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He gestured around at the gorgeous suite and the view of the lush green mountains and valley, then focused on her face. “It’s a beautiful vacation.”
She ate a bite of croissant to hide the heat in her cheeks and to temper her response. Finally, she said, “Once we get Franz caught and everything straightened out, maybe I’ll show you a real vacation. If you can get more time off.”
He was still smiling, but there was a wary look in his eyes. Was it hard for him to be away from his hospital and his home? He was a very responsible man. She hadn’t been around one in a while, as the men who traveled with her were more focused on travel and adventure.
“Maybe I’ll let you show me a real vacation,” he said, making her pulse race and her stomach pitch happily.
Hattie ate a mozzarella cheese ball, her mind already spinning with all the fun, adventurous, and romantic vacation spots she could take him to. She had lots of ideas to show him how to vacation; she was an expert, after all. She smiled. “I’d like that.”
He returned the smile, his blue eyes warm and full of her.
It was getting too serious, too quick. Looking down to break the connection, she scrolled through messages from friends and then startled when she realized one was from Franz.
“Steffan … Franz messaged me.”
He scooted his chair closer and peered at her screen as she clicked on it.
Meet me at the gondola view area above the Augustine castle at eight a.m. I have all your stuff, including the cash. I just want to make this right. Come alone or I will disappear.
Hattie wasn’t sure what to make of that. No apologies. No explanation beyond ‘wanting to make this right.’ And back to Augustine? Yikes. She kept promising Jensen she wouldn’t go there. Could they make certain the Rindlesbachers didn’t find her?
“Well, you’re not going alone, that’s for certain. And we can’t make it by eight.”
She looked into Steffan’s blue eyes, and she felt … not alone once again. It was a touching and inspiring feeling. “Jensen’s going to kill me if I go back to Augustine. What if the Rindlesbachers catch wind of it?”
“We have to catch this guy and get your stuff back. It’ll be all right. Nobody but Jensen, and some of his trusted men, will even know you’re there.”
“Do we have to tell Jensen?” She wanted to catch Franz. Badly.
He chuckled. “Yes, because we need him to come prosecute Franz.” He reached over and squeezed her hand. “Text Franz that you’ll be there by nine.” He nodded. “It’ll all be over soon, Hattie.”
Hattie stared at him. She wanted her things back, and she wanted Franz prosecuted for setting her up and stealing from her, but she didn’t want her time with Steffan to be over.
She couldn’t have everything she wanted, though.
Life had taught her that. Hattie had a plethora of the things that mattered very little, and rarely had the things she wanted most.
Like her parents.
She stared into blue eyes that she would soon only daydream about.
Like him.
CHAPTEREIGHT
Steffan left a tip for the maid, and he and Hattie left the hotel quickly. They drove toward Augustine as he called Jensen, explained the situation, and discussed scenarios and ideas. Hattie gave a description of Franz Wengreen, and Jensen found some online pictures for his men. At least he’d given her his real name.
Jensen would have his men infiltrate the gondola overlook and restaurant in plain clothes and be ready to arrest Franz as soon as they found him. It should all be over soon. Then Hattie could go on her merry way, keep her promise to never return to Augustine, and stay safe from Treven’s family. Steffan could go back to work, which was his life focus, and he would be … strangely empty without this intriguing and feisty lady.
They parked in the gondola parking lot at eight-forty. The gondola took about ten minutes, and there was a short line of summer tourists.
He looked at Hattie, wearing his hat and sunglasses. She was breathtakingly beautiful, even with the disguise and, at the moment, vulnerable. He doubted she was vulnerable often.
Pulling out some cash, he pressed it into her hand. “Use that for the ticket. I’m going to jump the line and get on the gondola in front of you. Jensen, his men, and I will all be watching out for you.”
“Thank you, Steffan.” She clutched at the money, her dark eyes warm and possibly emotional. He might’ve been reading into that, though.
He didn’t have time to reassure her or look into her eyes. He put his cap and glasses on, pocketed his keys, and slid out of his car. Hurrying toward the ticket office, he wanted to look around and see if Franz was here. Instead, he walked around to the back of the ticket office, rapped on the manager’s door, and waited impatiently for it to open.
