Page 35 of Sunshine for the Grumpy Grizzly

And there it is. I let out a scream.

“Ten out of ten. Full marks!” He picks me up and spins me around.

“We did it! You know how freaking awesome you are, Preston?”

“It was all you, baby,” he says, grinning at me with so much love I could burst.

This is the moment I’ve been waiting for. The past year has been a wild ride. We hired a good lawyer who managed to get a big chunk of the debt written off. Then it turned out Preston had also been left a big patch of land, which he thought was worthless. But when he sold it off, it paid for almost all the renovations.

Meanwhile, we’ve been working our asses off building the mountain resort of our dreams. We changed everything, including the old name because it felt like bad vibes hanging around from his grandfather. Now, we’ve renamed it Serenity Mountain Lodge and Spa, and the bookings engines agreed to register it as a brand-new place, so we’re not burdened by those crappy old reviews.

Now, the resort and the first six rooms are ready, and it’s absolutely beautiful—every single thing has exceeded all our expectations. But I felt like I couldn’t really celebrate until our first guests came and tested it out.

“I didn’t read the review,” Preston says.

I giggle. “Oh yeah, I forgot about that.” I scroll down the page:

I can’t say enough good things about Serenity Mountain Lodge and Spa. My partner and I just returned from a long weekend, and we’re already planning our next trip! This place is absolutely magical—equal parts cozy, luxurious, and perfectly tucked away in nature.

But what really makes this place shine are the owners, Preston and Lucy. They’re the kind of people who make you feel like you’re old friends the moment you meet them. Lucy is an absolute ray of sunshine—warm, welcoming, and always ready with a smile or a helpful tip on the best spots to visit in the area. Preston is a little quieter, but he’s so kind and genuine (and let’s be honest, he’s definitely part of the lodge’s rugged charm!).

Together, they’ve created something truly special. Every detail of the lodge feels intentional, from the eco-friendly initiatives (yay for sustainability!) to the little extras like homemade s’mores kits for the firepit nights. You can tell how much they care about making every guest’s stay unforgettable.

P.S. Don’t miss the campfire evenings! Preston’s barbecue skills are next-level, and Lucy makes the BEST hot cocoa.

“Kind and genuine. Imagine that,” I wiggle my eyebrows.

Preston throws out his arms. “What can I say? I’m just that kinda guy.”

I go quiet for a moment.

His eyes turn suspicious. “Why do you have that look on your face?”

“Oh, I was just thinking about that time I met you in the lobby all those months ago. How grumpy and hostile and darn sexy you were?—”

“Hey, guys!” My sister-in-law, Lola, is jogging out of the lobby towards us. “What’s going on?”

“We just got rated a perfect ten by our first customer!”

“Oh my god, I thought somebody was being murdered. That’s fricking awesome!” she shrieks. She throws her arms around me, and we jump up and down excitedly.

I love Lola to death. Everyone says she’s the brunette version of me, with slightly darker humor. It’s so great living on site with her and Clay and their little one, Rowan.

“I just got a call from one of our guests. They’re asking if they can check in an hour early today?”

“Absolutely!” I clasp my hands in delight. “The rooms are ready. Always try to accommodate the customer’s requests where possible.”

Preston rolls his eyes. I say this six times a day, at least.

“How many check ins do we have today?” I ask Lola.

“Three!” She bounces on her toes.

“Unreal!” We double high-five each other.

“Oh, Clay was looking for you.”

“Where is he?”

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