Page 12 of The Fire and the Roar

“Anyhow, the guy owed me. We helped him out with some insurance problems he was having.”

“Hmm. That was kind of you.”

“It’s the Jacks’ way, babe.”

I raised up and threw my arms around him. “I love it. It’s gorgeous. Thank you. Put it on me.”

His grin returned as he took my hand in his and slid the ring on my middle finger. A gasp escaped me at its perfection.

“When you’re singing, I want to be able to see it on your hand when you grab that mic stand the way you do.”

“How do I grab the mic stand?”

“With authority,” he said without hesitation. “Like you fucking mean it. Every note, every word.”

“I do,” I whispered.

“I know you do. You’re on fire when you perform. The red’s for that.” His lips tipped up into a slight smile. His Adam’s apple bobbed in his throat, and his gaze suddenly fell to my leg where his hand stroked my thigh. “I couldn’t bring you roses.”

“I don’t like roses.”

He laughed. “Those stones are a nice deep red.”

“I rich, dark red, my favorite kind. It’s gothic, it’s—”

“It’s not diamonds—”

“It’s our fire. And I don’t give a shit about diamonds.”

“But it sparkles all the same. And it’ll sparkle to me all the way to the back of the theater, all the way around the arena.”

“Yeah, the arena.” I fingered the incredible ring. Dark smoldering red. Wine and fire.

“Someday, honey. You’ll see. You’ll be headlining the biggest arenas.” He brought my hand to his lips and kissed my fingers, the ring. “Love you, baby.”

“Wreck?”

“Yeah?” He stroked my hand, holding it tight.

“I’m sparkling fire inside.”

He let out a soft laugh as he stood up and took me in his arms. Together we swayed as if there were music playing, music only we could hear. My eyes closed, and I listened to my heartbeat, and I felt his thrum through mine. I held Wreck tight and burrowed closer into his heat.

“Is—” he murmured in my ear. “I’m sparkling fire too, baby.”

Chapter Six

“When do you have to leave?”I slid my hand around Wreck’s great big one that was stroking my breast. We were in bed, him laying down behind me, having finished another round of lovemaking, this time, long and slow.

He slid out of me, a hand circling my thigh, a grunt on his lips. “Early.”

“No, really?” I twisted to face him, my fingers in his short beard.

“Got to get back to Meager. The repair shop is backed up, which is good we got business, but I don’t want to fall behind now that the town has really warmed up to the shop. The guys keep up, but most of them are in Colorado still for the big meeting. I managed to leave a day early, which was sweet."

“Real sweet.”

“Plus, snow is on its way again, but I had to come to you.”

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