Every Friday night was her and Denison’s time together, though. A day in town together, followed by his show at Sammy’s Bar.
She felt someone watching her, so she turned and squinted at the bar. Matt sat there, nursing a beer. He lifted his drink in a silent toast, and she smiled, then raised her half empty cranberry vodka. He didn’t bother her anymore. Not after the battle.
Denny sang out the last line of the song and thanked everyone for coming out. When the applause died down, he packed up his guitar into an old case and unplugged the amp. He grinned from ear to ear when she hugged him close and told him how much she loved the set he had picked tonight.
A few minutes talking to Ted at the bar and a wave for Matt, and they were loading up the Bronco and headed back into the mountains.
“I had fun today,” Danielle said, rolling her head against the seat cushion to look at Denison.
He’d found his smile again after the battle at the landing. Especially today. Something was different about him, but she couldn’t figure out what.
Like now, he was drumming on the steering wheel in a fast rhythm, as if he was playing a rock song in his head as he said, “Good. I had fun, too,” in a distracted voice.
“You okay?”
More drumming. “Who me? Yeah, I’m okay. I’m great. More than great.” His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed.
“Spill it.”
“I don’t think I should bite you.”
Pain stabbed through her, and she shifted her shocked gaze to the road illuminated by the high beams in front of them. “You don’t want me?”
“No, that’s not what I’m saying. I mean…” He inhaled deeply and blew it out. “I like the way you are.”
“Human?”
“Yeah.” He slid his palm down her thigh and squeezed it reassuringly.
“But you said I couldn’t be as close to the Ashe Crew if I wasn’t a bear shifter.” She wasn’t trying to pout, but she liked the idea of being on the inside instead of the outside.
“What would you say if I asked you to marry me instead?”
Words failed her, and all that came out was a wha sound. Was he asking? This wasn’t how she’d imagined this happening.
“Denny, claiming is a big deal for bear shifters. And I talked to Skyler. Exchanging tokens of affection is a big deal to falcon shifters. Proposals and weddings are special for humans.”
A grin took his lips. “So you’re saying if I ask, it needs to be somewhere more romantic than the front seat of my Bronco?”
She frowned and shook her head. “I can’t tell if you’re being serious right now or not. It’s kind of a big thing to be joking about.” And it was something she’d been secretly dreaming of over the past few months, so his teasing like this hurt.
She’d agonized over her decision to be claimed and Turned or not, but she was happy with the way they were, and the pain of the Change didn’t feel necessary to prove her love. He had her—all of her—already. That didn’t mean she didn’t want something that bound them in tradition, though. And now he was teasing her.
Denison turned on the radio, and they drove in contented silence. She bit her thumbnail and stared out her window at the dark lodgepole pines they passed.
A strange glow flickered across the trees, and it drew her attention to the front window. Straightening her spine, she leaned forward as her mouth fell open. Someone had doubled up on the strands of lights that served to brighten the trailer park at night. From here, she could see Asheford Drive as easily as if it were broad daylight, and everywhere, on porches and along cracked sidewalks, were glass jelly jars of flickering candles.
It was beautiful.
“What is this?” she asked on a breath as Denison put the car into park just under the Asheland Mobile Park sign.
He smiled and got out of the car, then jogged around front to open her door. He held out his hand, and when she slid her palm against his, he kissed her knuckles lightly.
The Ashe Crew waited at the other end of the park near the bonfire someone had built up.
“I’ve been talking to Tagan about this because I wasn’t sure I wanted you to Turn for me. It doesn’t matter either way, if you’re human or bear.” Denison pulled her hand into the crook of his arm and led her to the middle of the road. Slowly, he walked her down toward his people at the other end. “When we decided we were good the way we were, I still wanted more. I wanted a commitment that would tell everyone that you’re mine, and I’m yours. So…” Denison turned and dropped down to one knee. He opened his palm, and on it sat a black velvet box that held a simple band of tiny, sparkling diamonds.