Page 74 of Mountain Target

“Are you sure it’s okay if I borrow this, Aunt Val?”

Val nodded. “Of course. It suits you, Ren.”

“Cool. How about this, for you?”

Val eyed the black silk top in Ren’s hands doubtfully. It was one of her favorite items of clothing, but perhaps a bit sheer and low cut for the occasion. It wasn’t like she’d be meeting her in-laws, but she didn’t want to give Beau’s teammates an eyeful, either. Plus, it’d started snowing earlier that day, and she didn’t want to freeze.

“You could wear it with this bodysuit underneath,” Ren said.

Not a half-bad idea. Ren could already feel herself getting hot at the thought of Beau removing it, and had to remind herself there would be none of that happening tonight.

Val applied her make-up quickly, then sat Ren down in the chair.

“I get some make-up too?” the girl asked, surprised.

“A bit of lip gloss and blush. It’s not like you need anything else, and won’t for a very long time!”

Less than an hour later, they were ready to take the picture. “Come here, Ren. Let’s show Marie what we were able to do without her.”

They took a selfie and quickly sent it to Marie, instants before the doorbell rang.

“That’s Beau. I’ll get the door while you get your coat and shoes on, Aunt Val!” Ren shouted, flashing past her and out the door.

Val picked up her cell phone, gazing briefly at the picture they’d just shared with Marie. Ren looked so much like her mother, it made Val want to cry. But she knew crying would ruin her makeup, so she blinked back the tears, sending a quick promise to the skies.

I’m going to make her happy, Camille.

I promise.

Val almost felt sorry for the neighbors.

Not because they had the music on too loud, or were being disrespectful in any way, but just because the house was so full, guests were overflowing into the yard and onto the road outside. It seemed to her they’d invited half of the town to the party—people of all ages, in all shapes and sizes, from babies to eighty-year-olds, who all crowded around, bopping to the same music.

Only one man made Val’s heart beat like it was in a nineties disco party, however.

The man in question appeared with two drinks in his hands—a glass of red wine for her, and a glass of something transparent for him.

“I’m going to assume that’s not gin,” Val joked.

“Damien and I are on call tonight,” Beau said. “Not that we expect anything to happen.”

“Relax. I’m a doctor. I understand being on call.”

His tense expression relaxed a fraction. “Of course you do.”

She took a sip of the wine—it tasted rich and full-bodied.

“This is delicious,” she said.

“It’s the color of your lips,” he said in a low voice.

Their gazes met, and Val felt the connection between them, like a thread that grew stronger with every passing second.

She swallowed, hard.

“I hope you’re enjoying yourselves, Commandant, Dr. Carrel?” a voice said behind them. Val turned, recognizing Alex.

“Yes. Thank you for inviting me and Ren. You didn’t have to.”