Page 23 of A Royal Obligation
Jules
Shefrozeasrealizationflooded across her face.
“Imagine me with sunglasses and you throwing your purse at me.” Barrett teased.
“It was you outside the school.” Jules took a sharp breath. She leaned in closer and sniffed his neck. Sure enough, there was that subtle woodsy scent.
Is this a joke? Prince Barrett is the man who made me feel all those things my first day in Wistonia? Where’s Ashton Kutcher? I must be getting Punk’d.
“Wow, if you can only recognize me by my cologne, my clothes must have hidden my identity pretty well.” Barrett chuckled.
Jules blushed as she ran through everything that happened yesterday again in her mind. All this handsomeness hidden beneath that dark outfit outside the school was an actual crime—compared to the crime I thought he was trying to commit then. Attractiveness like that deserved to be seen and admired.
“You’re even hotter than a Hemsworth brother.” She sighed.
Barrett’s laughter rang in the air.
“Oh my goodness, did I say that out loud?” She felt her face burn what was probably a dark shade of red.As if I needed any more reasons to be mortified at this moment. Foot meet mouth.
“It’s quite all right. I don’t know if my looks have been compared to the likes of a Hemsworth brother before. I’m honored.”
She slumped her shoulders and her face fell into his chest. She quickly righted herself after realizing where she was and that it probably wasn’t proper to be that up close and personal with royalty.
For the next minute, they did an awkward dance with their eyes. Looking at each other and then glancing away when their eyes connected. She wondered if he had felt the same way about her when they first met. If he felt the palpable attraction or if everything was one-sided.
“So, were you also visiting the school that day?” she asked, trying to escape their awkward eye dance.
He spun her out and brought her back in. When his hand landed on her lower back again, tingles spread throughout her body.
“Yes, I was. I walked through it to make a mental note of everything I wanted to have updated in the renovations.”
Her eyes shot up to his. “That’s why I was walking through it, too.”
“Great minds think alike.” He smiled at her and it shot warmth straight into her soul.
“Oh my goodness,” she said as understanding hit her. “When you apologized after the tour earlier about not wanting things to be weird between us because of Charlotte … I thought you were talking about the phone call we had. You were obviously talking about us already having met.”
“Precisely. I’m glad we’re on the same page now. Are you okay working here still?”
“I’m okay if you are. Do you still want my help with pursuing Charlotte?” She leaned in closer to his ear. “And I could help you talk to women, too. I am one after all.”
“I would love your assistance. It helps that I can talk to you like a normal person. I don’t want to make you uncomfortable though.” He bit his lower lip as he spun her out and brought her back into him. “With my Hemsworth brother hotness.”
A flush crept up her neck and landed on her face. “I can handle it, thank you.”
Can I really handle it though? I felt something for him at the school, and I can’t deny these growing feelings for him. But I have to help him, right? He’s a prince for goodness’ sake. And he needs help winning over Charlotte. I have to do all I can so they end up together. Even if it hurts me in the process.
Her embarrassment caused her to stumble over the next step, and the heel of her stiletto connected with Barrett’s foot.
“Oh, I’m so sorry.” Jules pulled away and covered her face with her hands.
“I’m all right,” Barrett said, but she could see that he was trying to hold back a grimace. She looped her arm through his, helping him off the dance floor and leading him to a chair.
“I can get you some ice. Would that help?” she offered.
“That’s okay.” He politely declined. “There are still some guests that I need to make sure I speak with. But thank you for the thought. Would you like to come with me? I was going to talk to my cousin first.”
Jules nodded in agreement and followed Barrett across the ballroom, noticing his slight limp with each step.