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They increased their pace and were able to walk side by side on the trail.
“We’re going to your brother’s cabin? The mountain man prince?”
“Yes. Curt’s a newlywed, but they’ll welcome us with open arms. His wife Aliya is from the States as well. Georgia.”
“A Southern girl? I like her already.”
“She speaks a lot more Southern than you do.”
“I’ve been traveling for so long, sometimes I forget my roots.”
He gave her a concerned look. It was interesting because he was so firmly attached to his roots. Seeing Jane killed then being robbed of her parents had hacked hers apart. She’d done even more damage with her selfish lifestyle, pulling up any remaining roots from her hometown and her faith. She’d always kept to Christian values and didn’t sleep around, drink or do drugs, lie, cheat, or steal.
And she was waxing far too philosophical.
“Tell me about your brother and his bride,” she requested, so he wouldn’t ask about her hacked up faith and forgotten roots or maybe why she was so awkward about him paying or tipping and arguing with him about it.
Hattie felt unstable and vulnerable right now. She was usually neither, and she should be upset and embarrassed, but Steffan made her feel secure and happy, despite her uncertain circumstances. He was exactly who and what she needed right now. Was that a gift from heaven?
Steffan obliged her, pulling her mind from worrying about heaven and gifts. He shared stories about Curt and Aliya, and then that morphed into stories about Ray and Macey. The trail thinned, and they had to go single file, but they kept chatting as the morning wore on. They weren’t in a hurry and with some decent inclines and declines, she would bet they weren’t going over two miles per hour. They chatted, and she enjoyed being with him and learning more about his family. It was interesting that both his sister-in-law and future sister-in-law came from humble circumstances. In her experience with royalty, Macey and Aliya were almost the opposite of what a royal prince would choose to marry.
Steffan asked questions about her family and her travels. She told him more than she usually would—about her parents and their business, about Sadie and Wolf, and about her favorite spots around the world.
The hike was beautiful, like everywhere she’d seen in the Alps. She could appreciate the verdant greens, yellow, red, blue, and white wildflowers, and some picturesque mountain lakes, almost as blue as Steffan’s eyes. She liked the comfortable pace and the views.
She appreciated being around Steffan even more. He didn’t bring up his enticing line, ‘maybe I have a thing for you,’ or the almost-kiss in the bathroom, and that was okay. They couldn’t proceed with a relationship. It was easier to skirt the issue than address it. She had this feeling deep in her gut that she’d met her dream man, possibly sent straight from her parents watching over her from above, and she couldn’t riddle out how she could ever be with him. Disappointment wasn’t a strong enough word for how she felt.
Many men had tried to date her or secure her heart and she hadn’t been interested. Now, when she was interested … it wasn’t meant to be. Steffan wouldn’t leave his family, his country, or his hospital—she could easily tell that from their conversations—and she couldn’t stay.
She was thirsty, and though she’d enjoyed the hike, she was ready to be off her feet. “We close?” she asked, not wanting to complain.
“Yes, milady.” He’d been leading the way to clear the spiderwebs and make sure they didn’t get lost. She appreciated both. He stepped to the side and gestured.
A clearing was about twenty feet away, and she glimpsed a large timbered cabin. They increased their pace until they broke through the trees. It was a beautiful two-story structure with a large porch and massive windows.
“What a great spot.” She glanced around at the natural but trimmed landscape, a huge shop behind the house, and all the natural beauty surrounding it. How would it be to live in such a gorgeous place, all alone with the love of your life? She chanced a glance at Steffan, and her face burned. Hattie didn’t get embarrassed often—never, really—but her thoughts were running away with her and she hoped he couldn’t tell.
“It is. Curt and Aliya are happy here.” He led the way across the open space and up the porch, trying the door. His brow squiggled. He knocked and then told her, “Curt used to never lock his doors, but then Aliya was almost killed twice by the two backpackers who murdered and trafficked twenty-eight women.”
“I heard about that. Terrifying.”
“It was.” He peered through the window. “I bet they’re out hiking.”
Dang. She was ready to take her shoes off, drink some water, and relax. “Where should we go?”
“Ray sent me the code to his doors because Curt never used it and he wanted at least two of us to know it. I’m pretty sure I saved it in my passwords folder.” He pulled out his phone and clicked on something. Within a few seconds he typed in a code. The door beeped, and he twisted the dead bolt open, swung the door wide, and gestured her through.
“Thank you.” Hattie walked into the day-lit cabin. The main level was large and open, with windows letting in a lot of natural light and gorgeous woodwork. She’d been to many beautiful places in her life, but she felt something special here.
Steffan walked in behind her and shut the door.
“It’s beautiful,” she said. “I love the woodwork and all the light from the windows.” She wasn’t about to tell him her ‘special feeling’ thoughts. She was so off-kilter right now.
“It’s a great house,” he said. “Curt did all the woodwork himself.”
“Seriously?” She stepped closer to the fireplace mantle, running her fingers along the smooth surface and appreciating the intricate wood design even more. “That’s impressive.” Her parents had restored so many homes in their business. Hattie had always admired people who built or restored.
“It is. Are you hungry or thirsty?”
