Page 15 of She’s Got that Spark

“They’re all fine. No casualties at all.” He kisses the top of my head. “Well, Liam got a splinter. But he’s a tough guy. He’ll live.”

He’s making light of a serious situation, so I decide to follow suit. Nuzzling into his shoulder, I breathe in his subtle masculine scent. “Do you ever end up smelling like a campfire?”

His chuckle shakes me a bit. “That’s one of the reasons I use pine soap, hoping that the smoke will blend in and make it a general forest vibe.”

We put everything away and tidy up, and then once we’re inside the shop, Crow wraps his arms around me. “It will take days to thank you enough, gorgeous, but can I start by making you dinner at my place? Does that sound okay?”

“Amazing.”

There’s something in the way his hand slips up and down my back. The way he grips my hips and looks so intensely into my eyes. He’s hungry, but not for dinner. Funny, me too.

If the sexiest man I’ve ever met is right here in front of me, I think it’s time to start crossing a bunch of the lines that I didn’t think I would get to for years.

Tonight.

10

CROW

I-think-I’m-in-love-with-Emma-there-I’ve-said-it.

Sure, it’s too fast, and I think she gets skittish whenever I mention the future. But she’s smart, and funny, and quirky, and definitely the sexiest woman I’ve ever laid eyes or hands on.

As we drive out to my house, her bright eyes dart around every street, as if she’s trying to memorize the area.

Some of the older firefighters say that it’s a bad idea to make any big decisions for twenty-four hours after a call. We’re not like the guys in the city who get calls every single day and are therefore more experienced with controlling their adrenaline.

We get calls out of the blue, so it snaps us out of real life and into emergency mode, where adrenaline surges. It takes a while to shake that back down.

The guys also recommend doing a workout after a call, to burn off the excess energy. I have a very different idea of how I want to bring myself down to earth, and it involves having my face buried between Emma’s soft thighs.

I honestly can’t believe this girl. She’s an honest-to-god cyclone of ideas. I can’t believe the number of business cards we went through, how many people were asking detailed questionsabout tattoos they’re planning. I set up a bunch of appointments for consultations next week and got several emails for follow-ups. Not to mention, I sold more merch just today than I have in the past six months together.

I wasn’t sure why Emma suggested wearing my VFFT shirt until I saw it made several of the older men on the street look at me differently. Instead of a faint glare, there was an approving chin nod.

My gorgeous girl isn’t just the light I’ve needed in my life, she’s a one-person PR team.

As soon as we walk into my house, Emma twirls, grinning from ear to ear. “Ahhh! It’s so homey!”

“Were you expecting skulls and tattoo art everywhere?”

She squeezes my bicep. “No, silly. That’s in the bathroom.” Her eyes dance. “Seriously, Crow, your house is lovely.”

“Good. You can thank my mom someday. She helped me pick out a bunch of stuff before they moved south.”

“Do you miss them?”

“The three of us have a video call pretty much every Sunday afternoon to check in. Sometimes mom chats with me while I cook. We’re still close enough.” I want to ask her more about her family, but since her eyes always dim whenever her sisters are mentioned, I don’t want to bring down the mood.

Luckily, I have everything for burgers on hand, and some supermarket potato salad. Emma adds some extra dill and bacon bits to it, which elevates it from adequate into amazing. After we clear the plates, I grab her around the waist. “So basically, you are a marketing wizard, a talented artist,andan upcoming chef?”

“Pssh. Not in the slightest.”

“Yes. Yes, you are.” Tilting her back gently, I kiss along the side of her throat, then nuzzle just under her ear. “You’rebreathtaking.” Grabbing her hand, I place it on the center of my chest. “No breath. See?”

Her lovely lips smile, yet there’s something vaguely troubled in her eyes. “I wasn’t sure how worried I should be today,” she whispers. “You know, about your…call.”

“Oh, baby.” I lift her and carry her to the couch to let her sprawl across my lap. “We’re all as careful as possible. You’ve seen that I’m a safety-first kind of guy – I always wear a helmet when I ride my motorcycle. And if I have to go on a big highway or there’s bad weather, I take the truck.”

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