Page 94 of Lockout

We rode in comfortable silence until he turned onto a street and I gasped in pleasure. “Winter Haven!” I looked over at him and grabbed his bicep. “Are we stopping?”

He chuckled. “Of course we are. This is your surprise.”

“IloveWinter Haven!” I exclaimed as he parked the truck.

“I know.” His lips lifted in a smug grin.

Of course he did.

“Is it safe though?” I asked, worrying my lower lip as I waited for his response. The neighborhood went all out on Christmas lights every year, so much so that most of Tucson came to walk around and look at their displays. I wanted to walk around withhim, drink some hot chocolate, and enjoy ourselves, but I didn’t want to take any risks either.

“It’s fine,” he said. “Rip and the hacker twins are keeping an eye on Hangman and the rest of the LoS. Hangman and his crew are over in Lordsburg right now,” he added with an evil grin. “Searching for Ford and his crew.”

“So…it’s safe?” I asked.

“Yeah. For tonight.” He got out and rounded the SUV to hold open my door for me.

Sighing happily, I got out and linked arms with him. “This is amazing, Lock. Thank you.”

He paused and pulled me close so he could kiss the breath out of me. “Just want to make sure you know I’m still thinking about you. Even with all this going on. That I’m glad you’re my old lady. Haven’t really had a chance to spoil you.” He rubbed the back of his neck.

I laughed and shook my head. “You’re keeping me alive. I think I’m pretty spoiled.” Laying my head against his shoulder I waited as he paid for some hot chocolate from a vendor and handed it over to me. “You’re not having some?”

He shook his head. “Not enough alcohol in it for me.”

Laughing, I sipped my drink as we started to walk through Winter Haven. Crowds of people meandered by us. It was my favorite time of year, and Christmas was my favorite holiday. So, it was no wonder that seeing the lights was my favorite thing to do. I was sure that either Dani or Billie had let him in on that little bit of knowledge, but I didn’t care. The fact that he’d taken the time to find out, and then bring me here melted my damn heart.

I kept sneaking glances over at him, watching for any signs that his leg was bothering him as we walked. As much as I loved this place, and that he’d done this for me, I didn’t want to keepgoing if he was hurting. Not that he’d tell me. Thus the stealthy glances.

“I’m fine, Cables,” he finally rumbled.

Busted.

“I’m just making sure,” I said, defending myself.

“Pyre loaded me up on pain meds.”

“You really need to let your leg heal, Lock,” I argued. “This is so sweet, but I don’t want to be the reason you hurt yourself-”

He reached out and grabbed me, pulling me in close. “I’m not hurting. My leg can have all the rest it wants once Hangman is dead. That’s going to be very soon,” he added. “Stop worrying.”

I smiled up at him and wrapped my arms around him. I’d long since thrown my empty cup in one of the trash cans strategically placed in the streets. “That’ll never happen,” I told him. “I’m as bad as you when it comes to worrying about the people I love.”

He froze, staring down at me. It took me a minute to realize why. My eyes widened.

“Is that your way of telling me you love me, Keely?”

“Umm…” Of course I did. I’d pretty much been in love with him this whole time. But did I want to let the cat out of the bag this soon? Eh, what did it matter? We’d known each other for a long time now, over a year. We were standing in arguably the most romantic place in town, on Christmas Eve, absorbed in each other. Why not now? “Yes, Liam,” I said, staring into his gorgeous face. “I love you.”

He grinned down at me. “I love you, too.”

“You do?”

He frowned. “You’re telling me you didn’t know?”

“You haven’t told me,” I countered.

“Sure I did.”