There was challenge in her tone, in the sparkle in her eyes.
“Lead the way.”
A narrow game trail led up the incline at a slight angle to the hill, making the climb easy. Still, by the time they reached the top, the throbbing in his leg had grown, and he realized he wasn’t quite as healed as he thought.
“A little farther,” Heidi said, frowning. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
Damn, he’d begun limping again. “I am fine.”
She took his hand and led him along a new path through the thick forest. There was an undercurrent of excitement running through her. He could feel it, fairly taste it. “Chata, what is it you are going to show me?” Whatever it was must have very special meaning to her.
Just then they walked into a clearing, a glade filled with wildflowers and one ancient cedar tree standing sentinel in the middle of the space.
“This is my special place.” Heidi spun in a circle among alpine aster and wild daisies, her face tipped up to the sun.
“It is beautiful.” Javier stared at her, his heart hurting with want of things he could not claim.
Her smile was angelic when she faced him once again. “It’s mine.”
He nodded. “You belong here.”
“No, I mean this land.” She spread her arms wide. “All five acres. I bought it about a month ago.”
With a new eye, Javier looked at the land. Nice and flat, a good place to build.
“The road will come up through there.” Heidi pointed toward the west. “It’s going to cost a fortune.
I want to keep the cedar tree, but I have to have it tested to make sure it’s healthy. I don’t want to build my dream home only to have it caved in by a falling goliath.”
Javier simply nodded as she spoke.
“Nothing huge. Just a two or three bedroom cottage. But I’ve also got to have a well dug, and get the electricity brought in, both of which will cost a pretty penny.” She sighed. “I guess I wasn’t thinking about all the details when I bought it, but I’ve been coming here for years. My little spot of heaven. I’d bring a book and lunch and sit under that tree. It was only by accident that a surveyor was here one day when I came up for a little peace and quiet. The owner needed it surveyed so he could sell it. I got the seller’s name and made him an offer. He accepted with no questions asked.”
She turned away and wrapped her arms around herself. “It’s going to be a long time before I can afford to get to the point of building my house here, but I can see it. My quiet place.”
“A sanctuary,” he suggested.
“Exactly,” she whispered without facing him.
Javier moved up behind her, wrapped his arms around her and laid his cheek atop her head, breathing in the scent of her and nature. The two fragrances complemented each other. She did belong here.
“I see it, chata. And I am positive you will have your dream home one day. No one deserves it more than you. It must have been difficult, being the only female in a house of males.”
“Like a zoo.”
He grinned and hugged her tighter. “You need a quiet place for yourself.”
She nodded and turned in his arms. “Yes. Exactly. I don’t really want to leave my dads, and I know they’d never shove me out the door, but I can’t live in their house forever...in my childhood bedroom.
I’m almost thirty.” A smile flitted over her lips. “But a small-town vet doesn’t make a lot of money, so it’s going to be a while before I can move here. First the road, then the well and electricity...” She sighed and laid her head against his chest, wrapping her arms around his waist. “At least it’s a start, and it’s mine.”
She gave him a little squeeze, almost as if claiming him as hers too.
“That’s cheating!” A fierce punch to the shoulder accompanied her accusation, but it lost all effect when she giggled and stuck her tongue out at him.
Javier dropped in a few more tokens to continue the race before the arcade game’s timer expired.
“Not at all, chata. I just took the line you opened up for me.”
The motorcycle game began the countdown for a race on the next level, a new track with new challenges. He’d won the first two races but admired her competitive spirit, which had manifested the moment they’d entered Leavenworth’s premier family amusement park and entertainment center.
The good-natured rivalry began with a friendly round of putt-putt golf. She’d won by two strokes, and he’d confessed to never mastering the game’s finer elements.
Racing, however, had always been something he could do, thanks in part to his brother. They’d had fun playing video games together, and both had lead feet when it came to driving. He’d even had some defensive, tactical driver training in the military, not unlike Juan had experienced with the police force.
The green light flashed, and Heidi got off to an earlier start, but he quickly accelerated to close the gap as she leaned her engineless bike into the first turn.
“You can’t beat me,” he challenged, pulling his cycle in behind hers on the screen and entrusting the computer to recalculate for his drafting techniques.
“Watch me.” She revved the throttle and leaned into the next turn.
He maintained the same line on the virtual track, trailing her every move into one curve after another until the final straightaway when he used his drafted momentum to swing out and slingshot around her, just inching past her front tire as they crossed the finish line.
Her pout was almost as adorable as her cute, little nose.
She swung her leg off the bike, and he followed after a brief hesitation. “You do not want to go another round?”
“No. I concede. You’re the better racer.”
He pulled her into an embrace and kissed the tip of her tiny nose. “And you are a much better golfer.”
She smirked and swung her arms around his neck. “I guess I’m better at knocking balls around a course than flying a motorcycle around a racetrack, but if you tell my brothers I lost, I’ll knock you upside the head.”
“You have raced against them before?”
Backing free of the hug, she nodded and gave him a big grin. “You’re looking at the Falke family champion.”
“Congratulations.” He almost asked if the brothers let her win. Maybe she had beaten some of them, but would Axel... Observing how much the excitement of competition and overall happiness animated her adorable face, Javier suspected the men would do almost anything to make their little sister happy.
And what was a little sacrificed male pride when compared to the brightness of this woman’s smile?
Hell, he wished he’d let her win now that he thought of it.
She took him by the hand, and he followed, somewhat marveled by how good it felt. His hand in her smaller one. Letting her take the lead. He would’ve expected his alpha nature to balk at this change of dynamics, however temporary, but it seemed natural.
He frowned. Similar to his relationship with Isabela. His mate had wrapped him and Juan around her little finger. Like Isabela, Heidi had a way about her that made him want to see her smile, watch the joy he caused light up her eyes. But Isabella had never been the one in the lead. Heidi was unique in that. Strong willed, stubborn and bossy. He grinned as he followed her as meekly as a kitten.
He was out in the parking lot before he realized their destination. “Where are we headed now?”
A smile was his only answer, so he circled the vehicle and got in, looking to her for a verbal response. After their trip to her special place, they’d spent the morning hours strolling the sidewalks of the more touristy areas of the Bavarian-themed town and had a tasty lunch at a locally owned restaurant. Everywhere they went, Heidi was greeted by people she knew, making him amused. He better understood her love of the town and its people.