Chapter 5
Elina
I rub my hands together and snuggle closer to the tile stove. The cozy warmth from the dancing flames seeps through the damp fabric of my jacket. A subtle crackling fills the room.
"Here, you can at least dry off a bit," Hanna says as she joins my side, handing me a towel.
Gratefully, I accept it and gently pat my hair, face, and cleavage dry. "I’m dripping water everywhere," I say with an apologetic smile.
She shakes her head, her tousled dark mane swaying in rhythm. "Don’t worry, the floor is sealed. A little water won’t harm it." As if to prove her point, she taps her Birkenstock sandals on the wooden floor. Its grain is fascinating, stretching across the entire room and continuing into the wooden beams supporting the whitewashed ceiling.
"You have a very cozy place here," I remark, letting my gaze wander once more.
Draped across the dark brown sofa is a floral-patterned throw, which had to have been hand-embroidered. In front of it stands a tree trunk repurposed as a table. Almost everything here is made of wood, even the vase on the windowsill. The yellow of the daffodils is like a sunny splash of color against the gray day outside the small window.
"It’s not solely my achievement." Hanna humbly brushes off the praise.
At that moment, a tall man with blond hair and a full beard enters the room. "When can we...?"
"Perfect timing, honey." Hanna’s blue-green eyes sparkle. "This is Elina, our new tenant. Elina, meet Florian."
I extend my hand, and he takes it with a firm grip. "Nice to meet you," he says with a winning smile.
The Tyroleans have something incredibly warm about them that makes you feel comfortable immediately. Only this Noah fellow seems to be a grump.
"I have to get back to work. The books aren't going to write themselves." Florian sighs with a strained tone. He doesn’t seem too happy as he turns away and disappears through the decoratively carved door.
For a moment, Hanna looks lost in thought as she watches him, then she turns to me and smiles. "Would you like some herbal tea?" Each syllable crunches against her palate. It’s a peculiar accent that only a true Tyrolean can have.
I wrap the towel tighter around my shoulders. "Yes, please."
As she hands me the rustic cup filled with the aromatic tea, I hear Hanna’s brother banging around in the hallway. A second later, he peeks around the corner.
"Where should this go?" he asks curtly, his gaze fixed on Hanna. He doesn’t even look at me.
That shouldn’t bother me, but it does, nonetheless. Most men find me attractive. They like my button nose and long blond hair. And when they find out I’m adoctor, they practically beg me to check their heartbeat. Perhaps Noah has a girlfriend.
No matter the reason for his distant behavior, I shouldn’t have smiled at him so much earlier. That was wrong. Just like the fact that I’m even thinking about him.
"Cabin five. Thanks, Noah," Hanna says, and then I feel her hand on my forearm. "That’s our best apartment."
I place the teacup on the tree trunk table. "Thank you. Then I’ll see about taking care of all my wet things." With an embarrassed smile, I quickly stand because there’s only one thing I want now.
To leave.
And preferably without even a glimpse of Noah. That way, I’ll be safe. I bid farewell to Hanna and turn to leave.
"Follow me," he says in his deep voice.
I lift my eyelids just enough to see his back—the broad, masculine back that seems to carry all my luggage so effortlessly. With the towel tightly wrapped around my shoulders, I follow him to the back exit of the house. We traverse a wildly overgrown garden in the pouring rain, heading toward some woods.
As we walk, I observe the water droplets running down his athletic forearms. "If I didn’t know better, I’d think you’re trying to kidnap me," I blurt out. Immediately, I bite my tongue.
Heavens, what is wrong with me?
For months now, I've kept myself in check. I managed to stay away from men and avoid this attention-seeking streak of mine.
But Noah makes it difficult despite showing nointerest in me. Whatever he’s inspiring in me, I have to ignore it.
