Page 132 of By His Play

By the time he comes to collect me for our surprise trip out, I’ve almost got everything I might need in Chicago packed.

I’ve always left the necessities here so that when I visit, I don’t need to bring everything with me, and this time is no different. But I’m achingly aware that the next time I’m here, it won’t be to visit Grams. I don’t even know when it’ll be or why I’ll come.

This house is mine. Or at least, it will be once everything has gone through probate. But knowing that she won’t be waiting for me…I shake my head, fighting the emotion that stings the back of my nose.

This time, when Kieran looks around the room, a smile spreads across his mouth. Inside, I might not feel ready to leave, but my suitcase is full.

“Ready?” he asks, holding his hand out for me.

“Sure,” I say before grabbing my purse and walking toward him.

The instant my hand slips into his, warmth rushes up my arm and everything feels a little bit easier.

“You look worried,” he says as his eyes dart around my face.

“I never know what to expect from you,” I confess.

“Isn’t that half the fun of it?”

My stomach flips.

Yeah, I guess it is.

While I’m the safe and predictable one of our duo, he’s the wild one who likes to push my boundaries.

“I’ll take your silence as a yes,” he laughs as he tugs me out of the house and into his car.

He starts the engine before turning to me and placing a flat black box on my lap. “I got you something.”

“Oh,” I breathe, staring down at it as butterflies fill my belly.

I pull the lid off and stare at the contents.

“Uh…”

Reaching out, he pulls the black satin from the box.

“What is it?”

“Can you look out the window for me?”

Confused, I do as I’m told.

The instant the light goes out, understanding hits me.

“Kieran,” I gasp as he ties the blindfold around my head.

“Don’t want to spoil the surprise,” he muses. “Now, sit back and relax.”

With my heart racing, I attempt to do as he says while he drives us to wherever we’re going.

Of all the things he’s done to me over the last few days, cutting off my sight hasn’t been one.

“Eyes on me, Luck.”

I shudder as his words hit me. They’re as clear in my mind as if he just spoke them.

“You okay over there?” he teases.

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