Destined for the Star (Starstruck) (2 page)

With a sigh she glanced over at the American, if indeed that was what he was. He could very well be Canadian instead - she couldn’t tell those accents apart. He seemed to be checking something on his iPhone, a slight scowl on his face. He looked annoyed and put the phone away. Then he gathered up the map, and put his jacket back on. With a stab to her heart she realized he was leaving. She would never see him again. As if he could feel her eyes on him, he looked up and met her gaze, a strange, wistful expression on his beautiful face. Then he tore his eyes away and left, with a little nod and smile in her direction.
 

* * *

She tried to keep busy until Sasha showed up at eleven. The lunch hour went by quickly, as always. She was clearing tables at one o’clock, while Sasha was stuck in the kitchen doing dishes, when the door opened. She turned to see who it was, and froze with her mouth open. It was the beautiful stranger from that morning. She just stood there staring at him - he was even more glorious than she remembered. For a moment she thought her mind was playing tricks on her, but then he walked right over to where she was standing, a dirty dish cloth in her hand.
 

”Hi there.” He smiled warmly at her.
 

She was too shocked to answer.
 

”Did you forget something?” she finally asked, feeling very confused.

”No. No, I didn’t,” he said, and looked down at her. He was standing very close to her now. She took in his delicious scent, all male and all sexy. She felt an inappropriate desire to run her fingers tenderly across his handsome features, especially those divine cheekbones.
 

”Didn’t you find the palace?” she asked, still confused and still unable to let his striking eyes go. They shimmered, their color hypnotizing her. His smile deepened at whatever it was he saw in her face.

”No, I did, thank you. Excellent directions! I’ve been there, and you’re right - it would have been more impressive in yellow. As it is now, it sort of melts into the skies.”

”Yes, I know,” she said. ”It’s slightly better in the summer, when the sun is shining and the skies are blue.” She tried to look away from his face but she wasn’t strong enough. His fierce beauty had her spellbound.
 

”It made me think that sightseeing would be so much more enjoyable with a guide to show me around.” He held her gaze steady in his.
 

”Oh, okay. I’m not sure there are any working this late in the year, but I can call and ask around for you, if you’d like,” she said breathlessly. She was forgetting how to breathe when he held her gaze locked into his glorious eyes like that. He looked disappointed.

”Thank you, that’s very kind of you. But I was hoping that perhaps you would consider being my guide for a few hours? I’ll pay you, of course,” he added, when she hesitated.
 

”I, um, I’m not a trained guide. I only know a little about some of the landmarks here. I’d make a really horrible guide. You really should hire a real guide. There are some excellent guides specialized in showing the Old Town.”

”Please?” His eyes burned into hers.
 

She couldn’t say no to him, she didn’t want to say no. Getting to spend a few hours with this man sounded like heaven to her, although, when he realized just how truly awful a guide she was, he’d cut the tour short. She felt certain of it.
 

”Okay,” she breathed.
 

His face lit up with joy.

”Great!”

”But on one condition,” she added quickly.
 

”Anything. What?”

”You can’t pay me, all right?”

”Why not? You’re doing me a great favor.”

”No, no money. I really am a lousy guide and I would feel awful taking your money. On the other hand,” she went on, ”you’re getting exactly what you paid for so you’re not allowed to complain when I mess up dates and names of the places I’ll show you. Deal?”

He laughed, a sexy, rumbling brook of a laughter.

”Deal,” he said, and extended his hand to her.
 

She took it. She wished she would never have to let go of his hand. It was big and strong but warm and with beautiful, slender fingers; long and tapered, made to caress the keys of a piano, or the soft curves of a woman’s body.

She had to get a grip - this was getting to be ridiculous. Pathetic, really. She was reacting to him like a hormonal teenager. She let go of his hand.
 

”I get off at two. Do you want to wait here? It’s an hour left.”
 

”Actually, I saw a Sci-fi-bookstore on the way here, and I thought I’d go and check it out, while I wait.”

”Oh, okay. I think I know which one you mean. It’s not far. Shall I come there and get you, when I’m done here?”

