Page 33 of Mountain Challenge

That was good news, at least.

“He would like to apologize to you in person.” Ry’s expression went hard. “But only if you’re willing to do it. You don’t have to.”

“You think I shouldn’t?”

“That’s not what I said. If you want to, it’s something you can do for him—listen to his apology. I’m just saying you don’t have to do it. You don’t owe him anything.”

“I want to,” she said quickly. “But not here. I can come over to thegendarmeriewhenever you tell me.”

A fleeting shadow crossed Ry’s face. It was gone a moment later, but she couldn’t let go. “Are you sure you’re okay? Is it your shoulder?”

Ry started nodding, then stopped. “My shoulder’s okay. But I’m not sure I am. I got some bad news today at work.”

“What happened?”

He hesitated for a moment, as if debating whether to share. Isla waited. She couldn’t force him to tell her, and there might be nothing she could do about it anyway. But she could listen, if he was willing to talk. When he started speaking, her heart clenched that he was willing to trust her.

“Remember the rescue of the two lost hikers?” Isla nodded. That was where he’d injured his shoulder. “One of them filed a complaint against me today.”

“A complaint? But you and your teammate saved their lives.”

“We did. But I … one of them claims I hurt him in the process. That I was … violent.” His eyes glimmered, and Isla could see how upset he was. It awakened all her protective instincts. “I didn’t, I swear.”

“Of course you didn’t. Sounds like bullshit to me.”

Relief filled his expression for a moment. Isla wasn’t sure where that came from. Was he relieved that she believed him? Could he really have imagined he wouldn’t? What if?—

“Is your team not supporting you?” Anger pushed up to the surface.

“No, no,” he said quickly. “They are. It’s just … their hands are tied. The process has to be followed. A team from Lyon will be here tomorrow to start investigating and speak with everyone involved. In the meantime, I’ve been placed on leave.”

“Good,” she said. “Then they’ll find out just what kind of bullshit this is. Maybe you should be the one filing a complaint against this asshole.”

A small smile crossed his face. “You’re really pretty ferocious, you know?

“I can be.”

“Thank you. It means a lot to me. I should get going. I just wanted to let you know.”

Ry stood up to his full height. Man, he looked sexy in those old jeans. The way they hugged those strong thighs … “Come upstairs with me.” That sounded brash. “I’ll make dinner. Or order dinner. Or something.” Now she was rambling.

She’d been hoping he’d say yes, but the smile that broke over his face was an unexpected surprise. “I’d like that.”

15

Isla

Now she knew where the expression head over heels came from.

She was head over heels for this strong, sexy man. Once again, the sex had been much better than fine. Together, they were reinventing spectacular. It was as if they’d learned each other’s bodies their first few times together, and now knew exactly where to go to make each other combust.

They’d had sex three times, but she’d come five or six times. She was pretty sure that was a record for her. Even now, hours later, she could feel it between her legs and against her clit. The soft reminder that they’d rocked each other’s world.

This morning, she’d woken up before Ry and watched him as he slept. Not something she’d ever done with Roland or with any other man—not something she’d ever had the least interest in doing. But watching Ry sleep, it seemed right. He looked younger asleep, but then maybe everybody did. Younger andlighter. As if he were having happy dreams, and she wondered if she’d had a hand in making that happen.

She’d hated knowing that smooth, carefree expression would disappear as soon as he woke up. And it had. He’d gone from sleepy to concerned in a matter of seconds, and even though he’d tried to hide it from her, she’d known his thoughts were back with his team.

“You okay?” she’d asked, knowing he wasn’t.

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