Page 11 of Mountain Trial

“I don’t doubt that for one second, Kat. That’s not what I was thinking.” He shook his head, as if debating his next words. “It’s none of my business. But if you need―”

“I know that, Jens.” Kat knew she could trust him one hundred percent.

But it’s not going to come to that.

I can take care of my own problems.

Her eyes went back to the queue of athletes. The next person up was one of the sit skiers. Although he was wearing different clothes, she had no difficulty recognizing Luc Fournier. Her heart sped up, in a way it hadn’t when she’d seen any of the other athletes jump.

As she watched, Luc pushed himself off, gaining speed before flying up into the air. Ten feet, twenty feet … Kat held her breath as Luc gained more and more height. As he reached maximum height, he pirouetted into something that looked like a corkscrew.

“That’s your friend, right?” Jens said. If he noticed the way her hand clenched by her thigh, he didn’t say anything.

Kat had never seen anything like it. It felt like forever before Luc finally, slowly, started to come down. He stuck a perfect landing on the air pillow. A man stepped onto the airbag to help Luc off, since he couldn’t use his poles―outriggers, he’d called them―to push.

“Jesus,” Jens said beside her. “The balls on him.”

Yeah.

A part of her wanted to run towards Luc―to check that he really was okay after that stunt.

Instead, she forced herself to stay still, because what she’d just learned meant she had to stay away if she wanted to stay safe. Luc wasn’t just an athlete. He was a daredevil. A risk taker. Just like Jacques. And, like Jacques, maybe he also had a mean streak and an inability to deal with the stress of his chosen profession.

Kat wasn’t going to risk getting herself into that kind of situation again. She’d been doing well alone, and was content to remain so for the rest of her life.

Can’t risk losing myself.

It doesn’t matter how blue his eyes are … or how attracted I am to him.

Turning away, Kat went back to studying the event’s agenda.

“The second day is the day we have to worry about most,” she said, turning to Jens. “Most people will come up to watch the final―and for the chance to see a hundred thousand euro check up close.”

Jens nodded. “We’ll need two first aid stations―one for competitors, and one for spectators.”

They spent the next few minutes taking measurements and making notes of things they needed to check with the rest of the team.

Eventually, Kat looked up as she felt somebody’s eyes on her. It was Luc. He’d transferred from his sit ski onto a wheelchair with thick, heavy-tread tires, and was making his way towards her. He’d taken off his helmet and goggles, and his clear blue gaze was focused fully on her.

She felt herself blushing under his stare―then blushed even redder at the embarrassment of being caught blushing.

“Kat,” Luc said. His powerful arms pulled hard on the thick wheels. The last bit of the slope between them was steep. Kat worried he might not be able to navigate it on his own, but some instinct told her to remain where she was and wait. Jens also made no move to help him, and for that she was somehow grateful.

“Hi, Luc,” Kat said.

“Hey,” he said, panting slightly. “I guess you and your colleagues are stuck babysitting us today?”

She laughed. “Hardly. We’ll be coordinating security for the event, though.”

He nodded, rubbing his hands together. He wasn’t wearing gloves. His hands were large, the palms calloused and rough. Kat wondered what they’d feel like on her skin. She shook her head of the inappropriate thought.

“I saw you jump. You were amazing,” she said.

Great, now you sound like a gushing teenager.

Behind him, she heard a sound like a smothered laugh. Kat turned to glare at Jens, but the doctor’s face was serious again.

Luc shrugged, rolling his shoulders lightly. He seemed more embarrassed than pleased. “I’m getting a bit old for this.”