The Doctor Prince and the Outsider by Cami Checketts

CHAPTERELEVEN

Hattie used the bathroom, brushed her teeth, smoothed some delicious vanilla-scented lotion all over her body, put on some mint-flavored lip gloss, and had the strangest urge … to pray.

That was dumb. Despite the few muttered mistakes in her mind recently, she wasn’t the kind of woman who turned to God in times of trial or uncertainty. She refused to humble herself and trust in her Heavenly Father when He had taken so much from her. This was simply a crazy situation, and she was wishing desperately for the opportunity to stay with Steffan. Heaven wouldn’t help her be with him. He was far too good for her. A gentleman doctor, accomplished, driven, far too kind and patient. She and the good Lord both knew she and Prince Steffan were not a match.

She did ask her earthly parents up in heaven if they could somehow help her through this mess with Franz. She wished she could ask for a miracle to get to know Steffan better, stay in Augustine and date him, but it wasn’t to be.

Would he leave his royal family, his beloved hospital, his life, for her?

No way.

He made her feel like she was better than she was. He and Aliya were too kind and welcoming. Hattie wasn’t something special like they both made her out to be.

But she wanted to be … for him.

Shaking her head, she dredged up her courage and walked out of the bathroom. The sun was gone, but the evening light still filtered through the large windows, and her princely benefactor was ... kneeling next to the bed praying.

Hattie could only stare. She’d never seen anything so appealing. She wished she had her phone to snap a picture of his well-built body humbly kneeling.

This man was not only a tough alpha male, brilliant doctor, and a gentleman who took care of her with no ulterior motives. He was humble, good, true …

She didn’t deserve him in any way.

Hattie resolved then and there that she would not ask him to leave Augustine after they took care of Franz. It wouldn’t be fair to him. She’d already asked too much of him and Jensen, putting their necks on the line for her.

Not only was Steffan’s place here—with his family and his career—but he was so good he glowed. She couldn’t be with a man like that. Nobody but her parents, and maybe the organizers of charities that she self-funded who she’d never met in person, would think she even deserved to be.

As if he sensed her there, he glanced up and his handsome face split in a smile. Even in the dying light, she could see his blue eyes. They were a dusty, smoky blue filled with warmth and desire for her. She didn’t know Steffan as well as she’d like, but somehow she knew his desire was pure and wouldn’t be used to push her to do anything beyond kissing and snuggling.

What a man. Sadly, he could never be her man. Was it selfish of her to savor the next six hours with him before they needed to hike to that lake? Probably. But everybody who knew Hattie would say she was a selfish billionaire, so it fit. Just another reason she wasn’t worthy of Steffan.

He stood, and she could appreciate his lean, firm body encased in a simple T-shirt and joggers. He reached up as if to clasp the stethoscope she suspected was almost always around his neck. When he didn’t grasp anything, he quickly folded his nicely-formed arms across his chest.

“I hope Aliya didn’t embarrass you, but I really would love to hold you close …” He paused, and her body threatened to combust. “So you can rest before we have to go.”

She didn’t care what his motivation was to hold her close, only that he did it.

“Okay,” she squeaked out, swallowing against her suddenly dry throat.

“Give me just one moment.”

He hurried past her, his warm, clean scent making her as weak as his inviting smile. As the bathroom door shut, she walked to the large window and rested her head against the cool pane. What was she doing? She should be worried about whatever Franz was trying to pull off tonight, but Jensen was so capable. Augustine’s police chief had protected her five years ago from being framed for murder. Tonight, she wanted to focus on Steffan. She’d deal with the idiocy of letting her heart get more entangled with his … tomorrow.

He exited the bathroom and thankfully, it was dark enough that she could only see his outline. If she got one more glimpse of his blue eyes, she’d falter on her promise to herself and beg him to go with her when she left his country early tomorrow morning with a no-return stamp on her passport.

