Page 18 of Not in the Plans (London Lightning #1)

Chapter Fifteen

TAG

“ Y ou know, I have to say I’m glad your boss is on board with you showing me around.”

Liv rolls her eyes at me. Her arms are wrapped around my waist as I hold on to the strap hanging above my head. Even this time in the afternoon, the tube is packed to the brim with people.

I don’t mind it one bit if it means I’m standing with Liv like this.

“Joe did say to make you feel welcome. I’m only doing as he asked.”

“And it has nothing to do with you liking me?” I quirk a brow at her.

Liv holds her finger and thumb close together. “Only a little.”

Grabbing her hand, I pull her toward me and seal my lips over hers. Damn. I like this woman.

A lot.

The Tube rattles to a stop, and Liv links her hand with mine as the doors open and spit us out. I follow behind her as she leads us through a maze of tunnels before the tower comes into view.

“Well, then. Since you like me only a little, does that mean this is all we’re going to see?”

Liv pulls me close to her, wrapping her arm around me.

With a biting wind blowing through the city, it’s colder than usual.

I didn’t want to waste any time, so threw on the first thing I could find in my closet—a gray turtleneck sweater.

Not the most comfortable, but I don’t need it when I have Liv to keep me warm.

Liv, on the other hand, looks stunning, as usual. In a long camel coat, white blouse, and black pants, her long hair is flowing around her back. I like that she’s not as buttoned-up as she was when we first met.

“Don’t worry, I’ll give you a tour of the inside too. Only since you’re being good.”

“If I’m really good, do I get a tour of you tonight?”

“Tag!” she hisses. A blush creeps up her cheeks that has nothing to do with the cold. “You cannot say things like that in public.”

“What?” I shrug. “It’s true.”

Liv breaks out of my arms and walks over to the ticket booth to pick up our tickets.

We’ve been together a few weeks now. Between work and my travel schedule, we have to take what time together we can find. I’m thankful that we have this time when we can actually have more than just a stolen night together.

As much as I wish my focus could be all on Liv, it can’t be. The team needs me. The season has been up and down. A win here, a loss there. It seems every time the guys start to get the confidence we need to take this thing down the stretch, a team comes in to rattle their determination.

“You ready?” Liv asks.

I nod, finding her hand and following her to the line. I don’t know what it is, but I love touching this woman in all the small ways.

Holding her hand.

Touching her back.

Resting my hand on her waist.

The way she sinks into my hold tells me she loves it as much as I do.

“Alright, so why is this place so historic?”

The iconic stone structure looms large as we pass over the drawbridge. The cobblestone sidewalks are uneven as people stop to take in everything before them.

“It used to be a dungeon. Prisoners?—”

“Oh. I see.”

“See what?” Liv questions as she leads me into an open, green courtyard. Crows are flitting about as people snap photos.

“You brought me here to leave me in the dungeons.”

“Yes. That’s exactly why I decided to bring you here.” I can see her fighting the laugh. “Be lucky I’m not going to behead you.”

“Beheadings happened here?”

She points across my body to an area across the green. “King Henry the Eighth had his second wife beheaded there.”

“Seems very uncivilized of you to behead people.”

“They did it to warn people from betraying their country.” It’s hard to listen to what she’s saying because the sweet cadence of her accent is mesmerizing. “They also housed traitors here. Took them right through there.”

Liv points to another area of the massive space. Tucked away in here, it’s hard to hear the sounds of the city beyond.

“What do you do with traitors now?” I laugh.

“We ship them back to America. ”

“Something equally as uncivilized.”

Liv winks at me and jogs up one of the small hills toward another smaller building. Spinning on her heel, she stops to hold out her hand for me.

An infectious smile sits on her face.

Fuck. My heart clatters around in my chest; I’m so damn happy right now. I haven’t felt like this in a long time.

“I’ll show you my favorite part.”

“I’ve already seen it.”

I don’t need to see another thing to know that Liv is my favorite thing here. Hell, my favorite part about being in London.

“Stop it. C’mon.” She waves me toward her and steers us into a line.

“What’s the line for?”

“The Crown Jewels.”

Once again, Liv dives into the sordid history surrounding them and where they came from.

“How is it you know so much about everything?”

The line shuffles forward and we move with them.

“I paid attention in school.”

“Of course you did. Let me guess—you were always front and center answering all of the teacher’s questions.”

“No. I sat up front, but I did not like being called on.” Liv shakes her head. “Let me guess. You were the class clown?”

“I wasn’t the class clown, but the guys I usually sat with were. Means I had to study extra hard to get passing grades to stay on the hockey team.”

“I always liked studying. If I didn’t go into business, I think I would have made a good university professor.”

We enter the building and I can see more queues of people quietly wrapped around inside .

“I don’t know if I would have been a good student if I were in your class.”

“Why’s that?” Liv asks, crossing her arms. Almost like she’s preparing herself for the answer that’s coming.

“It’d be too hard to learn with a teacher so sexy.”

“I knew you’d say that.”

I lean down and press a kiss to the corner of her mouth. “Glad I’m predictable.”

Liv continues to shower me with facts about the immense place we’re visiting as we weave our way through the lines—both the good and the not so favorable. I could listen to her talk all day about anything and everything.

When did I become so taken with her?

“Oh, look. We’re here!”

The excitement oozes from her as we step onto the moving walkway in the dark room. Overhead lights illuminate a row of glass display cases.

Crowns with deep purple velvet.

Scepters encrusted with diamonds.

Necklaces with gleaming sapphires.

Rings with sparkling rubies.

“Aren’t they gorgeous?”

I drop my chin to her shoulder as we pass by. “Are you hinting that you want me to steal these for you?”

“Tag!” She elbows me in the stomach. “Don’t joke about that.”

“Or what? Will they throw me in the dungeons?”

“If you get arrested, I am not coming to visit you.”

I laugh as our turn ends and we end up in a gift shop filled with trinkets from the tower. “I see where I stand.”

“Poor you.”

We head into the now dull gray afternoon and wander the grounds. It’s the perfect way to spend the day. Clouds start to move in, threatening rain .

“You know what could be a good way to pass the time?” I ask.

“What’s that?”

“Maybe we could go climb the bridge? If you’re okay with it.”

Liv glances at her watch. “It closes soon.”

Linking my hand with hers, I lead us to the exit. “Let’s see if we can do it, okay?”

She smiles back at me. “Lead the way.”