Page 44 of Wrecked on the Mountain (Stone River Mountain #2)

"I'll call you back!" Jamie practically shouts, ending the call and immediately dialing another number. "I'll tell them Chase sent the email as a prank. Or temporary insanity from too much good sex."

"Jamie Striker!"

I can't decide whether to laugh or strangle him.

"Are you seriously trying to blame Chase for your resignation?"

"Hey! You just called me a moron!" He points an accusatory finger at me while simultaneously trying to navigate an automated phone system. "Which, by the way, is incredibly hurtful considering I was making a grand romantic gesture."

"A grand romantic gesture would be flowers, not career suicide!" I throw my hands up, unable to stop the laughter fumbling out. "What kind of lunatic quits their job without talking to the person they're supposedly making the gesture for?"

"The kind who panicked when the woman he's falling for announced she was leaving for Chicago!"

"Well, the woman you're falling for just turned down her dream job, so maybe we're both idiots!"

The absurdity of it all hits me at once.

Here I am, having just delivered the most dramatic declaration of my life, and we're both scrambling to undo life-altering decisions we made in the same morning without consulting each other.

I start laughing. Deep, belly-shaking laughter that makes Jamie pause mid-sentence.

"What's so funny?" he demands, covering the phone again.

"We really are both idiots," I gasp between giggles. "But we're idiots together."

The office door flies open, and Beau, Knox, Chase, Travis, and Martha burst in like they're responding to a five-alarm fire.

"Everything okay in here?" Knox asks stroking his beard, his grin suggesting he's hoping for gossip material.

"We heard shouting," Chase adds helpfully.

"Everything okay, Strike?" Beau asks gruffly, ever the serious one.

Jamie drops the phone entirely, letting it clatter to the floor as he moves around the desk.

"Screw the phone calls."

Before I can respond, his strong arms sweep me up and dip me backward like we're in some romantic movie. My hair spills toward the floor as his mouth crashes against mine.

This kiss isn't the desperate, hungry claiming from our first encounter in this room. This is pure love. Tender and fierce and absolutely certain of everything we've just committed to.

Jamie's lips move against mine like he's memorizing every curve, every breath, every heartbeat all over again. And every piece of it belongs to him now.

When he finally pulls back, his blue eyes are blazing with emotion.

"I love you, Brooke Shields."

"I love you too, Mountain Daddy."

"Well, at least I'm not your boss anymore," he teases breathlessly. "Martha, can you handle the phone calls and get me my job back? Right now, all I care about is her."

The chaos around the station erupts immediately.

Knox appears from nowhere with champagne, while Travis produces craft beers from a secret stash behind the emergency medical supplies.

"To Dr. Shields!" Knox raises his champagne flute. "For having the good sense to stay where she belongs!"

"Here, here!" Martha chimes in, somehow having produced proper glassware from thin air.

Chase bounces on his feet, practically vibrating with excitement. "And to me, for accidentally hitting send on that resignation email!"

Everyone turns to stare at him.

"Chase," Beau says slowly, "that email went out at seven this morning. You weren't even awake yet."

Chase waves a hand dismissively. "The important thing is I take full credit for this romantic reunion!"

Jamie's arm tightens around my waist, and I can feel his laughter rumbling through his chest. He hasn't let go of me, like he's afraid I might evaporate if he releases his grip.

This is my family.

The thought hits me as I watch these incredible people celebrate something as simple as me choosing to stay. These people, this place, this chaotic beautiful life.

"I can't believe you all keep champagne in the medical supply closet," I laugh, accepting a glass from Martha.

"You know our boy… Only the best for successful rescues," Travis explains seriously, looking to Jamie who winks in return. "And life-changing decisions."

"Speaking of life-changing—" Beau starts like he's about to make his own announcement, but the front doors burst open and—

"Piper!"

I nearly drop my champagne.

"What the hell are you doing here?!" I shriek, staring at Piper standing in the doorway with her luggage abandoned behind her. "Your flight—"

"You think I was missing this ?" Piper gestures dramatically at the celebration, her blonde hair somehow still intact despite being practically kicked out of my car earlier. "Are you crazy? I changed my flight the second you drove away."

She strides into the room, immediately accepting a champagne flute from Knox.

"So I'm Piper," she announces to the room. "Brooke's best friend, and the person who's been texting her 'STAY WITH THE MOUNTAIN MAN' in all caps for the past month."

Jamie snorts with laughter. "Except for the part where you told my girl about the job offer."

"We won't talk about that," Piper giggles, winking to me.

That's when I notice the hickey on Piper's neck. And Chase turning approximately seventeen shades of red when he sees my neck craning closer to inspect the large purple blush on her skin.

"Oh my GOD," I gasp. "Did you—"

"Congratulations!" Piper cuts me off, raising her glass. She makes warning eyes at me, then glances to Chase who looks smug as hell.

Yeah, okay. I see the real reason she's cancelled that flight. Maybe my choice to stay in Stone River just got even better?

The celebration swirls around us, but Jamie's hand finds mine, tugging me toward the quieter corner near the equipment lockers.

My pulse quickens when I notice his other hand fidgeting with something in his pocket. Something small and distinctly box-shaped.

Oh my God.

"There's something else," Jamie leans close and murmurs against my ear, his breath sending shivers down my spine.

My heart stops completely as he produces a small velvet box.

The room fades away, champagne glasses clinking in the distance as my entire world narrows to this moment.

I'm waiting for him to drop to one knee, my mind racing between yes and holy shit and we've only known each other a month but—

Jamie opens the box to reveal a tiny wooden axe charm attached to a silver key.

"Remember your first day with the firewood?

" He grins at my shocked expression, clearly enjoying my confusion.

"Remember how I knew exactly who you were but didn't say anything?

Well, I went inside after that and had this planned as a gift for when your contract expired.

Frank at the hardware store has been working on it all month.

Thought you might want a reminder of how far you've come when you went back to the big city. "

I stare down at the tiny axe, tears blurring my vision.

The craftsmanship is incredible. Every groove and edge perfectly detailed, so realistic I can almost smell pine sap and wood shavings. Frank Barrett made this. Grumpy, scowling Frank who pretends not to care about anyone.

This town and it's people truly are amazing.

"And sweetheart…" Jamie dangles the keychain between us. "That key? It's to my cabin. To our home."

I stare at the tiny axe, then at his smug face. "Jamie Striker, I thought you were about to—"

"Propose?" He leans closer, voice dropping to that gravelly whisper that makes my knees weak. "Maybe one day, baby. Let's see how you handle living with me for three months first."

I lean up on my toes and kiss him. "It will be perfect."

He kisses me back. "I know it will."

"I love you, Jamie Striker."

"I love you too, Dr. Brooke Shields."

We lean in to seal our love with a kiss, but suddenly champagne explodes over our heads in golden streams. Knox whoops while Chase and Beau cheer, soaking us completely. Martha and Piper laugh and claps their hands together, both beaming like proud mothers.

"Welcome to the family, Doc!"

Jamie pulls me closer, both of us dripping and laughing. "Think you can handle this crew forever?"

"Forever sounds perfect."