”No, that’s okay, I’ll be back here at ten past two. Is that good?”

”Yes, perfect.”

”See you then,” he said and smiled, but didn’t move.
 

”Okay, great. See you.” They stood there for a few seconds longer, just looking at each other, until he finally broke away and strode out the door. He was quite tall and looked very well-built, but not in a bulky, over-done way. She thought he probably worked out regularly, but not obsessively. His backside filled out his jeans perfectly.

”Who was that hot piece of ass?” Sasha appeared as if out of thin air, and hissed the question in her ear.

”Actually, I don’t even know his name,” she answered, feeling a little dumb for having agreed to meet up with a man whose name she didn’t even know.

”All right, but what did he want?”

”He was here this morning, having a cup of coffee and a sandwich. I think he’s American.”

”So why did he come back? Did he forget something earlier?”

”No, he didn’t.” She still felt stunned at the turn her day had just taken. ”He… he wants me to guide him around the Old Town when I get off today.”

”Guide him?” Sasha looked confused. ”But you’re not a tourist guide.”

”No, I know that, and I told him so, but he insisted. I don’t have to be home until six tonight, so it’s his time to waste, I guess.” She tried to sound cool and nonchalant but she trembled inside at the thought of seeing him again.
 

”Huh.” Sasha sounded skeptical. ”Are you sure he’s not some crazy freak who’s going to strangle you in some alley and throw you into the Stream?” Sasha raised an eyebrow at her, only half-joking.
 

”He could very well be.” She was also only half-joking. ”But how can I not take my chances with that ass?” She smiled teasingly at Sasha and returned to clearing tables.
 

”All right, but you’d better text me on your way home tonight so I know you’re all right. And tomorrow I want to hear all about it, you hear?”

”Aye, aye, Captain.”
 

Chapter 2

He was punctual. When she stepped outside the café at exactly ten past two, he was there waiting, greeting her with one of his stunning smiles. They always caught her off-guard and dazzled her into stupefied silence.

”Hi there,” he smiled.

”Hello,” she answered, after inhaling sharply to clear her dizzy head.

”I was a little worried you’d change your mind and bail on me.”

”Why would I do that?” she asked, confused.

”I don’t know. I felt like maybe I was a bit too persistent earlier. I was afraid I had scared you off.”

”Nope, not yet. But you’re not an axe-murderer or anything, are you?” She smiled at him, but held her breath waiting for his reply.

He laughed.

”I’m many things, but I’m not that. On the way back here I realized I don’t even know your name,” he continued, more serious. ”Are you perhaps some alluring, female sociopath, I wonder?” He reached out and pulled a lock of her hair, that had blown across her face, back into place. She shivered beneath his touch and wished he hadn’t immediately dropped his hand.

”I’m Olivia and no, I’m no sociopath. Not particularly alluring either, but I can be quite the cranky bitch, if you ask my little brothers.”

He laughed.

”I never take what little brothers say seriously.”

”What’s your name, then, and where are you from?” she asked, suddenly eager to know everything there was to know about this man.

He gave her a strange look, as if he was searching for clues in her face.
Clues for what?
she thought. Whatever it was he was looking for in her expression, he seemed satisfied, because he smiled down at her again.

”My name is Nate. I’m from Tulsa, Oklahoma. Do you know where that is?”

”Oklahoma is a state in the U.S., right? But I’m afraid I don’t know exactly where. Somewhere south, with Cowboys and Indians, perhaps?”
 

He smiled again at that.

”Yes, that’s right. I’m a bit of a cowboy myself, actually. My parents own a cattle ranch outside Tulsa.”

”So you grew up on horseback, driving cattle?” She couldn’t help smiling back at him, it seemed like the natural thing to do in his presence. Smile like an imbecile, stunned by his beauty and mesmerizing persona.
 

”Yep, pretty much.”

”What are you doing here, then? Sweden is a long way from Oklahoma.”

”Sure is,” he agreed. ”I’m here on business, fitting in some sightseeing between meetings.”

”Aha.” They fell silent. She looked around her.

”So, Mr Tourist, what would you like to see? You’ve seen the Royal Palace. Have you seen anything else of the Old Town yet?”

