Looking at paperwork, the others stood in a loose half-circle around the open tailgate of Kellen’s truck. The parking lot was nothing more than an open field full of calf-length waving grass and wild flowers.
Brooke waved from the other side of a lower, marshy area that was still holding water from the recent rains. As Danielle prepared to jump over the tiny creek, her feet flipped out from under her and before she knew it, she was thrown over Denison’s shoulder like a sack of cat food. She yelped when his big palm smacked her bum soundly. He hopped over the water like she weighed nothing and let out a booming laugh as she pummeled his butt with her closed fist.
“Denison Donavan Beck!”
“Oh, he got the full name, boys. Denison’s in trouble!” Bruiser called as he hopped over the tiny stream behind then.
Danielle arched her back and glared at him, but the jokester only chuckled harder.
Denny set her down so fast she gasped, but he didn’t miss a step. Grabbing her hand, he pulled her against his side, then draped his arm around her shoulders and called behind him, “If she wasn’t getting me in trouble, I’d be worried she was sick or something.”
“Har, har,” she muttered, but she couldn’t help the grin that was cracking her face wide open. She’d been afraid Denison would act like there wasn’t something simmering between them in front of his friends, but nope. Apparently, Denison was making their budding relationship status public.
His utterly comfortable behavior added another layer of seriousness to the naked party they’d had in the Bronco earlier. He wasn’t just sleeping with her. He still cared for her enough to make his feelings obvious in front of the people who meant the most to him.
A familiar warmth flooded her veins and made her go all gooey as she remembered how he used to make her feel when they were together. He’d never acted ashamed of being with her. His obvious pride at her being on his arm had always made her feel coveted, and it seemed that part of their relationship hadn’t changed.
Drew sniffed her hair as Denison led her past and murmured, “Mmm, pheromones.”
A low growl emanated from Denison, and Drew backed off.
Could he smell what they’d done? Heat flared hotter in her cheeks.
“Leave them alone,” Brooke said as she made room between her and Skyler where they were leaning against the oversize white pickup.
Denison squeezed her hand and kissed the side of her head where he allowed his lips to linger. When he pulled away, he said, “I’m in the first event, but my heat doesn’t start for another forty-five minutes. We’re going to plan who is going to do what events and go sign up. You can stay here or go see what they have going on over there.” He pointed to a group of tents and vendors.
She didn’t want to stand around and take Denison’s attention off what Tagan was talking low to the others about, so she jerked her chin at Brooke and Skyler and scrunched her nose, a little nervous they’d reject what she was about to propose. “Are you hungry?”
“Starving,” Skyler said as she pulled her dark hair into a high ponytail. “I’m in an event later today, and I don’t want to eat too close to it. Let’s find some grub.”
“I’m down for finding food,” Brooke said. “I skipped breakfast.”
“Brooke,” Tagan admonished, suddenly looking up from the paperwork stacked on the tailgate.
“It was too early,” Brooke explained. “If I eat that early, I’ll feel sick all day.”
Tagan angled his head and gave Brooke a worried frown before returning to a conversation about something called a hot saw.
“You want me to grab something for you?” Danielle asked Denison, who was still lingering beside her instead of joining his crew.
“Yeah, just get me whatever you think sounds good. Here.” He reached in the back pocket of his jeans and pulled out his wallet.
“No! Beer wench today,” she said. “Remember?”
A slow smile crept across his face, exposing a dimple in his left cheek. She fought the urge to touch it. He licked his bottom lip and nodded. “Okay. If you’re paying, get me double.” He laughed and ducked out of swatting range. Quick as a snake, he leaned in and pecked her on the forehead, then jogged over and joined his crew at the back of the truck.
Danielle giggled—giggled! Like a teen with a crush and not a twenty-four-year-old woman who was supposed to be keeping her cool about all of this. Danielle followed Brooke and Skyler toward the first tent, but looked back because she couldn’t help herself. Denison was watching her leave, and when she smiled, he winked at her and gave her a slow-simmering grin that just about locked her knees.