Steffan walked around the bed, stopping right in front of her. Her nerves ramped up. This felt far too intimate, like they were playing married or something. He held out a hand to her and waited. Hattie drummed up her courage and put her hand in his. Warmth and a sense of rightness washed over her. No matter how welcoming people around the world were and how fun and laidback her travel companions, she hadn’t felt like she was at ‘home’ like this. Not since the last time she and Sadie had been at her house with her parents and aunt and uncle, the week before they were killed.

For years, she’d been looking everywhere in the world, spending time with a huge variety of people, hoping to find that feeling again.

Until this moment and that kiss earlier tonight … she’d failed.

“Hattie, I want you to know I would never take advantage of this situation. I will keep things pure between us.”

“You are a great man,” Hattie burst out with.

Such a great man. Far too great of a man for her.

“Thank you.” He released her hand, lay down on his back, and scooted over to make room for her. She was relieved yet again when he laid on top of the covers. She was plenty warm simply being close to him; she didn’t need the intimacy of climbing under the covers.

Lying down next to him, she wasn’t sure what to do next. She’d never laid on a bed with some handsome, alluring prince. She’d snuggled with different men on a couch as they watched a movie or before or after a kissing session, but this wasn’t even close to that. This was snuggling times a thousand, and he hadn’t even touched her yet.

Every nerve in her body tingled as Steffan gently slid his arm between her neck and the pillow, cupping her upper back and shoulder with his palm as he turned her slightly toward him. His other hand rested gently on the side of her abdomen.

Hattie couldn’t catch a full breath. Her right arm was trapped between their bodies, but she bravely rested her left arm on his forearm. Steffan cuddled her in closer, and her arm slid around to his strong back.

The only sound was their breathing, and she was grateful that his seemed as short and quick as hers was.

“Do you think this was what Aliya had in mind?” he whispered.

“That girl.” Hattie laughed, appreciating the break in tension. “If I didn’t love her so much, I’d cuss her to one side of Georgia and back.”

He chuckled. “You’d cuss her, and I’d praise her.” His voice dropped, husky and enticing. “I’ve never felt something as incredible as cuddling you close.”

Hattie’s stomach did a happy dance. She ran her hand up his back, along his neck, and cupped his strong jawline with her palm. “I have,” she whispered.

“Oh …” His voice was curious and maybe disappointed. “What’s that?”

“You kissing me.”

She felt his smile under her palm and could barely see it in the darkened room. “Would you like to experience that feeling again?”

“Oh, yes, please.”

“Anything for you, Hattie. Anything.” The words were said fiercely, almost like a promise. Hattie didn’t attempt to internalize them. He couldn’t mean them. He wouldn’t leave his home for her and she’d never ask, but he’d kiss her and she’d happily and selfishly take any kissing and snuggling time with him she could get.

His lips captured hers, and she was swept away in a cacophony of blissful feelings and sensations—his generous mouth working in synchrony with hers, his strong body pressed tight against her own, his hands gently producing a tingling sensation on her back and side.

They kissed for a very, very long time. Hattie was revved up and yet drowsily happy when Steffan broke the kisses and guided her head to the crook of his neck.

“I should let you rest,” he murmured.

“I doubt I’ll sleep.”

“We can’t just kiss the night away.”

“Hmm …” She giggled. “I beg to differ.”

He laughed and kissed her, but it was a fraction of the kiss he’d given her earlier. He held her close and simply trailed circles on her back. “Are you worried about anything?”

“Besides leaving you?” she asked, then wished she hadn’t. She didn’t want to put unnecessary guilt or stress on him.

He drew in a breath and then said quietly, “I’ve been thinking. This is my country. My father’s the king, Jensen is the chief now, and Ray is the general. We have all the power. The Rindlesbachers can’t stand up to us.”

She wished she could see his face. What was he saying?

“We can find a way to prove Treven killed your friend Jane. Once we prove it, you’d be free to come back to me. You and I could date, get to know each other, kiss the night away … Would you come back for me, Hattie?”

