Page 26 of Mountain Security

Back on the mountain, Alex had been insistent that he didn’t need to see a doctor. Thankfully, his colleague, Ry, had been even more insistent. Yvette was liking the man more and more. So much so that she’d decided to forgive him for theice princesscomment.

Yvette sat in the waiting room with Beau and Lorenz, who kept asking her if she wanted a coffee.

She knew they were just trying to be kind, but wondered what the hell was going on.

It’s only five p.m.

Do I look like I’m going to fall asleep?

To distract herself from worrying about Alex, Yvette brought out her phone and started composing the list of people she or Pierre might have irritated, or who might benefit from the files that were stolen.

Half an hour later, she stopped and scrolled down the list.

There were a lot more names than she would have expected, and she still needed to ask Pierre to add any others that came to mind.

She locked her phone just as a doctor walked out of the ER area. She was young, with hazel eyes and bright red hair that fell past her shoulders in soft waves. Yvette was still convincing her stiff muscles that it was time to stand up when Beau strode across the room, locking lips with the doctor.

And not just lips, either.

The big man’s hands wrapped themselves around the doctor’s waist, spanning almost the entirety of it.

It was as unexpected as it was hot.

Yvette let the air out of her lungs. She was pretty sure nobody had ever kissed her like that—that nobody had ever wanted her like that.

“That’s Val,” Lorenz said. “They’re engaged,” he added, unnecessarily.

“Yeah. I figure that’s not the way he greets all doctors,” Yvette muttered. The woman heard her and laughed.

“Yvette Legrand, right?” the woman asked, pulling out of the man’s embrace. “I think I’ve seen you on TV, with our mayor. It’s nice to meet you. I’m Valentina.”

“Doctor,” Yvette said, not wanting to get too familiar.

“Alex is very worried about you. I told him I’d come out and check on you personally.” She winked. “It was the only way to get him to lie still in bed a little longer.”

Now it was Yvette’s turn to laugh. “To check onme? I’m not the one who decided to have an Arctic swim earlier today.”

“Yeah, about that,” she said, including Beau and Lorenz in the conversation. “He’s moderately hypothermic, but he’s going to be fine. The other gentleman worried me a bit more, since he swallowed a lot of water, but you guys did a good job warming him up in the helicopter. He’ll be staying overnight, but he’s going to be fine.”

“And Alex?” Yvette asked.

“He can go home, but I’d prefer if he wasn’t alone tonight.”

He can stay with me.

The thought came to her, unbidden, and refused to go away. She realized she wanted to spend the night with him. She’d been so worried about him—

A warm, loud voice spoke from behind the doctor.

“That’s okay, Doc. Alex is my housemate. I’ll keep an eye on him tonight,” Ry drawled.

Yvette looked at the floor, glad she hadn’t embarrassed herself by saying anything. A muscle ticked behind her eye. Suddenly, she wasn’t sure she liked the medic that much.

“Good,” Valentina said, oblivious to Yvette’s internal conflict. “In that case, I’ll sign his discharge papers and he can go.”

“And you’ll be home in time for dinner?” Beau asked gruffly.

“I’ll be home in time for dinner. But it’s your turn to cook,” Valentina reminded him before going back into the ER.

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