Page 75 of Grumpy on the Mountain

"A job," he clarifies with a grin. "I'm offering you a job, Molly. Office coordination, community outreach, recruitment. I've been doing it all myself, and I've about given up on recruiting your boy over there after years of trying."

Jamie follows my gaze to where Beau is carefully securing wooden slats to the tree, his muscles flexing with each movement.

Around him, a small army of bearded mountain men hover like eager assistants, all taking direction from tiny Maisie in her oversized vest and hard hat.

I can't help but smile at the absurdity of it all, but then Jamie clears his throat and draws my attention back to him.

"So anyway," Jamie says, laughing along with me at the sight of the construction zone. "The mountain rescue operation is growing, and we need someone who can handle the administrative side while the rest of us run around playing hero in the mountains."

I stare at him for a full ten seconds, certain I've misheard.

"You're offering me a job?"

"If you're interested. Sienna mentioned you might be thinking about staying in Stone River, and honestly, we've been needing help for months."

"I..."

Words fail me completely.

This man wants to hire me.

Not because I'm someone's girlfriend or because he feels sorry for me, but because he thinks I'd be good at something.

When's the last time someone wanted me for my skills instead of what I could do for them?

"I… I think I'd love to," I say with a laugh. "Yes! Absolutely yes!"

"Excellent. We can work out the details later, but I have a feeling you're going to fit right in here." Jamie's grin widens. "Why don't you drop by tomorrow and we'll go through some things?"

Before I can respond, strong arms slide around my waist from behind, and I melt back against Beau's solid chest.

"Everything okay over here?" he asks, and there's just a hint of possessiveness in his voice that makes my insides turn to goo.

"More than okay," I breathe, turning in his arms to look up at him. "I got offered a job!"

The expression that crosses Beau's face is so complex I'm having trouble working out if he's happy or not. It's an off mix of relief, joy, and overprotectiveness.

"Molly, that's um… That's good," he says quietly, his hands tightening on my waist as he stares at Jamie and not me.

Jamie raises his hands. "I need a beer. I'll let you two talk. We can hash out details tomorrow, Molly."

As he walks away, I turn to face Beau fully.

"Hey. Are you okay with this? You went all quiet."

Beau's jaw works for a moment. "It's just... Jamie's the one who offered you a job."

"And that's a problem because...?"

"It's not," he sighs, running a hand through his hair, a low grunt moving through his throat. "I'm being stupid. Sorry."

I wait, giving him space to find the words.

"I want you to stay," he finally admits. "Of course I do. And I'm happy for you. I just didn't want to pressure you, that's all. I wasn't ready to let you go."

The words are spoken quietly, but apparently not quietly enough, because I hear Sienna's delighted gasp from somewherebehind us, followed by what sounds like collective "awww"s from half the party.

"Are we interrupting something?" a familiar voice asks, and I turn to see Etta and Mabel approaching with perfectly timed entrance skills that would make Broadway directors weep with envy.