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With his paws on John’s chest, Boss licked John’s face. “It’s good to see you, boy, but I need to see Elizabeth. Come on.”
“Captain.” Cruz pointed to the ground.
“I’ve got something better to kiss first.” He had a new and far better tradition to start. He strode past his men with Boss at his heels. Elizabeth worked her way to the front of the crowd. When John broke into a jog, she surged forward.
He lifted her into his arms and crushed her warm, soft body to his a mere second before his mouth claimed hers in needy, possessive kisses. “You’re here. How did you know?” he stopped kissing her long enough to ask.
“I made a few phone calls. Once I finally got in touch with Debbie from the Family Readiness Group for Charlie Company, she agreed that Boss and I needed to be here and added me to the notification list. I know you like surprises.”
“Best surprise ever.” He kissed her again.
“Well, I have another surprise. Wren’s still in your house.”
“That’s not a huge surprise.” He set Elizabeth down. “You’re not saying . . .”
“You’re going to have to stay with me. At least for a few days—probably longer.”
“ThatI will gladly do. I’d rather not move back into a tiny home all alone.”
“You’d have Boss. Maybe.”
“Maybe?” He hitched an eyebrow at the woman he loved.
“I’d lure him to my place with treats to get you to come over.”
He laughed and lowered his mouth near her ear. “Darlin’, you don’t need to resort to using our dog. I’ll come anytime.” He winked, and her cheeks grew pink. “There’s a tradition I need to perform so these guys will go home. Then, you can take me home.”
He turned to face the men. They watched him drop to his knees and touch his lips to the asphalt. He popped to his feet to cheers and laughter.
Elizabeth smiled, shaking her head at him. He wiped his sleeve across his mouth before kissing her again. This homecoming beat any scenario he’d envisioned.
ChapterSixty-Three
STUCK LIKE GLUE – Sugarland
For once,Elizabeth was up before John. After the deployment and travel and last night’s lovemaking, he deserved to sleep past sunrise. She lay beside him, studying him for another minute before slipping quietly from the room.
She thought he would suspect, even anticipate, that she’d be at the airfield yesterday, despite the fact he hadn’t told her anything more specific than he’d be home ‘soon.’ She’d tried not to overanalyze that he had a mission and couldn’t video chat last week—and hadn’t rescheduled. But she’d been determined to get as close as possible to his ultimate Bucket List experience. Boss was like his child, after all.
She’d pulled off that surprise. John also loved the American flags she’d placed along the front of her property and the welcome home banner hanging from the fence. She had one more surprise—an even bigger one for a little later.
First, she set about fixing a breakfast fit for a hero. Bacon, fruit, eggs, fried potatoes, and premium coffee. She might be going a bit overboard, but she hadn’t cooked for him for months.
“You’ve been a very good boy,” she said to Boss when she had nearly everything prepared. She’d fed him before getting out the bacon, but he’d taken up station next to her the moment she’d opened the package. She took the cooked bacon out of the air fryer and gave him a piece. It disappeared in a flash, and he pleaded for more with his big eyes. “You didn’t even bother to taste it. One more. Then you have to wait for John.” She held out a second piece.
Instead of devouring it, Boss took it gently in his mouth and headed toward the stairs.
“Wait. Don’t wake him.” She grabbed another piece as a bribe.
Before she could stop him, Boss had pushed open the bedroom door. He stood at the side of the bed after laying the bacon near John’s face.
John sniffed and opened one sleepy eye.
“Here, Boss.” She motioned to him and waved the bacon until he came. She closed the door this time and went back to finish cooking.
It wasn’t long before John shuffled up behind her. She turned the heat up to cook the eggs. He wrapped his arms around her and held her against his aroused body.
“Good morning.” She turned her head, accepting his kiss on her cheek. “Sorry about Boss waking you.”
