The Doctor Prince and the Outsider by Cami Checketts

CHAPTERFIVE

Jensen strode to the door, seeming more than ready to implement his plan, whatever that was. Hattie was grateful for the detective—or rather, the chief. What an honorable man. He was putting his personal instincts over his duty, trusting her when many would never put their career and honor on the line like that. Twice. She prayed she could get out of this country and not endanger either of these men.

“I need to check her vitals before I discharge her,” Steffan said. “Can you stay in the room?”

Jensen nodded, pulling out his phone and looking busy with emails or something.

Steffan eased in close to her bed and looked her over. He checked her heart rate, giving her a stern look. “Still elevated.”

“I tell you, it’s you,” she said, glad she could tease with all the stress and darkness floating around them.

Jensen was smiling, and she doubted it was from the emails.

“I’ll check it again later.”

She didn’t tell him it wouldn’t help.

He took her blood pressure, looked in her eyes with some kind of lighted device, and listened to her heart and lungs with his stethoscope.

“I think health-wise, you’re okay to leave. I’ll make sure you don’t overexert yourself.” He smiled, and she returned it. “Don’t leave this room without Jensen.”

“I won’t.” Her heart was beating too fast. Was it fear of the unknown, worry about Jensen’s plan, or this incredible prince being too close like they’d teased about?

“Okay.” He lifted his chin to her, all manly and appealing. “I’ll be back soon. Try to eat and relax. Jensen is brilliant, and it will all work out.”

She believed Jensen was brilliant and grateful they would both help her, but the knot in her gut said it wasn’t going to ‘all work out.’ At least not smoothly. Hattie had been hiding from this nightmare and the anguish over Jane’s death for five long years. Facing it was worse than she’d imagined. Without Steffan and Jensen, she’d be a mess. If only she could somehow repay them.

“Thank you.” She said those two words of gratitude as sincerely as she’d said anything in a long while. Here was a man who was willing to risk so much to help her, and he didn’t even know her. Prince Steffan and Chief Jensen were on par with her own father and uncle, rest their souls.

“My pleasure,” he murmured.

His blue eyes were sincere and warm and … she shivered, imagining the pleasure that kissing him would bring. She needed to control her thoughts better; hopefully he couldn’t read them.

The handsome doctor walked out of the room, and Hattie deflated against the inclined bed. She’d never see Prince Steffan after they got her out of here. If only she could dial Sadie’s number. Talking to her cousin would be comforting and help her see more clearly. But her brain was fried, and she couldn’t remember the number.

Hattie tried to eat and managed to get a few more bites down. She took the Tylenol, hoping it would ease the pounding in her head. She preferred Advil.

Closing her eyes, she wished she could fall asleep, but that wouldn’t happen for a while.

Jensen and the nurse who’d chased her earlier came into the room. Jensen gave her a conspiratorial smile behind the nurse’s back as Melanie said in a no-nonsense tone, “Dr. Steffan discharged you and apparently talked our police chief into helping you figure out who you are.”

“Friends in high places,” Hattie tried to joke.

“It would appear so.” The nurse looked her over, seeming concerned, not annoyed or suspicious. “Do you feel well enough to leave?”

Was the nurse questioning her superior’s orders, or was she only being vigilant with the patient in her care?

“Honestly, I feel good. A lingering headache and I’m tired, but the worst thing is not knowing who I am. If Mr. Police Chief can help me with that, I’ll be eternally grateful.”

Jensen’s smirk grew. Hattie already was eternally grateful to him and would always be in his debt.

“We’ll figure out who you are,” Jensen said confidently.

“Thank you.” She wanted to stick her tongue out at him. She’d always wanted a brother, and Jensen would’ve been a fun and loyal brother to have around.

“All right.” The nurse shook her head but stepped to the door. “You’re free to go.”

“Thank you, Melanie,” Jensen said, nodding to her.

“Of course.” She exited the room, and the door fell closed behind her.

“Let’s give Steffan another minute,” Jensen said. He looked her over. “It’s surreal to see you again.”

“For me too. I’ve been everywhere in the world, and I worked so hard to avoid Augustine.” She shook her head. “Crazy paraglide anyway. I am glad to see you again, and thank you. You sacrificed a lot to protect me. You’re a true hero, Detec … Chief Jensen.”

He shrugged, looking embarrassed by the praise. “I like to be a hero when I’m not tampering with a case and hiding evidence.”

“I’m sorry you had to do that.”

