She bumped his shoulder with hers.
“You all right?” he asked quietly.
She met his eyes. There was no shadow in them tonight. No tightness. “Yes.” After giving their statements to the troopers, they’d spent the last two days sleeping and healing. Brock had managed to fish Peter out of the river, and now he and Kyle were already in Anchorage, sitting in cells. Jack’s body had been delivered to the medical examiner for an autopsy. The charges had been dropped against Ace. “I’m feeling fantastic.”
He studied her a second longer than necessary. “You sure?”
“I’m not fragile,” she said.
“I know.”
“Stop hovering.”
He leaned closer. “I will not.”
She smiled.
They moved through the reception easily. Daisy cornered Christian for a legal joke no one else understood. Damian was deep in conversation with three elderly women who looked delighted, although his gaze kept scanning the various crowds. Looking for Stella, no doubt. Brock stood near Ophelia, not saying much, just watching her like he always did.
The first dance began under strings of lights.
Christian held Amka carefully at first, then she rolled her eyes and pulled him closer. The town laughed.
Ace’s hand settled at May’s waist. “You ready for a spin, Doc?”
“Absolutely.” She moved into the dance with him, leaning into his strength.
He held her even closer. “I talked to Smitty yesterday.”
She blinked up at him. “You did?”
“Yeah.”
“And?”
“I’m not done,” he said. “With flying.”
Her heart warmed right up. “I didn’t think you were.”
He searched her face carefully. “Smitty thinks I should take some time before making any big life decisions.”
Probably good advice. “Okay.”
“Smitty’s wrong. I’m moving on with my life.”
“What are you thinking?” she asked.
He twirled her and then pulled her back. “I’m starting a floatplane service with charter runs. I can do medical transport if needed.”
She grinned. “That’s convenient.”
“And I’m moving forward with my personal life.”
Her heart stuttered. “You have one of those?”
He kissed the tip of her nose. “Yeah. You’re it. Oh, we’re going to date, have some fun, have our first fight, make up, and all of that. But at the end of this year, you’re gonna be wearing my ring.”
Whoa. He sure didn’t play games. She leaned up and kissed his already shadowed jaw. “We’ll see just how romantic you can be.”
