Page 333 of Playing the Pucking Game

He chuckles before kissing my forehead and demanding, “Trust me.”

I huff in fake annoyance as he closes the door. It might appear like I’m sulking, but deep down, I’m excited to see what he’s done.

We’ve only been together a few weeks, but everything has been so incredible. I’m getting to discover city after city with my best friend, while we both do the jobs we were born to do.

The Valentine’s gala was everything I hoped it would be. Linc was right; it wasn’t anything like prom night. It was so much better. By the time we got up to our hotel room, my face and stomach hurt from smiling and laughing so much. But as fun as our friends were, I was so ready for some one-on-one time with my man. And boy, did he deliver. I have no idea who was in the rooms surrounding us, but I probably owe them an apology. And I have no doubt that whatever Linc has planned for tonight will be equally as awesome.

Okay, sure, I am a little concerned that I’m only wearing jeans and a Vipers hoodie, but I trust him. Not that I’m going to tell him that.

“You look cute,” he tells me as he drops into the driver’s seat and starts the engine.

“How far are we going?” I try.

He laughs. “I haven’t kept this secret all this time to ruin it now.”

“Hmm…sounds like a big secret.”

“You have no idea, babe. It’s just about killed me.”

Curious as fuck about what he’s up to, I try my best to relax while he drives to wherever it is we’re going.

It’s roughly thirty minutes later when he brings the car to a stop and kills the engine.

Ideas of what’s half an hour from our apartment run through my head, but none of them feel right.

I really am clueless about this. Whatever he’s planned, he’s done a good job of keeping tight-lipped about it.

We got back in late last night from a road game, and as far as I knew, we were having a chilled evening at home.

“Can I take this off now?”

“Nope.” A blast of fresh air hits me as he climbs out of the car. “Come on,” he says as he takes my hand and tugs me from the car.

With his hands on my waist, he guides me forward.

I take a deep breath through my nose, hoping scents might help me identify my surroundings, but it doesn’t help.

I’m clueless. Utterly clueless.

“Small step,” he instructs.

The sound of distant traffic and the final bird song of the day fade as we head inside a building.

The scent is familiar, but I can’t quite pinpoint it.

“That’s it. Keep going,” he says softly.

We take a few more steps before he brings me to a stop.

My heart thunders in my chest as I try to figure this out.

“Okay. Are you ready?”

“I literally have no idea.”

Silence greets my comment.

“Three,” Linc starts, his fingers hooking beneath the elastic around my head. “Two,” he teases. “One.”