“It cost me.” He thumped his chest. “Up to that point, I was by the book. I’d never not followed the letter of the law. Thank heavens Peter could see the bigger picture and knew what a sleaze Treven was, and still is.” He folded his arms across his chest, his dark eyes as serious as she’d seen them. “It was worth it to protect you. Let’s just pray Treven doesn’t get released soon and his parents never catch wind of where you are. Your wandering lifestyle is probably a good thing on that front.”

“Could he get released soon?” Her stomach turned over at the thought of running into that guy again.

Jensen nodded, thankfully not expounding.

Silence fell in the room. Hattie looked around and then met his dark gaze again. “Are you married now?” She hoped he didn’t think she was hitting on him. He and Prince Steffan were both off-limits for her. No matter how intriguing the prince was.

“Nope.” The smirk was back. “Married to my work.”

“That’s pretty sad, Chief Jensen. I’m sure all the Augustine women are fighting each other to date the police chief.”

He chuckled and shook his head. “There is someone I’d love to date, but … it’s complicated.”

“It always is.” She grinned.

“She’s being threatened by Treven Rindlesbacher from prison. She’s the one ‘dare’ that he didn’t complete. She’ll have a restraining order against him when he’s released, and he’s been warned to leave her alone, but …”

Chills raced through her. The poor woman. Treven clearly thought he was above every law. Hattie was terrified of him, and he didn’t even know where she was.

She swallowed and managed, “I’m so sorry. That poor lady.”

Jensen nodded. He opened his mouth, but whatever he was going to say got lost by his phone buzzing. He pulled it out and then nodded to her. “Steffan’s driving to the rendezvous now.”

“Showtime.” She slid out of bed. Maybe the Tylenol, food, and water had kicked in, or maybe it was having a purpose and two men willing to help her, but her head and stomach felt a little more settled.

Jensen took her elbow and escorted her out of the room. He lifted his free hand to Melanie and directed Hattie back down the hallway she’d tried to escape from an hour ago. They eased down the stairs, out the door at the bottom, and then across the hospital entry. It was quiet, and Jensen murmured, “After eight, the receptionist goes home, they lock the doors, and you have to get buzzed in by security.”

That made sense. It was after eight? Where had the day gone? It was early July, so the sun hadn’t set. They walked down the sidewalk and into a parking lot, climbing into a Volvo XC90.

“Even our police chiefs don’t drive a luxury SUV,” she told Jensen as he climbed in, put sunglasses on, and put the vehicle into drive.

“There are a lot of perks working for a royal family and a country that’s in the black,” he said with a smirk.

“Must be nice.”

He only laughed.

They cruised along city streets. Traffic wasn’t bad and the city itself was gorgeous. She remembered the old-world architecture with the gray stone buildings and dark red roofs and the lovely river running through the city. The Riverwalk park brought back ugly memories. They approached the cemetery, and that made her smile. She loved cemeteries, especially the ones she’d seen in Europe. Usually, the plots were above ground, with a low fence and their own private flower garden bursting from each grave. The one in Traverse was no exception, a riot of color and flowers and greenery.

Driving into the vast city park, Jensen slowed his speed. Hattie looked around at couples pushing strollers, families on bikes, kids kicking a soccer ball, and teenagers tossing a frisbee. All so normal and fun and perfect for a July evening. And she was escaping from a murder charge.

They pulled into a large parking lot. In the back corner, a silver Aston Martin DB11 waited. She climbed out of the Volvo and Jensen walked her around to the passenger side of the beautiful vehicle.

“Not exactly incognito, but he is a prince,” Jensen teased.

Hattie smiled. She had her own garage full of luxury vehicles, even a clone to Steffan’s car. Her Aston Martin DB11 was candy apple red and three years older as it had been her dad’s. She hadn’t sold her parents’ home in Barton Creek near Austin. She had a climate-controlled shop where she’d saved her favorite vehicles of her dad’s and added a few of her own.

Jensen opened the door, and she eased into the seat, looking over at Steffan wearing a Dodgers cap, a gray T-shirt, black joggers, and sunglasses. He looked casual and good—really good. He handed over another Dodgers cap. Their fingers brushed, and she shivered from the brief contact.

“I can’t wear this,” she teased. “I’d like to see your Texas Rangers selection of caps, please.”

He smiled. “Sorry, I loaned them all out.”

“Hopefully not to an amnesiac beaut … I mean, beat-up patient.”

