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“Both, actually.”
“You’ve come to the right place.”
They both slid out of their dusty shoes, used one of the bathrooms to wash up, then met in the kitchen. Steffan got them each ice water from the fridge. It was delicious, like drinking from a mountain spring. He pulled leftover fajita fixings out of the fridge as if he lived here. It was great how comfortable he was at his brother’s home.
They each assembled a steak fajita and ate, chatting more about Steffan’s undergraduate and medical degrees at Traverse University and his advanced medical training and residency in Lucerne, Switzerland.
“Is that the only time you’ve lived away from Augustine?” she asked. “When you did your training and residency?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Why what?” He finished his last bite and pushed his plate away, taking a drink of his water and leaning back against the hard chair.
“Don’t you like to travel and explore?” She’d spent her adult life doing home. She was at home on the road. And even as she said the words in her head, she knew it was just a cover so she didn’t have to face stark reality. Of how lonely and unfulfilling her life was. The fact that she had no home.
“Are you simply a homebody?” she asked.
“I love my home and my country.” He shrugged. “My family traveled. We took at least one major trip a year throughout Europe, America, the Caribbean, Japan, the Philippines, India, New Zealand, and Australia. I enjoyed the places and the people. But I prefer home.”
“I see.” She ate another bite of her fajita, but she was full and could hardly chew and swallow.
“What do you see?”
His smile was charming, and she found herself blinking back tears. What was wrong with her?
“Nothing.” She pushed away from the table, grabbed her almost-empty plate, and hurried around the large bar to the kitchen area and the sink.
Footsteps sounded behind her. She set the plate on the counter and focused out the large window above the sink. Thick, thick greenery, almost as thick as the lump in her throat. Could she blame these sudden emotions on the head injury, or Franz taking advantage of her generosity, or the fear of being back in Augustine and the danger surrounding her?
Or was it all because of Steffan and her yearning to be with him?
“Hattie.” Steffan rested his hands on the counter on either side of her hips and leaned around her side. His lips brushed her cheek. “What did I say that upset you?”
“Nothing,” she lied, ignoring the brush of his chest against her back and the warmth that filled her. He wouldn’t leave Augustine, and after this mess was fixed, she wouldn’t return.
“Hattie.” He gently turned her to face him. Now the warmth was a fire with his hands on her waist and a searing look in his blue eyes making her heart skitter and her pulse race. “I know you well enough to know you’re hiding something.”
She jutted out her chin, trying to be sassy and in control like she usually was. This entire situation had thrown her for a loop. That was all it was. “You don’t know me.”
“Oh, but I do.” His larger body pressed against hers, and she had nowhere to go. She secretly loved it. She’d never had a man be this daring with her. “I know that you’re an island. Independent and brave, able to weather any storm. I know that you fear nothing, except maybe what’s in here.” He lightly tapped her temple. “I know that your confidence is a suit of armor and your humor is a sword.”
Hattie couldn’t speak. She swallowed hard and stared at him. Running her hands along his forearms, across his well-formed biceps, and to his lovely shoulders, she squeaked out, “How do you know all of that?”
“Observation.” He smiled slightly. “And the more I learn, the more I like you, Hattie Ballard.”
She tried to meet his eyes but couldn’t hold his gaze. “Don’t look too deep.” She was selfish and always had to be in charge. She was generous to her friends and numerous charities, but she was only devoted to her own family.
With a gaze as firm as a glacier, he captured and held her eyes. “I want to look past the visor of that suit of armor,” he said softly. “I want to learn everything there is to know about the extraordinary person in there.” His gaze traveled over her lips, making that fire turn into a raging inferno. “Because I like everything I know about you.”
Hattie melted. This man was a talented doctor and a tantalizing prince. He hadn’t asked a thing of her, only gave and protected and helped her. She had no idea why he did what he did for her, but she appreciated it and craved more interactions with him.
This amazing man liked everything about her? She could bet once he knew her better, he’d change that opinion. She wasn’t even sure Sadie liked everything about her. Could she change for him? Could she settle and focus her time on more worthwhile pursuits? It was crazy to even think about; she was leaving Augustine soon, and he was meant to be here. Roots to his royal family, his hospital, and his country were deep. Nobody could hack them apart.
“I love everything I know about you,” she admitted, rather than listing her own faults and opening his eyes to the improbability of them being together. Even if she could stay in Augustine or he was willing to permanently leave his home, they weren’t a match. Anybody—besides Steffan, apparently—could see that.
His only answer was a devastating grin. She was grateful to have the counter to lean against. His grin alone could take her legs out from under her. Hattie wasn’t used to being unsteady, off-kilter, at someone’s mercy. She should’ve hated that and blamed Franz and her crazy situation. She didn’t hate being at Steffan’s mercy, but she could still blame Franz.