“Yes,” she burst out quickly. “The way I feel about you is something I’ve been looking for the world over.”

“I feel the same,” he said almost reverently.

“If I wasn’t going to make a mess for you and Jensen,” she rushed on, “or get thrown in prison or killed by Treven or his family, I’d come back in a heartbeat.”

He kissed her forehead. “You’re so unselfish.”

Hattie tried not to stiffen. She wasn’t. Maybe for him, she could become what he saw in her. She didn’t know. If a miracle like Treven being proven responsible for Jane’s death could come about, she would apologize to heaven above and never stop working to be the woman Steffan already saw in her.

The darkness was soft and comfortable around them. Steffan’s arms were even more comfortable. She drifted off to sleep with two feelings she hadn’t experienced in years: safety and hope.

* * *

Waking at three a.m. was jarring. Leaving the comfortable bed and Steffan’s arms was worse.

Hattie and Steffan were both quiet as they used the restroom, crept downstairs, got a drink of water, slid back into their dusty hiking shoes, and exited the beautiful cabin.

It was chilly outside, but crisp and beautiful. Steffan had a flashlight in hand, but the bright stars and half-moon guided them through the forest. She followed quietly, walking to her impending doom. It had nothing to do with Franz and whatever the idiot was trying to do to her, and everything to do with her and Steffan’s time being almost done. She wished they could chat easily like the past two days, that they could hug and kiss.

She had to stop wishing for things that couldn’t be right now.

They met up with Jensen and another tough-looking dude. Jensen turned on a light strapped to his chest, and she realized the other man was Steffan’s brother, General Raymond August. Two princes—one a general, one the most incredible man she’d ever met and a doctor—and a high-ranking chief of police. She could get used to this entourage.

Steffan and Ray slapped each other on the shoulder as men did, and then Steffan turned to her. “Hattie Ballard, this is my brother Ray. General Raymond August, I should say.”

Ray gave a half-smile and pushed at Steffan. “Nice to meet you, Hattie.”

“Thank you for helping me.”

“Of course.”

Jensen strapped a headlamp on her and then gave her a recording device that looked like a flag pin, she thought maybe the Augustine flag. “It’s on, so don’t worry about messing with it.”

She nodded and pinned it to her shirt. Jensen handed over a tracking device. “I don’t think we’ll need this as we’ll be close, but just in case something goes awry.”

“Thank you.” She slipped it into the key pocket of her running shorts.

Steffan received a pistol and infrared goggles.

Jensen spoke quietly. “We’re only half a kilometer from the lake. Hattie, you’re going to have to walk in alone as per Franz’s instructions, but don’t worry. We have men all through the trees, and we’ll come as soon as we hear what he wants from you. It’ll make it much easier to prosecute him since we’ll have a recording of the conversation. Your American laws about information getting thrown out of court won’t apply here. Don’t let him get too close to you. We don’t want him grabbing or hurting you. Just find out what he wants and why he stole from you. Then we’ll close in and take him down. Any questions?”

“Which way do I walk?”

Jensen smiled and tilted his head toward a well-defined trail. “Follow that trail and it will open up to the lake.”

“Perfect.” She looked at Steffan. “Kiss for good luck?”

She ignored the probably shocked expressions on the other men’s faces and focused on Steffan’s perfect grin. He gathered her close and kissed her soundly. “You don’t need luck. You’re a fearless island, a suit of armor, and heaven is watching over you, along with me, Jensen, and Ray.”

Steffan made her believe the beautiful things he said about her. At least she had a standard she wanted to live up to now. She didn’t know about heaven. Her parents and aunt and uncle would pull their guardian angel weight, but she and heaven were still at odds. Even in this intense situation, she wouldn’t give into that growing urge to pray. Steffan, Jensen, and Ray were definitely assets, though.

