Page 60 of Mountain Trial

Home.

There was no doubt in her mind that they’d be going home together.

It was Damien who answered. “Jens is picking up the SUV. He’ll take you both home. Tess and I have our car outside.”

Luc’s hand tightened imperceptibly around hers.

“Is that okay? Would you rather walk?”

He shook his head quickly, and it was the first time she realized she wasn’t wearing any shoes. At some point during the evening, she’d lost her heels.

A few minutes later, Jens pulled his head in. “Ready?”

Kat nodded. She was so ready to go home. She followed Jens to the main hallway. All the candles from the night before were gone, and the door was propped wide open, letting in a frigid breeze. Kat huddled deeper into her blanket.

“Uh, Jens, is it?” Luc said from behind her.

“That’s right. Do you need anything?”

Luc swallowed thickly. He seemed embarrassed, which made no sense, because there wasn’t anything for him to be embarrassed about. “Kat doesn’t have any shoes.”

Jens nodded briskly.

“Thanks, man. Sorry, Kat, should have noticed.” He put one arm under her knees and the other one behind her back, lifting her quickly into his strong arms.

“Wait. You don’t have to―” Kat complained.

“Relax, Kat, I promise I’m not going to drop you.”

She laughed, and decided to enjoy the ride.

The back door of the SUV was open already. Jens dropped her gently inside, then went to open the front passenger door for Luc. Kat frowned, looking at the snow below. For the first time, she realized how far down it was.

No more SUVs.

“Luc’s going to need help,” she said, moving between the seats.

“I’ve got this,” Jens replied quietly. He turned to the other side, where Luc was waiting, and pushed the front seat as back as possible.

His voice, when he spoke to Luc, was calm and professional. “Relax, man. I know how to do this.”

Kat didn’t hear Luc’s reply, but a moment later his body landed on the seat.

Luc didn’t say a word in the time it took Jens to fold up Luc’s wheelchair, stash it in the trunk, and get in the driver’s seat. The silence in the vehicle was thick enough that you could cut it with a knife.

“So, where are we going?” Jens said, raising his eyebrows at her in the rearview mirror.

Before Kat could say a word, Luc spoke. “My place. Le Grand Paradis apartments.”

Jens barked out a laugh at the name. “I know where that is.”

Five minutes later, they arrived at the neon colored sign. Jens parked the vehicle and went to the trunk. Kat was impressed at the speed with which he put together Luc’s wheelchair and got him back in the chair.

I’ve got to learn how to do that.

He came over to pick her up, but she stopped him with a hand on his chest. “I can take it from here, Jens. Thanks so much.”

“Are you sure you’re going to be okay? Do you need anything, Kat?”