list now, Miss Harris?” Nick demanded as they moved up in line to enter the convention.
She nearly rolled her eyes at “Miss Harris.” She knew they weren’t friends and that this agreement had nothing to do with friendship and everything to do with getting what they both wanted, but if he continued to call her Miss Harris, other people would question why a handsome man was spending time with her. They’d probably assume she’d paid him and she really didn’t think she could deal with another hit to her self-esteem right now.
“The name is Jamie and I have no idea how many items are on the list,” she whispered.
He sighed heavily as he grabbed her arm and practically dragged her along the line. “I suppose it would make things easier if we were on a first-name basis,” Nick grudgingly agreed as they paid for their tickets. She considered paying for his ticket since he was doing her a favor, but then remembered that he didn’t allow her to order a hot fudge sundae last night after dinner because he considered it an interruption. So, she didn’t feel bad when he had to dish out twenty bucks to get in.
Once the man in front of her headed to the right and she could see what waited for her, she gasped. It was just so beautiful. There were booths filled with chocolate, and everywhere she looked, she saw signs for free samples. She’d probably have a stomachache later, but she didn’t care. It would be worth it.
“Okay, so go grab a few pieces of chocolate and let’s get out of here,” Nick said, gesturing for her to move her butt.
“Are you insane?” Jamie asked, surprising herself, but really, he had to be. They were in a convention center that featured two floors of chocolate and if he really thought that any woman in her right mind would be able to choose a few pieces of chocolate out of thousands, then he was crazy.
He rubbed his hands roughly down his face before dropping them, looking annoyed. “You’re going to hit every vendor, aren’t you?”
Jamie nodded solemnly as she headed to the first booth in front of her. “At least twice,” she admitted as she accepted a chocolate-dipped strawberry and nearly moaned in ecstasy when the tasty combination hit her tongue.
“This is hell,” Jamie thought she heard him mumble, but decided to ignore him as she moved on to a vendor that made creamy white chocolate.
“Well, I hope you learned your lesson,” Nick said as he slapped a hot facecloth on the whimpering woman’s forehead and sat down at the small hotel room’s desk.
“It was worth it,” Jamie said, turning over on the bed to move into the fetal position so that she could press her hand against her stomach.
“I’m sure it was,” Nick agreed dryly as he logged onto his computer to check the next day’s itinerary. “You can hardly move without muttering ‘Oh, God’, but I’m sure the fifty pounds of chocolate you consumed that will probably be making a reappearance soon was worth it.”
“It really was,” she agreed, groaning.
He sent her a glare before returning his attention to the computer as he tried not to think about the four hours of his life that he’d never get back. He really couldn’t understand how anyone could get worked up over chocolate like that, but apparently, his little recluse had. She’d dragged him from vendor to vendor until he’d considered spanking her adorable ass. Finally, when he didn’t think he could take another minute of someone shoving chocolate in his face, she’d grabbed her stomach and muttered five of the sweetest words he’d ever heard, “I don’t feel so good.”
Thankful that the hell was finally over, he’d practically dragged her out of the convention, ignoring her sad little attempts to break free and go indulge in more free samples, threw her in a taxi, and hauled her ass back to the hotel where he fully planned on getting at least three hours of work out of her. He held up his end of the bargain and he fully expected her to do the same.
Speaking of the agreement...
He opened her folder, clicked on her “To do” list and nearly swore when he saw the insane number of items she’d added. After sending her one last glare that she ignored because she was squeezing her eyes shut while mumbling, “Ow, ow, owie,” he returned his focus to the list that would no doubt make his life a living hell. He swore that if she had another convention on the damn list that he was going to spank her ass.
What the hell...
He hadn’t seen this coming, but if this was what she wanted he could do it. At least she’d made the list interesting, Nick thought as he went through each item as he tried to figure out which ones they could manage to do while on this tour and the ones that were going to have to wait. By the time he was done going through the list, he had a newfound respect for the little recluse. He never thought the woman whimpering on his bed would be interested in some of the more interesting things in life, but he couldn’t deny that the list pleased him.
This definitely just got a lot more interesting.