“What makes you fit to be our queen?”
I was shocked by some of the questions.These reporters really don’t hold back, do they?I turned to look for Vince but couldn’t see him through the camera flashes.
I turned back and continued to walk straight down the red carpet. It was like a map, guiding me to where I needed to go. I could see the large opening of the palace doors just ahead. To my surprise, I spotted Knox just inside. My breath caught in my throat. His broad frame looked delectable in his crisp black tuxedo. It was a vast difference from the flannel shirt and glasses he had been wearing in New York. The Clark Kent vibe was undeniably sexy.
The relentless questions and snap of cameras brought me back to reality. “Is this your first time in Wexstone?” one reporter repeated as she shoved a tiny microphone in my face.
I smiled. “Yes, it is.”
“How have you liked it so far?”
“It’s been wonderful. The country is beautiful.” These questions weren’t so bad. It felt like talking to someone in line at the coffee shop.
“Where in America are you from?” another reporter shouted.
“I live in New York City.” I felt a bit of pride rise in my chest.
“Is it true that when you first arrived, you were stopped at customs?”
Oh fuck.“Um, yes, that’s true.” I felt my smile start to falterbut pasted it back into place. Maybe they wouldn’t push any further on this.
“Why, Ms. Hamilton?”
“They uh…they thought they spotted something in my bag.”Shit. I shouldn’t have said that. This was definitely a “no comment” line of questioning. I started to laugh nervously, my default for awkward situations.
“What exactly did they find?”Shit, shit, fuck, shit. I can’t answer that! This is humiliating. But if I say “no comment” now, that will be even more suspicious.
A large, warm hand wrapped tightly around my elbow and pulled me toward the door.
“No comment,” Knox’s deep voice sternly told the reporter, who immediately backed off, looking for someone else to interrogate.
I looked up and was met with those bright blue eyes and the scent of pine and mint.
Once we had passed the throng of reporters, Knox rested my arm in the crook of his elbow and led me the rest of the way up the red carpet. As we climbed the marble steps, I couldn’t help but notice the way the tuxedo jacked hugged his biceps and the way the pants grazed his toned thighs. I caught a glimpse of his tattoos peeking out from the cuff of his shirt as he shook hands with the man taking coats and shawls inside the door. I tried not to think of his boxer-briefed ass in my tiny New York kitchen.
I handed off my shawl to the man and thanked him. I held onto my small clutch with all my might, as if the scraps of fabric could keep me from floating away.
“Thank you for saving me back there.”
“Don’t mention it,” Knox growled. “They’re vultures.”
“With all of the prepping we did today on how to handle aherd of hungry paparazzi, that question wasn’t exactly on the list,” I muttered.
I caught a slight smile roll across Knox’s face. I wondered if he knew why I had been pulled aside by customs, though the smile suggested that he must. I hoped I wasn’t blushing too much.
The foyer of the palace had smooth white limestone floors with the same stone forming the walls. The ceiling was a large glass dome, through which you could see the stars.
“What did you think of the red carpet?” Vince asked as he passed off his coat and made his way toward Knox and me.
I cleared my throat. “It was something, that’s for sure,” I replied.
Bronson joined us. “And just why did Mr. Henderson have to come and escort you inside?” he inquired stuffily as he swiped his hands over his tuxedo jacket, checking for lint.
I paused. “It seemed prudent to keep everyone moving along, Lord Alexander,” Knox cut in before I could spill out the reporter’s line of questioning.
Thank you,I mouthed to him. I didn’t know if Vince had told Bronson about my customs fiasco, though I had a feeling I would have already gotten an earful about it if he had. Now did not seem like the time or place to give him a heart attack about it. That was for another day.
“Let’s proceed to the dining hall, shall we?” Vince offered his elbow for me to loop my arm through.
