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A lie of omission was still a lie, but it was the only way she could finish this date and possibly snag another one and, yes, get to feel Sadie’s soft lips again.

Nobody had ever accused Joan Malone of being noble.

“There are things I can’t tell you,” she said. “That’s true. It’s for your own protection. The less you know, the safer you’ll be.”

Sadie nodded in understanding.

“But I’ll be as honest as I can with you, okay?”

“I know you will.”

They were silent for a few moments. Sadie slipped her hand in Joan’s and laced their fingers. “Do you really want to open a food truck?”

“I really do,” Joan said, squeezing her hand.

“You’d give up fighting crime for that?”

“Like I said, it’s something different. I haven’t really been able to live a normal life. I wouldn’t mind the change.”

“But the city needs you,” Sadie said.

“The city will be fine without me doing what I do. Or, I don’t know, maybe I could do both. I don’t know if I can just walk away.” She really had no idea if Melvin would let her, or let Mark or Perry, either. He was so hell-bent on villainous victories.

A group of chattering teenagers settled on a blanket near them to take advantage of the shade. Having this conversation in a busy public place was not a good idea. Even kissing Sadie—lovely though it was—could attract too much attention.

Sadie followed her gaze toward the food trucks and crowd. “I’m sure you don’t want to talk about this here.”

“It’s safer if we don’t,” Joan said. “I am serious about that. It’s not in your best interests for anyone to find out you… I don’t want you to get dragged into that world.”

“Plus, we’re on a date. We’re supposed to be getting to know each other.” Sadie held out her other hand. “Let’s gorge on strawberry shortcake and ask each other embarrassing questions.”

Joan took her hand gratefully. She dropped a kiss on Sadie’s cheek, taking in the scent of her smoky rose perfume. The less they talked about secret identities, the better. And it sounded like she really did want to get to know boring old Joanie.

It was much safer for everyone if Sadie got to know Joan and not Spark, and definitely not the fact that she wasn’t Catch.

* * *

If there was a recipe for the perfect date, this was it. Sadie laughed with Joan as they approached her apartment. Delicious food, fun conversation for hours, sharing secret dreams, sharing secret identities, maybe sharing some other things very soon…

“So that ended my brief childhood aspiration of becoming a roller-skating veterinarian,” Sadie said.

“Too bad,” Joan said. “That’s an underserved market.”

“What did you want to be when you grew up?”

“Hmm. I don’t really remember. Nothing as cool as a veterinarian on wheels. I did want to help people, though.”

Sadie opened her mouth to ask if being a Superhero had been on the list. No, she didn’t want to focus on that. Didn’t want Joan thinking she was some fangirl interested in Catch. Which she sort of was, but she was mostly interested in this funny, confident, mind-numbingly attractive woman beside her.

She’d barely paused in front of her door before touching her fingertips to the row of buttons on Joan’s shirt. Their kiss had beenhoursago. Every molecule in her body wanted to do it again. She was practically vibrating in anticipation.

“I think I still have my roller skates at my parents’ house,” Sadie said, fingering the button just below Joan’s throat. “We could go for a roll along the riverwalk so I can show off my mad skills.”

“I’d like to see those mad skills.” Joan tilted her head and lightly settled her hands on Sadie’s waist.

“So that’s a yes for another date?”

“A big-time yes.”