Page 203 of Sins of Innocence

We have a lifetime for me to show him.

He carries me through the lobby like the six-foot-three Albanian-Irish mountain he is while I smile apologetically at the concierge.

"I'm perfectly capable of walking." But I tighten my arms around his neck.

Yes, I am the reigning queen of mixed messages. And he loves that about me. It makes him smile and that is always a win for me.

"Didn't say you weren't."

It's hard to keep the grin off my face when I pretend to scold him. "You know repeatedly kidnapping your wife probably sends a bad message."

"It sends the right one."

"Oh yeah?" I tease. "What's that?" As if I don't know. But my inner hussy likes hearing it.

So does my heart.

"Mine."

"Saying that should not make me feel squishy inside," I tell him ruefully.

He settles me into the back seat of our good as new armored SUV, and buckles my seat belt himself. "Saying it makes me feel squishy, so I think it's a good thing."

Moments like this, when my taciturn and tarnished hero says sweet stuff in whole sentences fill my heart to overflowing. "I'm so glad Mick sent you to get me that day."

"Me too." The emotion in his voice is a gift I'll never take for granted. "I would hate to have the death of one of my brothers on my conscience if he'd met you first."

His assumption that any man would be as instantly obsessed with me as he was does a lot for my ego. And my ovaries.

When he's buckled in his own seat, Noah at the wheel (because Kieran wants me in the safest seat since the t-bone and I refuse to sit in the back without him), I ask, "Are you going to tell me where we're going?"

"No."

"Where are we going, Noah?" I ask with a saucy look for my husband.

Noah laughs. "It's not worth what would happen to me if I told you."

"Kieran isn't going to punish you for telling me," I say with false conviction.

Everyone in this car knows that might well be a lie.

"I wasn't talking about the boss. Your girls would kill me dead for ruining their surprise."

My grin is back. Because I'm happy.

So very happy.

Nevertheless, I manage a pout when I say, "I feel communication has broken down in this marriage."

"No, you don't." Kieran's eyes sparkle.

Sparkle! With humor. The guy Ellie thought didn't know how to smile.

"You don't get to tell me how I feel," I snark, repeating one of our family edicts.

"I do if you're being a brat and pretending to feel something you don't," he counters, gaze still filled with humor.

"I love you, Kieran Veseli. Even if you won't tell me where we're going."