“I didn’t realize it was going to be like this. I should have known. Miller is always over the top.” Aiden glances over my shoulder. “Speaking of.”
I twist around to see who must be Miller. The guy approaching is lean and tall. He’s got perfect six-pack abs and toned legs and arms like most of the guys here. His brown hair is short and styled to stick up in the front. His brown eyes are trained on me, and his lips are pulled into a mischievous smirk. Seeing him now, and hearing the things I did today, makes him easy to read. He’s a playful troublemaker.
“I told him you and Tilly are my second cousins.”
“Yeah, Nick told me. From Oregon, right?” I glance up at Aiden to see him nod and then move my attention back to Miller. His nose is kind of narrow. It reminds me of a bird’s beak.
“Hello, Aiden’s cousin.” Miller’s smooth voice floats through the air. His tongue swipes across his bottom lip. “Are you enjoying the party?”
“The name is Hayley and not really.” I turn back to Aiden. “Will you check on Tilly occasionally? I’m headed back.”
Miller’s hand brushes against my arm. “Leaving? Have you had a drink yet?” Miller steps closer, leaving only a foot or two between us.
“That colorful sugary shit isn’t my thing, and I’d need the strong stuff to put up with this.”
“Want me to walk you back?” Nick’s rough voice sends tingles down my spine.
Still keeping Miller in my peripheral, I turn slightly to face Nick. He’s moved closer to me, the girl still in the same spot, her arms crossed, and hazel eyes narrowed.
“Ask and you shall receive,” Miller says, snatching a drink from a passing silver tray. “Long Island iced tea?” He hands me the drink and winks.
I wrap my lips around the straw. It’s strong, but exactly what I was looking for. I hold the glass up. “Thanks, a drink for the road.”
“Or stay, have fun,” he says. “Hey, Nick.” Miller lifts his chin in greeting.
“Come help me find Casey and then we’ll walk back with you.” Aiden settles his arm over my shoulders to steer me toward the pool. “Thanks for the invite, Miller. Catch ya later,” he throws over his shoulder.
Nick falls in step on my other side, leaving the bronzed beauty all alone as we brush past her.
“Wait.” Miller steps up, keeping pace with us. “Why rush? You two should chill. I heard the royals were coming in.” Miller’s nose wrinkles. “You’ll be under a microscope, Aiden. You should let loose.” He pats Nick on the back and the muscles in Nick’s jaw flex. “You too, Nick.”
Nick implied Miller can’t be trusted, but it seems like it goes beyond that. Miller must have done something in the past. I finish off my drink and set it onto one of the patio tables as we pass by.
“Where’d you hear that?” Aiden asks Miller, his arm slipping away from my shoulders only to be replaced by Nick’s.
That has me tensing up. My gaze slides to Aiden, but he’s focused on Miller. I pop my shoulder trying to knock Nick’s arm away, but he adds pressure and glares down at me. “What the hell?” I silently mouth, but he doesn’t respond.
“Heard Logan and Rocco talking about it. If Hayley’s from your dad’s side, they probably aren’t going to be very happy she’s there.” His calculating gaze assesses me again. “It’s a little freaky how alike you two look.” He tilts his head to the side. “Second cousins, you say?”
“There you guys are,” Casey says, approaching us with an entourage. “Tilly and Rocco are heading over to the pool. You guys coming?”
“Good idea. Enjoy the pool,” Miller says, smiling at me. “Excuse me.” With a wink he leaves, heading toward the tiki bar.
“So, you guys want to check out the pool?” Casey asks again.
“Hayley!” My sister waves at me from a group of scantily clad teenagers. “I thought you were leaving?” She grins and skips over to me with a drink in her hand. “Stay with me for a little bit. Have some fun for once.” She takes my arm and pulls me close. “Please, please, please. I’ll help you pick out a suit. Just thirty minutes. Please.” She leans in closer. “The brunette in the black bikini keeps hitting on Rocco. I need backup.”
I see the girl she’s talking about. It’s the girl that was next to him in the hot tub earlier. I grab the Long Island from her. “I’m going to need this if I’m staying longer. Thirty minutes.” I gesture toward the group she abandoned. “Go, Rocco is looking lonely. I’ll meet you at the pool, and take it easy on the drinks, they’re strong,” I add, not that she’s big on drinking anyway.
