Page 34 of Mountain Challenge

“I just worry about the team. I know they’re okay, but I … I should be there with them.”

“And you will. As soon as this stupid complaint is sorted out. People are going to see right through this.”

“I hope so.” He brought out his phone and his expression dimmed further. “The investigators have arrived. They’re speaking to Beau, Hugo and Tristan today, but my interview isn’t scheduled until tomorrow.” He’d looked unhappy at that, and she understood his impatience—understood his need to get his side of the story out there. But she wanted so badly to smooth out that frown, even if it was by distracting him.

The words were out before she could stop herself.

“I promised I’d teach you to snowboard. Want to go up there today?”

“Today? You don’t have to do that, Isla. I know you have to go to work.”

“I checked my appointments last night. I don’t have anything scheduled until the afternoon. And Alain will be here, anyway. He’s already doing the simpler designs without me.”

Ry had spare ski pants and a jacket in his car, so they’d showered—separately, because otherwise there would have been no snowboarding—and headed up to the rental place by the telecabine to find a snowboard and boots for him.

“Just the board and the boots?” the taller guy asked. “Do you also need a helmet?”

“No, thanks, I have one in the car.”

“You should get a butt protector,” Isla said.

Ry turned, his expression comically offended. “I’ve been skiing since I was five,” he puffed.

“Skiing, not snowboarding,” she reminded him, smiling. “But it’s your ass, not mine.”

At her mention of the word ass, Ry’s eyes moved to look at hers. It warmed her inside. Then he crossed his arms in front of his chest. “We’re not taking the protector.”

The guy from the rental shop chuckled as he rang the board and boots up for them.

“Allow me,” he said, taking her board from her so he was carrying one board under each arm. Isla was perfectly capable of carrying her own board, but decided not to complain about the gentlemanly gesture. “Compared to ski boots, it’s like going barefoot, isn’t it? It’s one of the things I love about snowboarding.”

“Yeah. So far, so good. I’m ready whenever you are.”

They’d missed the early risers, who were already up on the slope, and it wasn’t a public holiday, so there was close to no line. Ry slotted the two boards into the spaces available outside the telecabine, then followed her in. Nobody else got in behind them, so they made their way up the mountain together.

Ry waited until she sat, facing the top of the mountain, then sat down next to her, his thick thigh pressing against hers.

“You look beautiful, you know?”

“In my snow suit?” she asked doubtfully.

“The green makes your eyes pop.”

“My eyes aren’t green.”

“They still pop.”

His eyes were greener than her suit. It was no hardship looking into them. No hardship at all. The moment stretched into eternity. There they were, being rocked gently in theirlittle metal bubble, surrounded by an infinity of white, the sun shining on them through the glass.

Then his mouth fell on hers, his lips soft and firm. They were warmer than hers—warm enough to warm her up inside. She felt the light sting of his stubble, reminding her he hadn’t shaved that morning, because he’d been at her place. He tasted minty, of snow and sunshine.

His tongue reached into her mouth and she welcomed it gladly, her own tongue coming out to play. The kiss heated her from the inside out. She never wanted to stop kissing him—and she didn’t, not until she had to come up for air. She pulled back, putting some distance between them, and dragged some air into her lungs. Movement on the slope right above them surprised her.

“Look at that! It’s a family of chamoix.” The goat-like antelopes—two larger ones and, between them, a smaller one that might have been born just last spring—jumped on the snow with admirable surefootedness.They would make great snowboarders.Ry’s hand held hers, and together they looked until the three animals disappeared.

Moments later, the top of the telecabine came into sight. Isla got her gloves and helmet together just in time. When the door opened, Ry stood behind her and waited for her to get off. “I’ll get the boards.”

He was right behind her as she stepped outside the hut. The sun shone brightly, making her glad she’d decided to take the morning off. There weren’t that many days like this in a season—new snow and sun didn’t often come together.

---