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“The McKittrick’s have children. Sally would understand. If she were to plead my—or our—case as an ally, that might have some sway with the general and buy you enough time for him to extend your assignment here. It’s worth a shot.”
“I don’t know that she’s aware of what he said it would take for me to stay here, but it wouldn’t hurt to have her on our side. And for her to mention our plans to visit your girls to him. Do you want Madison and Connor to meet us on our trip? Treat them to a few days in Tahoe or wherever we go?”
She mulled it over for a minute. “If we offered to pay their way, she might see it as a bribe. With the short notice, they might not be able to get off work either. Or use that as an excuse for why they couldn’t come. Instead of California, we could meet in Texas and spend a few days there with them.”
“Making it easy for them sounds good.”
“I’ll text her and schedule a video chat tomorrow. Then we can bring up the idea of a visit. And what would you think about going to Europe with me over Christmas?”
“That sounds like the best present I could get.” Graham took her hand and brought it to his lips. With Erin telling him she loved him, Megan’s news, and now Erin wanting him to meet her girls, things were going better than he could have imagined. All they needed was a reprieve from the general, and if anyone could assist there, Sally McKittrick was the ally to make that happen.
ChapterThirty-Six
Graham arrivedhome while Erin pulled clover from the front plant beds. She straightened and dumped a handful of weeds into the yard waste can.
Her heart beat a little faster as Graham walked toward her, wearing that smile that she never got tired of seeing—especially when he aimed it her way. She tapped her earbuds to pause the music.
“I feel guilty that I’m playing golf and you’re doing yard work at my house.”
“Don’t be. I wasn’t in a creative mood.” She pulled off her glove and leaned in closer, resting a hand on his chest, the fabric damp beneath her fingers. “I didn’t trim the hedges.” She nodded toward the Ayers’s house, making him chuckle before he kissed her ardently. “Mmm,”she sighed. Even a salty kiss from a sweaty Graham aroused her. “How was your golf game?”
“I had a great game. I even beat Lundy. Only by one stroke, but it’d been a while. Did you get in touch with Madison?”
“I did. Unfortunately, it didn’t go as well as I’d hoped.”
“What did she say?”
Erin caught the way his mouth tightened. “She was still clinging to the idea that our relationship is purely for research. When I said I wanted her to meet you and explained that things have gotten serious, she wasn’t ready to hear it. Honestly, she was being a brat. So, a video call tonight will not be happening. I’ll give her some time to process it before I bring it up again. And I’m not banking on us going to Texas later this month. Hopefully, she’ll come around before the wedding in October. She’s going to have to accept me moving on sometime.”
“Even if it’s short notice and just a weekend, we can fly there when she’s ready. Are you up for doing dinner with the Mahinises and Lundys tonight?”
“That sounds good. I haven’t even thought about dinner yet.”
“I’ll text them we’re a go. Then, I need to grab a shower.”
“I’m going to need one too.” She wiped the perspiration from her hairline. “You go ahead. I’ll finish the rest of this bed.”
“I was going to get something to drink first. I can wait for you.” The heat in his gaze scorched her as much as the August temperatures.
“I’ll join you in a few.” She needed a pick-me-up after talking with Madison. She started the music again and admired Graham’s muscular legs as he headed inside. No doubt, she was a lucky woman.
A few minutes later, “Under the Sea” interrupted her playlist. She took a deep breath. This could go one of two very different ways. Or it could be Madison butt-dialing her back by accident. That might not be a bad thing, considering their earlier conversation. She tapped her earbud to answer. “Hey, honey.”
“Are you there, Mom? The screen’s black.”
“I didn’t realize it was a video call.” She pulled the phone from her back pocket.
“Are you out walking? I don’t want to disturb you if you’re working.”
“No, I’m at Graham’s house.” She wasn’t going to try to hide it.
“About earlier,” Madison spoke haltingly, “I thought he was just helping with research stuff for your movie. You sprung the dating part on me, and I guess I didn’t take it very well.”
It wasn’t an apology, but at least it was an acknowledgment.
“I talked to Piper. She already knew about you two and said she met him over video chat.”
Despite the accusation leeching into Madison’s tone, Erin didn’t apologize for telling her youngest about her relationship with Graham first. While Piper hadn’t been happy about the divorce, at least she had been supportive.
