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“You’re here,” she kissed him, savoring his taste, his scent, his feel. Endorphins flooded her body. She floated because gravity had no power over her in his arms.
“Mission accomplished,” Piper’s voice broke into Erin’s fairytale reunion. “Call me later.”
“Wait. You were in on this?” Erin asked as Graham set her feet back on the sand.
“I was. They needed help to find out if you were there or in California. Then you weren’t at the condo.
“And you turned around right before the hearts by the sandcastle.” Graham pointed down the beach. “I rushed down here hoping you wouldn’t see me.”
“Is that why you’re wearing camouflage?” She gripped the front of his uniform top.
“That, and I know how you like a man in uniform.”
“That’s for sure,” Piper said.
“One in particular. Thank you, honey. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Love you. Have Megan send Madison and me the video. Bye.”
“What video?”
“The kids are here. They helped track you and are hiding in the dunes, filming our reunion. The girls said it had to be romantic and memorable. I thought about fast-roping out of a Black Hawk, but I wasn’t sure I could find you, and there’s the whole misappropriation of government resources.” Graham winked.
She laughed. “Iwould love that, but if you had the wrong person, that might have given someone a heart attack. You’ll have to do that for me another time.” Piper’s call, all the questions and requests for pictures of beach houses, and textinga friendmade sense now. “I won’t forget this.” Before she could ask what his being here meant with their “taking a break,” Megan hurried down the boardwalk, followed by Reece. Alex and Jace emerged right behind them—allwearing camouflage jackets.
Megan wrapped Erin in a long, tight hug. “It’s so good to see you.”
“I can’t believe you’re all here.” Erin wiped away more tears.
“We couldn’t send Dad alone on this search and rescue mission.”
“Rescue? What do you mean?”
“From you both being miserable apart,” Megan said.
“Ah. True.” Except Graham was here now, gripping her hand and banishing all the doubts and fears of the past weeks.
“But we need to get off this beach, or we’ll be soaked.” Reece took charge and herded them toward the boardwalk.
They reached the parking lot as heavy raindrops began to fall. Jace and Alex dashed to Graham’s Lexus, but he led her to Reece’s SUV. Graham opened the door and climbed into the backseat next to her.
“Hope it’s okay if we bunk at your place,” Graham said. “I refused to make a plan B. Failing at this mission was not an option.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way.” She leaned over for a kiss that reassured her this was real, not some dream. “How long are you all staying?”
“Just through Monday. I have to get back to work.” Reece eyed Graham in the rear-view mirror.
“Because Dad agreed we could come down but wants alone time with you,” Megan said.
“Can you blame me?” He squeezed Erin’s hand.
The warmth in his eyes banished the chill of the gloomy afternoon. All she’d wanted these past weeks was to be with him. She’d missed everything about him and how he made her feel. After her divorce, she wanted to be independent and not have to answer to anyone. But Graham changed all that. Changed her. Empowered her. Their relationship had also been so different than hers with Phil.
She blended into Graham’s family beautifully, as evidenced by them all coming on this mission. Piper had been involved in this reunion too. And hadn’t she asked Megan to send the video to herand Madison?
Minutes later, they made the mad dash up to the condo through the rain, carrying what they could. Graham set a large cooler on the kitchen counter, and Erin placed a bag of groceries next to it. “The first bedroom has twin beds, and the next has a queen. Work it out without arguing.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Reece answered.