”Not really, I’ve just been wandering around today, with no plan really. What would you like to show me? I’ll let you decide.”

”Okay. Hmm.” She deliberated for a second. ”I want to show you some of the stories that go with this part of Stockholm. What kind of stories do you like? Tragedies? Romances? Horror-stories?” She grinned mischievously at him.

He chuckled softly, his eyes lingering on her face all the while.

”I love any kind of story, as long as it’s any good,” he finally said. ”Do you have a favorite from the Old Town? If so, I’d love to hear that.” He didn’t seem to be able to refrain from smiling either, perhaps it was something in the air today? She shook her head slightly at her own silliness.

”Okay then, I’ll tell you my favorite horror-story. Or maybe it’s more of a tragedy. It’s definitely a cautionary tale,” she mused and looked out at the street in front of them. ”Come to think of it, there might even be a little romance in there somewhere. You’re getting a really good deal here, Mr Cowboy, there’s a little bit of everything in that story.” She grinned teasingly at him, feeling so giddy and free with him. It was a little like teasing her brothers, but even more fun.

He laughed again.

”I knew you were a real find, the moment I saw you,” he teased back. ”I said to myself, ’Now, that girl, Nate, she could tell you a really good horror-story.’”

She started giggling, ”Was it the shade of my hair that tipped you off, or what?”

”Ha, ha, cute. No,” he said, suddenly turning serious, ”I think it’s because you look like a fairytale come true. Those eyes of yours look like they’re hiding a wealth of secret stories.” She was caught in his gaze again, once more mesmerized by his eyes.

She cleared her throat, trying to break the spell. Maybe he sensed that she felt a little uncomfortable, because he let go of her gaze and looked away.

”So, what’s this horror-story about?”

”It’s a tale of jealousy, arrogance and the lethal madness of large, angry mobs.”

”Sounds truly frightening,” he agreed. ”Let’s go. I’m dying to hear this story.”

”Good,” she said. ”On the way, I’ll show you a few landmarks, if you’d like.”

”Sounds perfect.” He smiled down at her again and she marveled once more at the chiseled beauty of his features.
 

He was dressed casually and looked young. She wondered again how old he was. She assumed he must come from money if the family sent him all the way to Stockholm on business. Cattle business, no less. She’d never heard of American ranchers coming to Stockholm to sell their cattle but what did she know?

She led him through the narrow alleys and prongs of Old Town and stopped here and there to point out interesting things to him. He was fascinated by the old stone pipe sticking out at the bottom of one of the houses.
 

”That’s where the waste came out. It ran right out into the street. Here, do you see? Can you imagine what it must have smelled like here back then?”

”Yes,” he said in wonder. ”How old is this house?”

”I’d guess 1500’s or there about.”’

”Wow. That’s ancient.”

”Yeah, but it’s still not the oldest place here. The Old Town dates back to early medieval times. People have lived here since the 1200’s or so.”

”Wow.”

”That must seem really old to you, right?”
 

”Yes, it does. It’s hard to grasp. The oldest buildings in Oklahoma are no more than a hundred years or so. Before that it was all prairie and teepees.” He exaggerated his southern twang and smiled at her.
 

”Wow, I’ve never met a real-life cowboy before,” she teased him.
 

”Funny, I’ve never met a natural blonde before,” he teased her back. ”That is your real color, isn’t it?” he inquired, all the while his eyes caressed her unruly curls. They were trying their hardest to escape the simple bun she kept her hair in while at work.
 

”Yes, I’m afraid so,” she admitted. ”Although I’m not really blonde, more like strawberry-blonde. Or red-haired, if you want to be mean. Not very popular with the guys at school, when I grew up.” She looked away, silently berating herself for talking too much, revealing far too much.
 

”Those boys were idiots. It’s beautiful.”

She looked up, taken by surprise by the fierce longing in his voice. He was looking at her, and she felt as if she was going to melt into his smoldering eyes. She blushed. Great, now she matched the tint of her hair, she thought, and had to look away.

”So, where to now?” he asked, sticking his beautiful hands in the pockets of his jeans.