Page 30 of Wrecked on the Mountain
I nod like I'm listening, but my attention keeps drifting to Brooke's legs. The way she shifts her weight from one hip to the other, popping that ass out so perfectly… It has me mesmerized.
All I can imagine is those long, strong legs wrapped around—
"Wake up, dipshit," Beau mutters, elbowing me sharply. "What you got planned for us today?"
Chase grins beside him. "Yeah, you've been teasing us all week. What's this big surprise?"
"Oh, I've got something planned," I say, letting a grin spread across my face. "And this year… it's fucking good."
Every year I do this with the Mountain Rescue team. I host a fundraiser for the community and always,alwaysmake it enjoyable. For me.
"Please don't tell me it involves me dressing up as a fucking snowman again," Chase says, which gets a laugh from the group.
"Nothing that embarrassing," I assure him, then look directly at Brooke.
Her eyes meet mine, and something electric passes between us. She blinks slowly, those long lashes creating shadows on her cheeks, and there's something almost... flirtatious about the way she's looking at me.
Like she's remembering when I caught her on the trail, when we stood pressed together for just a moment too long. My heart starts pounding like I'm eighteen years old again, and I have to clear my throat to remember how to speak.
Why hasn't she thanked me for the gifts? More than that, why hasn't she showed up for sunrise?
"Actually," I say, raising my voice so the rest of the team can hear, "this year's charity fundraiser is going to be a little different."
"Different how?" Beau asks suspiciously.
I gesture toward the far end of the festival grounds, where a crowd is starting to gather around the steps that lead to a man-made lake set above the town.
"Well, you know how I love you guys?" I grin mischievously as they all groan. "I thought that this year, Mountain Rescue will host Stone River's first annual Polar Plunge for Charity!"
The silence that follows is beautiful.
They stand there frozen like I've just announced we're jumping into lava instead of ice water. Beau's face hardens into granite. Chase's mouth hangs open. Charlie chokes on his coffee.
And Brooke—her eyes widen in perfect horror.
I can't help it. I throw my head back and laugh.
"Polar plunge," Chase repeats slowly. "As in... jumping into freezing water?"
I wipe the tears from my eyes. "That's typically what a polar plunge involves, yes."
Beau starts laughing, a low rumble that builds into full-blown amusement. "Oh, this is rich. This is fucking perfect. Jamie Striker, Mr. 'Hypothermia is a Serious Medical Condition,' is going to voluntarily jump into a lake in the middle of winter."
"Oh no… no, no, no…" I reply, still grinning. "I never saidIwas jumping."
Beau's laughter dies.
"What do you mean, you never said you were jumping?" Chase asks carefully.
I look around at their confused faces, saving Brooke for last. Her eyes are wide, like she's about one second from jumping back in that truck and driving straight back to Chicago.
"Every year, one member of the team volunteers for our main charity event," I explain. "This year, we're drawing names."
"Drawing names," Beau repeats.
"Out of a hat."
"A hat."