“Yes. You wouldn’t believe how many of those come through my esteemed hospital.”

She was enthralled with his accent and with him. She wanted to slide his sunglasses off and gaze into those blue, blue eyes.

“Okay, you two.” Jensen squatted down outside her door and leaned in. He brushed against her leg. It didn’t affect her at all, whereas one brush of Steffan’s fingers and she was quivering.

“Can you put the hat on?” Jensen asked.

“If I must.” She plunked it on. No one should recognize her with no makeup, her dark hair covered, and her clothes ripped.

“The plan is sadly simple.” Jensen shook his head morosely. “Steffan will drive you to Bad Ragaz. You remember your hotel and room?”

“The Grand Resort, penthouse.”

“Of course.” Jensen smiled and rolled his eyes. “Can you talk the front desk into giving you a room key?”

“Of course.” She rolled her eyes back at him.

Steffan chuckled.

“All your things should still be there. I’m betting even the failed paraglide instructor—Franz, was it?”

“Yes. Handsome and charming, but pathetic at paragliding Franz.”

Steffan’s smile slid away. Hattie wondered if he was jealous of some man he’d never met. He shouldn’t be. Nobody was Steffan’s equal, and if Franz was chilling in her penthouse suite, he had some explaining to do.

“Once you have your things, you can get far away from my beautiful country and any risk of the Rindlesbachers finding you?” Jensen asked.

“Yes, I can. I will.” Rindlesbachers. Were Treven’s parents truly as awful as he was?

Franz had offered to carry everything for her since she hadn’t had great pockets or a bag on the paraglide—her phone, money, and credit card. He’d probably spent the day searching for her, unless he’d gotten injured as well. She frowned. The hotel would help her find him if he wasn’t already there. She had extra cash, credit cards, her laptop, her passport, and her driver’s license in the hotel safe. Her clothes and toiletries would be there, too. A shower and the comfortable penthouse suite bed sounded lovely. If Franz had lost her phone, it would be an inconvenience to find the numbers for Sadie and Wolf, her lawyers, investment people, pilot, yacht captain, home management company, and numerous friends, but they should be backed up on her computer.

“And I’ll never see you again.” Jensen gave her a significant look.

“Poor, poor man,” she teased.

He smiled and looked past her to Steffan. “You don’t mind driving her?”

“I have a few hours open tonight.”

Something passed between the two men. Hattie wished she knew their secret nonverbal language.

“All right. Thank you. Best wishes to you, Hattie.”

“And you. Thank you for everything.” She said the words with all the sincerity and feeling she could muster.

He nodded, stood, closed her door, and strode off.

“That is a great man,” Hattie said. She didn’t think anybody but her dad, uncle, or Wolf would risk so much for her.

“He is.” Steffan started the car and put it into gear. “There are several pairs of glasses in the console, if you want to try some on. Sorry they’re all manly glasses.”

“I’m glad you don’t have feminine glasses,” she teased.

“All out.” He lifted one hand and smiled at her.

He drove out of the parking lot and down the wide city street. The Riverwalk park appeared again. That walk had been picturesque … until it hadn’t. She shivered.

“Are you cold?” he asked.

“No. Just remembering when I was here before and the Riverwalk.” She glanced at him. Everything about Jane’s death was close to the surface right now.

“I’m sorry,” he said.

“Not your fault.” They drove onto a divided highway and straight west, if the glare of the low-riding sun on the windows and against her pupils was any indication. She fished around for the smallest pair of sunglasses in the console and put them on. “It’s a gorgeous city. So much history.”

“It is. I’m sorry you won’t be able to stay longer, or return.” He glanced at her and even with sunglasses on, she felt his sincerity.

“You and me both.” She was sorry she couldn’t spend more time with him, but Augustine was tied up with Jane’s murder in her mind, life-changing trauma she’d rather bury and escape from—again. “How far to Bad Ragaz?”

“About forty minutes. It’s a nice drive through a long mountain pass and then just south. Most of our country is surrounded by mountains, except on the northern hilly passes to southern Germany.”

“Augustine is a gorgeous country.”

“It is.”

She’d avoided Augustine for so long. Who knew a gem like Prince Steffan had been waiting in the one place she’d never planned to return? Too bad she really had to stay away now. She never wanted to see Treven Rindlesbacher again—or meet his parents.

