Page 60 of Secret Spark

Joan patted its body. “I had a dog like this when I was a kid.”

“How did you do that?” the woman asked, clearly in awe.

“I used to be a gymnast,” Joan said smoothly. Still holding her coffee like she’d just taken a stroll to the break room.

There was a pause in traffic, so Sadie made her way across the street. Her pulse pounded with a rush of relief. That had been terrifying and incredible to watch. Obviously, Joan was in shape to do the things she had to do. But seeing her in action, being so athletic, was…

Whyhadshe jumped out of harm’s way? Not that anyone should voluntarily let a car hit them. But Catch could absorb a blow like that. Sadie had witnessed her stop a train. Wouldn’t it have been easier for Joan to just stand there?

“Are you okay?” Sadie asked, grasping Joan’s upper arm.

“I’m fine. So is Princess.” Joan smiled at the dog.

“Thank you,” Princess’s mom said. “Thank you so much. She’s my baby.”

“Happy to help. You behave yourself, Princess.”

The woman moved one of the dog’s legs up and down to wave goodbye.

Sadie slid her hand down Joan’s arm. “I can’t believe you ran in front of all those cars.”

“I grew up with a dog who looked just like that,” Joan said. She took several steps back on the sidewalk.

“It was pretty awesome.”

“Sometimes I do nice things.”

“Of course you’d save a dog. But why did you do the fancy gymnastics instead of absorbing the impact?”

“Well, Iamin disguise.” Joan gestured to her clothes. “The thing with a secret identity is keeping it a secret.”

Oh. That made sense. Everyday people did not stop cars with their bare hands. A hero was a hero, no matter what they wore. “It’s all about the goodness on the inside,” Sadie said.

Joan took another step back, surveying the area. “Yeah, and speaking of secret identities…”

“Yes.” Sadie grinned. “Mark calls you Joanie. Which I love. Can I call you that? Bear in mind no matter what you answer, I’m going to call you that.”

A brief smile flitted across Joan’s gorgeous face. “That’s cute. But I need to?—”

“Or what about Joanie Maloney?” Sadie mused, then giggled hard. “A play on both your names. That is too adorable. There’s no going back now. You are henceforth Joanie Maloney forever in my mind.”

“Okay, sweetheart, but?—”

Sadie surged forward to wrap her arms around Joan’s neck and plant a big wet one on her mouth. Good god, Joan could call hersweetheartin that low, silky voice ’til the end of time.

“Sorry,” Sadie breathed. “You were saying?”

Joan looped her arms across Sadie’s lower back. “I completely forgot.”

“I’m proud of you for rescuing Princess, Joanie Maloney.”

Her eyebrows drew together in concern. “I want you to be proud of me.”

“How could Inotbe?” Sadie gave her a peck on the cheek before untangling her arms and travel mug. “That’s probably the smallest good thing you’ve done this week.”

Joan dropped her arms. Pulled her sunglasses from her shirt pocket and put them on. She glanced around, then said, “Can we go over there for some privacy?”

She jutted her chin at the small greenspace in front of the tall office building next door. Sadie followed her to the narrow stone path outlining the grass. “I didn’t mean to talk about Supers and everything in public,” she said, keeping her voice down even though they were alone.

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