Page 73 of Grumpy on the Mountain
"Molly, where did I put the extra napkins?" Sienna's voice cuts through the chatter from behind me, hostess panic mode in full flow now the yard is filling up. "And did you see if Betty brought the ice? We're going to run out of everything and David's going to think I can't plan a simple party and—"
"Sienna, breathe," I laugh, still trying to catch glimpses of the guys through the crowd of new arrivals. "Everything looks perfect."
"Nothing's perfect! The potato salad needs more seasoning and I forgot to put out the good serving spoons and—"
A burst of laughter from the construction zone draws my attention away from my sister's complete breakdown.
I crane my neck to see over the cluster of people still greeting each other and the men slapping each other on the back.
Through a gap in the crowd, I catch sight of Maisie gesticulating wildly while Beau and David continue to listen with serious expressions.
"There is a disco ball," I hear Maisie announce loudly enough to carry across the yard. "And maybe a hot tub!"
David's laughter is clear across the yard. "A hot tub? In a tree?"
"Beau has one!" Maisie declares with the authority of someone who knows important things in life all too soon. "Aunt Molly told me it'samazing!"
I choke on my drink as every adult within earshot—which is apparently everyone in their entire damn town—suddenly finds me very interesting to look at.
Oh God. She did not just announce that to the entire party.
The crowd around me goes suspiciously quiet, and I feel heat flood my cheeks.
"Maybe we start with the basic structure first," I hear Beau say diplomatically, and even from here I can see the flush creeping up his neck.
The crowd around starts chattering again, thankfully moving on from Maisie's hot tub revelation, and somewhere behind me, Sienna continues her rapid-fire party logistics.
"Did you check the grill temperature? David says it needs to be exactly—"
I follow Sienna's panicked instructions and watch as David says something that makes Beau's entire posture change.
From where I stand over the table of food, I can see his jaw tighten, his free hand curl into a fist, and there's something protective… almost dangerous in his stance.
Then both men turn to look across the yard, and I realize they're looking at me. Not just looking—studying. Like I'm some kind of complicated blueprint they're trying to decode.
"Oh God. Sienna, they're talking about me," I whisper, grabbing her arm hard enough to make her drop a deviled egg.
"Well, stop staring back at them," Sienna hisses, rescuing the fallen appetizer. "Act natural."
"Natural?"
I grab a paper plate and start arranging cookies with manic precision.
"And you could try breathing," Sienna suggests helpfully, watching me create what might be the world's most architecturally ambitious cookie display. "That's usually a good start."
David nods approvingly at whatever Beau says, and then I see Beau's expression soften completely. His eyes find mine through the crowd, and even at this distance, the tenderness on his face makes my breath catch.
His lips move, and I focus intently, trying to read what he's saying.
"Yeah, she's perfect."
At least, I'm pretty sure that's what he says. But the way he's looking at me from across the yard makes my knees weak regardless of what he just said.
Damn it, now I really am going to cry.
"Molly! Focus!" Sienna snaps her fingers in front of my face. "I asked you three times to forget the damn cookies!"
"Sorry," I breathe, reluctantly tearing my gaze away from Beau.
