The Reluctant Candidate

I looked back at the drawings. “Jacob paints.”

“I know.” Drew shrugged.

“Jay draws too,” I continued.

Drew groaned.

“What?” I glanced up at him.

“Nothing.”

“That sounded like something.”

He picked up his plate.

“Jay likes to say he draws.”

I gasped dramatically. “You’re insulting your cousin’s art already?”

“You haven’t seen it yet.”

“I offered to draw him something.” I attempted to change the subject.

“That’s very kind of you.”

“You sound worried.”

“I’ve known Jay a long time.”

I laughed.

Then realized Drew had never answered the question that had actually brought me here.

I leaned against the opposite side of the desk.

“Can I ask you something?”

“You just did.” He shrugged.

I stared at him.

His mouth twitched. “Go ahead.”

“Why have you been avoiding me?”

His expression changed. “I haven’t.”

“You disappeared,” I pointed out.

“I was working.” Drew’s eyes drifted toward his plate of food.

“You skipped dinner.”

“I do that sometimes.”

“Jacob said you do.”

Drew took a bite of the shepherd’s pie. “Jacob talks too much.”

“I like him,” I admitted.

“I do too.” That answer came without hesitation.

I studied him.

“They’re your cousins?”

“Yeah.”

“Jay and Jacob are brothers,” I added.

“Unfortunately.”

I laughed.

Drew smiled again. “They’re not that bad.”

“Jay called me hot before saying hello,” I reminded him.

“Okay. He’s sometimes that bad.” Something about talking to Drew was easier now.

Maybe because we weren’t standing in front of the mansion with two other men watching every expression I made. Maybe because neither of us was talking about marriage.

I looked around his room again. “You really weren’t avoiding me?”

“No.” He paused. “Maybe a little.”

I turned toward him. “I knew it.”

“It’s not because I don’t like you.” He shrugged.

“That sounds promising.” I rolled my eyes.

Drew set the plate down. “I didn’t know what to do.”

That surprised me. “About me?”

“About all of it.” His gaze dropped. “My uncle told us you were coming. That we’d be staying here while you got settled.”

“But not why.” I added.

“No.” Drew’s eyes drifted towards the floor.

“And then I showed up and announced one of you had to marry me.”

“Pretty much.”

I covered my face. “Oh my God.”

Drew laughed.

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. You didn’t make the rule.” A smile tugged at his lips.

“I still basically walked onto the lawn and told three strangers that one of them was going to marry me.”

I wanted to disappear.

“You were memorable.”

“Please stop.”

His laugh deepened.

I dropped my hands. “Are you freaked out?”

“Yes.”

I blinked.

The immediate answer made me smile. “Good.”

“Good?” Drew caught my gaze.

“I’m freaked out too.”

“That seems fair.”

I looked at the desk. “I thought maybe you didn’t want to get to know me.”

Drew went quiet. “I do.”

Something about the way he said it made me look at him. Really look at him. His expression had softened again. Not flirtatious exactly. Just sincere.

“I’d like to get to know you too.” I smiled.

“Then we have two months.”

My smile faded. “That’s not very long.”

“No.”

“And apparently I’m supposed to decide whether I love one of you during that time.”

Drew frowned.

“And choose the next king.”

His eyes snapped toward mine.

“What?” I stared at him. “You didn’t know that part either?”

“No.”

“Oh.” I folded my arms. “Apparently whoever I marry eventually takes the king’s crown.”

Drew stared at me. Then laughed. Not happily.

“Of course.”

“What?” I frowned.

“Nothing.” He shook his head.

“No. You can’t do that.”

“Do what?”

“Say ‘of course’ like there’s an entire story behind it and then say nothing.”

He rubbed his jaw. “It’s just…” He looked toward the floor. “That’s a lot more complicated than choosing someone you want to marry.”

“Exactly.” I hadn’t expected the relief that came with hearing someone else say it. “Everyone keeps talking about marriage. Nobody seems bothered that I’m also choosing who gets power over an entire kingdom.”

Drew looked back at me. “I’m bothered.”

“Thank you.”

“You shouldn’t have to decide either one in two months,” He added.

“Thank you again.”

“And those probably shouldn’t even be the same decision.”

I stared.

He frowned. “What?”

“Nothing.”

“Now you’re doing it.” He folded his arms over his chest.

I smiled. “You’re just the first person who’s said that.”

Drew leaned back against the desk. “Seems obvious.”

“Apparently not.”

For a moment neither of us spoke.

Then he nodded toward the door. “Want to get out of here?”

I glanced around. “You’re inviting me to escape my own mansion?”

“Temporarily.”

“Where?”

“The gardens.”

I thought of the roses outside. “Okay.”

Drew grabbed a jacket from the chair. “I’ll show you the part tourists don’t see.”

“Do I count as a tourist?” I asked.

“Currently?” He looked me up and down thoughtfully. “Yes.”

“Rude.” I frowned.

“Come on, Your Highness.”

I groaned. “Never call me that.”

His grin widened. “Noted.”