They drove in contemplative silence toward the mountains. The road became a two-lane highway, and the sun hid behind the mountains as they passed border control, only a relaxed Swiss guard waving them through on this side. On the other side … Augustine guards in gray with enormous guns. They looked to be taking their duty seriously, searching an SUV trying to enter the country. The driver looked concerned and annoyed.

Steffan drove through a narrow mountain pass. Jagged mountains studded with pine trees and blanketed with mossy greenery framed the road, a dancing river off to Hattie’s side. They both slid off their glasses.

“So you’re a prince who decided to become a doctor?” Hattie broke the silence, wanting to know more about him, despite knowing it wasn’t smart to forge a deeper connection. “That’s very noble.”

“Thank you. I always wanted to become a doctor, especially an E.R. doc, but my dad wasn’t thrilled with the idea at first. It’s not exactly commonplace to walk into an emergency room and have a prince treat you.”

“True. I’m sure the single ladies are breaking bones just to say hello.” She studied his strong jawline and the way the smooth muscles in his arm flexed as he navigated the corners.

He grinned at her. “Not breaking bones, but we have had a few cases where we could find nothing medically wrong with a young lady except a worrisome case of ‘batting her eyelashes like a toad in a hailstorm’ as my sister-in-law Aliya would say.”

“I’m sure more than a few.”

He only smiled.

“Aliya’s from Georgia?” she asked.

“Yes. How’d you know that?”

“Social media.”

He said nothing. She wondered if the royals didn’t love their lives being splayed online.

“So who talked your dad into letting you become a doctor?” she asked.

“My mum.” He smiled, but it was sad. “She could talk our Pops into anything. He’s softened a lot since she died.”

“Oh …” Her stomach churned, and the twisting mountain road had little to do with it. She’d seen speculation that the queen was cursed or had committed suicide. “I knew that from social media too. I’m sorry for your loss.” She hated when people said that line to her about her parents. Which was silly, as what were people supposed to say? But her own loss just made her feel more lost.

He shrugged. “You wonder if it ever gets easier.”

“It doesn’t,” she ground out.

His gaze darted to hers, wide-eyed and compassionate.

“The road,” she reminded him.

He focused, but his arm muscles were more pronounced as he gripped the steering wheel. “You lost your mum as well?” he asked softly.

“Both of my parents, actually. On their yacht in Hurricane Fiona.” She spit it out before he had to wonder or ask. She didn’t tell him they, and her aunt and uncle, Sadie’s parents, had been racing to St. Kitts to help those who would be devastated by the coming hurricane. They liked to be on the ground and be able to instruct their disaster recovery teams on what to bring and how to best help. They hadn’t made it to land when the hurricane struck ahead of schedule.

“Hattie. I’m very sorry,” Steffan interrupted her musings.

“Yeah. Well. You understand.”

“It was hard enough losing my mum. I can’t imagine losing both of my parents.” There was a respectful pause, and then he asked softly, “What gets you through?”

She wished she had some deep insight to share, but all she’d done was travel and plan trips that were busy, active, and fun from eyes open to eyes closed. She’d started down that path when Jane had been murdered and only become more committed to escape when she lost her mom and dad.

Her parents had been saints, hardworking and charitable. The cream of the salt of the earth. And what legacy had they left behind? Hattie. A socialite billionaire who had accomplished exactly jack squat in the years since becoming one of the richest people in the world.

She studied the towering canyon walls, the river rushing by, the dash of the luxury car. She hated this reflection junk.

“Staying insanely busy,” she finally answered. “If I slow down, I think too much.”

Thinking about losing her parents or Jane’s death would drive her insane. Recently, she’d almost lost her beloved cousin Sadie on one of her humanitarian trips. Thankfully Sadie had been rescued by Wolf, the love of her life.

Sadie was very happy and in love and still busy saving the world with her nursing skills. Hattie saw her less than ever. She wanted to call her. After she got her phone back and was settled in her bedroom of the suite, she could relax in the tub and chat with her favorite person on earth. It sounded wonderful.

Except … she glanced over at him. Steffan would be gone.

The road descended into a picturesque valley, glowing in the dusky evening air. The mountains surrounded them on all sides. Cows grazed on the sloping green grass with bells around their necks. A church steeple stood at the center of a small cluster of homes. Probably a shop, market, and a restaurant or two amongst the red-roofed cluster. More homes dotted the valley, separated from the center village by grass and a thin ribbon of a road. These homes were half milking barn and half living area with flowers spilling out of their window boxes. She wondered how horrible the homes would smell, but she loved the ambiance. It was a hundred percent Switzerland. She’d seen this replayed a hundred times throughout their travels the past few weeks. She loved it every time.

