AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Why she only felt that special zing with an Augustine military hero was beyond her. Chad would never settle down. His philandering ways were lauded throughout Europe. She’d felt his inability to focus on one woman as sharp as a scorpion’s sting.
The only woman she’d ever observed him to be serious about in the three years Hope had known him was the accomplished chef and single mom Sophie Pederson. He’d dated the lady for months before Sophie revealed her lifelong dedication to Prince Malik August. Had Sophie broken Chad’s heart? Hope didn’t know if that was possible. Chad was a generous and giving man, but Hope suspected he was too much of a playboy to let his heart get deeply invested in any one woman.
“Thank you for sharing your concerns and everything you’ve done to remedy the problem,” she said to Patricia. “Are you open to an idea?”
“Of course. Please.”
Hope smiled. Her managers were fabulous at their jobs and respectful of her. “I’d like you to contact each of the universities in your area and speak with their exercise physiology advisors. They will gladly create a list of students qualified and searching for on-the-job experience.”
“Oh. That’s smart. I hadn’t thought of that.”
“Let me know how it goes. I’ve got a pressing meeting to attend to. Take care.”
“Thank you.”
“Of course.”
The military helicopter settled onto the pad next to her garage and she slid the phone into a side pocket and let herself focus where she wanted to—Major Chad Prescott. A pressing meeting? More like a fantasy that would never come true.
She couldn’t see the helicopter from here, but she knew that sound. It differed from the chartered helicopters she and her sister paid to fly them from the Bern airport when they arrived in Switzerland. They could afford a helicopter or jet of their own, but a charter was simpler, and why not leave that pad space open for Chad? Chad’s helicopter was more forceful and tough sounding, just like the man. He was tough, but also smooth and beautiful.
She smiled and bit at her lip to tamp down her excitement, focusing on the fall beauty spread below her. Greens, reds, oranges, and yellows decorated the valley and the mountainside while waterfalls danced amongst the rocks and trees.
The rotors shut off and still she forced herself to wait and not run to greet him like an overanxious pup. She didn’t even turn, and she was extremely proud of her self-restraint.
Hope reminded herself for the thousandth time that she was busy and happy. She did not need a man in her too-demanding life. Especially a man who would flirt with her, make her believe the sun rose and set on her face, but never be serious about a relationship.
She was also recovering from the vicious murder of her sister Grace by the foul David Zeus III last year. Thankfully, the famous basketball player Hayden ‘the Beast’ Warren and the infamous Sutton Smith had killed Zeus while rescuing the supermodel Eva Canterbury from Zeus’s demented schemes. It was still hard to forgive and not let anger canker her soul. With a name like Hope, she’d tried to be filled with that virtue, no matter how many times her hope waned and she failed to live up to her name. She needed the Savior’s grace, especially without her sister. At least she still had the real Faith even when hers faltered.
If only she could ‘hope’ for a future with Major Chad Prescott. She smiled to herself but sadly hope was lacking, especially regarding anything lasting with Chad.
The man door around the side of the garage beeped open. Chad knew their security codes. He’d walk through the garage and then into the house. Her excitement mounted, and she clung to the railing to hide the trembling in her hands.
The patio door opened behind her moments later. Her sister Faith had told Chad where she was. Faith knew Hope was determined to only be friends with Chad, but only Grace knew that Chad had opened her mind and her heart to joy and love that beautiful weekend and then moved on a day later. Faith cussed her often for her reluctance and begged her at regular intervals to give the ‘charming stud’ another chance. Hope couldn’t do it. She’d never end up like her parents.
“Now if that isn’t the most beautiful view in the world.” Chad’s smooth, deep, ultra-appealing voice washed over her like silk brushing her skin. The Augustine accent was enough to melt ice, and coming from Chad, even a glacier wasn’t safe.
Hope finally let herself look back at him. Her breath rushed out, and warm tingles covered her body. She was no glacier. She was barely an ice cube.
How did he do this to her? Every. Single. Time. She should probably demand Faith not tell him they’d arrived for a visit, but she didn’t have it in her. Spending time with Chad was the highlight of her busy life.
His generous lips curved in a smile and his green eyes sparkled at her. She’d never seen an emerald gem sparkle as beautifully as his mesmerizing eyes did. His face was manly, but he could definitely be called a pretty boy. His well-built body and developed muscles probably kept many people from daring to call him that, though.
“It is a gorgeous view,” she agreed, sweeping her hand out. “I never tire of it.”
Chad eased toward her like a cheetah stalking a gazelle. He was far too alluring and deadly. Not that he’d ever physically hurt her or anyone who wasn’t a criminal, but he was deadly to her heart. He’d never love her like she did him, and she couldn’t afford to let down her guard and get her heart broken again with a player the likes of Major Chad Prescott. Her older sister being killed, her parents deserting them, and her heart’s destruction at Chad’s hands had caused enough misery for a lifetime.
He came right into her space, resting each of his hands on the banister behind her and effectively trapping her. His emerald gaze traveled over her face. If he was any other man, she’d say he was completely smitten with her, but not Chad. He had too much experience, too much charm, and too many women after him. He was an expert at making every woman think she was the only woman in the world for him … until the next social media post showed him hugging or kissing some other well-known beauty.
Three years ago, they had met snow skiing right here at Wengen. He’d charmed her that weekend, skiing together each day and dining together and then soaking in her hot tub each evening. Three incredible days and he’d made her believe he’d fallen for her. She’d fallen hard and fast. The feelings Chad had evoked in her had never been experienced before or replicated since.
So incredibly silly for her to have let down her guard like that.
That Sunday evening, she had headed back to America with her sisters, completely gone over him. Monday night, her sister Grace had sat her down and shown her the social media posts and grocery store magazine covers of him cuddled up to, and even kissing in some shots, the well-known actress Bermuda Venus. Bermuda had been filming in Southern Germany at the time.
Hope had stopped responding to his texts and calls, nursing her bruised heart. Chad hadn’t given up on her, though she’d never told him why she’d distanced herself. He and Faith were always in cahoots and Chad kept texting, calling, and persistently coming to visit them every time she was in Switzerland.
Despite the ice she’d placed around her heart, she loved seeing him. They had a lot of fun together and also had in common that his dad had left him when he was a small child and her parents had deserted them when she was fourteen. Ironic her parents had chosen such inspiring names for their daughters when neither of them had faith or hope and they had refused to rely on grace.
