Timberman Werebear(22)

He squeezed her tiny hand in his, wrapping his fingers all the way around. He clapped Brighton on the back in a silent “thank you” for being there for his mate when he wasn’t able. He owed his brother, big time.

Most of the crew followed Tagan toward the Standing Block Chop, but Denison pulled Danielle toward the rows of concession stands. And when his mate was satisfied with food, and they both had a cold beer in hand, he draped his arm around her waist and reveled in the fact that she’d come back to him. She’d chosen him, not Matt, or some guy she’d met after she’d left. She’d come back because of that job, but it was a cover. He knew in his gut she’d really come back because she still felt something for Denison. She’d thought about him through the years and had been brave enough to face her fears of his rejection and come back. He felt like the luckiest man in the world with her laughing beside him as they watched Tagan dominate in his event and while she cheered with him as they watched Skyler take second in the Women’s Boom Run across a bunch of logs connected together in the nearby lake.

As the day wore on, his bear settled under Danielle’s constant touch. She seemed as thirsty for his skin as he was for hers. Her smiles were constant, and only for him and the Ashe Crew. She looked so damned sexy in the shirt that proclaimed she was part of his team. She laughed and talked to his friends like they were family, and it made him even more devoted to her.

She’d always been a nature nerd and big into her books on trees and plants, but she’d never been awkward like she’d said. The Crew had always liked her.

Now, she was a spitfire and didn’t take shit from any of them without dishing it back. Denison didn’t have to defend her or take up for her or soothe her hurt feelings. She just grinned at their insults, then handed them back like she’d always been a part of this group of sailor-mouthed, rough-talkin’ men.

As the sun set low in the sky and the Ashe Crew all sat on the bank of the lake passing around a giant bowl of fruit salad Skyler had brought in one of the coolers, Denison looked around and thought his life couldn’t possibly get better than it was right now. Danielle looked so happy to be here, nestled under the crook of his arm as she asked questions about the Boarlanders, Gray Backs, and the different machines up on the job site. She seemed so worried about the dangers of being a lumberjack.

This was the first time today where they had an hour in between events. He’d done a couple of the chopping events and a log throwing one with Bruiser, but his biggest one was coming up next. Right now, they sat in second place overall. Boarlanders were in first and the Gray Backs were breathing down the Ashe Crew’s neck for second.

“You should give him a lucky blow job,” Drew suggested, waggling his eyebrows at Danielle.

She pegged him in the forehead with a grape, and Tagan snorted beside him.

Kellen frowned. “Is that a thing? Do blow jobs bring good luck?”

“Uh oh,” Haydan said, rubbing his bald head, then leaning back on his locked elbows. “Skyler’s got some work to do now.”

“Shut up,” Skyler said with a laugh. “No, babe. It doesn’t bring good luck. It’s just fun. You won’t need my magic blow jobs to secure our spot in the relay.”

“What’s the relay?” Danielle asked.

Tagan draped his arm over Brooke’s shoulders and answered. “The top two teams get to participate in the relay. The entire crew will each have a job, and the team who completes all the tasks first wins. If Kellen, Brighton, and Denison make good enough times on the Springboard Chop to qualify, we’ll be able to compete against the other team in a relay of the events we’ve been doing all day. Winner takes home the trophy and a cash prize.”

“And a pygmy goat!” Brooke squealed. She balled her fists and shook them in front of her like she couldn’t contain her excitement.

Danielle’s eyes went wide. “A goat? A real goat? Like a tiny, furry, cute, little goat?”

“Hey, good news for you, Denison,” Bruiser said with a smirk. “Your mate loves animals.”

“Shut up, man.” Denison chucked a strawberry at his head, but he caught it in his mouth, the wanker.

“I’m your mate?” Danielle asked.

Aw, fuck it. “Yeah. That’s what you are to me. I wanted to talk to you about it later, but these rats keep bringing it up, so yeah.” His cheeks were burning like he was a schoolboy with a crush right now.

Danielle leaned back, letting those chocolate-colored eyes go all hooded and sexy. “Are you calling me your girlfriend, Denny?”