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Penelope Davis could really use a drink.

Sure, that should be easy to fix, since she worked at the Grizzly, Bear Mountain, Montana’s local bar and grill, but she was on duty. It would be anarchy if the bartender started getting plastered, especially on a crowded Thursday night like tonight. During the summer months, people came to town for the beautiful mountains and wildlife, and the few hotels they had were always filled to capacity.

The cedar floors of the Grizzly were creaking under the weight of tourists and locals alike. Every table was full and there were people waiting to play pool in the back. The whole place was a breeding ground for fights from rowdy patrons, and Penny needed to be sharp.

In all fairness, though, sexual frustration should be a good enough excuse to tie one on.

The object of her desire, Hunter Gracin, was sitting down the bar and that straight, even smile he flashed his friend, Jax, was making her insides melt like butter in a microwave. But Hunter was so oblivious to her, it was pathetic. Sure, he had acknowledged her and asked her how her day had been, but otherwise, she might as well be Moaning Myrtle from Harry Potter—mostly ignored, if a bit amusing.

Penny glanced away from Hunter just in time to watch six foot four inches of trouble walk through the door. Trent Bush was new to the Bear Mountain Fire Station, but that hadn’t stopped him from making himself right at home. Everybody loved him, especially the women. He was boyishly handsome with chocolate-brown eyes and curly brown hair, but his tall, muscular frame was all man.

Penny had picked up on his act and knew he was nothing but a womanizing flirt. Even if her heart wasn’t crushing on another guy, she wouldn’t give Trent the time of day. He most certainly wasn’t the relationship type.

“Yo, Penny, looking good! Wanna come over here and give me a little sugar?” he hollered across the bar.

“I pour your drinks. You realize this, right?”

The group laughed as they settled around a table and Penny shook her head, trying to fight a smile. She didn’t mind Trent’s razzing and he seemed to take her threats with a grain of salt. It was like having one of her little brothers back.

Okay, that wasn’t a good comparison. Trent would sleep with her in a heartbeat if she were willing, and to be honest, she enjoyed the view of his finely sculpted body.

That’s when Hunter’s smooth, deep voice came from just a few feet away, breaking through her thoughts. “Is he bothering you?”

Penny was surprised by the frown on his face. It lit a spark of excitement through her. Could Hunter be jealous?

Covering her emotions, she snorted. “Please, you know I can handle myself.”

There was that smile again, obliterating her until her knees threatened to buckle.

Man, I need to get a grip.

Hunter’s blue eyes didn’t leave hers. She hated how pretty she thought they were. “I have no doubt about that, but if you ever need me to tell that guy to get lost, you let me know.”

“Thanks, Hunter. I appreciate the backup.”

Trish Harris slid in next to Hunter, giving him a sultry glance through her thickly mascaraed lashes. “Hey, there, Dr. Sexy.”

Penny choked back the urge to gag. Trish was a couple years older than her and had come back to Bear Mountain after college to open a trendy tourist boutique. Under most circumstances, she was tolerable, but every time she flashed that come-hither glance Hunter’s way, Penny fought the urge to dump a beer on Trish’s perfectly curled blond head.

“Hi, Trish.” Hunter took a drink of his beer, meeting Penny’s gaze over his mug and rolling his eyes.

Penny fought back a pleased smile as she set a coaster in front of Trish. “Whatcha drinkin’?”

“White wine,” Trish said, without even looking up to acknowledge Penny. Trish was clearly on the hunt and had zeroed in on her prey. The only comfort was that Hunter didn’t seem any more interested in Trish than he was in Penny.

Depressing, but comforting.

Penny placed Trish’s wine on the counter, and when Trish didn’t immediately pay for it, she cleared her throat.

“Oh, thanks,” Trish said.

As the other woman put the wineglass rim to her lips, Penny’s gaze narrowed.

“That’s five dollars, unless you want to get your ass back here and wash some glasses.”

Hunter chuckled, but Trish didn’t take her joke well. With a fake smile, she slapped a five down and stood with her glass.

“Are you serious?” Penny asked.

Trish’s blue eyes cut through her as her red lips twisted into a sad little moue. “You know, Penny, if you acted a little bit more feminine, you wouldn’t have so much trouble getting a man.”

Penny’s jaw dropped a split second before she felt her face burn. “What the hell did you just say to me?”

“You heard me.” Trish turned, and actually had the nerve to run her finger down Hunter’s chest. “Call me sometime.”

Penny was tempted to vault over the bar and grab that hussy by her hair, but Hunter seemed to read her mind.

“She’s not worth it. Trust me.”

Still, the fact that Trish had spoken damn near the truth about Penny—and in front of Hunter—smarted. Penny knew she was nice to look at, but since she’d grown up here, the men around her age had seemed to forget she was a woman. All of them treated her like one of the guys. To have that fact drilled home by a woman who was confident and sexy without even trying pissed her the hell off.

“Vince!” she called out to the other bartender. “I’m taking a break.”

Without waiting on a reply, she headed out back, ignoring Hunter’s concerned look. She didn’t need him feeling sorry for her. She could get a man. No problem.

But she couldn’t get the one she wanted.

Leaning against the back wall of the Grizzly, she pulled out her cell phone, scrolling through her apps. When she clicked on the Gmail widget, she was a little surprised to find two new e-mails, and opened the first one with a tap of her thumb.

Penny blinked. It was from the Yellowstone Wildlife Sanctuary in Red Lodge. She’d sent them an application six months ago, never expecting a position to open. Red Lodge was about thirty minutes from Bear Mountain, so she wouldn’t have a terrible commute. It was a fantastic opportunity, and her brothers would still have a home to come back to when they were on leave.

She closed the e-mail and clicked on the second. It started off the same way and her heart started pounding when she noticed who the sender was.

The San Diego Zoo.

It was her dream job. Ever since her mom had passed, Penny had dreamed about leaving this town and setting up somewhere new. Somewhere with more opportunities and fewer beards and less flannel.

This was her ticket out of Bear Mountain.

The back door opened, and still smiling, she glanced over.

“Now, that’s the kind of smile a guy likes to see on his future wife.”