Page 48 of Mountain Target

“I'm sorry you got hurt. I'm grateful for how you kept Ren safe.”

“I wouldn't let anything happen to you or Ren.”

When she closed her eyes, she still saw her up on that ledge, slim and slight, as if a sudden breeze could throw her off. If Beau hadn’t been there, if the earth had started shaking minutes earlier, it was fair to say Ren might not have survived. And a world without Ren was simply—

“Hey,” he said, and his deep voice was gentle, as if he could hear all the unspoken words that were rushing through her mind.

“I’m sorry. I just keep thinking about what could have happened.”

“That’s okay. It’s a healthy and natural response, after what happened. Just remember, Ren’s going to be okay.”

“People at the hospital were saying everything could have been so much worse. That the earthquake happened to hit the least populated area of the valley.”

His eyes were dead serious as he replied. “That’s true. Only one fatality to report, a man who died of a heart attack when the earthquake hit.”

“How’s your head?” she asked.

“It’s okay. Your stitches are holding.”

“They’d better hold,” she smiled. “And your knee?”

“As good as can be expected.” His face went blank for an instant. “Would you like a drink?”

She nodded. “Maybe a beer. I can’t stay long. Marie will need to go home at some point.”

He pulled out a 1664 from the fridge, same as he was drinking, went back to the cabinets, trying to remember where he’d placed the glasses.

“I don’t need a glass,” she said, stopping him. “This is fine.” She took a long pull from the bottle, enjoying the amber liquid—enjoying, even more, the dark look in his pale eyes as he watched her swallow.

His throat made a small sound, almost like a groan.

“God. If you could see yourself,” he said. His strong hands gripped the bottle tighter. “I’m finding it hard to keep my distance.”

Val licked her lips and looked up, meeting his heated gaze. “What if I don’t want you to keep your distance?”

Though he didn’t move a muscle, she felt the strength radiating from his body.

“Be careful what you say, Valentina.”

“Because after today you need some release?” she asked.

That’s all it is.

Release.

You need it.

He needs it, too.

He shook his head, his words slow and deep. “Because I’ve wanted you since the first moment I laid eyes on you.” He took a deep breath. “Because my lips still tingle from that fucking kiss earlier, and a part of me wants to kiss you again, because it must have been a mistake. A kiss shouldn’t feel like that. And I’m also scared to kiss you again because if I’m wrong, and we kiss again, and this is what kissing you feels like, I don’t know how—“

“You felt it, too?” she whispered.

His admission bothered her. She’d figured her reaction to the kiss had less to do with them and more to do with the stress they’d been under, more to do with the earthquake and the adrenaline coursing through their bodies. But Beau was used to the adrenaline. And he’d felt it too. Which could mean several things.

I need to know.

“I think you should kiss me again,” she declared.