"He's sexy even eating."

"Anna, his shirt is stained with sauce, he's eating with the hunger of a caveman, and is laughing with his mouth full."

Elsa didn't get it. How could she not see how his jaw was marked every time he chewed? Or how his Adam's apple bobbed up and down with his laughter? Or how I would take off his dirty T-shirt and slather sauce on him only to slowly clean it off with my tongue? Okay, maybe it was better for her not to see that. But… how could she not see the warmth in his gaze? Or the soft tone of voice with which he had explained the situation to his grandfather from my lucky phone? Or how he was unceremoniously rolling around on the grass with his dog? Or how his huge hands held me firmly around the waist to steady me as I climbed the ladder to drop my suitcase on the loft of my closet?

"Where do you live, Kristoff?" Elsa asked after observing amused his way of eating for a few more minutes.

To her surprise, Kristoff took a few seconds to swallow before answering.

"I live in the Valley of the Living Rock."

"In the trolls' valley?" Maren asked. "I've heard many legends about the place."

"Sorry to disappoint you," Kristoff said chuckling. "but, the only troll there, is my grandpa."

"How can you be so mean with your poppa?" Olaf asked while sharing a carrot with Sven.

"I'm not! If you saw his feet and his ears, you'd know I'm telling the truth."

Elsa discreetly approached me and whispered with all possible sarcasm in my ear:

"He's a sweetheart, huh?"

"He's natural, sincere, and approachable," I refuted in whispers.

"He's grotesque!"

Elsa definitely didn't see what I did; but I didn't need her to either: all I could think about suddenly, was how amazing it would be to live in the valley, in a little cottage, growing my own food, and listening to the birds sing in the morning.

"Wait, what?!"

Since when did it seem like a good idea to be woken up by noisy birds? What was that man doing to me?! No way! I won't fall! Nor even for the best, hottest, and kindest man in the world!

"What is it, Anna?" Olaf asked with the smile of the evil. "Something to say about Kristoff's granddaddy's feet?"

"What? No! Of course not! It was… nothing."

"If someday you want to know 'the trolls' valley'," Kristoff continued without taking his eyes off me or even blinking. "I'll make sure you're very welcome."

"That… would be great," I muttered probably red and lost in his gaze.

That detail was not lost on him (nor him nor any of the others, I guess), and he cheekily winked at me with a mischievous smile just before taking another bite of his food.

'Fire.'

"Keep going this way and I'll throw up even yesterday's breakfast," Maren snapped without even lifting her face from the plate to look at us.

Interesting double standard: I didn't hear her complain about my sister's hand on her thigh.

"And, how do you plan to go back home?" asked Olaf doing me the favor of breaking the tension created. "A cab?"

"I would take you," Elsa added, "but Arendelle catches in the opposite direction and… it is possible that I will stay a few extra days in this area getting to know… the place."

'Sure… I get an idea of the places Elsa is thinking of getting to know.'

"No… I guess I'll swallow my pride and go sign the damn report. I'll probably go this afternoon. Now that I've slept and I'm wearing my clothes, I feel more confident and think I can keep my composure better."

"Are you really going to plant yourself back there?"

Just remembering the wisecrack sergeant made my blood boil.

"Yes. It will always be a better plan than going back to look for my things. I don't feel like meeting mama bear again."

"Yeah… I guess you are right."

The meal ended in a comfortable silence broken only by a few brief comments, but my mind was racing. All of this made no sense. I hardly knew him; he could be a complete idiot like Hans was and have me fooled, but… why did I feel like he was totally different? Why did there seem to be something between us other than chemistry or attraction? Why did the thought of him going home hurt? Why did it hurt even more to know that he was going to be humiliated?

It was clear that I felt attracted to his physique, and that wink (and all the implications I made up that it had) had forced me to change my underwear, but… there was something else. There was something about him that I didn't know what it was. There was something in his eyes that melted my soul, and his sensitivity… and the strong bond he had with that adorable huge dog… and the way he admired nature without complaining about it even when a bear had almost made with him the best sandwich of her life…

Why did I want to leave my life behind and go with him to live among mossy rocks? I admit that the life of a stockbroker is not the dream of my life, but… really? Birdies? Early starts? Hikes in the mountain? Since when did I feel attracted to all those things? Why did everything seem like a dream if I imagined it hand in hand with him?

In any case, although he seemed somewhat interested in me, it was clear that what he felt was not the same as what I did. There was no point in thinking about it; all I could do was enjoy his company those days and keep the memory of him in some corner of my tiny body. Then he would go away forever and break my stupid heart.

However, reciprocal or not, my feelings would not allow me to allow the sergeant to laugh at him again. Maybe he wasn't going to go to the woods looking for his things, but I was.