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“Just trying to keep you from sitting around twiddling your thumbs and eating donuts all day,” Steffan responded, patting Jensen’s flat abs.
Jensen knocked Steffan’s hand away, still grinning.
“Curt.” Jensen shook his hand, slapping him on the shoulder with his free hand. “Good to see you somewhere besides the mountains.”
“Don’t get used to it. Good to see you as well.” Curt turned and nodded to Aliya. “This is Aliya Drummond. She’s got a story for you, but sadly she’s missing a few key pieces due to a head injury.”
“That’s all right. I’m the master at filling in missing pieces.” Jensen smiled easily, but Curt found himself thinking about his mum’s murder. Jensen and Curt’s impressive brother, Ray, hadn’t been able to find any leads. What if Aliya’s case was as frustrating as his mum’s? “It’s nice to meet you, Miss Drummond. I’m Chief Jensen Allendale. Most people call me Chief Jensen.”
“You’re right young to be a chief,” was her first response.
Jensen smiled. “My best friend is the general of Augustine’s military, these jokers’ brother. It pays to have friends in high places.”
Steffan and Curt both laughed at that. There’d been a few whispers initially about Ray being the youngest general in Augustine history and Jensen being the youngest chief of police, both only thirty, but most people respected their hard-earned skills. Curt would want either of them by his side in a fight, on a protection detail, or solving a case. The only case they hadn’t had success on was his mum’s murder. He didn’t blame either of them. He only wanted justice and to know the murderer wasn’t running free. In lieu of that, he’d love to find the ‘cure’ so Ray’s future bride wasn’t in any danger like his mum had been.
“Are you all right if I perform my questioning here, or do you need this area?” Jensen asked.
The emergency room wasn’t crowded currently, but Curt knew it could be. It all came rushing back—performing CPR until Ray’s men took over for him. Chad flying them in the helicopter to this very emergency room. Steffan pushing him away and telling him to sit down while they rushed Suzanne into the emergency room on a stretcher and then Steffan sprinting after the crowd of medical personnel. It seemed it was only moments later that Steffan had walked into the waiting room, his blue eyes full of compassion. Curt had already known she was dead before the helicopter took off. He still could hardly believe it, had still hoped for a miracle.
“Of course.” Steffan glanced at him. “Curt and I will go grab a drink. I’m due for a break. Do either of you want anything?”
Jensen inclined his head to Aliya.
“I’ve got my water, but bless you for asking.”
“I’m fine.” Jensen pulled a chair up to face Aliya and settled into it.
Steffan tilted his head to Curt. They needed to go.
He focused on Aliya’s golden-brown eyes. She didn’t want him to leave. That look made his heart thump quicker. What was it about this woman? She’d be safe with Jensen here, but he found he didn’t want to leave her side either.
“I’ll be right back,” he assured her.
She nodded and flashed him a relieved smile. “I’ll be waiting with bells on.”
He smiled at her odd expression. He really liked this lady. But with a head injury, far from home, and with two men possibly after her, this obviously wasn’t the time for him to be developing his first crush since Suzanne.
Following Steffan out of the emergency room, he wondered at the tug he felt to Aliya. Maybe he could explore these feelings if she truly came to his cabin. Probably smarter if he didn’t. His last relationship had ended in disaster, and Aliya was already in danger.
He’d keep her safe while Jensen and Ray found the men who’d hurt her friend. Then in ten days, he’d say goodbye and she’d go back to America. End of story. It was a better ending than Suzanne’s story, but it still left him alone and empty.
Chapter Five
Aliya answered the police chief’s questions as best she could, wishing Curtis would hurry back. Her mind kept getting dragged back to the intriguing prince, who had promised to keep her safe earlier and now was offering for her to stay with him. She instinctively trusted him, but maybe she’d also trusted the men she’d been hiking with who she was certain had hurt Gracie. Maybe she couldn’t trust her own instincts.
It was odd to be questioned by the chief of police and not a detective, but the worst part was she had this huge hole where today should’ve been, only filled with fear and uncertainty. Try as she might, she couldn’t remember the names or faces of the men she and Gracie had agreed to hike with. The chief acted like that wasn’t unusual. The doctor had said she had temporary amnesia, possibly trauma-induced. So she was somehow blocking out those men because they’d caused her trauma?
Chief Jensen reassured her they’d find Gracie’s family and see if they had any information, as well as checking with the tour group coordinator they’d traveled with and the hotel she’d stayed at last night. There should be cameras or someone who’d noticed who the women had left with early this morning.
He finished with his questioning and offered her a cell phone to call her family, asking if she minded him listening in, in case her family had any information about the men or her hiking plans. She didn’t mind. He was still gathering information on her, which made sense. She couldn’t trust her own mind right now. How could she expect some police chief to trust she was giving him correct information?
The call rang and then connected. “Hello?” Her mama’s voice was cautious, probably thought it was a telemarketer.
“Mama, it’s Aliya.”
“Aliya Mae!” her mama shrieked into the phone. “What are you doing calling me, sweet pea? Did you get some cell phone coverage in those durn mountains? I thought I wasn’t gonna hear your beautiful voice for four more days.”
She relaxed back into the bed even as tears sprang to her eyes. Her mama. She missed her accent and her love. Comfort surrounded her, even though she was so far from home.
