Page 75 of Mountain Target

“Yes, we did,” Alex said, giving her a look that Val wasn’t sure how to interpret. “We wanted to celebrate with everyone who matters to us. Well, have fun, and make sure you grab something to eat as soon as it comes out of the kitchen. There isn’t going to be enough food for all these people,” he said, conspiratorially.

A woman with dark blond hair and the greenest eyes joined them. “I am so glad you and your team finally took the leap and moved here, Beau,” she said. She turned to include Val in the conversation. “Hi, I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Tess.”

“Valentina. Val,” she said, reaching over to shake the woman’s hand.

“Valentina’s a doctor at the hospital. And my neighbor,” Beau said quickly.

Tess’s eyes looked at the two of them with interest.

“I’m Damien’s wife,” she said, looking around for her husband. “He’s—“

“I’ve met Damien,” Val said. “It’s good to meet you, Tess.”

Suddenly, a thought struck her. “I don’t see Ren,” she said worriedly. Ever since the night of the earthquake, and even though she tried to control it, she couldn’t avoid worrying that Ren would—

“Relax,” Beau said, but he was looking around as well. “I’m sure she’s—look, there she is.”

He pointed at a space on the rug in front of the fireplace, where Ren and a boy several years younger sat on a blanket on the floor, showing picture books to an audience of three babies. One of the babies listened intently, another one had fallen asleep, and the third one was intent on fitting an entire corner of a cardboard book into his little mouth. Ren and the boy laughed as they tried to remove the book without angering him.

“That’s your daughter? The boy sitting next to her is my son, Jamie,” Tess said, her eyes shining with love.

Val cringed, anticipating the dreaded question about her age and Ren’s age, the how-is-it-possible conversation, but it never came. And then she realized Tess also looked young to be the mother of an eight-year-old boy. A look passed between them, and in that second Val felt the connection between them, and knew Tess wouldn’t pry.

Ry, the team’s medic, strode over to them, passing his arm over Beau’s shoulders, one of the few men in the room tall enough to do so. “Commandant, have you seen the hot tub?”

“I have no interest in your hot tub, Ry, believe me,” Beau said. The gruff expression on his face only made the other man laugh harder.

“Fine, fine. But if you change your mind, I can lend you some swimming trunks,” Ry said, winking. “Both of you.”

“Get out of here.” Then turning towards her, “I apologize for that. For him. Ry’s mouth is … one never knows what’s going to come out of it.”

“Your team likes you,” she said.

“They’re good men, all of them,” Beau said, his gruff expression softening for an instant. “They haven’t had much of a chance to unwind in the last weeks.”

Just then, a petite figure walked by.

“Beau,” she said. “Sorry to interrupt, but have you seen my boss?”

“Dr. Bristow?” Beau shook his head. “Not since yesterday. Why?”

“Gilles said he knocked on his hotel door and couldn’t find him, so I was just wondering.”

“Should we be concerned?”

The woman shrugged her slim shoulders. “Not really. He’s disappeared before, when he’s working on a particular problem. It’s just strange he wouldn’t have mentioned it to us. He usually likes to have an audience.”

“Arrogant ass,” Beau muttered, covering it with a cough.

Val only just stopped herself from snickering.

“What’s that?”

“Nothing. Ah, there’s Alex. Alex, have you seen Dr. Bristow? Did he say whether he was coming tonight?” Beau said, extricating both himself and Val from the conversation.

“I take it you’re not a big fan of Dr. Bristow?” Val asked when they were out of earshot.

Beau shrugged. “I’m not a big fan of most people.”