“I met her once,” I agree with a nod. “She visited the palace about ten years ago when she was still married to Ben, and I have to agree. She’s very kind.”
Nina nods. “What do you think of being a celebrity?”
I press my lips together and rub my chin. I bloody hate being a celebrity.
But I was born into it.
I don’t have a choice.
“It’s a pain in the arse.”
She laughs, making my blood sing through me. Her laugh is like a song, and the longer I sit here with her, the more attracted to her I become.
She’s a siren.
“Don’t sugarcoat it,” she says.
“I rarely sugarcoat anything, much to my mother’s dismay.”
Nina watches me for a moment. “Me either.”
“If you don’t have to watch after your brother anymore, why are you in Montana? Why not go back to L.A.?”
“I hate L.A.,” she mutters. “I hate the weather there, the people. So many people. The traffic. And my mom’s there, and she’s a handful.”
“In what way?”
“She’s needy. Dramatic. A hypochondriac. And she scammed my brother out of millions when he was young.”
“Damn.”
“Yeah. So, he doesn’t speak to her anymore. I’m the one she calls to complain to.”
“Your father?”
She shakes her head. “Gone when I was little. Mom left him because he was an alcoholic and moved us from Tennessee to L.A. I haven’t seen him since.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I’m not. Who wants to hang out with an alcoholic?”
“Well, when you put it like that…”
Nina offers me more tea, and I accept. Wild horses couldn’t drag me out of here now. I need to know more.
“Why are you in Montana?” she asks. “Besides to see Jacob.”
“Seeing an old college mate isn’t reason enough?”
She raises a brow. “You’ve spent a lot of time here.”
“Should I be flattered that you pay such close attention?”
“I pay attention to everyone. It’s my job. And having a prince in town is fodder for conversation, you know.”
I nod slowly, trying to decide how much to tell her. “I needed a break. I was here over the winter and enjoyed it immensely. I trust Jacob to be discreet, affording me the luxury to be here without security.”
“You feel safe here.”
I blink at her. “Yes. I do.”
She nods as if she understands perfectly. “I do, too. When Christian first came here, I felt sorry for him. He came to learn to ski for a movie role. I remember thinking, poor Christian, he has to go rough it in the middle of nowhere. Then I came to see him, almost ruined the best thing that’s ever happened to him, but then helped to make it right and fell in love with Cunningham Falls in the process.”
“You’ve been very busy.”
She laughs, making me smile.
“You could say that.”
“How did you almost ruin things for Christian?”
She frowns and sighs deeply. “I’m a bitch, Sebastian.”
I stay quiet, waiting for her to continue. I don’t doubt that she can be a bitch. I can sense that in her. But I also sense kindness and maybe even a little fear.
“I didn’t think a small-town girl was good enough for People magazine’s sexiest man alive,” she says. “So, I came here and said some mean things to Jenna, which made her back right off. It crushed both of them.”
She squirms in her seat.
“I still feel awful. I’ve apologized several times, and they both act like it’s water under the bridge, but…” She trails off. I want to scoop her up and assure her that everything’s okay.
I’ve never had that urge before.
“If they say they’ve forgiven you, you need to believe them. Forgive yourself, Nina.”
“Yeah.” She blows out a breath. “Okay, back to you.”
I cock a brow. I imagine this is where she’ll ask me what it’s like to be a prince.
“Do you prefer salty or sweet treats?”
I blink slowly, sure I’ve misheard her. “Excuse me?”
“Salty or sweet? This is important.”
“Crisps are my favorite.”
“Do you mean chips?”
I grin. “No, I mean crisps. Chips go with fish.”
She smirks. “Ah, yes, your British lingo. So, you’re a salty guy?”
“I suppose you could say that.”
“Well, it was nice knowing you.”
She stands and begins to clear the table.
“Are you blowing me off?”
“Absolutely. I’m a sweets girl. This is never going to work.”
Now it’s my turn to belly laugh. I can honestly say I’ve never been turned down because of my choice in junk food.
Nina is beautiful, funny, and intelligent.
Yes, I’ve found my girl.
She walks me to the door. When I stop to turn back to her, she’s gazing up at me with humor-filled blue eyes.
“Have dinner with me tonight.”
“I don’t know, Sebastian. We’re very different people.”
“I’ll eat all of the sugar in North America if you want me to.”
She hooks a piece of hair behind her ear. “Well, there’s that, but also the more obvious differences. You being of royal descent and all.”
“It’s just dinner.”
She seems to think it over, then nods once. “Okay. Dinner it is.”