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He gave her a winning smile, but she deflated. He was being a gentleman and a health care professional, not telling her ‘it wasn’t goodbye’ because he’d fallen hard and fast for her and maybe wanted to be her adventure partner for a few months and see if something developed between them.
Silly. She didn’t need some prince whose country had revoked her visitation rights to be falling for her, and she didn’t need to be falling for him. She had plenty of friends and handsome men interested in traveling with her.
Because you foot the bill, a voice said in her mind.
That wasn’t true. It was because she was fun and adventurous.
“Perfect. Thank you.” She climbed out, and the valet hurried around as if confused. “My boyfriend is waiting here for me,” she told him.
“Wonderful, ma’am. Wonderful.” His voice was heavily accented, but it was impressive how well the Europeans spoke English. He shut the door behind her and escorted her around the car.
Boyfriend. She’d just called Prince Steffan August her boyfriend. It was just a cover, but it made her heart swell with an odd connection she hadn’t known she was missing. Hattie didn’t have boyfriends. She didn’t do relationships. She had fun and only rarely kissed or hugged a man she might think was impressive.
She looked into the car’s front window. Steffan still had those sunglasses on, and she wished again that she could get a read on those too-blue eyes. She could tell he was studying her, though, and his lips curved in a smile.
Did he like her calling him her boyfriend?
Goodness, who cared?
For some reason, she did.
CHAPTERSIX
Steffan waited impatiently for Hattie to return to the car. He had no doubt she could pull off securing a key, and the Grand Resort in the quiet, ritzy resort town of Bad Ragaz wasn’t a dangerous spot by any means, but he was uneasy with her gone.
How was he going to walk away after he made certain she got into her suite and most likely reunited her with some … Franz character? His gut turned over. He drummed his fingers on the steering wheel and wished he could get out and pace. None of his family did well being sedentary. His dad and Tristan had to endure hour upon hour of meetings they had to sit through, but they were active every chance they got. The rest of his family had careers or lives where they could move.
He wanted to move. Now.
He also wanted to ask Hattie why she’d called him her boyfriend. She could’ve said anything to the valet and the guy would’ve listened. Despite her clothes having some rips and her legs scratched, it was obvious her shorts, T-shirt, and shoes were top of the line and this area was used to hikers or backpackers. Hattie had a regal bearing, as if she were the royalty. Not to mention, she’d climbed out of a three-hundred-thousand-dollar luxury car. She didn’t have to make up an excuse.
My boyfriend. My boyfriend.
Those words from Hattie Ballard’s lips had sparked a fire in his chest and made his blood feel like it was dancing in his veins.
No. He had a busy career and a royal family. He couldn’t flit around Europe with some playgirl billionaire philanthropist. Malik would be perfect for the job. He should call his brother and ask him to watch out for Hattie.
Steffan gripped the steering wheel tighter. He loved Malik, but he wasn’t sharing Hattie with his brother—or anyone else, for that matter. What about Franz? Where was the guy? Why hadn’t he tracked her down? What was their relationship? Were they together, or travel buddies, or what was happening between them? She had called Steffan her boyfriend. It didn’t mean anything, and he was having very juvenile thoughts.
Hattie walked out the front doors, and he relaxed into the leather seat. The valet rushed up to her and walked her around the car, getting her door.
“Thank you,” Hattie said.
As soon as he shut the door, she handed Steffan a keycard. “Drive around the south side for the garage.”
“Okay.” He put it into gear and eased through the front circle and around the beautiful building. He slid off his sunglasses. She seemed really tense. “Everything okay?”
“I don’t know. The front desk staff was gracious with me, but you know they’re trained to be, no matter the circumstances. The woman was initially stunned to see me. After I told her I was in a paragliding accident and barely released from the hospital, she kept saying, ‘Oh, that adds up’ over and over again. She finally admitted she’d seen Franz at the start of her shift, about one p.m. She thought he was leaving. She said he had a lot of luggage but oddly he didn’t check out. The suite is paid for through Sunday. They’ve cleaned it, but we’re welcome to stay.”
His eyebrows arched. He didn’t mind Franz being gone, but why would the guy clear out and not tell the front desk to watch for Hattie? If Franz was gone, it meant Steffan needed to stay. Hattie shouldn’t be alone.
It wouldn’t be easy to be away from his hospital. He worked insanely long hours, and he thrived at work. At the same time, he had competent staff and he consistently covered for the other doctors for family events, vacations, and sick leave. Any of them would be willing to return the favor, and they offered regularly to give him more time off. He always declined.
Instead of offering to stay with her, he should get her settled and appraise the situation. “Why would Franz leave? Do you think he was coming to find you?” He was giving the guy the benefit of the doubt, but it felt off.
“Probably.” She relaxed against the seat. She had to be exhausted.
He pulled up to the garage gate and held the key over the sensor. The gate slid open. He drove inside and found a spot on the second level. Hurrying around to get Hattie’s door, he was rewarded with a sweet smile as she stepped out of his car and into his space.