Would she keep traveling with Franz after this fiasco or would she have to find a new buddy? She used to like huge groups, but she’d cut it down to one or two she trusted—or somewhat trusted.

Why hadn’t Franz found her? How hard would it have been for him to call the hospitals near where they’d paraglided and ask about her? Even if they didn’t have her name, he could’ve asked for a woman brought in from a paragliding accident.

She hoped he was all right. Why did everything feel so uncertain? Her future had felt hollow for a while now, but she didn’t know how to change it.

She was out of Augustine. Everything would be fine now. She’d go back to traveling and exploring. But she didn’t want to say goodbye to Steffan so soon.

“What do you do to stay busy?” Steffan asked.

Was the impressive prince simply making conversation, or was he as interested in her as she was in him? Would he think her lifestyle was empty and meaningless as some did? She didn’t know why she cared.

“Traveling, adventuring, having experiences.” She liked spending her money spoiling her friends wherever she went, assisting strangers when she saw a need. She loved meeting and helping locals. Though she always told them if they shared with anyone who had donated to their cause, she wouldn’t be back. It usually worked to dissuade them from posting about her generosity on social media or bragging to their friends. She preferred people thinking she was all about the good times and not trying to dive too deep into her messed-up mind.

The road was straight. Too straight. Steffan studied her as the car basically drove itself.

“What is it you do, Hattie?”

She narrowed her eyes and folded her arms across her chest. “Travel, adventure, have experiences,” she repeated.

He focused on the road again. She knew what he was wondering but was too classy to ask. How did she afford to travel like she did? Hadn’t Jensen said she was a billionaire? Most people their age were busy and focused on securing a future, a career, a family, a life. She could lie and say she was a social media influencer. She had enough followers that she could make money there, but she didn’t need to, or care to.

“My parents were very successful with their disaster recovery company,” she admitted to him. “I’m what some call a billionaire heiress.”

They were climbing out of the valley and cruising through another mountain pass.

“Interesting,” was all he said.

Hattie didn’t like the brevity or ambiguity of that response. Was he judging her, or did he actually find her interesting? She angled her body toward him and asked, “What’s interesting?”

“I’m sure you have a very interesting life.”

“I do. I’ve been to every corner of our beautiful world. I’ve climbed the Himalayan mountains and been on a scuba dive trip with whale sharks. I meet fabulous people everywhere I go. I travel with fun friends and make more friends along the way.”

Where were all her friends now? Most were busy with ‘real life’ stuff, like jobs, family, homes, futures. There were some she could call at any time and they’d meet her for a trip, but most of her favorite friends had moved on from the nomad life. “I’m not tied to some … office or life.” She angled away from him and looked out the window.

“It sounds great,” he said. His voice didn’t sound like he thought it sounded great. No, maybe he meant it sounds great, but in reality it would be completely unfulfilling. He was right. She’d loved her travels and her friends for the first couple years, but since Jane’s death and then losing her parents … nothing fulfilled her now. She was Barbosa from Pirates of the Caribbean, drinking and never feeling satiated, eating and never feeling full.

Gah! Why had she even thought that? That wasn’t true. She loved her life. Besides, what else was she supposed to do? Waste her life away on a job she wasn’t passionate about? Settle down and have babies with a man she didn’t love? Live in remote villages with Sadie and Wolf?

“But …?”

“But nothing. It sounds great.”

“The way you say ‘sounds’ is like it sounds great but isn’t actually in reality great.”

“You’re putting words in my mouth.” His tone was teasing.

She smiled. “But I’d like to hear what you think of my wandering life. You spend all your time stuck in that hospital?”

“I spend a lot of hours there,” he admitted. “I love it. It’s fulfilling, challenging, and I’m helping people. I care deeply for the patients I treat.”

Hattie’s breath shortened as she pondered what he’d said. She was jealous of that—being fulfilled, helping, and having a challenge. Did he care deeply for all the people he helped? Particularly her?

She saw a sign stating they were fifteen kilometers from Bad Ragaz. Almost there. Her stomach twisted, wondering what excuse Franz might have for not looking for her. What if he’d been hurt badly and she had to go find him in some hospital?

“So you don’t do it just because it’s expected that you work as a doctor now?” she asked, though she knew the answer.

