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“It is. Does it show?” Erin asked.
“Just in the way you keep eyeing Graham. Seeing them in the mess dress uniform doesn’t get old.” Becky gave a knowing smile. “I hope it won’t be your last ball.”
“Me either.” And she meant that with her whole heart. Whenever she pictured her future, Graham was in it.
Next, Graham introduced her to the guest speaker, retired Colonel Bailey and his wife. After greeting the McKittricks, they took their place in the receiving line. Erin was impressed that Graham knew the name of every man under his command as they shook hands and spoke with hundreds of soldiers for the next half hour. From the time she’d spent with Graham and John Bryson’s team, she could pick out the operators by how they stood and presented themselves with their quiet professionalism.
John and Elizabeth Bryson brought up the rear of the line.
“Did you bribe somebody to put us at the colonel’s table?” Bryson teased and leaned in for a hug.
“I just asked nicely.” Right after Graham informed her that since McKittrick had extended an invitation to the Ayers, and they’d be seated at the same table. With the Mahinises and Brysons there, she could get through dinner at the same table with Noelle. Maybe this would be an opportunity to get to know each other and find things in common to become friends—or at least reach a ceasefire agreement. It could happen. While she didn’t have a fairy godmother, this week felt like the culmination of a fairy tale after things had gone so well in California, both with the filming and trip with Graham.
With their formal receiving line duties completed, Erin and Graham followed the Brysons to their table, where the Ayers were already seated. Noelle’s gaze flicked up, and she gave a tight-lipped smile.
“How was the honeymoon?” Erin asked the Brysons.
“It was wonderful. We started in Paris, then hit the wine country and Normandy,” Elizabeth answered. “After France, we took the train to Italy and toured Rome, then Positano.”
“I’d like to take Erin to the Amalfi coast after we go to Spain to see her daughter,” Graham said.
“You’ll love it,” Elizabeth promised. “The scenery was breathtaking, and the food was amazing.”
“Pete and Noelle, this is Elizabeth and Captain John Bryson,” Graham made introductions.
“Captain?” Noelle’s gaze drifted to the name plates as if to point out that the rest of the men at the table were all colonels.
“Yes, ma’am.” Bryson appeared unfazed. “My team was the one Erin observed for research for her TV series.”
“TV series?” Noelle’s voice rose, her interest piqued.
“I got lucky with that,” Erin said. “My original request to observe a Special Ops team got turned down.” If it had been approved, she likely would have never met Graham.
“That wasn’t my doing.” Graham eyed Mahinis.
Mahinis gave a nonchalant shrug.
“Any updates on the project?” Elizabeth asked.
Erin hadn’t exactly wanted to talk about the series with Noelle, but the Brysons had no way of knowing that. “They filmed the pilot. Now we wait to see if it gets picked up.”
“Is this a documentary or series about the USO?” Pete Ayers asked.
“It’s fiction. A military action series involving a Special Ops team and aviators.”
“Really? Oh.” Pete’s eyebrows rose, and he looked at Graham.
“What’syourrole?” Noelle asked.
“The series is based on my idea. I wrote the pilot and hope to write for the series.”
“You’re writing about military men and missions?” Noelle didn’t quite hide her amusement with a finger to her lips. “Will you be moving to Hollywood then?”
“I’ll be spending some time out there.”
“That’s exciting. Good luck with that.” Noelle’s smile bordered on a smirk.
“Thank you.” Erin doubted Noelle was sincere, but this wasn’t the time or place to let the woman get under her skin.
