Page 34 of A Royal Promise
Huh. Wes must have a thing for Annalise or Josephine. I’ll have to ask Bri about it later.
Charlotte placed her hand on her husband’s shoulder and shook her head, though she wore a knowing smile.
“What?” Liam groaned. “Everyone deserves to find love.”
“Look at my husband, the romantic.” Charlotte kissed him on the cheek.
He shot his wife a look filled with so much affection that Drew felt like he was intruding on a private moment.
“While we have everyone’s attention, we have an announcement. I know we shared it in the meeting, but we wanted everyone else to know our news before it’s announced publicly later this week. We’re expecting a baby later this year.” Charlotte’s face glowed as she spoke.
Bri clasped her hands over her mouth and turned to Drew with excitement twinkling in her eyes. He knew she would be genuinely excited for them, but it also was just what she’d wanted—news that might overshadow their engagement and keep the attention off them.
Liam leaned back in his chair, letting out a dramatic puff of air, eyeing the fathers in the room. “Now that the news is out, I have to know… Do all women get the most outlandish cravings while pregnant? Seriously, who wants a banana split but switch the banana for pickles?” Liam pressed his lips together in disgust, and Charlotte whacked him lightly on the arm.
“It’s very common from our experience, but just wait. The cravings tend to get worse throughout the second trimester,” Drew’s father said.
Liam groaned in response, and they all laughed.
After the next course was served, Rosalie turned to Bri. “Addie has a question she’s been dying to ask you.” She gave her stepdaughter an encouraging squeeze on the shoulder.
“Bwi, I was wondewing if I could be your flower giwl or help cawwy your dwess down the aisle at your wedding?”
Addie was the most precocious child he’d ever met, but her speech impediment caused all her R sounds to come out like W’s and reminded him of how young she was.
Bri’s hand flew to her heart. “Aw, I would love to have you be part of our wedding, Addie. When we get more serious about making plans, I’ll let your mama know.”
Drew’s stomach dropped. There wouldn’t be any wedding details if they parted ways. He couldn’t think about thathappening. Drew needed to hold out hope that Bri would come to have the same feelings for him that he had for her.
He remained quiet throughout the rest of the dinner courses, preferring to observe everyone interacting around him. It was only through his watchful eye that he noticed Princess Josephine of Meldovia and Prince Nathaniel of Rothwell glaring at each other nearly the whole dinner.
As the dessert course was served, Bri reached over and placed her hand on Drew’s leg. His breath hitched at her touch. Out of instinct, he wrapped his fingers around hers, and everything felt right in the world.
Chapter Twelve
Bri
It’d been a week since Bri had spent quality time with Drew. Luckily, it had left her time to complete the proposal for how to fund scholarships for the family center back home in Westridge and send it to her dad. But truthfully, she missed Drew.
She’d seen him at the occasional dinner with his family. However, most days he was gone, practicing with his crew for the Fenimore Regatta. They typically only practiced once a week, but in the weeks leading up to today’s race, they’d been on the water constantly.
After seeing him every day during her first week living in Hillside Cottage, it was weird to be without him. It also didn’t do anything to help their image as an engaged couple. They couldn’t prove to the media they were in love when they were so infrequently seen together. But today there was a one hundred percent chance they would be photographed together at the Fenimore Regatta.
Bri wanted to look her absolute best while supporting him, so she’d worn one of her more formal outfits. She’d donned anelegant pale-blue wool midi-length coat dress in the color of Glencrest’s flag. A matching fascinator, nude suede pumps, and her engagement ring completed the look. She wondered if Drew would appreciate the care she’d put into choosing the perfect outfit for the day’s event.
I shouldn’t care if he likes my outfit. We’re only friends.
She reached up, adjusting her fascinator as Bastian grunted from the seat beside her in the back of the SUV.
“Do you have something to say?” she asked.
“You’re making me anxious with all your fidgeting.”
Bri shook her head, biting back a smirk. “Surely adjusting my fascinator isn’t enough to worry a strong bodyguard like you.”
He deadpanned. “Do you want to talk about why you’re so fidgety?”
She wished she could share everything with him. It was nice having Rosalie to talk to, but she had her own family and life in another country. If someone in her everyday life knew, it would make things a lot easier. But she’d made a promise to Drew, and she intended to keep it.
