7. Nick
Chapter seven
Nick
O ver the course of the next few days, I continue showing up unannounced at Willa’s hotel room and forcing her to spend time with me. Though forcing is a bit of an exaggeration because it usually doesn’t involve too much arm-twisting to get Willa to accept my invitations.
We’ve taken Bruno for walks on the beach, volunteered at Maggie's animal shelter, and enjoyed a mid-morning coffee and pastry over a mean game of chess at Cozy Corner Coffee.
When I broach the topic of going somewhere together, Willa will feign hesitation, but I see through her thinly veiled reluctance.
After going through the whole no-maybe-okay-yes-I’ll-come rigmarole a few times, I figured out that it’s easier to tell her what I have planned without giving Willa an opportunity to decline.
I don't feel guilty at steamrolling her because she seems relieved each time I take control.
I get the sense that she's been independent for so long that she enjoys letting me take the lead.
However, for some reason, she feels as though she shouldn't fully embrace handing me control, so she puts up a bit of half-hearted resistance.
And today, Friday, is no different when I arrive at her hotel suite to drive her to her parents' anniversary party. After eavesdropping on Willa’s side of several phone conversations yesterday, I know she planned on driving herself.
When she answers my knock on her door, Willa appears surprised to see me. “Nick, what are you doing here?”
"You look radiant," I murmur, drawing her close to kiss her cheek.
Stammering out a thank you, she smiles. "But you didn't answer my question. What are you doing here?"
"I'm here to take you to your parents' anniversary party," I reply, crossing my arms over my chest. "Which you would know if you'd give me your phone number, so I could communicate with you more easily."
Despite spending every day together, Willa refuses to give me her phone number. It’s the one thing she won’t budge on. I could snap my fingers and obtain her number from some backdoor channel, like asking Maggie or contacting her manager, but stubbornly, I want Willa to want to give it to me.
More than that, I want Willa to want me like I want her. Initially, I started off pursuing Willa with the intention of a one-night stand or a vacation fling, but the more time I spend with her, the more I like her.
“Oh, fine, Nicholas,” she relents with exasperation. While she acts put out, I notice the way the corners of her mouth fight not to curve upwards. As she prattles off the random string of numbers that will bind her to me, a feeling of pride courses through me.
As I save her number into my phone, I shoot Willa a text in return, so she’ll also have my contact info. “I feel like I just received access to the nuclear launch codes."
“Shut it.”
“I’ve only been begging for your phone number for days, Willa. ”
“I like to play hard to get. What can I say?” She shrugs with a small grin.
The more Willa plays hard to get, the faster I fall for her.
At first, I assumed her skittishness was due to her celebrity status. Out of the billions of other inhabitants on earth, I understand better than most the pitfalls of being a public figure.
But the more I get to know her, the more I suspect there’s another reason for her hesitancy.
I notice the way she watches me, staring at me like I've hypnotized her. And the way she blushes when I flirt with her. The way she leans into my body when we talk. The ways she perks up when I touch her.
I think she’s timid because she fancies me.
While she and I have spoken at great lengths over a number of subjects, the one subject that we've largely avoided is prior relationships. I don’t mind dodging the topic since I’ve stayed out of serious relationships myself, instead preferring casual, no-strings-attached arrangements.
Less stress. More sex. Fewer expectations.
But few women want to hear that dating philosophy from a man.
“Then it’s a good thing I enjoy pursuing you,” I murmur, my lips grazing the shell of her ear, causing a tremor to run down her spine .
With a mixture of attraction and caution, her eyes flicker to meet mine. She's conflicted—she's drawn to me, but she's still afraid to lean into it. She may not be ready to admit it yet, but when she is, I'll be waiting.
When we approach my rental SUV, I open her car door and make sure she’s settled inside before shutting it and walking around to the driver’s side.
Little things like this are thrilling to me.
Simple things, like ushering Willa ahead of me or shutting her car door.
As a prince, these are things I don't do.
It's considered improper for someone below my rank to walk in front of me, and it's a safety risk for me to shut my own car door.
Ridiculous, I know, but that's the world I live in.
When I slide into my seat, I inhale, loving the way that Willa’s delicate perfume has infused the car's interior already.
Like she’s done every other time that we’ve ridden in the car together, she turns on the radio, flipping through the stations until she settles on country music.