“Yay! Thank you, and hurry up. There’s a changing room tent thingy you can change in.” She smiles wide and then hurries away.
“Guess that means we’re swimming,” Casey says, nudging me.
“Guess so. I’m gonna change real quick,” I tell the guys and then make my way over to the rack of swimwear. I sip the drink I took from Tilly and flick through the suits. There are a few one-pieces but most of what I’m seeing are bikinis.
“Try this.” Miller holds up a pink thong bikini.
I finish off my drink. “I’ll pass.”
“Your eyes are identical to Aiden’s. I can tell you two are related.”
“Here.” I pass him my empty glass since he’s still standing there. Toward the end of the rack is a red one-piece in my size. The top makes a sharp V but it will cover more than the bikinis. I scan the area for the changing room Tilly was talking about. There’s a small white tent and several girls are in line for it. I don’t have a lot of patience. I look down at the suit and then over at the pool, debating on whether I should bail. I’d much rather spend time under the stars at the beach than here.
“There’s a private bathroom. Aiden and Nick used it earlier. It’s only for family and close friends.” Miller gestures toward the house. “Over here.”
“Okay. Thanks.” I follow Miller to a back door. He punches a code into a small box. A green light flashes on the handle and Miller pushes the door open. He gestures for me to go ahead and then motions toward the right. The hall is lengthy and quiet. The noise from the party is barely audible.
“This door. Let me make sure they cleaned up after themselves. Hold on.” Miller pushes open a white door on the left and comes out a few seconds later. “My brother let his friends change in there. The floor’s wet, so be careful.”
“I got it. Thanks.” I move into a moderately sized bathroom. There are small puddles of water on the white tile, but it’s clean and private, so I swap my clothes for the swimsuit. It’s a little too tight in certain areas but it works for the most part. I pile my clothes into a ball on the counter and then move back into the hallway. “I could have found my way back. You didn’t have to wait.”
“I was thinking about your eyes.” He looks me over with a hooded gaze.
I narrow my eyes at his cheesy pickup line. I glance to the right. We’re alone and nobody knows I’m here. He better not try to be a creep. I don’t feel like fighting in a swimsuit my boobs are already spilling out of. “Well, I’m ready. Wanna lead the way back to the pool?”
“Hold on.” He moves into the bathroom only to come back out a second later. “Your eyes are an exact match to Aiden’s.” He smiles. “Did you know Aiden has his grandmother’s eyes?”
“Cool,” I say flatly. “Thanks for the trivia.” I begin to walk, and unfortunately, he follows.
“His grandmother on his mother’s side. How’s that be possible when Aiden said you’re related on his dad’s side?”
I stiffen but keep walking toward the door that’s only ten feet away.
“I guess it could be possible if you were his sister.”
I don’t respond. I don’t know what to say. I reach for the door, but Miller‘s heavy hand lands there first, pushing so I can’t pull it open. He slides in between me and the door. Not liking this situation, I swiftly take a few steps back.
“What a scandal it would be if a video of a naked Anna Westling popped up online. Long-lo
st princess caught stripping at a party.” He pulls his phone from his pocket and stares at the screen. “Gorgeous body, by the way.”
I scoff. “You recorded me in the bathroom?”
He grins like he’s won a prize. “Agree to date me and I’ll delete it.”
My eyes widen. That is not what I was expecting him to say. “What?”
“I’m trying to jump start my music career, and this will get me the publicity I need. Go out with me a few times, make it look like we’re dating. I’ll even let you be in one of my videos.”
“Or what, you’ll post the shit you recorded in the bathroom? Dude, nudity is not taboo anymore. It’s everywhere. Put up your little video. People will judge it, and then they’ll move on. I don’t give a fuck.” I glare at him, angry as fuck this asshole is trying to gain something by blackmailing me. “Now let me the fuck out the door.”
He narrows his eyes but slides to the side. Still glaring at him, I yank the door open and storm out, but he’s not done with me.
“What if I announced your little secret right now?”
