Page 7 of A Prince for Christmas

“Long before you wandered into Bozeman,” I replied. “You sound surprised.”

“I am.” He was looking at me with the most bemused expression, as if I’d grown a horn in the middle of my forehead.

“Why? I may be a simple farm girl and not all… Suave or whatever, but I’m not a troll.” I gave him a look. “Or maybe you think I am.”

“Not at all.” His denial was quick and sincere. “It’s not that, Emily. I just… You never mentioned him.” He turned to Polly and Adam. “Another round?”

After they confirmed that they wanted another drink, he scooped up my glass and left to make the drinks. I tried to regain my composure. Despite his denial, it still stung that he’d been so surprised that I had a boyfriend.

“What’s that about?” Polly asked, cutting her gaze to Nick’s back, where he was busy making my drink in the blender.

“Nothing,” I said with a shrug.

“You didn’t tell him about Fred?” she asked, raising her brows. “That’s not like you, Em. Scandalous, in fact.”

“Shut up,” I muttered, trying not to blush at her teasing.

Nick wasn’t done grilling me, either. Once he’d delivered our drinks, he leaned his lovely hands on the edge of the bar and looked at me sternly. “Is it serious?”

“Is what serious?” I shifted on the barstool, pretending ignorance.

“This boyfriend you’ve never mentioned.” He frowned and added, “This boyfriend who’s never come round to see you. Is it serious?”

He wasn’t going to give up on this. I avoided his gaze and stirred my drink with the straw. “I’m not sure,” I started. Then the grumbling spilled out. “I do know it gets less serious every time he chooses his Lacrosse team over spending time together.”

“I’ve been telling her to dump him for months,” Polly said. “He isn’t right for her. Plus, if you ask me, he’s just plain selfish. Who wouldn’t want to spend time with you, Em? You’re awesome.”

“That’s pretty harsh,” said Adam. “Fred’s not a bad guy. He’s just a little immature.”

“I swear,” said Polly. “You would forgive a gray wolf from biting off your arm!”

“What if he was really, really hungry?” Adam said with a sheepish smile.

Polly shook her head with a grin. “What did I tell you?”

“Don’t complain about being with the nicest man in this town,” I scolded. Adam really was amazing. I couldn’t imagine him harboring an unkind thought, and Polly was as lucky to have him as he was her.

“So this guy—this Fred—doesn’t spend much time with you?” Nick asked, returning after serving another patron.

“He joined a Lacrosse team this year, and since then, we’re like ships that pass in the night,” I said with a dramatic sigh. “He’s either studying, playing, or going out with the team… I mean, don’t get me wrong, I’m happy for him. Everyone should have friends. But we haven’t been on a real date since the semester started.”

“That’s dreadful,” Nick said, looking genuinely concerned. “Did you go on those kinds of dates before?”

“The regular amount,” I said, “Every week or two, we’d go to the movies, dinner…” I tried to remember what else we had enjoyed since we’d met. “Or go to the mountains for the day, do a little hiking, that kind of thing.”

“You wouldn’t have impressed me as a girl who likes hiking,” he teased with a smile.

“You wouldn’t have impressed me as a guy who likes working in a bar,” I retorted, matching his light tone.

“One never knows. You might be surprised at what I like,” Nick answered as he turned away to attend to another customer.

I wondered what that was supposed to mean for a moment before returning to how dissatisfied I was with Fred. If only I knew d no idea what to do about it.

CHAPTER 4

Monday morning came too early, but the phone alarm just wouldn’t stop, so I struggled upright and brushed my hair back from my eyes. I grabbed the darn thing and gave it a swipe, and blessed silence flooded the room.

The silence gave me a moment to enjoy the morning as I looked out the window at a gorgeous late-fall day. The one tree I could see from the window had lost its leaves already, but the light pouring into the room promised good, if chilly, weather.