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“Ray didn’t want me to get out of the car in case I was spotted with you, but …” He broke off and his blue eyes filled with determination. He shoved open his door, rushed around, and tugged on hers.
Helping her out of the car, he wrapped her up tight, pressed her against the car, and kissed her very, very thoroughly.
When he pulled back, they were both out of breath. “I need to go,” she managed, though it was the last thing she wanted to do. She didn’t want to put any more stress on him, or put him at risk in any way.
“I know.” Still, he held her tight. He looked into her eyes, his blue eyes full of rich promise. “We’ll figure this mess out and get you home where you belong.”
“Augustine’s not my home,” she murmured. He was her home.
“It will be,” he promised.
Hattie could only stare at him. She hated to doubt him, but she saw no hope of this mess ever being figured out. William had planned this takedown for a while. She doubted he’d left anything to chance.
She smiled tremulously at him. “Can I tell you something?”
“Anything.” He traced his finger along her face and made her tremble.
“My name is Harrietta Theresia Ballard.” She had no clue why he would want to know that, and she had never voluntarily shared her full name with anyone.
“Thank you for sharing that.” He stared at her as if she were the ‘best thing since sliced bread,’ as her dad used to say. “My name is Prince Steffan Spartacus August. It’s a pleasure to officially make your acquaintance.”
She laughed. “Spartacus. That’s super cool. No wonder you’re so tough and appealing.”
“Oh, Hattie.” He buried his face in her neck and seemed to breathe her in, then he pulled back and kissed her so passionately she felt her feet leave the ground and was certain her heart would explode. When they pulled apart, he stared at her tenderly and with a yearning she felt clear through. It was reflected inside her. This man was the only thing she truly needed in this world.
If she didn’t leave now, she’d cling to him and beg him to come with her. No way was she doing that to him. She prayed for strength, and for the first time in years, her prayer was rewarded as she bravely self-sacrificed, slipped out of his arms, and speed-walked across the tarmac. The airport was quiet and nobody seemed to pay her any attention. The door to the white Cessna was open.
Hurrying up the steps, she didn’t let herself turn back. She gave a cry of relief when she saw her angelic blonde cousin and Sadie’s tough Spanish-descent husband.
Sadie hugged her tightly. Wolf gave them both a quick hug. He was huge enough to wrap around them both. He said, “I’m going to tell the pilot to take off.”
No. Hattie wasn’t ready to leave Steffan behind. She couldn’t look back out that plane door or she’d spring back to him. She sniffled and hugged Sadie tighter. Wolf closed the door, closed Steffan out. Her heart twisted painfully. Wolf hurried into the cockpit. He returned seconds later, and the plane started taxiing away.
“Let’s get you both strapped in.” He led them to side-by-side reclining leather chairs. Wolf was taking care of them. She appreciated it, and it made her long for Steffan.
Sadie held on to Hattie’s hand after they put their seatbelts on. There was no way she could get off the plane now so she let herself crane her neck to see Steffan. The angle wasn’t right.
She couldn’t see him. She was leaving him.
What was wrong with her? How could she leave him? Everything was wrong about leaving him.
Except it was the right thing to do.
“Hattie! You are a dirty mess.” Sadie wrinkled her nose. “And you smell funny.”
Hattie tried to laugh. “I think I said something similar when I picked you up from Brazil and almost scalped this guy.” She pointed at Wolf. He was the perfect man for her Sadie.
“Yes, you did,” Wolf said, running his fingers through his thick hair. “Luckily, I kept my scalp.”
She smiled.
“Tell me what is going on,” Sadie begged.
“Where to start?” She was leaving all her chances for happiness back on the tarmac? She took a deep breath and tried to act calm though her heart ached. “It’s been quite the insane two and a half days.”
“What happened?”
The plane was taxiing, farther and farther away from Steffan.
