That night, he took my hand after we made love. "How about we run off together?" he asked.

I stared at him, panicked, something in my chest banging around like a butterfly trapped in a net. "What was that?"

He laughed, long and maybe a little uncharitably. "Don't look so panicked darling, come on. I'm not talking about eloping." His voice softened. "No, I'm talking about taking a day off."

"A day off?" I repeated the words like they were in a foreign language.

He nodded. "Yes, a day off. Just the two of us."

I scrambled up to a sitting position, and hugged my knees to my chest. "Oh my god, is that even allowed?" I wondered.

"There's some padding in the schedule. We don't have to be in Buffalo until Tuesday. I checked."

"You do, did you?"

He grinned. "Took matters into my own hands, yeah. Tired of waiting for shit to fall on my head for things to happen with you."

I reached out and tickled his ribs, making him wheeze laughter as he curled into a ball. "I yield!" he cried, batting at my hands.

"Waiting for things to happen, huh? Nothing much has happened yes I guess." I feigned an exasperated huff while looking down at my naked, freshly fucked body.

"Well darling, I had to take matters into my own hands, you know? Lord knows I have to practically kidnap you from the work every night just to have some time with you. So I decided you needed to stop working."

"Oh you decided that, did you now?" I said, reaching for his ribs again.

He chuckled and swatted my hand. "Aren't you always claiming I'm your boss?"

"Only because you are."

He nodded. "Okay then. This is an order. We're taking a day off together."

I hopped up to my knees, so we were eye to eye. Throwing my arms around his neck, I pulled him closer. "Okay boss," I murmured, pressing my forehead to his. I kissed him quick and sweet. "Where are we going?"

There was a devilish gleam in his eyes that hadn't been there a second ago. "I can't tell you," he said. "Now come back here with those lips."

He strained for my mouth again but I ducked away. "I thought you didn't like secrets," I chided him.

He shook his head. "No, this isn't a secret. It's a surprise."

"There's a difference?"

He nodded. "Absolutely."

I settled back onto the bed, cradling my head on my hand as I leaned on my elbow. I regarded him carefully for a second, the way he looked so fucking elated, so happy to be doing something with me, away from all of this. Something inside of me that had been frightened wasn't scared anymore, I felt it literally melting away, like snow on hot pavement. It was there a lot, then a little, then it was gone. "Okay, big guy." I said. "Surprise me. I can't wait."

* * *

The morning of our date dawned cool but promising, the faint whiff of spring hanging in the air like droplets of hope. Niall was quieter than I'd ever seen him He kept grinning at me like he was about to say something, then snapping his mouth shutting and looking away. Like he was afraid of opening up too much, like he'd give the surprise away. He reminded me of a kid on Christmas morning, eager, but nervous.

I knew exactly how he felt. The fact that he'd done something, planned something for the just the two of us. It made me almost... Well, giddy would be the closest word, though I'd never wanted to have that word applied to me before.

As I got ready in his cavernous master bath, I caught a glimpse of my shining eyes in the mirror. Right now, with my shower pinkened cheeks, and excited eyes, I wasn't one of the guys at all. I was all girl, all feminine, all swooning over my man.

Old me would have thought I was pathetic. But right now I just felt lucky.

And happy.

And blissfully in love.

He took my hand without a word, and we walked down to the back entrance of the hotel where a brand-new black Ford pickup was sitting. I shot him an amused glance. "Pick up truck?"

He nodded. "Is not what you all drive in the States?" he teased.

"Wait, you're driving?"

"Of course I am, I can't exactly tell you where were going because then it will ruin the surprise."

"Yeah, I know I don't know where I'm going," I laughed in disbelief. "But I'm guessing you don't know either."

He shook his head. "Untrue. I memorized the directions to get us there."

That samed giddy feeling, the one that made me want to jump around, maybe even do a damned pirouette, made me laugh instead. "You are taking this super seriously," I teased him.

"I absolutely am," he said, leaning down to give me a quick kiss. "Because I'm seriously in love with you." He kissed me again, his smile curving against my mouth. "Right then," he declared. "Let's go."