Page 73 of Mountain Target

He sighed.

“I’ll think about it, okay?”

“That’s all we can ask, Commandant,” Alex said, the twinkle in his eyes saying he was enjoying this tremendously.

“Tristan, Lorenz, are you sure you don’t want to come live with us?” Hugo said, addressing the other two men.

“There are two bedrooms available on the top floor, if you’ve changed your mind,” Ry added.

Beau was glad they weren’t asking him, at least. Not even a plague of termites would get him to move away from his current apartment.

“Is the rent so high that you’re looking for more house mates?” Tristan asked, laughing.

“Nah, we struck lucky, the rent is fine. It even has a hot tub in the garden. A hot tub, Tristan. Can you believe that?”

“I can believe it. I just don’t want to think of the three of you sharing a hot tub,” Tristan said, wrinkling his forehead. “I’m a very visual man.”

“Get your mind out of the gutter, Tristan. Some of us are comfortable enough in our masculinity that—“

“Okay. I’ve heard enough. Do you think we could focus on work, since we’re all going home early today?”

As he spoke, Beau kept his fingers crossed that nothing would happen that would force the guys to cancel the party. With everything that had happened in the last few weeks, they needed a bit of downtime.

23

Valentina

Val wasn’t sure why she’d said yes.

Maybe because Ren had been pestering her all afternoon, ever since she overheard the phone conversation between her and Beau, when he’d told her Sarah would be there.

Or maybe because Val was finding it harder and harder to say no to Beau, particularly when he asked so nicely.

Or maybe because she just wanted to spend time with him, and because the chance to meet all his friends—

You’re getting carried away.

He’s inviting you to his teammate’s housewarming party.

Not to meet his parents.

That thought sobered her. She didn’t even know if Beau had parents. There was so much they hadn’t spoken about yet.

Maybe you should let him speak, next time you’re together.

Instead of monopolizing the conversation.

Ren barged into her room without knocking.

“We are going, right, Aunt Val?” she asked, her eyes shining. “Look, I’ve already selected several things to wear—“

“Slow down, Ren, slow down. Yes, we are going. But I don’t think we need to get particularly dressed up, it’s not like …” her words died out when she caught the expression on Ren’s face. “Though maybe getting dressed up is exactly what we need,” she finished. “Marie’s on duty at the hospital tonight. Think you and I can manage on our own?”

“Of course. Let’s do it, Aunt Val!”

What followed was a flurry of clothes flying through the air, both hers and Ren’s. The girl’s excitement was so contagious, it was hard to get upset at the hours they’d have to spend the following day putting everything back together again.

Ren ended up wearing a shimmery top she found in Val’s closet, paired with her favorite pair of black jeans.