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Spending time with Phil before Piper left for Spain had gone about as she anticipated. There’d been some awkwardness—like when he questioned why Erin was spending the night at Lanie’s instead of in Madison’s old room.Because we’re divorcedseemed like the obvious answer, but she’d made an excuse about needing to work out details for the upcoming bridal shower she and friends were hosting.
His micromanaging Piper about packing and safety had Piper stressed and asking if she could stay with Lanie as well. A little distance from her dad could be good for her. She could make her own decisions, good or bad, and grow from them. Erin wished she’d had that opportunity at Piper’s age. Better to learn that independence later than never.
After feeding the cats, she rummaged in the fridge for something appealing for a late dinner. When her phone dinged with an incoming message, she glanced at the microwave’s clock. Phil had started a new family chat group for Piper to post updates and pictures. Though Piper’s flight didn’t land in Barcelona for another hour, Erin expected Phil had already sent a reminder for Piper to text when she arrived at the hotel for the start of her organized tour.
Instead, it was a message from Graham Holmstrom.
Erin’s heart beat faster seeing his name. She hadn’t expected to hear from him after their dinner date, considering his reaction to learning her main purpose of moving to Fayetteville was to hang out with operators. Men under his command. She couldn’t blame him for thinking their meeting was a setup. Not that she could have managed that.
Twice, she read the message asking if she was free for dinner this week. It had been twelve days. Why was he reaching out now? Had he typed it earlier and forgotten to hit send? Or had he sent it to the wrong person? That would be embarrassing—for both of them. If not, what did it mean that he’d texted instead of calling? Was that just how dating was done these days?
Or was there some remote chance he was considering letting her observe a Special Ops team? Maybe it was a good thing he hadn’t called since she couldn’t put two words together, and her mouth went completely dry over that prospect.
I’d love to, she typed. No. Love was not the right word.Sounds good?No.I’d enjoy that? Better. She typed that.
Should she wait for him to reply again in case he sent anOops. I sent it to the wrong number message? No. Be the confident Erin.
I’ve been craving Mexican food. Know of a good place? I have plans on Thursday.
She added the last part hoping she wouldn’t sound pathetic or desperate sitting here every night.
If Monday at 1800 works, I like Mi Casita. I can pick you up, or we can meet there.
That he replied right back and chose tomorrow rather than pushing it out later in the week made her feel like a schoolgirl.
Meet you tomorrow at 6.
He texted back with an address and smiley face emoji.
A smiley face? She hadn’t expected that from a West Pointer. Or the commander of 3rdSpecial Forces Group.
She knew better than to get her hopes up, but she couldn’t stop smiling or dispel the giddy feeling about seeing Graham tomorrow night. With him knowing about the TV series, it couldn’t go worse than last time, right?
ChapterTen
Graham saton the bench next to the Mi Casita hostess stand, waiting for Erin. Even though he’d had tacos last night at Megan’s, he didn’t have a problem eating Mexican food two nights in a row. Not when it was with Erin. If that connection he’d experienced on their last date was still there, his plan could work and get them both what they needed.
Graham tapped his phone’s screen. 1805. There wasn’t a text, and she wasn’ttoolate. When the door opened, his head jerked up. A couple in their twenties entered, and Graham went back to waiting. He’d been on many a mission that involved days of waiting. Somehow this seemed harder.
When the restaurant door opened again, Erin entered.
Graham surged to his feet.
“Hi.” Her smile had an electrifying effect on him. “Sorry that I’m late. I’m still learning my way around here and didn’t realize until I put the address in the GPS that I was thinking of the wrong location.”
“No worries.” He debated if he should hug Erin.
“Are you ready to be seated?” The hostess interrupted the moment.
“After you.” He motioned for Erin to follow the hostess.
Once seated and the hostess departed, Graham thanked Erin for coming.
“You had good timing. I went to Charlotte over the weekend to see Piper off to Spain and can use the distraction.”
“It’s hard to have them that far away. You said she’s going to be there a year?”
“Almost. She’s doing a four-week tour of Europe first. Then, she’ll take one class in their summer session before going full-time this fall. I try not to be a helicopter parent, but she suffers from anxiety, so this is makingmeanxious about having her that far away for so long. With school out and the class I’m teaching not starting for a few more weeks, I’ve got too much free time to worry about how she’s doing. Her father got us both worked up with his repeated warnings about safety and everything that could happen.”
