“How long before we get to the city?”
A stirring of excitement pushes away any doubts.
“Two hours.”
He shifts gear and the noise from the engine lowers a little, and I lean back and rest my head on the headrest, my mind buzzing with what I will do when I reach the city.
Two hours passin a flash and as we crawl along with the traffic into the city center, I peer around with enthusiasm. It’s so vibrant here, intoxicating even, and I gaze in wonder at the crowds of people going about their day—living their lives. There is no room for quiet contemplation here. Commerce, leisure, business—life.
I picture their lives, their homes, families, hobbies and occupations. Every single person outside this window has a story to tell, and I am eager to hear every one.
“Where are we?”
Stefan pulls into a parking bay beside a huge tower block and as he cuts the engine he groans. “I could use something to eat.”
“In here?”
He reminded me that I hadn’t eaten since breakfast, and it sounds like a good idea. Lunch would be most welcome, so I nod.
“Allow me to pay. It’s the least I can do.”
“You don’t have to pay, Alice. I’m doing this as a favor because well–”
He hesitates, and I latch onto his words with a hopeful, “Well, what?”
As he turns, I detect the gleam in his eye as he says softly, “I would do anything for you.”
My heart actually flutters, and I’m surprised when his hand finds mine and tangles our fingers together.
“Come, let’s eat and enjoy what time we have together.”
I stare at his hand in mine in surprise because I wasn’t expecting this. I wasn’t expecting it to feel so good, and I wasn’t expecting to be lunching with him at all.
We walk into the ground floor of a smart hotel and my heart races.
“Are we allowed to be in here?”
“Of course. Anyone can use the restaurant.”
“How do you know?”
“I googled it.”
His slow wink stirs my libido, and the biggest surprise is that I possess one. I’ve never really considered men until I met Stefan in the rose garden and fell deeply infatuated with him.
As we head into the hotel restaurant, I’ve never been happier. I am free and breathing normal air in a city I have never been allowed to travel to before. The city of answers, of dreams even, and I wonder if this particular city will also be the one where I fall madly in love.
CHAPTER 6
SIMEON
This is a disaster. Not only have we lost the reason we are here, but we have nowhere to stay and are running around in circles. The only thing possible is to check into a local hotel and explore all the options.
The sleepy town near the Order of the Holy Mother of God doesn’t offer much in the way of five-star hotels, so we decide to travel to the nearest city and work things out from there.
The best on offer is a smart hotel that at least has enough rooms available for my entourage and as Jack issues orders and my guards dispel to follow up leads, I’m left sharpening my anger over a neat bourbon on the rocks in the hotel bar.
I can’t believe I am here at all because I had everything covered.
