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“You’re just a big, old gentlemanly prince, aren’t you?”
“I try, milady, I truly do.” He smiled and offered his arm.
She slid her hand through his arm, cupping his bicep. He liked the feeling and how she leaned into him.
They walked to the bank of elevators, and he passed the card over the sensor and pressed PH. Neither of them said anything, but she stayed close. She needed his help and support right now. Thank heavens he hadn’t just dropped her off.
The doors slid open, and they walked across an open area with fresh flowers on a side table and a large window showing the twinkling lights of the town below. He passed the keycard over the door handle and pushed the door in, holding it for her.
The penthouse was every bit as impressive as he’d imagined. The main area was lined with floor-to-ceiling windows and patio doors. He’d love to see the view in the daytime. The open space was airy and luxurious with white leather, stainless steel, and rich brown woods. There was a huge fireplace and even a grand piano.
“The entire floor?” he asked.
“Yes, sir.”
He looked down at her. “You really are a billionaire heiress.”
“And you’re a prince, so don’t act like you’re not used to luxury. I’ve seen photos of your castle.”
“You got me there.”
She did a double take around the room and when she looked back, he could tell something was wrong. Looking around, he couldn’t see anything out of place, but then he realized … there was nothing out of place. Even if the maid service had been through, if she and this Franz had been staying here, there would’ve been a book on the table, a jacket flung over a chair back, snacks on the counter … something personal.
“Can you excuse me for a second, please?”
“Sure.”
She hurried through the living area to a double door that he assumed was her suite. It appeared there were four suites off the main area, a nice kitchen, and even a spa and gym area. It was beautiful, but it felt too empty, too clean.
Hattie let out a cry.
Steffan took off at a run, racing through the main area and into her suite. His mind conjured up everything from an intruder to a spider.
She wasn’t in the main part of the bedroom. He hurried through the bedroom and into the spacious bathroom. He saw her in the attached closet, staring into the open safe.
No intruder or spiders that he could see. What he also couldn’t see … her luggage, clothes in the closet, toiletries in the bathroom, nothing of a personal nature.
She turned to him with wide eyes, pointed into the safe, and choked out, “It’s all gone.”
His own eyes widened. The safe was empty. “Your passport and extra cash?”
She nodded. “And credit cards, my laptop, my driver’s license … Why would he take everything?”
Steffan thought it was pretty obvious why he’d taken the money, credit cards, and laptop, but her driver’s license, passport, toiletries, and clothes? That was hitting below the belt, even for a lowly thief. Which apparently Franz was.
He wrapped an arm around her waist and escorted her out of the closet, through the bathroom, through the suite, and into the huge living area. The fact that she didn’t resist said loads. This was a woman who’d pretended she had amnesia and tried to escape his hospital not long ago. She was feisty and brave and independent.
He settled her on the couch and studied her. “Can I get you some water?”
Her brows rose. “After you get me Franz’s butt on a stick.”
Smiling at her sass, he walked to the kitchen area and pulled two glass water bottles out of the fridge, then paused. “Gas or no gas?” he asked.
“No gas, please.”
He held on to the non-carbonated water he’d chosen and strode back to her, sat by her side, and handed her one. He’d noticed most Americans preferred their water without carbonation, and he did as well.
“Thank you,” she murmured.
