Page 45 of Wrecked on the Mountain (Stone River Mountain #2)

Jamie

Six Months Later

I'm the luckiest man alive.

Six months of waking up to auburn hair spilled across my pillow, of her warm body curved against mine.

Six months of her mountain uniform tangled with my rescue gear in the hamper, her medical journals bookmarking pages in my survival manuals.

Six months of her terrible singing in the shower and her even worse attempts at making coffee.

Six months of absolute fucking perfection.

I study Brooke's sleeping face in the pre-dawn darkness, memorizing the way her freckles dust across her nose, how her pink lips part when she dreams.

The sunrise hasn't touched our bedroom windows yet, but I can feel it coming. That perfect golden hour when the mountain reveals all its secrets.

And today…

Today's the day.

My heart hammers against my ribs as I slip from bed, careful not to wake her. She shifts, one perfect breast visible above the sheet, and I have to force myself to focus and walk away. Later . After I make her mine forever, I'll worship every inch of that body.

The ring burns in my jacket pocket where I've hidden it for two weeks, waiting for the perfect morning.

Not Rebecca's ring. Fuck that.

This one's different. This one's for Brooke. The center stone in huge, and I know she'll love it. Simple, elegant, strong.

Just like her.

The champagne's been chilling in my workshop fridge since I picked it up yesterday. Chloe's pastries are packed in insulated containers. Blankets already loaded in the truck.

I've been planning this morning for weeks, every detail mapped out like a rescue operation.

Because that's what this is, isn't it? She rescued me. Pulled me out of seven years of isolation and showed me what love actually feels like.

The refrigerator hums quietly as I gather supplies, and I pause at the map still pinned there… the one I drew her that first week.

Now it's covered in her handwriting too. Best coffee written in purple ink beside Bear Paw Café. Perfect reading spot marked at Silver Falls. Home scribbled over the top of my old writing where I had 'My Cabin' written in the corner with an arrow pointing to this cabin.

Home. Our cabin now.

Her contract became permanent three months ago. Martha practically threw a party when Brooke signed the papers, and the whole team cheered like we'd won the lottery.

Which we had, really.

Brooke fits into Mountain Rescue like she was always supposed to be here. The guys adore her, Martha treats her like a daughter, and even grumpy Beau brings her coffee when they work late shift together.

She belongs here. With me. With us.

"Jamie?" Her sleepy voice drifts from the bedroom, and my chest tightens with pure love.

I pad back to find her sitting up, sheet pooled around her waist, hair a gorgeous mess. Even half-asleep, she's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.

"Morning, beautiful." I lean down to kiss her forehead, breathing in the scent that's become my favorite thing in the world. "I'm about to leave. Want to watch the sunrise with me, sweetheart?"

She blinks those honey-brown eyes, dazed and confused. "Mmm, what time is it? It's still dark..."

"The perfect time for sunrise." I pull on jeans and grab her robe from the chair. "Trust me, I've got everything ready. I'll carry you to the truck and you can go back to sleep in there."

"You're insane." But she's smiling, letting me help her into the robe. "You know it's winter, right? It's freezing outside."

"I'll keep you warm."

She studies my face in the dim light, and I wonder if she can see the nervous energy vibrating through me. Hell, she could probably feel it if she didn't just wake up.

I carry her out to my truck, the heaters already blaring as I defrost the window. Snow starts to trickle down from the dark sky, and a giant fucking smile creeps along my face.

Six months of this woman in my bed, in my life, in my heart.

Today I make it official.

The drive to Cascade Ridge drags I'm that nervous. I'm going over everything I've done to be organized with Brooke curled against my shoulder snoozing while I navigate the dark mountain roads.

Snow continues falling in fat, lazy flakes that catch in the headlights like tiny diamonds.

Perfect. Everything about this morning is absolutely perfect.

When we reach the trailhead, I carry her again, not trusting her sleepy coordination on the slippery, snowy path. She protests halfheartedly, but her arms tighten around my neck, and I can feel her smile against my throat.

"See? Still my Mountain Daddy," she teases, kissing my neck. "I can walk, though."

"Maybe I like carrying you."

The observation deck comes into view, and I see her eyes light up at how different it looks this morning.

"Jamie…" she breathes, forcing her weight in my arms so I have no choice but to drop her to her feet.

I've transformed our special place into something out of a fairy tale.

Battery-powered heaters create a warm oasis against the winter cold, their gentle glow mixing with dozens of pillar candles arranged safely in glass lamps.

Rose petals scatter across the wooden planks, dark red against the fresh dusting of snow.

Our camping chairs have been replaced with a thick wool blanket surrounded by dozens of throw blankets and plush cushions.

I get to work, setting out Chloe's finest pastries like artwork. Fresh berries that cost a fortune in winter, and champagne chilling in an ice bucket hidden behind the heaters.

"Jamie..." Brooke's voice is breathless as she settles down amongst it all. "This is even more incredible than usual. What's the occasion?"

