Royal Heir (Westerly Billionaire #3)(42)

“And last night?” he asked, holding her captive with the intensity of his gaze.

She took another step back. “Also amazing, but not something we should repeat. I’ll be in Vandorra as long as Eric is here. That could be one week or several. If he checks himself out tomorrow, I’m going back with him.”

Magnus pocketed his hands and frowned. “Your grandmother—”

“Is not here because I asked her to be. I had no idea she was even coming. The video of you and me embarrassed her, and that is something my grandmother will not tolerate.”

“So she’s here to repair your reputation.”

Rachelle shook her head and laughed without humor. “You don’t get it yet. This is about her pride.”

“And getting you a title?” he asked with enough arrogant smugness that Rachelle’s temper began to flare.

“She doesn’t care about the title. She’s trying to use me to knock you down a notch.” As soon as Rachelle said it, she knew it was true. “How I feel is irrelevant. No different than how you used me to manipulate Eric.”

“A moment ago you thanked me for what I did for Eric.” Magnus was offended, but that only reinforced Rachelle’s resolve.

“I did, but that doesn’t mean I’m foolish enough to think you care about me. You and my grandmother are both used to getting what you want, and you don’t care who you have to hurt to get it. Well, I’m not playing her game or yours.”

She turned to walk away, but Magnus grabbed her arm. “My intention has never been to hurt you.”

She pulled her arm free. “Then respect what I’m saying. I don’t want to do this. I don’t want to be what my grandmother uses to humble you. And I don’t care if you find it inconvenient to want someone you can’t have. I’m not an appliance. I’m not here to make your life easier. You want to prove you care about me at all? Stay away from me.”



The woman Magnus had thought would spend the night with him walked away without hesitation or a single glance back. Only after he saw her enter her hotel lobby did he check to see where his men were. When he located Phillip, he nodded for him to approach. “She claims she had no idea her grandmother was even coming.” Magnus’s attention was drawn back to the entrance of her hotel even though there was no reason to believe she would reappear through it. He sighed. “I believe her.”

Phillip’s expression remained respectfully blank.

Magnus continued, “She said if I care about her at all, I should stay away from her. How does that make any sense?” Normally, Magnus would not put as much thought into what a woman said, but Rachelle’s feelings mattered to him, and her request had put him in a no-win situation. To get what he wanted, he needed to disregard her wishes. To respect her wishes, he needed to deny what he knew they both wanted.

Phillip was quiet for a moment, then said, “My wife once told me she did not want to celebrate her birthday, so we didn’t. I didn’t buy her a card. I didn’t take her to dinner. I pretended as if that day were any other day. I regretted that decision for the entire twelve months that led up to her next birthday. Women are complicated creatures.”

“Why not just say what they want?”

“They do, but they say it as only another woman can understand it.”

“Absurd.”

“Would you like it translated?”

“Excuse me?”

Phillip took out his phone. “You could ask my wife.”

Magnus shook his head. “I will do no such thing.” In the brief time it took Phillip to repocket his phone, Magnus gave in to his curiosity. “You will ask her, but do not tell her it is for me.”

“I can’t tell her it’s for me,” Phillip joked, but he sobered when he realized Magnus was serious. “I’ll be vague.” A moment later Phillip greeted his wife, then asked if he could have her opinion on something. She agreed.

Phillip said, “One of my friends is interested in a woman who told him to stay away from her, and he’s looking for advice.” Phillip shook his head. “No, this is not like that. She was interested in him yesterday. She said—” Phillip turned to Magnus. “How exactly did she say it?”

“She said, ‘You want to prove you care about me at all? Stay away from me.’”

Phillip repeated it to his wife. “How certain are you?” Then he nodded. “That’s pretty certain. Thanks, my love. I’ll see you tonight.”

“Well?” Magnus demanded after Phillip hung up.

“I’d rather not share what she said. She didn’t know we were referring to you.”

“Phillip, your honesty is as valuable to me as your loyalty. Say it. I will not be offended.”

“You know my wife is blunt.”

Magnus folded his arms across his chest and waited.

As expected, Phillip caved. “She said you screwed up big-time. Translated to womenspeak, it means: I’ve decided you’re a jerk, but I’ll give you one last chance to prove you’re not.”

“That makes no sense. How could I prove what I am or am not by staying away from her?”

“I don’t know. I didn’t ask that part. Should I call her back?”

“No.” It already felt ridiculous to have entertained her opinion at all. Magnus not only didn’t chase women, he also didn’t sit around and try to decipher what they wanted from him. There had always been too many women in the world to waste that much time on one.