I stop mid-stride to glare at Miller who has a stupid smirk on his face. I can only imagine what would happen if he announced it right now. Anna Westling might be the world’s most talked-about person. They teach about her and the royal family in public school. Everyone knows the story of the kidnapped princess. The crowd here would go nuts. They’d swarm me.
Miller holds out his hand. “Do we have a deal?”
“Sure,” I lie, placing my hand into his. I need to get the hell out of here.
He tightens his grip on my hand and tugs me a step closer. He smells like booze and chlorine. I yank my hand away and move to step away, but he wraps his arm around my waist.
He chuckles. “Calm down, feisty girl. Let’s seal our deal with a kiss.” He holds up his phone. “I’ll post it once your family announces your homecoming. I’m guessing they plan to do it soon?”
I maneuver out of his hold and smile, but I’m not amused. I’m trying not to provoke him. “I’ll take a raincheck on that kiss.” I move to walk away, but he catches me around the waist again, this time pulling me against him, so my chest is flush with his. I instantly shove him back. “Don’t.” My eyes are wide and alert.
He taps at the screen on his phone. “A mass text it is.”
“No, wait!” I grind my teeth. The idea of kissing this asshole has me pissed off, but all these people crowding in on me would be worse.
“There you are.” Nick steps next to me. “Rocco’s sick. We’re all leaving. Tilly and Casey are walking him back now.”
Miller licks his lips and winks at me. “Hayley and I are hanging out.”
“He’s blackmailing me,” I say. Normally I don’t bring in other people to fight my battles, but this one is bigger than me. “If I don’t kiss him, he’s going to tell everyone here I’m Anna.” I look away from Miller’s wide eyes and slack jaw to see Nick’s face turning an ugly shade of red. “Oh, and he has a video of me undressing in the bathroom. He hid his phone while I was changing.” I wink at Miller.
“Whoa!” Stepping back, Miller lifts his arms in the air. “I didn't do that shit, Nick. I think she’s had too much to drink.”
Nick swipes the phone from Miller’s hand and pockets it. “Sounds exactly like something you’d do.” Nick’s arm darts out, his hand wrapping around Miller’s throat. Miller’s eyes widen as Nick’s grip tightens. “We only put up with you because we like Logan,” Nick growls.
All the muscles in Nick’s arm are flexed, and Miller’s face is turning red. I wonder if I should jump in and stop Nick? I take a step forward but pause. I’ll give it a little longer. Miller’s an asshole.
“This is your last warning, Miller. I will bury you. Do not fuck with us,” Nick says, releasing Miller’s throat.
With wide eyes, Miller sucks in air and coughs. Nick turns to the side, and I think he’s going to walk away, but then his arm swings forward like lightning, and his heavy fist connects with Miller’s jaw creating an audible crack. Miller stumbles back several steps, almost falling on his ass. He cusses, holds his face, and narrows his eyes, but doesn’t say anything or move to retaliate.
Nick’s hand wraps around my upper arm and then we’re moving through the crowd. That outcome was so much better than what I had pictured was going to happen. Dammit, Nick can throw a punch. That was fucking hot. His jaw is clenched, his eyes are narrowed slits, and sweat drips down his face, as we speed walk toward the beach.
I shake his arm off as we wind around the crowd surrounding the hula dancers.
When we make it to the beach where it’s quiet and the only light comes from the moon and stars, Nick catches my wrist to stop me. “Did he hurt you?” His nostrils flare. “Touch you?”
“I’m fine,” I say, my voice sounding breathless and girly. I can’t help it. My adrenaline mixed with Nick’s badass has me turned on.
He inspects my face and then his gaze travels down my body. I like the way his eyes light up when he takes in the suit. I’m not proud of my body because I don’t do much to make it the way it is, but I know I look good. Not as good as the bronzed beauty, but good enough. The suit shows off all my genetic assets. I guess the greasy food I regularly consume might play a role. My thighs are thick but toned and my ass round. My stomach isn’t flat as a pancake, but I like it the way it is.
Nick’s gaze moves to the V in my suit and then he meets my eyes. I can’t help but smile. He’s looking at me the way I was looking at him when I first saw him with his shirt off. I bite the inside of my cheek to stop myself from grinning like a damn fool.
