Page 31 of A Royal Promise
Drew shrugged. “You’ve never wanted to ride the Ferris wheel before. The treehouse has walls, and when we’re in the mountains, I have solid ground beneath me. It’s when I’m in open air like this that panic sets in.”
“That makes sense. It’s different, being up here.” She turned, placing her hands on his cheeks as he started hyperventilating. “Look at me, Drew.” Bri waited until his eyes met hers. “You’re okay. You’re safe.”
She kept one hand cupping his cheek while the other wandered to the back of his head, running through the hair at the nape of his neck. “Can you try to match my breathing? Breathe in.” She inhaled. “Breathe out.” She let out a long, slow exhale.
Bri continued guiding him through the breathing exercise. With his eyes locked in on hers, she realized how pretty they were. His irises were swirls of ocean blue flecked with green. They were captivating, pulling her in like the ocean’s tide.
Finally, his breathing slowed, and he looked a little more at ease.
“Are you with me, Drew?” she repeated the question he’d asked her on the day their engagement had been announced to the world, trying to help calm his nerves the way he’d calmed hers.
His eyes softened. “Always,” he said, his voice husky and his pupils dilated.
Suddenly, Bri felt like she was the one struggling to breathe. She had to change the course of this conversation—and fast—before she started focusing on whatever was stirring inside her.
“Is it weird for you?” she squeaked out, dropping her hands from his face and looking back out at the view.
“Is what weird?”
“You know…having this be the first event we’ve attended outside of the palace together since announcing our engagement?” Bri twisted the ring on her finger.
“Honestly, not really.” He shook his head. His breathing finally sounded normal, and he was back to acting like the Drew she knew. “We’ve been hanging out together at events like this our whole lives.” He squeezed her hand. “Is it different foryou?”
Well, shoot. She hadn’t thought he would turn the question back on her. This wasn’t something she wanted to think about right now. It wasn’t something she wanted to think aboutever.
Trying to act unaffected by the whole thing, Bri nudged his shoulder with hers. “Same as you. It just feels like I’m hanging with my best pal.”
Best pal? Where on earth did that come from? We never call each other pal.She internally face-palmed.
“All right then, ol’ buddy ol’ pal.” His laughter was unrestrained and drew out Bri’s smile.
“Stop teasing me.” She pinched his side, and he gasped.
“Then don’t call mepal.” He reached over and grabbed her waist, leaving a trail of fire along her hip. It felt like he moved in slow motion as he brushed a stray hair out of her face, looking straight into her eyes.
She tore her gaze away, looking out at the bird’s-eye view of the city. “Apologies, fiancé.”
Bri heard the gasp he sucked in at her new choice of nickname. She let out a slow breath through her nose as she chided herself. She had no idea what she was doing. Flirting wasn’t somethingthey did. They didn’t tease each other like this. They didn’t touch each other like this.
What she did know was that she was now the person who wanted to get off the Ferris wheel the most. Surely once they weren’t glued to each other’s sides anymore, she would be able to shake off these weird feelings and flirty vibes, and everything would go back to normal.
Chapter Eleven
Drew
Drew stood just outside the palace entrance with his parents and Bri, waiting for their guests of honor to arrive.
Today, Glencrest had the distinct honor of hosting the Fenimore Kingdoms Alliance meeting—a meeting that occurred once a year between the rulers of the eight countries that made up the continent of Fenimore. The location changed each time, allowing each kingdom to host once every eight years. Rulers from across the continent met to talk, establish trade agreements, and discuss issues affecting all their nations.
Drew looked around, taking in the large number of palace guards stationed every few feet around the palace grounds. He knew there were just as many inside, stationed at each entrance. Whenever the ruling families from Fenimore gathered, security measures were increased tenfold.
He had been looking forward to today for a multitude of reasons, the biggest one being that his father had invited him to join the meeting. There was only so much he could learn before he ascended the throne, and attending such an importantsummit as this would help give him a taste of what it would truly be like to rule Glencrest.
Flashing lights drew his attention to the long drive where a huge motorcade of royal families and security from the seven other allied countries approached the palace with a police escort.
Bri walked over to hug her parents and younger brother as they stepped out of the first black SUV. One after the other, the royal families, their security details, and other support personnel emerged from the vehicles, and the head butler welcomed them all inside.
“We’ll have any guests not attending the meeting enjoy the afternoon in the sitting room.” The butler motioned to the room behind him. “Everyone will reconvene in the formal dining room for dinner when the meeting has concluded.”
