Page 136 of Sparking Sara

I lie next to him, counting my lucky stars that we both escaped death. And I pray it’s as close to it as we come for a long, long time.

I watch the video a few more times, getting an idea for a painting. I stare at the ceiling, painting in my head. I know it won’t be long before I have the itch to go into the basement and get started. But before I get out of bed, Denver talks in his sleep.

“Joey,” he calls out in a pained whisper.

Even in the darkness, I see the anguish on his face. I wonder if he’s dreaming about the fire.

I snuggle in next to him and put my head on his chest. This stirs him enough to pull him from his dream. He wraps an arm around me and falls back to sleep just as Kokomo wedges his way between us.

I decide my painting will have to wait.

I’m exactly where I need to be.

Chapter Thirty-six

The holidays with Denver were just as magical as I thought they’d be. Especially when Sawyer flew us to Hawaii to celebrate Christmas. I’d been there before. Several times, apparently. But to me—it was the first time. Everything with Denver feels like the first time.

I lie in bed, watching the steady rhythmic rise and fall of his chest as he sleeps. He went back to work on Engine 319 a few weeks ago. Every time he goes in for a shift, he takes a piece of my heart with him. And every time he comes home, I’m even more grateful to have him next to me.

He stirs and his eyes flutter open. He pulls me to him. “You didn’t sleep very well,” he says. “You tossed and turned all night. Are you nervous about today?”

I nod into his shoulder. “I didn’t think I would be. I mean, according to everyone else, I’ve done plenty of showings before.”

“You have nothing to be nervous about, sweetheart. You’re going to be a huge hit.”

“But what if people don’t like my paintings? They’re different from before. More personal.”

He rubs a hand along my arm. “More personal toyou. That makes them even better than before.”

“I think you’re a bit biased,” I say.

He flips me onto my back and climbs on top of me. “Care to make a wager?”

“You want to bet on whether or not my showing is a huge flop?”

“Your showing will be a smashing success,” he says. “That’s why I want to bet on it. I’m a sure winner.”

“And what did you have in mind?”

“You know that thing we did last week in bed?” He wiggles his eyebrows.

I blush at the memory before pulling a pillow over my head.

He slowly removes it and then leans down for a kiss. “I want you every way I can have you,” he says against my lips.

“Oh, you have me,” I say, shimmying my body beneath him. “You definitely have me.”

He brushes my hair back and cups the sides of my face. “I’ve never heard better words spoken.”

I can feel his hardness on my leg and my body starts to tingle. Morning sex has become one of my favorite things. But then he jumps out of bed.

“Where are you going?” I ask longingly.

He laughs at the pouty look on my face. “We’ve got a big day, sweetheart. We have to get ready for your debut.” He nods back to the bed. “Don’t worry, we’ll give it a good workout later when I collect my winnings.”

I roll my eyes at him, knowing I’d do anything he wants, even if he didn’t win the bet. I’m putty in his hands and I’m pretty sure he knows it.

“We’re still going to see Joey today, aren’t we?” I ask. “I found the most adorable outfit yesterday when I was out shopping. Wait until you see it. It’s got a paint palette on the shirt and the pants have little paint splatters. And I got him another fire truck. Now, before you say anything, I know he has like five of them already, but this one has an actual working ladder and is approved for kids under three. I couldn’t resist.”

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