Page 40 of Mountain Trial

Kat nodded. “It’s nice to meet you all. I’m Kat.”

“We know all about you,” Jong Su piped up. His voice sounded breathy. “Luc won’t shut up about you.”

“Only good things, I hope,” Kat deadpanned.

Everybody laughed.

“So, you won the event,” she said, addressing Scott. “Congratulations.” She tried to put as much enthusiasm as she could into the word, though her thoughts were everywhere. They had been all day, from the time she’d heard of Luc’s fall.

The event was over. She’d already heard from Jens that her ex-boyfriend had won as well. That meant Jacques would be leaving Chamonix soon. She ought to be delighted.

But she couldn’t stop thinking about Luc. She wondered if he would leave as well. They’d never spoken about it, but it was the logical conclusion.

“You should congratulate Luc. He came in second, and he didn’t even get any points for the second jump.”

A large figure came up to their table.

“Coach Legrand,” Luc introduced. “Meet Kat Barreau.”

“Mademoiselle Barreau,” the man said gallantly. “A pleasure to meet you. I’m sorry to interrupt the celebration. I just wanted to let you all know the date has been set for the awards ceremony.”

Scott groaned. “Why wouldn’t they just do it on the slopes―”

Coach shrugged. “It’s going to happen next Thursday evening, at the Grand Hôtel des Alpes. Some VIP will be attending, and he will be handing over a large check to ABL International, the NGO that’s been supporting the Victory Games. As well as one to each of the winners, of course.”

“ABL International does great work with kids who suffer spinal cord injuries,” Luc explained to Kat.

Coach Legrand left them shortly after that, arguing he had to travel the next morning.

“So, a whole five days with nothing to do,” Scott complained. “Time for a bit more skiing, I guess.”

Kat was about to offer some ideas of things they could do around Chamonix, when the hair on the back of her neck stood on end. She turned to see Jacques walking inside the bar with three of his cohorts.

Luc

Luc sensed the change in Kat and followed her gaze to the bar entrance. He wasn’t surprised to see Helmet―Jacques, she’d said―walking into the bar.

Luc’s hand clenched into a fist.

“Kat?” he said softly.

She looked up at him, looking startled. Her pale throat swallowed twice.

“Do you want to leave?”

Even as she shook her head no, Luc could see leaving wasn’t an option. Jacques had left his buddies at the bar, and was making his way towards them―towards Kat, specifically. He was wearing ripped jeans and an oversized dark-colored turtleneck that was once again wholly inappropriate for the weather outside.

Kat stood up, and Luc turned his chair to stand next to her. He could see just how much it was costing her to stand there. The closer Jacques got, the more Kat’s body shook.

What did he do to you?

Luc had never considered himself a violent person, but now he wished he could beat Jacques up.

If this were a Hallmark movie, this is where I’d recover use of my legs and stand up to protect her.

But of course that wasn’t going to happen. Luc angled his chair to be slightly in front of Kat, just as Jacques reached her.

Though she’d gone pale as the wall behind them, Kat straightened her spine further, and Luc felt a moment of pride. She didn’t want to let Jacques see just how much his presence affected her.