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As Elizabeth showered, she couldn’t get her mind off Palmer’s more overt advances. In St. Rais, she’d been reserved with her touches, almost reverent with Elizabeth. In part, due to her respect for Elizabeth’s position, no doubt, but also in part because of Elizabeth’s recent losses. Now, it was as if Palmer had decided to make her intentions obvious. Elizabeth hadn’t ever been able to share touches like that with Teagan unless they were alone. It had been exciting to be kissed on the cheek and pulled into Palmer’s embrace with others around them to see that someone cared for her. Someone cared for Elizabeth, and it appeared, Palmer wasn’t worried about whatever had been worrying her in St. Rais. She no longer cared about Elizabeth being a Queen, the distance between where they lived, or the fact that Elizabeth had had a very long relationship with someone who was now gone. Elizabeth smiled at the thought that Palmer Honeycutt might try to kiss her soon. She might even want to do more, and Elizabeth wasn’t sure she’d be able to resist. She just wasn’t sure she was ready.

CHAPTER 28

“You brought me another flower?” Elizabeth asked, laughing as Palmer handed her a single flower.

“It’s a dahlia. I’m sure you even know its Latin name, but I know it as a dahlia. It means dignity and elegance. It made sense for you, I thought.”

“Where are you getting these?” Elizabeth laughed a little, bringing the flower to her nose.

“Most dahlia species don’t have a scent. Did you knowthat? They’re just beautiful. Another reason I thought you should have it,” Palmer said.

“Thank you, Palmer.”

“You’ll see later where I get them, but we should get going. Security let me come up here to get you, but the guys on shift are waiting downstairs.”

“Let me get this in some water first. Come in,” Elizabeth said, motioning for Palmer to enter the hotel suite. “You look comfortable.” She added as she turned back to Palmer.

“I’mwearing what I told you to wear. You’re wearing a dress,” Palmer noted. “We talked about this, Elizabeth…”

Elizabeth laughed and said, “I’m meeting your parents and your sister for the first time. I shouldn’t betoocasual.”

“My sister won’t be at dinner. She’s at school until tomorrow. My parents will pick her up then, but you need to know your audience, Your Majesty. My mom runs a restaurant. My dad is a teacher. I don’t think I’ve seen my mom in a dress in years, and the most dressed up my dad ever gets is wearing a tie with his short-sleeved button-up shirt. Did you evenbringjeans?”

“Yes, I brought jeans.”

“Then, put them on.”

“You don’t like my dress?” Elizabeth asked.

Palmer raked her eyes over the blue cocktail dress that went so well with Elizabeth’s perfect eyes. Palmer very much liked that dress. She just also wanted to tear it off her.

“Your dress is beautiful.Youare beautiful in it, but I like it when you’re comfortable. Don’t dress up for my parents. Just throw on a pair of jeans and a shirt or something.”

Elizabeth nodded and dropped the dahlia into a glass with water in it next to the plumeria from earlier.

“I’m starting quite a collection,” she said with a smile, glancing at the flowers.

“I’ll help you add to it while you’re here,” Palmer said.

“What’s gotten into you?” Elizabeth asked.

“What do you mean?”

“You seem different.”

“Differentbad?” Palmer asked, swallowing hard.

“Not bad; just different. Do you really want me to change?”

“You don’t have to ifyoudon’t want to, but no one else is going to be dressed up.”

“Maybe I shouldn’t go, Palmer.”

“What? Why?” Palmer sat on the end of the bed and looked up at her.

“What is security going to do while we’re eating?”

“What do theynormallydo when you eat? Stand around, right?”