Page 29 of Mountain Summons

Despite herself, Lena looked behind him. Because if Ry was there, Tristan might not be far away. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to see him or not. She still hadn’t answered any of his calls. There wasn’t much he could say to him. Yes, there was something between them. Some crazy attraction that refused to die down. But he worked for her father. Worse than that. He waslikeher father. And that just wouldn’t work for her. So there was no point in going down that road. Even so, Lena hesitated, scanning the room.

Yvette checked her watch. "I need to go help with the auction setup. Lena, you’re in good hands. Isla and Ry will make sure you’re not cornered by all the well-meaning gossips."

"That's... comforting," Lena said dryly, and Yvette laughed before disappearing into the crowd.

Isla hooked an arm through Lena’s. "Come on. Ry and I were about to grab drinks. You’re coming with us."

“You don’t mind if I step in, right, Isla?” a voice said behind her. A voice she would recognize anywhere.

“Tristan.” Like Ry, he was dressed in a dark suit and a dark tie. Tristan’s suit looked like it’d been made just for him. Which maybe it had. She’d seen the man’s car.

“Lena.” He stepped in closer, a question on his face. And she could ask him to go away. He would, if she did so. She shook her head, making up her mind.“You go ahead, Isla, Ry. I’ll catch up.”

The two of them didn’t need to be told again, and disappeared into the crowd.

“You’re a difficult woman to find.”

She shook her head. “And you’re a stubborn man. If I’d returned your calls, I think you would have lost interest in me long ago.”

“If you think that, you don’t know me very well,” he said, smiling. “How are you feeling?”

“Better, thank you.” She flexed her ankle gently. “Almost back to normal.”

“Good. I’m glad.”

She was already looking down, and that made it easier to speak the next words. “I’m sorry I didn’t call you back.”

“Why didn’t you?” he asked. “I know you feel …this, between us. Just like I do.”

This. She sure did. And if she were sure it would only last a week or two, she’d be happy to indulge and letthisrun its course. But for the first time in her life, she worried one or two weeks wouldn’t be enough. And starting a relationship with someone like Tristan would be a big mistake. She opened her mouth to speak, then paused as she realized how crass and selfish her thoughts made her seem.

“Say it, Lena. Whatever you’re thinking,” he encouraged.

“There’s no easy way to say this. You and I … we want different things out of life, Tristan.”

He didn’t look offended. “How do you know what I want?”

Lena smiled. “Fair enough. Maybe it’s more about me, then.Idon’t want to date someone who works with my father.”

His eyes softened as he looked down at her. And it was hard to look away from eyes the color of a moonstone. But she didn’t want—or need—his pity.

“I’m sorry you’ve been hurt, Lena. But it’s not my intention to?—“

“It’s not your intention,” she said, knowing she was being bitchy but unable to help herself, “but we’ll end up hurting each other. So it’s better to stop now, and avoid that pain.”

She straightened her spine, waiting. She wasn’t afraid of his anger—she knew he’d never physically hurt her—but she’d been intentionally callous, and she was bound to get a response.

When it came, it wasn’t the one she expected.

“I disagree,” he said defiantly. “I’ve fucked up a lot of things in my life, and I don’t want this to be yet another thing I fuck up, just because I didn’t speak up when it mattered. Is there anything I can say to change your mind and make you give us a chance?”

He looked so hopeful, it was hard to say no. But she had to. Because any other word would open her to a world of pain.

“I’m sorry.” She really was. “The answer is still no.”

Tristan’s body didn’t move, but she did felt him take a metaphorical step back. “I’m sorry you feel that way, Lena,” he said. His grin had disappeared. “I’ll stop bothering you. But I would still like to be your friend.”

It was that last sentence that made her wish she could take everything she’d said back. Because even after she’d pushed him away, in all ways possible, he was still offering her his friendship. And she didn’t have many friends in the world.

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