This is it. This is the moment I've been planning since she chose to stay.

I sit down beside her, my stomach a tumble-washer of nerves. Trying my best to hide it, I wrap heated throws around her shoulders before pouring steaming coffee from the thermos.

The eastern sky begins its slow transformation from deep purple to rose gold, and everything feels just right.

"Try the chocolate croissants," I say, uncovering the pastries. "Chloe outdid herself again."

Brooke takes a bite and moans appreciatively. "These are amazing. Seriously, what's all this for? Did I forget an anniversary or something?"

I settle beside her, close enough that our thighs touch through the blankets. "Can't a man spoil his girlfriend without an occasion?"

She studies my face in the candlelight, those intelligent eyes searching. "You're nervous. Why are you nervous?"

Because my entire future depends on the next five minutes.

"Remember the first time I brought you here?" I ask as the sun begins to peek over the mountain ridge. "When I told you I was falling in love with you?"

Her smile is soft, remembering. "Best morning of my life."

The sunrise begins is subtle change in the valley below. I'm biding my time until it's just right. Shades of gold and pink start to glow, exactly like I knew it would.

Everything's timed perfectly—the light, the moment, the words I've been rehearsing for weeks.

"Bets morning of your life… until now."

I pull the small velvet box from my jacket pocket, and Brooke's coffee mug slips from suddenly nerveless fingers.

"Jamie..."

I drop to one knee on the blanket, the ring box trembling in my hands.

"Brooke Shields, you saved my life the day you showed up here, yielding that axe woefully, and making my heart race the second I looked at you."

"You've shown me what it means to love completely. The way you honor your father's memory, how you embraced my crazy family like they were yours, how you fight for every patient like their life depends on you alone. You care so fiercely, Brooke. You give everything you have to everyone you love."

I pause, my voice catching with emotion.

"But today isn't about your patients or my family or anyone else. Today is about you, sweetheart. About how you deserve someone who will love you as completely as you love everyone else."

I open the box, revealing the ring that's been burning a hole in my pocket.

"Will you marry me and let me spend the rest of my life loving you just as much?"

The center diamond catches the sunrise, throwing rainbows across the snow-dusted deck.

"Jamie," Brooke breathes, dabbing at the corner of her eyes. "It's beautiful."

"It's my old ring," I explain, watching her face. "But I had it reset. New stones, new setting… new promise. Because what we have isn't anything like what came before, but deep down, I'm still the same man. I chose love when I bought this ring, and now, my love chooses you."

Tears stream down her face as she stares at the ring. The moment hangs between us, perfect and terrifying and full of every dream I never dared to have.

"Yes!" The word bursts from her like she can't contain it another second. "Yes, oh my God, yes! Of course yes!"

Relief floods through me so fast I'm dizzy. My hands shake as I take the ring from the box, and Brooke extends her left hand, fingers trembling.

She said yes. She's going to be my wife.

"Perfect fit," I beam as the ring slides into place. "Just like us."

She launches herself into my arms, and we tumble backward onto the blankets, laughing and crying at the same time. The sunrise is complete now, everything shining in the bliss of a new dawn.

The deck I built to allow myself to heal, the valley and the town spread below us, Brooke's face as she kisses me with tears streaming down her cheeks.

It's all here. All in Stone River Mountain.

"I can't believe we almost threw this all away over a job offer," she laughs against my lips, unable to stop looking at the ring.

"Never again," I promise, holding her face in my hands. "From now on, we make decisions together. No more panic, no more assuming the worst."

"Mrs. Striker," she whispers, testing the words. "I like the sound of that."

"I love you, future Mrs. Striker."

Brooke sits up, admiring the ring on her finger as I pop the cork on the champagne and forget about the coffee completely. It might be early, but who cares?

"Your family's going to lose their minds," she grins.

"Mom's probably already planning the wedding. Pretty sure she's been dropping hints behind my back about grandchildren since our second date."

"Speaking of which..." Brooke's voice turns sultry as she straddles my lap. "We should probably practice making those grandchildren."

Oh boy. Forever starts now.

I flip her onto her back, the heated blankets creating a warm cocoon around us. I kiss her throat, her collarbone, the hollow between her breasts.

Mine. She's all mine.

"Right here?" I tease. "Where anyone could hike up?"

"It's our spot," she breathes, pulling my shirt over my head. "Our sunrise, our deck, our forever."

The engagement ring catches the light as her hands explore my chest, and I've never seen anything more beautiful than Brooke Shields, my fiancé, glowing in the morning sun and surrounded by rose petals.

She's the perfect picture of every sunrise we'll share for the rest of our lives.

Want to see what happens on the wedding day?

Jamie Striker is one very impatient groom who just can't wait for the honeymoon.

He's about to show Brooke exactly what happens when her mountain man gets his hands on her two hours before they say "I do"...

It's filthy, desperate, and absolutely perfect.