Page 153 of My Favorite Hero

She let me pull her to the edge. “Can you step on the ladder, or should I carry you?”

“Um…”

“Carry, it is,” I snapped. “Close your eyes.” I reached over, wrapping an arm around her, and hoisted her onto my shoulder.

“Good form,” the chief called.

“This feels familiar,” she complained. “I still don’t like it.”

“You’re lucky the chief is here, or I’d smack your ass.”

“Don’t stop on my account,” he said merrily.

I climbed down and set her on her feet. She swayed a little, and I put my arm around her, pulling her close. “Jesus, Casey, you’ll be the death of me. I’ll put up the damn lights tomorrow!”

“I wanted to surprise you,” she insisted.

“How’d that work for you?” I snarled.

Chief laughed. “Don’t be too hard on her. I remember when the missus and I were first married. She wanted to decorate everything. She coerced the guys at my station into bringing the truck around for a smoke alarm check, then had them hanging lights on the evergreen tree out front using the ladder. I came home to find four guys in my tree and lights everywhere.”

Casey’s eyes went wide, and she looked at the evergreen by the driveway. “That would look⁠—”

I cut her off, swinging her back on my shoulder. “Nope. Not happening,” I growled. Ignoring her indignant gasp, I shook the chief’s hand. “Thanks. I’ll be right back.”

“Stay here. I’ll send the boys home with your truck. I think you have enough to deal with here.” He guffawed again. “Lou taught this one well.”

He stepped into his truck, still laughing, and drove away.

I swatted Casey’s ass. “You are such trouble, and I’m angry.”

I turned and headed for the house. I swatted her again. “You never learn. You could have been hurt.”

She stayed silent, but I felt her shiver.

In the house, I stood her on her feet. “What were you thinking?” I raged.

“I just wanted to surprise you. I knew I shouldn’t have gone up just before you got here. I was trying to figure out how to get down when you showed up.”

That dampened my anger a little.

She lifted her eyes to mine. “All I felt was relief when I heard your voice. I knew I was safe then.”

All my ire dissipated at the sound of her confession. I pulled her into my arms. “I almost had a heart attack when I saw you.”

“How did you know?”

“Lila called.”

She sniffed. “I’m not making her soup anymore.”

I smiled into her hair, knowing she would.

“I’m sorry.”

I pulled back and kissed her head. “No more. I’ll finish the lights. It’ll take me ten minutes.”

She smiled. “Really? Oh, I love you!” She flung her arms around my neck.