Chapter Fourteen
Denver
“Thanks for letting me ride along,” Denver told Liam as he waited on the dock.
“No problem. Happy for the company, actually.”
Liam had offered Denver the ride in his plane last week when he dropped off a cord of wood. Denver hadn’t believed it possible with Malcom’s deadline. Really, it was the worst decision as far as his editor would be concerned. The book was due tomorrow night and he still had four chapters left to write. But he supposed commuting to Anchorage via Super Cub was more responsible than making the drive, considering the time he’d save.
Denver had made his mind up. He needed the ring.
“You get to fly any in the Army?” Liam asked.
“Not as much as you.” Denver climbed into the passenger seat and unwrapped the headset cord. “Mostly rode in the back to get from one place to the other. Did get to ride in the door gunner seat in a Blackhawk once. In Afghanistan.”
“I suppose that counts.”
Denver’s Army days felt so far behind him. His life had changed so much since he moved home. Since he met Sophie.
Liam ran through his startup procedures, then called in to the nearest tower to report he was taking off from the bay. Denver had no qualms about riding in a plane, but he had no desire to pilot one himself. Pulling out his newest notebook from Sophie, he scribbled down a note about Malcom and a Super Cub for his next mystery adventure.
“I need to make a couple stops, mostly for parts. Tessa wants me to pick up some specialty ingredients, too. Where do you need to go?”
Denver couldn’t help but glance at his watch. He really needed to replace that battery. “Jewelry store,” he admitted, knowing that even if Liam dropped him off, he wouldn’t be able to hide what he was up to.
“Really?” Liam stared at him until Denver looked over. “You’re really going to do it, then?”
“Yep.”
“When? Tessa and I have a bet going.”
Denver laughed, giving an incredulous shake of his head. “AboutwhetherI’d ask orwhen?”
“Oh, when, man. We knew you’d pop the question sooner or later. In love with Sophie for over a year? A man can only take so much.”
Liam had a point. “You won’t say anything?” Denver asked.
“We already made our guesses. Not like I can change mine.”
“Saturday. After the race.” Instead of writing said due chapters this morning, he’d been planning out the perfect proposal. One that took place at the finish line of Sophie’s first complete marathon. Denver wanted her to watch him drop to one knee as her tired, happy feet crossed that line.
“Daring plan, but I like it.”
Denver waited in the borrowed truck as Liam ran inside a couple different places, scribbling notes for the next book that was quickly forming in his mind. Though the current novel offered Malcom and Kat’s first kiss, the real romance of it all took place in the next story.
He couldn’t wait to tell Sophie all about his new idea.
She was jealous last night at the book club, of that he was certain. He’d waited over a year for this. For her to feelsomething. The way her cheeks flushed and her eyes coldly scanned the phone number and hearts on his coffee cup gave her away.
After jotting a note about Malcom and Kat discovering the next story’s dead body together, possibly from the air while Malcom flew them in a Super Cub, Denver closed the notebook and pulled out his phone.
He was too eager not to text Sophie his new idea.
Things had been tense and up in the air since that kiss. That earthshattering kiss that put any kiss he’d ever had before to shame. Sophie called it a mistake and ran off when they heard the quick succession of fireworks.
Because fireworks were only allowed twice a year in Alaska, and this was not the Fourth of July or New Year’s, Ryder had shown up shortly after, lights and siren blaring. Denver suspected his brother enjoyed any excuse to turn them on.
Ryder joined the party. Sophie disappeared. Denver, feeling as if he was both soaring and crashing at the same time, discreetly slipped away from the party and returned to Malcom. But the detective didn’t have words to offer his restless author.