I cock my head to the side as the outline of two people appear a few yards away only to slip back into the shadows. I flick my head in the direction of Miller’s house. We’re too far away to see it, but the light from it radiates into the sky like a beacon. “What about Aiden? Is he with Casey?” I think I see the figures again but only for a second.
Nick clears his throat. “He’s at Miller’s. We split up to look for you.” He pulls out his phone, taps at the screen, and then pockets it. “Just told him to meet us back at the house. Figured we needed to get out of there before I killed Miller.”
“Do you and Aiden have beef with Miller?” I ask as we walk beside the water. Someone’s house is on our right, but all the lights are off. Each house on this strip has its own little private beach.
“There’s history there I don’t want to get into.” Nick cracks his knuckles. “If he would have announced it there, I would have killed him. He was putting you at risk.” He looks me over as we continue a lazy pace. “Once word gets out you’ve been found, things are going to be different.”
“Maybe the world won’t like what they see, and they’ll get bored of me.”
“I don’t think anyone can look at you and not like what they see.”
My brows raise at his compliment. I turn my head to look at him, but he’s focused on the beach ahead. “I don’t look like a princess, Nick. They want a princess.”
“I think the world has too many princesses,” he mumbles.
Footsteps from behind has us turning to see who’s coming. Aiden is jogging toward us, popping our intimate little bubble.
“How’s Rocco?” Aiden asks, running his hand through his hair.
The gel normally keeping his hair in place is losing its hold. His hair is falling loose around his ears. I think it looks better the way it is now, free.
“Logan said he was pretty trashed,” Nick says. “He needs to sleep it off.”
“You okay, Hayley?” Aiden asks, eyeing me as we start to walk again.
“Just ready for bed.” I see the Westling mansion two houses up, but it feels like it’s five miles away.
“I hear that. Me too,” Aiden says.
“All right, grandma and grandpa, let’s get you two tucked in,” Nick says, and Aiden and I shove him forward.
Chapter 20
I wake up the next morning after the party a
nd narrow my eyes. I’m comfortable. Like lying on a cloud comfortable. I scoot off the bed, pull back the white sheet, and press my hand to the soft mattress. This has to be new. I climb back onto the bed and roll around. Yeah, this is definitely new or I’m going crazy.
I grab my phone from beside me. Tilly messaged over an hour ago saying she was heading downstairs to eat. She probably won’t be there now. I’ve hardly seen her since we made this our temporary home. Her and Rocco were asleep in her room when I got back last night. I would have flipped my shit, but they were fully clothed, and Rocco had the trash can pushed up next to the bed. I think she had him sleep with her in case he needed someone in the middle of the night.
I pull up the news and then social media, but I don’t see what I was expecting. Miller’s smarter than he looks or just that scared of Nick. I’m a normal person for a few more days or maybe forever because I refuse to recite a speech on national television. Hopefully I’ll become the Westling’s dirty little secret.
I pile my hair on top of my head and then throw on comfortable clothes. I kick shoes out of my way so I can open the bedroom door and then cross the hall to Tilly’s room. I stop in her doorway, taking in the made bed and clean room. Her phone is on the dresser because she’s engrossed in this new life. I haven’t heard her talk about any of her friends back home. She seems happy, but when it comes to her, that doesn’t always mean she is. She’s the type to bottle it all up.
Stepping out into the hall, I shut Tilly’s door and then make my way downstairs. As my feet hit the last step, I hear a high-pitched voice. I pause, leaning forward and trying to hear what room the voice is coming from, but it’s quiet again. The last thing I want is to run into Nora, so I wait a few more seconds before continuing toward the kitchen.
“I don’t have time for this,” Nora hisses as she storms out of the kitchen and into the hall where I’ve stopped.
I hold my breath as she brushes past me, greeting me with a snarl. I shake my head and step into the kitchen. If I’m under the same roof as her for two months, I’ll end up snapping on her ass. Aiden’s next to the island. His eyes are focused, and brows pinched together as he types something on his phone. I grab a cinnamon roll from a glass dish on the counter, and bite into the soft roll. Gooey icing drips down my chin, so I use my finger to wipe it away.
Everywhen: (Savage Princess book 1) Page 14