I fight a grimace, but Willa sees it and giggles.
Country music isn’t popular in Belgrovinia, and my ears are unaccustomed to the twangy sound of it.
“Not a fan of Outlaw, huh?”
“Outlaw? Is that the band who’s singing this drivel? You know what should be outlawed? Outlaw,” I mutter as Willa's laughter grows louder.
Willa sings along to the song and while the music isn’t to my taste, her voice is beautiful. I tell her as much and she graces me with a humble grin in return.
As she sings and I drive, I reach over and rest my hand upon Willa’s upper thigh. "So, tell me more about who I'll be meeting tonight?"
"My brothers are all in town for the party, and I know they'll want to meet you." She shoots me a lethal side-eye. "Especially since we'll be arriving together. Anyway, Ryan, my oldest brother, is an orthopedic surgeon. He’s single—married to the job, he says—and lives in Houston. Then there’s Jack, also single, and he’s an investment banker in New York City. Next is Henry. He owns six car dealerships across North Carolina. Avoid him unless you want to be bored to tears as he describes all the new safety features in next year’s Volvo models. Henry got married to his college sweetheart, Lily, three years ago and they live in Raleigh. And lastly, there’s Aiden.
He and I are the closest. Besides Maggie, I consider Aiden to be my best friend.
He’s a record executive in Nashville. He had a semi-serious girlfriend, but they broke up a few months ago. ”
“Got it," I nod. "Avoid Henry. Suck up to Aiden. Talk to Ryan about my recurring issue with tennis elbow, and…who am I missing?”
Willa smiles easily. “Jack, the finance guy.”
“Oh, yes, right. Jack.”
As Willa describes her older brothers, I remember the wall of family photos proudly displayed at her childhood home.
In most of the photos, Willa was positioned in the middle of the frame, with her brothers surrounding her in a huddle, and suddenly, I feel a little less enthused about meeting Willa’s siblings tonight.
Conscious of my hand growing clammy upon Willa’s leg, I remove it and grip the steering wheel firmly.
“They’re going to hate me, aren’t they?”
My honest question is met with Willa’s tinkling giggle, which does nothing to quell my anxiety.
At least her mother seemed smitten with me.
The evening is a pleasant barrage of new faces and intrusive questions, but I’m used to both of those things.
I’ve met extended family members, neighbors, old school friends, and even a couple of Willa’s primary school teachers.
Most inquire as to how I am acquainted with Willa, why I’m in the States, and where I’m from.
The usual questions. I answer as honestly as I can, offering them the same information that I’ve given Willa.
I simply omit any mention of my royal title or my famous family.
Mrs. Radford greeted me like I was one of her own sons, and Mr. Radford treated me kindly from our first introduction.
Henry warmed up to me when I mentioned the impressive safety ratings of the Volvo XC90.
Jack and I had a long discussion regarding the current bull futures market and how the Saudi oil shortage is affecting the oil and gas industry.
Ryan, Willa’s brother who's a surgeon, and I spent most of our conversation discussing sports.
It isn't but a few minutes later when Willa interrupts my conversation with Ryan. "Come, Nick. There's someone else I want you to meet." Tugging me towards yet another tall, strapping man who looks remarkably similar to the rest of the Radford siblings, I surmise that this must be Aiden.
Standing next to Aiden is another man who has his arm around a very pretty woman in a blue dress.
With glee painted across her face, Willa introduces me to her brother and to one of Aiden's close friends, Hayes, and Hayes’ girlfriend, Jane, before Willa pops away to ask the caterer to begin serving dessert.
But as she leaves, Willa remarks, “You should talk about music. I think you have very similar tastes.”
Similar musical tastes?
Willa and I haven’t spoken much about music, other than her teasing me because I don’t like country music. Assuming that must be what she was referring to, I say, “Ah, so you must not be fans of country music either.”
There's a long moment of awkward silence before Hayes barks out a laugh. Aiden’s stony countenance morphs into one of true displeasure and he crosses his arms over his broad chest.
"I love country music," Aiden declares, clearly offended.
Oh, bloody hell, I've stepped in it, haven't I? At least, Willa's other three brothers like me. Three out of four isn't too bad .
Chuckling good-naturedly, Hayes just shakes his head and calls out to Willa, “You set him up for that, didn’t you?”