Page 67 of Stains of Desire
"Denver Broncos."
"Is that in Colorado?"
"Yep."
"So you still live there?"
"Stop walking."
She freezes.
I pick her up. "This mud looks deep. You don't have boots."
She bites on her lip and pecks me on the lips. "Thanks."
I wink. There is a twenty-foot section of mud. I step into it and sink past my ankles. "I technically live in Denver. My family is there. But I only make it home a few times a year."
"Since you're traveling the world, trying to die during adrenaline rushes?" she teases.
"Not really on my agenda to end my life but can't deny it."
"Rescuing people doesn't give you enough of a kick?"
"It does, but it's different."
Worry fills her face.
"What's wrong, green eyes?"
She hesitates but finally admits, "I think I'm pretty boring compared to you. When this is over and normal life resumes, you're going to get bored with me."
I stop in the middle of the mud. "Don't do that."
"What?"
"Start comparing you to me and creating problems when there aren't any."
"I'm not," she insists.
"Yeah, you are."
Her face grows red. "I'm just stating facts."
"To me, those aren't facts."
She bites on her lip and doesn't seem convinced.
"If I didn't find you fascinating, I wouldn't be interested."
"I'm a thirty-five-year-old mum."
I kiss her quickly. "Yeah, you are. And sexy as hell, a bit sassy, and everything about you totally turns me on. Don't question this again."
She takes a deep breath, and I continue crossing the muddy path. I ask her, "What were you humming last night?"
"When?"
"While you slept. It sounded like this." I attempt to recreate what she hummed.
