Page 44 of A Royal Obligation

“Y-you all go ahead. I’ll ca-ca-catch up.” Jules called down through sharp breaths.

After a moment, she checked to make sure they had walked away. Once she saw Barrett and Liam’s bodyguards following them, she felt it was safe to let her true feelings come out.

Her anxiety grew and she panted heavily, trying to control her racing heart. Her eyes welled with tears as her fear took over. She tried to quell her emotions when she heard footsteps approaching on the crunching leaves.

“Jules, are you okay?” Barrett asked, causing her to jump.

She looked up and wiped her cheeks, unwilling to let him see her cry.

“I’m fi-fine, Your Highness. I wi-will be down in a moment. Ju-ju-just enjoying the scenery up here.”

“I thought we were past the wholeYour Highnessbusiness. But you obviously are scared of heights. Let me help you.” He stepped closer to the trunk of the tree.

“I can’t get down, Barrett. I’m t-too high up.”

“I’ve got you. You’ll always be safe with me. I’ll walk you through it, okay? You can do this.”

She wiped her tears again and nodded.

“Okay, we’re going to get you down. Take your right foot and drop it a little lower. Do you feel that branch?”

She moved her foot around until she found it. “This one?”

“Yes. Place your foot there and now you can lower yourself to that branch.” She did as he said, trying to slow her breathing. “You’re doing great, Jules. Now you want to use one of your hands to grab the branch that’s at your middle to lower yourself down to find the next branch with your foot.”

She continued following his instructions until she was only about ten feet off the ground.

“You’re low enough to jump now, whenever you’re ready.”

Her breaths came more heavily again, as she glanced down at the ground.Why do I keep looking down?!

“I don’t think I can do it,” she whispered.

“I will catch you. I promise.” His voice grew huskier with each word. He held his arms out and gazed up at her. “You can do it, Jules.”

She looked down and found his soft stare. His eyes held a gentleness that she adored. And she knew he was telling the truth. That he would catch her. That he would make sure nothing happened to her, no matter what.

Jules inhaled once more and then let go of the branch, jumping down. Her stomach turned for the second she was free-falling. Then she wasn’t falling anymore. She opened her eyes to find herself in Barrett’s arms. He held her tightly to his chest.

“I’m so proud of you. You overcame your fears.”

“Not really.” She laughed weakly and wiped at her cheeks as he set her down.

“But you jumped anyway. Sometimes the hardest thing to do when facing our fears is to simply take the first step. You did that.” He pulled her towards him, and she fell into him.

She breathed in his woodsy scent, and it calmed her as she pressed her face to his chest and wrapped her arms tightly around his middle. His fingers traced up and down her back and he pressed his cheek to the top of her head.

Jules peered up at Barrett, stood on her tiptoes, and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “Thank you. We better catch up with Charlotte and Liam.”

He looked like he was pondering what to say when he finally responded. “We shall.”

She accepted his offered arm and they walked at a brisk pace to the cider mill.

“About time you two showed up. You almost missed the demonstration. What were you doing, anyway? Canoodling in the orchard?” Liam wiggled his eyebrows.

“Are you just stating what you wishyouwere doing?” Barrett retorted with a quirked eyebrow.

“Very funny. But seriously, where were you?”