Page 28 of Mountain Security

But she also had a lifetime’s experience of keeping her desires at bay.

She didn’t act on impulse.

Alex looked at her. She sent a small prayer to the universe.

Please say what I’m not brave enough to say.

Then he shook his head, and the moment was gone. “Sure. We can drop you off on the way, Yvette.”

She forced a smile, her face stiff like cardboard. “That would be great. Thanks.”

10

* * *

Alex

The next day was a Sunday.

Alex woke up early and went for his morning run. He kept it light and easy. Though he’d stopped shivering overnight, he knew he was still nowhere near his full strength.

Something pinged on his phone and he stopped to check, wiping the sweat from his forehead with the corner of his long-sleeve T-shirt.

Somebody had just logged into Yvette’s computer.

And Alex knew exactly who it was.

He showered quickly, made a quick pit stop in the kitchen to pack the things he needed, then drove into the town hall, letting himself in with the key Adeline Berenger had given him.

As he stepped into the office, the cuckoo clock on the wall struck ten. Alex was surprised nobody had accidentally dropped the damn thing.

Or taken a hammer to it.

Yvette looked up, startled.

“Alex? What are you doing here? Is everything okay?”

“I could ask you the same,” he said.

“Uh. But I work here.”

“On a Sunday? This is normal for you?”

“Pretty normal. I like to get a head start on the week.”

He looked at the clock. “An eight-hour head start?”

She looked away, and he realized that’s how she’d always done things. That’s how she’d gotten where she was.

By always working harder than anybody else.

And he realized, too, that his questions were making her feel ashamed, when what he meant was exactly the opposite.

“I’m sorry. I’m not judging you.” He ran a hand through his hair. “Hell, I admire the hell out of your work ethic. You’re amazing.”

Yvette stared at him, open-mouthed.

As if nobody had ever told her how amazing she was before.

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