Page 57 of The Pakhan's Arranged Bride
“I wanted you to really enjoy your time in Seattle, little fox, so I’ve arranged a number of things for us while we’re here.”
My mouth drops open. “You did this for me?” I ask, shocked.
“Of course, you are my wife.” He smiles, pulling my chair out for me.
The dinner is magical. Benedikt is charming and sweet and I find myself leaning towards him all night.
For the first time in a very, very long time, I completely forget about Miron and my anger towards him.
I can breathe freely, without worry, without looking over my shoulder.
***
Our first morning in Seattle, Benedikt wakes me up early with a tray of breakfast muffins and Seattle coffee.
“Come on, sleepyhead, it’s time to get up.”
I groan and squint at the window. “But it’s still dark outside, the sun isn’t even up.”
“Mm. Surprise number two. I promise you it will be worth it.”
I grin at him. “I’m going to choose to trust you on this one.”
He reaches out and gently touches my cheek, a simple, sweet gesture that warms my heart immediately.
He’s so excited for whatever he has planned that he makes me rush through my muffin. Luckily, the coffee is in a take away cup so I can take it with me as we hurry out of the hotel, dressed in the outfit that Benedikt chose for me.
Sneakers, gym tights, a matching gym top and a warm hoodie to keep out the fresh morning chill.
“Pease don’t tell me you woke me up before the sun so that you can take me to some fancy gym,” I joke.
He throws me an amused smile. “Oh no, the gym has nothing on the morning we’re about to have.”
We drive out of Seattle and eventually park in a lot beneath a massive sign that says, ‘Olympic National Park.’
Benedikt climbs out, grabbing a backpack from the trunk, and holds his hand out to me.
“Come on, I want to get there for sunrise. It’s something you have to see.”
The sky is already growing brighter, just enough for us to see where we’re going. He insists on taking my hand though to keep me safe on the uneven ground as we start the hike into Olympic National Park.
The place is gorgeous.
Everything is damp with morning dew and it smells fresh and green and lush. Rich soil and rock moves beneath my feetand my lungs scream in happiness as my blood pulses faster, pushing myself up rocky pathways, past tall, dark green trees.
“This is magical,” I say, breathing heavily.
Benedikt nods. “I come here every time I go to Seattle. It’s one of my favorite places in the world.”
I shoot him a sideways glance.
“Ugh. How many girlfriends have you brought here,” I say, childish, but for some reason stung with jealousy at the thought of him doing something special like this with someone else.
He bursts out laughing at my question and squeezes his hand around mine a little tighter.
“You might be shocked to find out that I’ve never brought anyone to hike with me here. I prefer to go alone—until now, that is.”
I narrow my gaze at him and scrunch my nose.
