“For what it’s worth, I like who you are.” Ash set aside the helmet and brushed his thumb across Danny’s cheek. His eyes softened as he studied his mate, searching for something beyond the nervous flickers and practiced smiles. He wanted to wrap his arms around this man who seemed both fragile and fierce, to shelter him without caging him. Whatever storms had weathered Danny, Ash found himself wanting to be the calm after.
They headed toward the door when his mate’s stomach growled once again.
Weathered vinyl booths lined both walls, most already occupied by the dinner crowd. Grease hung thick in the air, mixing with coffee and something cinnamon-sweet that made Ash’s mouth water. A waitress with tired eyes and orthopedic shoes squeezed past them, balancing four plates that steamed with meatloaf and mashed potatoes.
“Two?” another waitress asked, not even pausing for an answer. She just grabbed menus from the hostess stand and headed toward the back corner.
Following her through the narrow aisle, Ash kept his hand light on Danny’s lower back, guiding him past tables crowded with families and truckers hunched over their meals. Country music played from speakers mounted in corners, competing with the clatter of dishes and overlapping conversations.
They slid into opposite sides of the booth, vinyl protesting under Ash’s weight. Danny immediately opened his menu, but his eyes kept darting around the diner, taking in the yellowed photographs on the walls, the pie case by the register, and the cook visible through the service window.
“So.” Ash leaned back, studying how the fluorescent lights caught the blue in Danny’s eyes, making them seem almost mythical, like a wood nymph who’d snuck out to cause mischief. “How’d you like your first ride?”
Those enchanting blue eyes brightened, his hands moving as he spoke. “Okay, so at first I thought I was going to die.” He gestured wildly, nearly knocking over the salt shaker. “Like, legitimately thought my obituary would say ‘death by motorcycle terror.’ But then…” His hands spread wide. “Then my body suddenly relaxed. The speed, the way everything just rushed past, how the engine felt like this living thing underneath us…”
That smile. God, that smile would be Ash’s undoing. He found himself leaning forward, drawn in by his mate’s genuine enthusiasm. This was the Danny he wanted to get to know. This was the version of his mate who felt safe enough in Ash’s presence to be himself.
“And the curves!” Danny’s voice pitched higher, as if he could barely contain his excitement. “When we leaned into them, I thought physics would just give up and dump us on the asphalt, but it didn’t. It was like flying but better because—” He stopped mid-gesture, his features sobering as he glanced out the window. “Sorry. I’m rambling.”
“I don’t mind. I like listening to you.” Watching Danny light up, seeing him drop his guard without realizing what he’d done, made Ash’s bear softly growl in contentment. Made him want to take this beautiful human on every road in the state just to see the way joy lit up his eyes.
“Well, well. Ashley Michael Brennan.”
Ash looked up to find Mama Lou herself standing beside their table, all four-foot-eleven of her, silver hair pinned back in her signature beehive. Her eyes crinkled with genuine warmth as she set down two water glasses.
“Been a good minute since you graced me with your presence.” She swatted his shoulder good-naturedly with her order pad. “You cheating on me with another diner?”
“Never. I made a commitment to your cooking, and I’m a faithful eater.” Ash caught her weathered hand, squeezing gently. “Mama Lou, this is Danny. Danny, meet the woman who’s half responsible for half my weight. Damn woman makes food too good to resist.”
Not true. She had nothing to do with Ash’s size, but it never hurt to praise a woman for her hard work. He seriously couldn’t resist anything she made. A year ago Ash had stopped in with an appetite from hell and damn near wiped out her inventory. As hard as her staff had worked to bring him dish after dish, Ash had left a generous tip to let them know how much he’d appreciated what they’d done for him.
And Danny wasn’t just some rando he’d brought to his favorite diner. The cinnamon roll was his. His mate. His to show off with pride.
“Aren’t you just the cutest thing.” Mama Lou’s sharp gaze accessed him. Danny’s eyeliner, the chains, the way his fingers played with his napkin. Her smile grew softer. “Welcome to my place, Danny. I hope you enjoy your time here.”
Danny’s fingers ripped apart the napkin faster, and Ash could feel his leg bouncing under the table. “Thank you, ma’am.”
“Ma’am.” Mama Lo’s smile widened. “You have lovely manners. You better not let this one get away, Ash.”
If she only knew. “That’s entirely up to him, but I’m really hoping he keeps me.” Ash winked at his mate when Danny whipped his head around to stare strangely at him.
“Then you better show him you’re worth keeping.” She pulled out her pen. “Now, what can I get you boys?”
Ash wasn’t going to pretend to be anyone but himself. If he wanted to see the real Danny, his mate deserved the same respect. Bears were fierce, loved to cuddle, gentle when necessary and deadly when threatened. Glen should consider himself lucky Ash hadn’t wanted to frighten his mate. But he would revoke Glen’s breathing privileges if the man-whore came anywhere near Danny again.
The guy had so many notches on his bedpost, it would be surprising if he had a headboard left.
“Double bacon cheeseburger, extra pickles,” Ash said when he remembered he’d been asked a question. “Sweet potato fries and the pacemaker burrito with double the atomic hot sauce.”
Danny shot him a worried look before scanning the options. “The club sandwich with regular fries and not a drop of that hot sauce. I’m on a no-melting-my-organs diet this week. Is the pie good, or does it come with a warning label?”
Damn. His mate was going to make Ash fall fast and hard with that brand of humor. Dry but funny as hell.
Mama Lou laughed out loud. “My pie could make a preacher curse.” She winked.
“Because of the hot sauce?” Danny frowned, but Ash could see his mate was fighting a smile.
“Only the sinners get those slices. I’ll bring you a regular piece of chocolate cream. On the house for brightening my day.”
