Page 115 of Grumpy on the Mountain

Beau took the job. The job at Mountain Rescue. The job that means he's ready to stop hiding from the world and start living in it again. The job that means...

"WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING TOGETHER!" I shriek, launching myself out of the booth and into his arms.

"Jesus, Molly," he grunts, stumbling back from the force of my lunge. Maisie starts giggling and Sienna laughs too. "Calm down before you—"

"I will not calm down!" I interrupt, pulling back to look at his face. "This is amazing! This is incredible! We're going to be working together every day! I get to see you in tactical gear! I get to watch you be all heroic and—"

"Breathe," he says, but he's fighting a smile now.

"I can't breathe! This is too exciting!" I'm probably being ridiculous, but I don't care. "Oh my God, Jamie's going to be so happy! And the team! And—wait." I narrow my eyes at him suspiciously. "What's in the bag?"

His smile finally breaks free, transforming his entire face. "Why don't you look and see?"

I practically dive for the duffel bag, unzipping it with hands that are shaking from excitement. Inside, neatly folded, is a complete Mountain Rescue uniform. Dark tactical pants, fitted shirts with the official logo, even a jacket with "CALLAHAN" embroidered on the chest.

"Oh my God," I breathe, running my fingers over the fabric. "It's real. You're really doing this."

"Seems like it," he says, settling into the booth beside me.

I hold up the pants, and something wicked flashes through my mind.

"You know," I say with a grin, "these are going to lookverynice on you."

His eyebrows rise. "Yeah?"

"Mmm-hmm. I see why you're obsessed with mine. These pants are..." I trail off meaningfully. "Let's just say your tushy is going to look absolutely spectacular in Mountain Rescue gear."

Beau actually blushes beneath his beard, which makes Sienna snort with laughter. Maisie looks between us with confused interest.

"What's a tushy?" Maisi asks innocently.

"Something your aunt shouldn't be discussing in public," Sienna says dryly.

Before I can get too distracted by how good he smells and how much I want to drag him home and show him exactly how proud I am of him, the café door chimes again.

This time it's Etta and Mabel, arriving like they've been summoned by some kind of sixth sense for important romantic developments.

"Well, well, well," Etta announces, her cat-eye glasses glinting as she takes in the scene. "If it isn't our two favorite lovebirds having a celebration without us."

"How did you—" I start, but Mabel cuts me off.

"Honey, news travels fast in this town. Jamie called Betty, Betty called Linda, Linda called us." She holds up a canvas bag that's making soft clinking sounds. "And we came prepared."

Etta reaches into the bag and pulls out two brand-new beanies, both knitted in official Mountain Rescue colors with "STONE RIVER MOUNTAIN RESCUE" embroidered around the band in precise white letters.

But that's not the best part.

The best part is the enormous, ridiculously fluffy pompoms on top. Pompoms that look like they belong on a children's winter hat, not serious rescue gear.

"Oh my God," I gasp, reaching for the beanies. Beau's got his head in his hands, grunting to himself. "These areperfect."

"We made them special," Mabel beams. "Just in case Beau finally came to his senses and joined the team."

I hold up the larger of the two beanies—clearly meant for Beau's big boof—and examine the craftsmanship. It's actually beautifully made, with expert stitches and official-looking embroidery.

Except for that massive, fluffy pompom that's roughly the size of a softball.

"Put it on," I demand, turning to Beau with the beanie in my hands.