Page 80 of Mountain Struggle

“How’s your hand, boss? You coming back to work soon?” Kat asked. In her hand, she balanced a fruity-looking cocktail.

“Better. I’ll be back in the office on Monday, though I’m not yet cleared for active duty.”

“Where did you get that?” Hiro asked, looking at the glass in Kat’s hand.

“Jens made it for me,” Kat says. “He’s an expert barman, didn’t you know?” She turned around and called out. “Rémy! Hey, join us.”

Rémy sauntered towards them—his blond, almost white hair was tied back with a scrunchie to keep it out of his face.

“Great party, Damien. Happy birthday.”

“Is that water?” Kat asked in mock disgust, looking at the glass in the mountain guide’s hand.

Rémy nodded sheepishly. He was well-known for being almost obsessive about what he put into his body.

The conversation flowed easily. Some instinct made Damien turn towards the sliding patio doors. There stood Tess in her jeans shorts and a sparkly short-sleeved top. Her blond hair fell in soft waves down to the middle of her back.

It was hot tonight. Damien knew the reason she wasn’t wearing one of her strappy tops was that she was still self-conscious about the healing scar on her shoulder. He wanted to show her that the scar didn’t matter—that it didn’t mean anything—or if it did, it was simply a sign of her courage and love for him and for Jamie.

It still amazed him that this wonderful woman could have fallen in love with him and his son—Damien wanted to go down on his knees and thank his lucky stars.

And to think that he could have lost both of them just two weeks earlier … he wiped his hand angrily across his eyes—he wasn’t about to start crying like a baby in front of all his friends and colleagues.

Tess sidled closer to him, as if sensing he needed her near.

“So, how do you like your surprise birthday party?” she asked, her eyes twinkling. In her hand, she held a glass of sparkling water topped with a lime wedge. Damien knew she was still taking painkillers to cope with her healing shoulder.

“I love it,” he answered truthfully.

“Jamie did most of it, you know?”

Damien made a show of looking around him at the elaborate decorations that had transformed the backyard. Now that the sun had set, the space glowed by the light of dozens of strategically placed candles. Enormous platters of food graced a set of tables placed against a wall.

“You didn’t help at all?” he asked, arching his eyebrow.

Tess laughed.

“Maybe a little.” Her front teeth came out to bite her lower lip softly. Damien’s cock jumped to attention.

Down, boy, that isn’t meant for you.

He wanted nothing more than to take her to bed.

“Think they’ll notice if we disappear for a bit?” The words were out before he could stop himself.

Tess’s pupils grew wide.

“You haven’t touched me since …”

Her eyes filled with moisture.

“Hey, honey,” Damien said, bringing her into his arms, careful not to press onto her injured shoulder. “I’m just giving you time to recover. You know how much I want you, right?”

He aligned his hips against her front so she could feel his desire.

“You really think we can—”

Suddenly they were surrounded by children. Jamie came right between them, effectively disentangling Damien from Tess.