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MONEY ISN’T EVERYTHING
KARINA
Another weekend meant another night in New York. Only this time, I didn’t have to sneak my way out of the window.
With Nathan busy in my father’s office, I made my way downstairs and headed for the door. A sudden tap against my shoulder had me spinning on my heels. My eyes met with his cheerful gray ones. His lips curled up into a smile as he placed his hands behind his back.
“Miss Vasiliev,” he bowed his head, greeting me.
So we were back to formalities. “Mr. James, I wasn’t expecting to see you here.”
“I’m everywhere, watching over you, remember?” He winked at me, taking a step back. “I was just leaving your father’s office when I saw you try to sneak off.”
“It’s not sneaking if I’m using the front door.” I took a deep breath. “You didn’t tell him about what I said the other day, did you?”
“You mean the private conversation you were having with your friends I tuned out of?” He smiled, making me chuckle.
We both knew that wasn’t true, but there was something about the way he smiled that made me believe he knew how to keep a secret. I still didn’t know Nathan well. I only knew simple things like the fact that he’d been working for my father for five years, rode a motorcycle, had three brothers, and didn’t like glitter. And the way he showed Bunny respect, despite obviously looking her over. He had some morals.
“So then, what did you and my father talk about?”
He shrugged, leading me out the front door. “The usual. Business and you.”
“What about me?”
“If you’re safe in my care because Mr. Prince keeps bringing it up.”
My gaze drifted up to the night sky. It didn’t make any sense. Why would Adam care if I was safe? It wasn’t like we were friends. We knew each other, but neither of us took the time to get to know each other that well. Not like I wanted to.
“He doesn’t like me,” Nathan suddenly spoke. “Since I’m not qualified to be in the same vicinity as people with your status.”
“Money isn’t everything.”
“I know, but Mr. Prince doesn’t seem to understand that what’s in the heart makes us who we are, not our pockets.”
I glanced his way, catching him staring back at me.
“So, where are you headed?” he asked.
“Bunny’s.”
He hummed, pulling out a pair of keys from his pocket. “We can take the car this time if you’d like.”
I smiled, shaking my head. “The motorcycle sounds much more fun.”
He grinned in return, leading me towards his bike. I glanced over at him as he placed his hands behind the back of his head. A grin formed on his lips, but he refused to look my way. I wasn’t sure when it happened, but somehow Nathan James and his charm had gotten to me. Those gray eyes hid multiple secrets I was itching to bring to the light. I may have not been head over heels for the guy, but wanting to know more about him was just as bad.
Upon reaching the bike, he forced me into his helmet and jacket again. I climbed on after him, wrapping my arms securely around his waist. He took one small glance my way before he quickly sped off. I pressed the helmet to his back as the wind blew past us in the late night hour.
It took us a while, but he finally slowed down after what felt like several hours, and I wasn’t sure if that was because we didn’t talk, or the fact that I was too comfortable against him. Nathan came to a stop at a well-lit gas station on the side of the road. Parking the motorcycle, he got off his bike, turning his head to look back at me. His eyes danced around my face, still covered by the helmet, and down my body. A smile placed on his lips. He was enjoying the view, even though I was in his things.
My stomach fluttered uncomfortably. I wet my lips and smiled nervously. Not that he could see. “What are we doing here?”
“Giving your arms a rest,” he said. “We still have about an hour to go.”
“Oh, I can keep going,” I said, before quickly kicking myself as I realized how that may sound.
He blinked twice and chuckled. “I’m sure you could, but this baby needs gas, and I need something to keep me up for the rest of the night.”
Despite his cheerful demeanor, dark circles laid under his eyes, and red rims rounded each iris. “Why don’t we just go back or stop somewhere for you to rest? Bunny and Vi will understand. Besides, it means we’d get to stay away from home all weekend.”
Nathan shook his head. “If I rest, we’ll have to get off the highway and find a hotel. Besides, it’s better to head back home after tonight since neither of us has a change of clothes. And you’ll be much safer.”
There was something more to it. There had to have been. “I think you just don’t want to be alone with me,” I challenged.
I swung my leg off the bike, holding on to his arm for support. I pulled off the helmet and held it under my arm. In all honesty, I didn’t care if that was the case, but I was hoping I would get the full truth from him.
He studied me, taking a deep breath. “Definitely that,” he said, keeping his gaze on me.
Suddenly, he reached up, rubbing his eye as he yawned. “I’m surprised you’re not tired, Princess.”
“Will you stop—” I sighed. There was no point in arguing about that for the moment. “I had some food and caffeine before you found me.”
“Lucky me.” Nathan chuckled. He opened the gas tank as I stood on the opposite side. He faced sideways, paying for the gas before placing the fuel nozzle into the tank. His eyes drifted back to me. “What do you want to know?”
I furrowed my eyebrows. “What do you mean?”
