Page 19 of Ignite My Heart

I frown. “What’s that one for?”

He looks at the bed, then at me. “I don’t want to sleep on the wet spot, but I’m not going to ask you to do it. So I brought a towel to lie on. Now, roll over to the other side of the bed.”

I laugh but make a motion with my finger for him to turn around. “First, let me see that tattoo on your butt.”

He turns and gives me a glimpse of the ink. It’s like a little portal on his body with a stereotypical alien peeking out.

My lips quirk. “You have aliens that live in your ass?”

He shrugs. “I don’t know. I thought it was funny.”

“You’re adorable. Do you know that?” I chuckle as I move to the other side of the bed.

He gives me a look that speaks of tolerance. “Are you going to tell me I’m like a Golden Retriever?”

I look at him blankly. “What? Why would I do that?”

He lifts a shoulder in a shrug. “I don’t know. People say I have Golden Retriever energy. But I don’t know what that means. Growing up, we only had working dogs on the ranch and barn cats. Most of our pets were more of the horse and cow variety.”

“I see. And you think people are being insulting when they say that about you?”

“Maybe. Are those dogs stupid or something?”

I frown and wait in silence as he spreads the dry towel over the “wet spot” and climbs into bed. We roll to face each other.

“No, they’re not. I’m not an expert on dogs because my mom always wanted cats. But I have a friend in Austin who has Goldens, and they’re amazing. Smart and sweet. A little goofy, affectionate, playful.” I nod. “I can see it. But it’s not how I’d describe you. You’re so much more than those things. I mean, you being a good guy is obviously amazing. But you’re also funny and sexy, and you have a dirty mouth in the bedroom, which I appreciate. I don’t think a true Golden would talk like that.”

Garrett’s chest puffs up a little, and he pulls me to him. “I meant what I said. It wasn’t just the sex talking. I’m crazy in love with you, Sassy, and I want our forever to start right now.”

I nod. “Okay.”

He narrows his eyes at me. “What does that ‘okay’ mean?”

“That I agree. Let’s get started on our forever. We can fly somewhere tomorrow and get married if you want. Vegas or Tahoe or Mexico.”

“You’d really do that?”

“I’m in, Whitmore. Now that you have me, you won’t be able to get rid of me.”

“Fuck, yes!” he shouts. “Oh, you’ll like this one.” He pulls his leg up to show me a tat on his ankle. It’s the iconic Richard Scarry worm driving the apple car. And I fall in love with him all over again.

epilogue

GARRETT

One year later…

“Sassy, are you ready to go?” I call up the stairs to my wife.

She mumbles something I can’t understand, and I hear her stomping feet as she comes down to meet me. “I don’t know why we need to carve pumpkins with your family. I look like I swallowed a damn pumpkin right here.” She points at her swollen belly.

I grin at her. “You look beautiful. I never thought a waddle would be sexy, but you pull it off, baby.”

She spins and jabs a finger into my gut. “Don’t think I haven’t planned ways to suffocate you in your sleep.” She turns back around and marches to the front door, muttering as she goes. “Damn super sperm just blows through my pill and everything else.”

I swallow my chuckle because I do want to keep on living in this happily ever after Felicity and I have created.

We didn’t exactly elope the next day. In fact, we didn’t leave my bed for much of that weekend. I missed the pumpkin carving that year, which is why we need to go this time. Otherwise, I’ll never hear the end of it.