Page 57 of Mountain Shadow

“Stuff,” he replied evasively. He wasn’t about to lie to her, but he also didn’t want her running for the hills, as it were. Which she might, if she realized where his thoughts were headed.

Jens slowed the car down at the entrance of Vallorcine. He parked the car in a small covered parking area and ushered Sarah out of the car quickly, not wanting to spoil the surprise.

Sarah cocked her head sideways. “This place makes Argentière feel like a metropolis, and that’s saying something! Is this a restaurant? What are we doing here?”

He touched her back gently. “Always so many questions. I told you it was a surprise. You’ll see.”

The maître d’ led them left, towards a private room Jens knew well, as the team had held several team dinners there in the last years. The owner knew them well and had been happy to reserve the room tonight.

It was a rustic space, dominated by a large stone fireplace and a table that could sit ten. Two people were sitting down at the table already, but they turned around as Jens and Sarah walked in.

“Sarah!” Tess cried out, scrambling to her feet and rushing to her sister.

Sarah stood, stunned, as if unable to believe her eyes. “Tess! What are you doing here?”

“I needed to see you,” Tess said. Tears filled her eyes. “To see that you were really okay.”

“I’m okay. We’re both fine,” Sarah said, looking back at Jens.

Tess’s look went glacial as she turned to look at him. Jens swallowed, nodding in understanding. He’d promised to protect Sarah, and instead, he’d almost gotten her killed. That … or perhaps she’d heard that Jens and Sarah were more than just roommates.

Sarah squeezed her sister’s arm. “I’m so happy to see you, Tess. I’ve missed you so much.”

Damien offered Sarah a glass of red wine. Jens asked the waiter for a glass of ice tea and sat down next to Damien. Though he didn’t want to eavesdrop on the conversation of the two sisters, he couldn’t help glancing at Sarah every couple of minutes—at her vivid smile and the obvious enjoyment she took in seeing her sister.

The door opened again and Kat walked inside, followed by Luc, her fiancé. Jens knew Kat and Luc had decided not to get married until after the babies arrived.

Damien got up and made the introductions. Sarah had met Kat already, of course, but this was the first time she met Luc. Jens was glad she was getting to meet the team’s extended family. His hand shook around the glass he was holding as it finally dawned on him that he wanted her to become part of that family.

He put the glass down on the table.

“Are you okay, Jens?” Damien asked.

“You told Tess about me and her sister, didn’t you?”

Damien nodded, looking him straight in the eye. “She asked me directly, and I don’t lie to my wife.”

“I understand. She gave me a pretty cold look as we walked in.”

“Relax. Tess loves her sister. She will just want to know what your intentions are.”

My intentions.

I’d like for Sarah to stay here with me. Not because she has to, not because she’s worried somebody wants to hurt her, but because she can’t bear the thought of leaving—just like I can’t bear the thought of her leaving.

But he couldn’t say all that to Damien.

Luc’s arrival next to them was a welcome distraction. Jens and Damien both sat down on the sofa, so the man wouldn’t have to look up at them.

“How are things, Luc? Getting plenty of sleep before the babies get here, I hope?”

The man shook his head. “Forget sleep. I’m reading up on everything I can about babies before they get here. I’ve been told they don’t come with an instruction manual.”

Damien nodded quietly, but Jens knew his friend was thinking of his own son. Damien hadn’t even known about Jamie’s existence until he was a toddler, so he’d missed that part of Jamie’s life.

“I hope your kids grow up as kind and as smart as this man’s son,” Jens said lightly.

Luc laughed. “Kat’s hoping Jamie will agree to babysit them from time to time.”