“See y’all soon.” She bravely stepped from Steffan’s embrace, flipped on her headlamp, and strode up the trail.

“I like her,” Jensen said quietly, but the sound floated to her in the quiet pre-dawn stillness.

“Back off,” Steffan snarled. “She’s my girl.”

Jensen’s reply was lost to her as she was too far away, but something about level-headed, good-natured Steffan getting possessive and standing up to the police chief made her heart threaten to burst.

She’s my girl. She’s my girl.

Hattie wanted to be his girl. Could he truly fix the mess with Treven? Could she be safe in Augustine and not cause Jensen any stress or trouble? How incredible would it be to spend more time with Aliya and Curt? Get to know Ray and Macey and the rest of his family? Explore this gorgeous country with Steffan by her side?

As she stewed about those questions, she quickly approached the lake. The trees thinned and the still surface reflected the half-moon’s light. It was beautiful. She swung her headlamp around, looking for Franz. Were these woods really crawling with Jensen’s men? She hoped so. She wasn’t afraid of Franz, but she’d definitely underestimated him, and he was playing some serious head games with her now.

Creeping around the trail that circled the lake, she didn’t know if she should call for Franz or be searching for another note. If he’d left another note and she had another day with Steffan to wait for Franz’s next silly move, she didn’t know that she’d complain too loudly. Except for the fact she’d be putting Jensen out even more and risking one of the police or military people ratting her out to the Rindlesbachers.

She shivered in her short-sleeved shirt and running shorts and hugged herself for warmth. Should she turn the headlamp off, or was it an easy way for Jensen’s men to see her? It was also an easy way for Franz to see her.

Arms wrapped around her neck and chest from behind.

Hattie screamed in surprise, elbowed the guy in the gut, and tried to yank herself from his embrace.

Cold metal pressed to her neck. Sharp, cold metal.

She froze.

“Don’t move or I’ll slice you apart,” Franz whispered.

“F-Franz.” Her teeth chattered and her body trembled. “What are you doing?”

He kept the knife to her neck but knocked her headlamp off and into the lake. Then he wrapped his other arm tight around her chest.

“I know you’re there,” he hollered into the darkness. “If any of you get close, I’ll slice her pretty neck open.”

Then he dragged her back into the trees. Hattie wanted to fight and struggle, but the knife pricked her flesh and hot blood trickled down her throat. The knife was sharp, and Franz was obviously unstable. Her heart raced out of control.

For the first time since her parents had died, she didn’t let herself overthink it. Hang-ups be darned. She humbled herself, and she prayed. She prayed desperately.

Please help me. Please help me. Please help me.

Steffan, Jensen, Ray, and their men would be following her. That was comforting. If Franz didn’t slice her neck open before they could get to her.

It seemed like forever but somehow much too quick that Franz dragged her into a small clearing, through a door, and into a wood-framed cabin. She couldn’t make out any details in the dark except a wooden floor and no windows. The door banged closed behind them.

Suddenly Franz’s free hand was patting her everywhere. She resisted the urge to scream at the intrusion. How could she get away from that knife at her neck? How soon would Jensen’s men come?

“What is this?” He grabbed at the pin on her shirt.

“N-nothing,” she lied. “A souvenir.”

He moved the knife from her neck and sliced the pin out of her shirt. She tried to elbow him in the neck, hoping his knife wouldn’t spear her.

“Don’t fight me,” he yelled. “I’ll kill you so fast.”

Hattie panted for air. Fear made her throat tight and her hands tremble, but she had to keep fighting. She remembered Steffan’s beautiful words about her being brave and fearless.

Movement from her side confused and terrified her worse. She felt and heard, but couldn’t see, another person.

Please, Heavenly Father. Please help me. I’m so sorry for not turning to You before.

“Here, take this, and take care of her,” Franz yelled. “I’ve done what you asked. I’ve earned every euro!”

Something slammed into Hattie’s forehead.

Before she could process what happened, darkness consumed her.