Page 47 of Mountain Challenge

The woman looked up at him, her lips curling up in a small smile. The first one he’d ever seen. She looked happy at the outcome. “It’s over.”

“Good,” Beau said stoically. Ry stifled a laugh.Good?This wasn’tgood. This waseverything.

“Can he appeal?” Colonel Pelegrin asked in that quiet manner of his that was impossible to ignore.

“He can, but his lawyer will be the first to tell him he has no case. This case was … the most black and white we’ve seen in a while.” She pursed her lips for a moment, as if wondering how much more she should or could say. “I would not worry about that happening,” she finally added.

She looked experienced, and Ry wanted nothing more than to trust her. “Thank you.”

“We only did our job, Lieutenant Harrison,” her partner said.

“I know. I’m grateful anyway.”

“If we’re done here,” the colonel said gruffly, “let’s all get back to work. We’ve wasted enough time on this.” As the colonel stood up, everybody else followed, as if on a spring. Because you didn’t remain sitting when the colonel stood.

“Thank you,” Ry said to Beau once they were finally alone. “If it hadn’t been for the blood test you ordered …“

“It would have worked out anyway, Ry.”

Ry nodded. “I’m surprised they gave their consent to get their blood tested.”

“They didn’t,” Beau said. “That’s precisely what helped us. If Getty hadn’t filed a complaint, we wouldn’t have been able to test the blood specimen. But once he did, they no longer had a choice, unless they wanted to be guilty of an offence.”

“I’m still grateful.” He let out a breath. “I admit I was worried.”

“I know you were, and I’m sorry I couldn’t set your mind at ease before.” Beau sighed, looking tired. “Now go home and getsome rest, Ry. I want you back in the office as soon as the doctor clears you.”

“I can work,Commandant.”

“Not until you’re cleared.”

“Val will clear me,” Ry said, cheekily.

Beau laughed. “Go talk to her, then.”

Ry shouldered his bag. He’d do that, but first, there was somebody else he needed to call. “Isla? Where are you?”

“Ry.” She sounded a bit breathless. “I’m right outside the gendarmerie.”

Isla

Ry bounded out the door.

“What are you doing here?” he asked. “Is everything okay?”

“I didn’t want to leave you alone,” she said.Just in case. But she didn’t need to finish that thought. Even if she hadn’t been able to see the way his bright green eyes shone with happiness, she would have known, just from the way he walked—the way his shoulders looked like a heavy load had lifted from them—that everything had gone well.

His arms opened up, and Isla flew into his embrace. He kissed her forehead, her cheek, her nose, and she raised her face to help him find her lips. Their smiles met for an instant, then her lips sought entrance into his mouth, which he gladly gave, giving as good as he got. He tasted of mint and relief.

“It’s over. I’ve been cleared,” Ry said, squeezing her. “The investigators found there was no merit to Getty’s claims, and he’s been encouraged by his lawyer not to appeal.”

“Good.” She squeezed him back, careful not to press too tightly against his shoulder. “I knew you would be.” He cocked his head sideways. Well, she hadn’tknown—that’s why she’d waited for him, in case things went south. But she’d certainlyhopedfor this outcome.

“Let me take you out to lunch,” she said, smiling.

His arm went around the back of her waist. “It’s only eleven.”

“An early lunch, then.”

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