“You’ve been more quiet than usual. Not as feisty. And you’ve been like this since the last time we were in New York. So, go on. Ask.”
Most people paid little attention. They noticed I was quiet and left it at that. But he was letting me probe him. Well, his mind, or his past. “What are their names?”
He tilted his head before he shook it in realization of what I meant. “Can’t tell you, at least not right now. Next question.”
Was it because no one else knew he had siblings, or because he wanted to keep them safe? I had a feeling it might have been both. “You said you took the assignment because no one says no to my father, but you also said you’re not trying to kiss his ass. So… I guess I want to know what happened during that conversation.”
A scoff escaped his lips. “I made it clear I wasn’t interested, but your father persisted. Believes I’m a saint who would have no intention of mixing my business with personal pleasures.”
From what I understood, that was true. “Was he wrong?”
Nathan pulled the nozzle from the tank, putting it back on the hook. He turned to me and leaned over, placing his hands against the bike on either sides of me. His face drew an inch closer. His breath tickled against my lips and his eyes met mine, searching for something as if he wasn’t sure if I wanted to hear the truth. I tried to step back, to get some air from being trapped under his gaze, but the bike pressed against me.
“Partially,” he eventually said, shrugging. “I’m still a guy, and you’re still a part of the sex that I’m attracted to.” His eyes drifted over my body, sending shivers up my spine. “Not to mention, I’ve already gotten a glimpse of what you hide under those clothes.”
I crossed my arms in an attempt to cover myself and create some space between the two of us. He laughed, pulling away.
“Relax, Princess. I’m not going to have sex with you or anything like that if you’re worried. My grandmother raised us right, for the most part.”
“What about your parents?” I asked.
“Compared to contrary beliefs, I’m not an orphan. They split up when I was about eight.” He shrugged. “My brothers and I spent most of our time with my grandmother to keep away from that drama.”
“How can you handle three brothers?” I could barely handle a little one and he was hardly ever around since he was stuck at boarding school having the time of his life.
“Technically, I only had to handle two.”
“What about the third one?”
“Well, my older brother I didn’t have to deal with. He dealt with me. The two youngest…” He sighed, his eyebrows scrunching together as if he wasn’t sure how to explain. “My youngest brother and I are only a year apart, but we’re different in a lot of ways. He spent more time with my grandmother.”
“And the other?”
“My grandmother adopted him when I was still in high school. He’s two years younger.” He glanced down at his hands as a smile tugged at his lips. “But he’s probably the biggest pain.”
“How come?”
“He’s a troublemaker.” Nathan crossed his arms over his chest, taking another step away from me. “Enjoys getting his ass beat.”
I chuckled softly. “And you enjoy beating his ass?”
“No, I’m the one trying to save his ass now.” He smiled, shaking his head.
That was sweet. At least he wasn’t that much of an asshole. There was kindness in there, somewhere. “Do you visit them?”
“Not often.”
“Why? You seem to care about them a lot.”
He nodded. His eyes soon drifted down to the seat, the smile on his lips fading. “It’s kind of hard to keep them safe, you know, with the whole job thing.”
Oh, right…
I reached over and placed a hand over his. “Hopefully that’ll change.”
“I highly doubt it.” He scoffed.
“You could always quit. Or get yourself fired.” There were plenty of bodyguards who did so in the past to be closer to their families. Others, well... to get close to me, which only backfired on them.
“I could, but then I wouldn’t be able to see your pretty face again,” he said, his gray eyes piercing mine.
Heat rose to my cheeks. I looked away from him, feeling as his eyes drifted down my body before making their way back up again. I snuck a peek, seeing a smirk over his lips. Nathan was still an asshole.
“Don’t worry, Karina. I just like to look.” There was something about the way he said my name. I couldn’t quite explain it, but I wanted him to call me by it more often.
He climbed up on the bike, motioning me with his eyes to get back on.
I complied and hopped on behind him, placing the helmet back on my head. “Looking can turn into touching,” I said softly, snaking my arms around his stomach again.
“I’m not trying to get my hand chopped off.”
“My dad isn’t that cruel,” I said, rolling my eyes.
“Who said anything about your dad?” He turned on the ignition. “I was talking about my grandmother. She’d have me neutered and handless.”
I laughed. “I’m sure it wouldn’t be as big of a problem if I actually wanted you to.”
“But we both know you hate me.” He looked back at me with a raised eyebrow, waiting to see if I’d leave it at that or correct him.
“We’ll see,” I shrugged. “It’s a learning process.”
He threw his head back with a laugh. “Alright, you got me there.”
“So, you aren’t tempted to do anything to me at all?”
The roar of the engine overpowered his voice, but I could have sworn I heard the words clearly. I held on to him either way, resting my head against his back. He drove off as I let what he said sink into my thoughts.
“I wouldn’t say that at all, Princess.”
