If It's What You Want A Harry Styles Fanfiction || h. s.

Chapter 1

I'm really attempting to slow the pace of the relationship while keeping it fun and interesting. I promise you'll find plenty of sexual tension. Please comment to make suggestions. Tell me what you like or do not like. Let's have fun!

His eyes were continually drawn to a group dining at a table in the far corner of the restaurant. Actually, he was glancing at one girl in particular. He kept thinking she looked familiar but couldn't connect her to a name. The noise is too much tonight. I'd much rather be somewhere quiet, somewhere with . . . maybe . . . someone like her. . . sharing an evening . . . just the two of us. She is incredibly beautiful. Probably soft in all the right places, he thought.

Harry . . . Harry!" said Colin.

"I'm sorry. What?"

"We're going to Excelsior tomorrow night. Interested?"

"Do you know who that girl is?" Harry asked.

"Which one?" asked Wil turning to scan the tables.

"The table in the corner. See the Tiffany blue dress, dark hair?"

"Someone you don't want to tangle with, mate," said Wil after looking over his shoulder.

"Who is she?" Harry pressed raising his eyebrows questioningly as he glanced between his two friends.

"You really don't recognize her?" laughed Colin.

"Her name is Ashley . . ." said Wil before pausing to see if Harry would remember her.

Harry stared intently at Wil as if the answer would simply appear. He shrugged raising his hands, palms up. Wil reached over and playfully punched Colin in the arm. "Can you believe it?" asked Wil. "Harry of all people not remembering someone he's met before." The two friends laughed.

"Come on. I think you both are jerking me around," said Harry with a scowl.

His attention was drawn to a large serving cart rolling out from the direction of the kitchen. A woman stood up from the table where the girl sat and loudly clapped her hands. The restaurant became quiet as everyone's attention turned to the corner table.

"Thank you," she said. "Tonight, we'd like to welcome you to join in as we celebrate our Ashley's 24th birthday! Stand, stand," she motioned to the younger woman.

Harry watched as one of the restaurant employee's pushed the cart closer, lit the candles, and stepped away. Everyone in the restaurant along with a large group of the staff joined in singing "Happy Birthday" followed by loud applause.

"Blow out the candles!" said the woman.

Harry watched mesmerized as the girl reached up to gather her hair while leaning forward. She closed her eyes and raised her chin slightly as if to silently make a wish before blowing out all the candles. She smiled as she thanked everyone for the birthday wishes before taking her seat. The woman reached over to give her a kiss on the cheek before stepping around to apparently give directions to the staff.

"Okay, so who is the woman?" Harry asked his friends.

"You've met Raymond, right?" said Colin.

"Sure, several times," responded Harry.

"That's his wife. The girl is his wife's niece."

"Does she have other family?" asked Harry.

"Like I said, mate, this is one girl you want to steer clear of. Believe me, she's not interested," repeated Wil.

"But you said I've met her," said Harry. He knew he was missing something.

"Mate, you have met her more than once," Colin laughed.

Harry shook his head and smiled at his friends. He pushed back his short hair followed by his chair.

"Where are you going?" asked his friends simultaneously.

"To give my compliments to Raymond's wife," smiled Harry mischievously.

"Your funeral, mate," said Wil.

"Christ, Harry. Why do you . . ." said Colin to Harry's back.

Harry's friends watched as he excused his way through the staff before reaching his target.

"Excuse me," said Harry as he reached the end of the table where the older woman and Ashley sat adjacent to one another. "My name is Harry . . ."

"Styles. Yes, we know," said the younger woman.

"Sorry, have we met," said Harry turning to the younger woman.

"Ashley!" admonished her aunt.

"Mr. Styles, my husband has mentioned you on several occasions. It's so nice to meet you," she smiled and extended her hand.

"Likewise, Mrs. Russo," he said reaching for her hand.

"This is my niece, Ashley," she said as she gave a warning look to the girl.

"It's very nice to meet you, Mr. Styles," said Ashley.

Although Harry reached to shake her hand, she did not do the same. He didn't fail to notice how the smile was little more than polite.

"Have we met, Ms. Russo?" he asked.

"Perhaps. I meet many people in my line of work," she said looking up at him with that same smile.

"If . . ."

"Excuse me," she said cutting him off. "I see some friends and want to say hello to before they leave."

She pushed back her chair and walked past him to another table.

"Well, it was very nice to meet you, Mrs. Russo. Please tell your husband hello," he said.

"Thank you. He'll be happy to know you're back with us. You've been quite busy," she said as she shook his hand again. He nodded his head to others at the table and returned to his friends.

"Shot you down cold, mate?" asked Wil with a smile.

"Shut up," said Harry with a scowl. "What is her problem anyway?"

"I told you she's not interested."