Page 48 of Mountain Trial

“Is he ever going to walk again?” Tess asked, blushing lightly. Kat was grateful that her friend felt comfortable enough to ask the question.

“No. He’s never going to walk again,” she said. Luc had been honest about that from the beginning.

Kat thought about it for a moment. It was interesting that she worried about so many things, but the fact that Luc was in a wheelchair didn’t even make it to the top ten.

Most of her worries concerned her, rather than Luc. She knew firsthand the pain that could come from trusting the wrong person. She’d lived her entire adult life knowing she’d never fall in love, never share her life with anyone. To think that she was even considering an alternative now, was … distracting.

Of course, Luc was also only passing by Chamonix, whereas Kat’s entire life was here―or rather, her job was here, and that was the thing that gave her life meaning.

“His wheelchair doesn’t worry me. If anything, he does more with his life than most people I know who’ve got two working legs.” She shook her head, taking one final look in the mirror. “I think this is the one.”

“It certainly is. You’re going to look lovely.”

Chapter 20

Kat

Lovely, perhaps.

But I’m going to freeze before I get there.

Kat wrapped the shawl tighter with one hand and tugged on her dress with her other hand, making sure her breasts were still covered.

She’d arranged to meet Luc at his place, and from there walk over to the event together, since it was only a couple streets away. She was signed up as his plus one, after all―it wouldn’t really do to arrive separately.

He was already watching from his doorway as she made her way from the parking lot to his terrace. His eyebrows rose appreciatively as he caught sight of her, even though she was wearing thick winter boots, which she knew looked incongruous with the floor-length gown. In her hand, she carried a bag with her spare clothes, handbag and black high-heels.

“My God, you’re beautiful,” he said in a thick voice.

Kat reached up to touch her red hair. She’d done as Tess suggested, and pulled it up in a bun, leaving her neck exposed. She’d also spent time on her make-up, choosing an intense blue-red lipstick that made her hair stand out.

He was dressed up as well in a classic tux. The formal suit made his chest and shoulders seem even broader. Her mouth watered. If she weren’t working, she’d consider staying home tonight.

“You don’t clean up too badly yourself,” she joked, stomping her boots to get rid of the snow that’d gathered on them.

“Are you ready to go?”

“I am. Is it okay if I leave my boots and spare clothes here and pick them up later?” she asked. As she spoke, she held onto his chair, taking off one boot, then the other, and exchanging them for the high-heels.

He looked doubtfully at her shoes.

“You’re going to walk two blocks in the snow in those things?” he asked. “Maybe you should climb onto my lap,” he said.

“And wrinkle your pants? I don’t think so. The shoes will be fine once they dry out.” A thought struck her. “Are you sure it’s okay, that―”

“That you’re working tonight?” he smiled. “It’s okay, Kat. You know I would have asked you to come as my date, anyway.”

“You know I would have said yes,” she whispered, amazed at how comfortable she felt with him.

As they started walking towards the hotel, Kat wrapped the shawl tighter over her shoulders. She’d drop it off once they were inside.

In her hand, she clutched her square evening bag―just big enough for her phone and a small gun. Though there were always a couple guns in the helicopter, Kat wasn’t used to carrying a weapon on her person. Its weight served as a powerful reminder that she was working tonight.

Large, slow snowflakes fell on their heads.

“Are you nervous about tonight?” she asked. “Placing second, after a fall, is an achievement.”

“I’m not that interested in tonight,” Luc replied, smiling. “The chance to have dinner with you is the main reason I’m going―even if I have to share you with a hundred other people.”