Page 43 of Mountain Challenge

“We’ve met,” Isla confirmed, taking a few steps towards the bed. A small smile crossed her face. She seemed—different from the last time he’d seen her. Hell, at least she was talking to him. That was more than he’d hoped. “Hey,” she said, bridging the last few steps towards the bed.

“Ry,” Beau said, closing the door behind him. “How are you feeling?”

“You tell me. Did Val say anything about the surgery?”

“It went well, she said, but we’re still waiting to hear from the trauma surgeon.”

Ry felt himself relaxing. He trusted Val. If things had gone wrong, if they’d found something in his shoulder that couldn’t be fixed, she would have been straight with him. Beau gave anuncharacteristic stammer. “Do you need anything? I just wanted to see that you were okay and say thank you.”

Ry groaned. “For not letting your sorry ass fall into a crevasse? You don’t have to say it again. I wouldn’t have done that to Val and Ren,” he said, trying to infuse some lightness into his words.

Beau’s rugged face split into a smile at the mention of Ren. It was getting easier and easier to make the man smile. “Right. Well, you’re going to have to bear with me if I need to tell you again. For my peace of mind.”

“Sure thing,” Ry said easily. “How’s Terence doing?”

“He’s been airlifted to Annecy. They have a team of pelvic surgery experts there.”

“I’m glad to hear it.” Ry paused for a moment. “Uh, Beau? There is one thing I need. My clothes.”

Beau’s hard look told him there was no way he was getting out of here tonight, but he nodded. “I’ll get you some clothes from the office. Anything else?”

Ry shook his head, leaning back into the pillows. “Now that you’ve seen me, tell the guys I’m not at death’s door, and that they should go home?”

“I’ll tell them your sense of humor, at least, has survived the surgery intact. How’s that?”

Ry nodded, immediately regretting the movement.Who would have thought nodding would engage what seemed like a hundred muscles in his shoulder?

“I’ll be back to see you tomorrow morning. With the clothes,” Beau said, making his way to the door. With a curt nod at Isla, he was gone.

Isla stood still—almost, but not quite—within arm’s reach. “So, you saved your boss’s life?” she asked, looking impressed.

And Ry wanted her to be impressed, except there was nothing that impressive about what he’d done. “I was in the right place at the right time.”

“And Terence was the snowboarder? He’s okay as well?”

“He will be, I hope.”

Isla took a small step forward. And this time Ry couldn’t help himself. He lifted his good hand—no way was he moving the other arm, he wasn’t stupid enough to try that—and grasped her fingers. Electricity surged between them, and Ry knew, from the way Isla looked down at their connection, that he wasn’t the only one feeling it.

“I’m sorry,” they both said at the same time.

“What are you sorry about?” she asked, frowning.

“I’m sorry about whatever I did up on the slopes that disappointed you,” he said carefully. “I’d like to understand what it was so I can make sure not to do it again.”

Isla shook her head violently. “No. That’s what I’m sorry about. It’s nothing you did.”

“Please don’t say it’s not you, it’s me,” Ry begged, trying hard not to think of all the times he had been the one to use that line.

Isla laughed. “No. It’s nothing like that. I just … I have baggage that I haven’t told you about and I … I misunderstood a situation.”

“What situation?” Ry asked. He was feeling more confused and woozier by the second.

Isla sighed, biting her lip. “It’s embarrassing, but I know I’m going to have to tell you.”

“You don’t have to tell me anything,” he said. “Isla, I like you. I like … I like everything aboutus, aboutthis. And I might not be very experienced because … well, because I don’t do relationships, but up there on the slopes with you this morning, I felt …”

“What kind of painkillers are you on?” she suddenly asked, eying his IV line.

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