Page 60 of Mountain Shadow

Living here? In the middle of nowhere?

It’s nice here. Lots of fresh air.

But she was a city girl through and through. She’d never wanted to live anywhere else.

This is like a holiday in an exotic location.

And what do we do after a holiday?

We go back home.

* * *

Sarah couldn’t stop smiling as she made her way back inside Jens’s house. She took off her boots, curling her toes gratefully at the underfloor heating. It wasn’t quite hot, just warm enough that she could feel it through her socks.

She wondered if Jens normally kept it on at this time of year, or if it was only on because she was here—not that it mattered, she loved the warmth. And it was chilly in Argentière, even at the start of June.

She looked down at her socks. If she stayed much longer, she was going to have to buy some additional pairs of socks. Her smile dimmed for a moment as she pondered the uncertainties in her future, but she pushed the thought back.

She’d had an amazing day with Cédric. She admired him. The man had created his radio station, Oui Vallée, from scratch and grown it organically until it was recognized all over the valley.

They’d spent all morning together discussing business—he’d opened up about everything he’d done and everything he wanted to do, and Sarah had shared with him everything she’d been thinking about in the last couple of days. It was no hardship to spend the day with someone who loved the radio business as much as she did.

It didn’t take a genius to see that Oui Vallée was at a crossroads. Cédric could either keep it the way it was, with the local content and engagement, and very limited advertising, or else he could make it go bigger, bringing in real investment, new programs and new talent.

They’d discussed his options in detail over a delicious lunch. Sarah patted her stomach. Food here was so much richer than back home. She was going to need new jeans if she didn’t start exercising more.

Shit.

She rushed back to the panel by the door, realizing she hadn’t switched the alarm to the at home mode after walking in.

She wondered what time Jens would come back. It felt strange, waiting for somebody else to come home, but also exquisite, somehow. She couldn’t wait to see him and share everything about her day with him—then hear how his day went.

Maybe we’ve spent so much time together, we’ve imprinted on each other—like baby chicks.

She knew that wasn’t exactly the way imprinting worked, but the thought made her laugh. She decided to make herself a cup of tea and read for a bit. She opened the third drawer in the kitchen, looking for the Ceylon tea she’d bought when they’d gone grocery shopping. She opened the tea, smelling the citrus and caramel notes.

She dropped a bag in a large mug and filled a pot with water.

I miss my kettle.

A knock on the door surprised her. She put the pot down next to the stove and walked over to the door. She wasn’t expecting anyone, and there was no reason for Jens to knock unless he’d lost—

Cautiously, she brought her eye to the peephole and saw Kat standing outside. Her mouth was pursed in a tight, grim line.

Sarah’s first thought was for Jens.

Has something happened?

Is Jens okay?

Sarah’s hand moved to disarm the alarm, but something stopped her at the last instant. She looked back through the peephole and saw Kat softly shaking her head, the movement so slight, it was almost imperceptible.

Sarah held herself very still.

“She’s not home,” Kat said, her voice tight.

“Her car is here. Of course she’s home,” a male voice said. The soft Cockney vowels filled Sarah with fear. She’d heard that voice before—on her show, on the phone, in her nightmares. But hearing him in person was even worse.