Her Mischievous Prince (Book 3)

Seven

Riley

"No more," I said patting my stomach as I sat back. "Ooh, we've got a lightweight over here," he snickered taking another bite of his massive burger. "A, I'm not a lightweight, and B, maybe you just eat like a horse," I shrugged. "True," he admitted midchew. Now, normally that would've irritated me since I really don't like it when people talk while they chew, but it's strange how I find this man so... endearing. I'm not saying I like that thought a lot, but it's there. It's stuck and I'm afraid that the more I talk to him, the more I'm sold that he's completely a great guy. No pretense, no bullshit nonsense, just a completely nice fellow who also happens to be world-famous and possibly an heir to their hotel chain and real estate businesses which I'm still reeling from because he doesn't look like the type who would sit behind a desk and do business meetings or whatnot.

"What?" he asked when he caught me studying him. "Nothing, you just seem pretty-" I drawled out not knowing which word to use. "Handsome?" he finished wiggling his brows for good measure. "No... easy-going," I snorted. "That's cause I generally am, but you don't think I'm handsome?" he pushed and I shook my head failing to suppress the goofy grin from spreading across my face. "You wound me, Riles," he laughed when I didn't deny nor confirm, then he pushed the last bite of his burger into his mouth and just continued to look at me.

Feeling a bit bashful, I broke our eye contact and glanced around the diner noticing a couple of people pointing in our direction and talking amongst themselves in hushed tones. And I don't know if I'm just being paranoid, but I feel like we're the subject of their conversation. "Don't worry about them. They're probably just being curious if I am who they think I am," he said matter of factly as if it was nothing. "So you don't mind if they take pictures of you without permission? Cause I'm pretty certain those girls did," I asked nodding my head towards the direction of where a few young girls were sitting. He wiped his mouth with a napkin and sat back. "I used to mind it, but it happens a lot that I just got used to it. If they don't approach to ask for pictures, then I pretend that I don't notice them. That's how I usually do things or I do this-" he turned his head to where I had pointed and gave them the most dashing smile he could ever muster and I swear I could hear them giggling, gushing, and almost running out of air from hyperventilating. "So you mean charm them until they pass out and drop to the floor?" I asked discreetly pointing my thumb towards the squeaking girls. "Something like that," he chuckled dropping a few dollar bills on the table, and before we could both stand to leave, the same girls have materialized asking for an autograph and some pictures which automatically made me the photographer.

With each pose, Jaxon would mouth his apologies before smiling for the camera. It went on for about five minutes and once everyone has had their pictures taken with him, he respectfully said his goodbyes to everyone and held my wrist all the way out of the diner. "It's a good thing there were only those girls in the diner otherwise we would've been unable to get out of there alive," I joked and he stopped walking and turned to face me. "I'm sorry if that made you feel uncomfortable or bad. It's a small town, so we're pretty safe from being mobbed, but if you want to head back home, we can go." My mouth popped open not knowing how to react to how apologetic he looked. He must be thinking that I was pissed about what happened back there which made me feel like total s**t. "Oh, no, I was just teasing. Pssshh that was, that was nothing. So where to next?" I stumbled over my words. "You sure?" he asked concern still etched on his face. "Yeah, we're supposed to be buying something to wear right? Is it really going to be a formal thing or were you kidding?"

"Honestly, I don't know, but maybe we can find you something that is smack in the middle of cocktail and casual if that even is a thing," he answered as he started walking again. "Just as a warning though, I don't normally do this shopping thing so I'm not sure if I'll be able to find something," I admitted almost completely out of breath from following him around. He's way damn taller than me that I must be taking two to three steps when he takes a single step. "Huh, me too, but who the f**k cares what you wear. I'm sure you'll look fine on anything." I gawked at what he just said because even though I'm sure as hell I wasn't supposed to feel flattered by the way he said it which was super casual, I freaking kinda did and s**t. "Aren't you supposed to be looking for a suit? Do they even have one here?" I asked peeking through all the windows of tiny shops we pass by. "Oh I have something to wear," he smirked which made me stop dead in my tracks. "But you said-"

"Nah, I just wanted to get out of the house for a bit," he smirked stopping in front of a boutique. I squinted my eyes at him and studied him for a while. "Riles, I don't mean this in a negative way, but you keep doing this crazy eyes thing whenever you look at me," he told me, squinting in the same way I was. "Why do I have a feeling that you don't like your father that much," I uttered knowing that it was a bit intrusive, but couldn't stop myself anyway and yes, I was kinda scared that I might've gone overboard and pissed him off. "Ah, but, it's not that I don't like him. I'm programmed to like him cause he's my dad. That's like his f*****g freebie when he got me. The reason why I can't stand being alone with him is... a story for another time. Shall we find you a dress?" he answered with a wide grin and a wink as he opened the door for me. I exhaled unaware that I was slightly holding my breath. I wanted to push for answers but decided against it because I know I don't have the right to do so. We're not friends yet. We're just the son and the daughter of two people who got married, so discussing the heavy is way too early for us both.