“Definitely not. My dad’s supportive of me, but I don’t need to work, and he’d prefer I perform surgeries or advise other physicians or something else that takes me out of the public access. After my mum was killed, the security got so tight in my emergency room, thanks to my brother General Ray trying to protect all of us, that I could barely help anyone until they’d been sedated or restrained and my security guards declared it safe. I hated that.”

“General Ray has relaxed?”

“A bit. There’s good security at my hospital. Ray can’t control Derek in America doing Ninja Warrior or Malik wandering all over Europe dating beautiful women and accumulating degrees he’ll never use. Though they both have bodyguards following them.”

Prince Malik. She’d seen him at parties but had kept her distance knowing he was an Augustine prince. Now here she was, not wanting this Augustine prince to leave. “So you and all of your brothers are these accomplished phenoms, except for Malik?”

“I don’t know about accomplished phenoms.”

“Don’t discount my compliment.”

He laughed, then moved past it. “Malik’s impressive in his own way. None of us know what makes him tick, but he’s smart and well-rounded.” His voice quieted. “He’s struggled a lot since Mum died.”

“It sounds like you all have.”

“Yeah.”

The car got too quiet. Hattie could relate to struggling a lot. She was also relieved he wasn’t questioning her ‘unfulfilled life.’ She was not a fan of introspection, and being in Augustine, thinking about Jane and all the guilt and angst of Jensen helping her again was pushing her over the edge.

They pulled into the mountainous village of Bad Ragaz, lights twinkling in the dark, and drove up to the spectacular Grand Resort within minutes. Steffan slid his sunglasses back on, even though it was dark.

“Home sweet home,” he teased, smiling at her.

She wondered what his home was like, and she suddenly missed her own home in Texas. It was often difficult to stay there, surrounded by memories of her parents, but she loved the memories. Now Jensen’s warning sounded in her head. Her nomad lifestyle may have protected her from the Rindlesbachers tracking her down.

“The Grand Resort is a few square feet smaller than my home in Texas.”

He chuckled and waved off the valet who rushed up to his door. “I’ll have to come visit you in Texas sometime.”

Her eyes widened and her stomach did a happy dance. “You’d be welcome. Just check if I’m around before you make the trek.”

“I imagine you’re rarely there.”

“You imagine right.”

His gaze was on hers. Dang those glasses. She wanted to see his blue eyes. “I have a hard time being at the castle often,” he said. “Too many memories of my mum around every corner.”

He did understand.

Silence ticked by. She was loath to leave him, but it was probably time. She reached for her door handle. “Well, I guess …”

“This isn’t goodbye.” Steffan put his hand over hers.

Hattie’s heart ceased remembering how to function. This wasn’t goodbye? He didn’t want to leave her? Heat flushed her body, and her heart took off at a gallop.

“I can’t strut into the lobby and have somebody recognize me,” Steffan continued, “but why don’t you go finagle a key to the penthouse and ask them for a garage key too? Tell them you don’t like the valet messing with your luxury car. Come back out and we’ll park in the garage. I’ll walk you to your suite and make sure everything is okay before I leave. I am your doctor and responsible for your care, after all.”

He gave her a winning smile, but she deflated. He was being a gentleman and a health care professional, not telling her ‘it wasn’t goodbye’ because he’d fallen hard and fast for her and maybe wanted to be her adventure partner for a few months and see if something developed between them.

Silly. She didn’t need some prince whose country had revoked her visitation rights to be falling for her, and she didn’t need to be falling for him. She had plenty of friends and handsome men interested in traveling with her.

Because you foot the bill, a voice said in her mind.

That wasn’t true. It was because she was fun and adventurous.

“Perfect. Thank you.” She climbed out, and the valet hurried around as if confused. “My boyfriend is waiting here for me,” she told him.

“Wonderful, ma’am. Wonderful.” His voice was heavily accented, but it was impressive how well the Europeans spoke English. He shut the door behind her and escorted her around the car.

Boyfriend. She’d just called Prince Steffan August her boyfriend. It was just a cover, but it made her heart swell with an odd connection she hadn’t known she was missing. Hattie didn’t have boyfriends. She didn’t do relationships. She had fun and only rarely kissed or hugged a man she might think was impressive.

She looked into the car’s front window. Steffan still had those sunglasses on, and she wished again that she could get a read on those too-blue eyes. She could tell he was studying her, though, and his lips curved in a smile.

Did he like her calling him her boyfriend?

Goodness, who cared?

For some reason, she did.