Page 64 of Not Faking it with the Colonel

“Maybe.” Definitely.

“Subtle, but effective.” Graham grinned. “I checked to see if I still had one of those little Bundt cakes left to bring in, but I thought that might be obvious.”

“We can try that another time. But . . .” She shifted to straddle him and looped her arms around the back of his neck.

He let out a cross between a happy moan and a sigh.

She took his left hand from her hip and raised it to her mouth while staring into his eyes. His thumb toyed with her lower lip. Her tongue swirled and stroked. Then she lightly clamped his thumb with her teeth. His pupils dilated, and his breathing deepened. His other hand covered her breast. When he pinched her nipple, a needy moan escaped, and she pressed against his erection. Having this effect on him was empowering.

She released his thumb and kissed his mouth. Had she ever been this aroused? Only a month ago, she wouldn’t have wagered on ever having sex again. Now, here she was, initiating it and practically begging him to make love to her. It’s a good thing he never made her beg—for anything.

ChapterTwenty-Seven

Graham slowly openedthe sliding barn door between the bedroom and bath. Erin was still asleep. Rather than wake her, he slipped downstairs.

While the coffee brewed, he wrote a note inviting her to stay if she wanted and left a spare house key with the note. Then he snagged a protein bar and hurried to the golf course.

“I overslept.” He stowed his clubs on the back of the golf cart.

“You’re notofficiallylate.” Ed Lundy checked his aviator watch and cracked a grin. As usual, he wore a golf shirt and hat with embroidered helicopters. Maybe Graham could get an extra hat from Lundy’s unit’s golf tournament for Erin.

Graham sat next to John Mahinis, the serious commander of the elite Delta unit.

“Late night? Good night?” Mahinis asked dryly.

“Both.”

Mahinis stroked his chin as a subtle way of telling Graham he noticed that he hadn’t shaved.

“It’s the weekend.” Graham tried to downplay it.

“Earlier this week, Dianne and I were out walking and ran into—or were ambushed by—Noelle walking her dog. She claimed she’d just been thinking how we should go out for dinner together and how our dinner group had been so much fun.”

“The dinner group we stopped having because of her?”

“Exactly. It was just an excuse for her to bring up how she’s surprised you’re dating already. She asked Dianne if she’d noticed your friend’s car being parked at your house or yours being MIA all night. Dianne claimed she hadn’t noticed. She had.”

“Does Noelle not have anything better to do than gossip about me?”

“She was expecting support from Dianne since she and Bethann were so close. Dianne did ask if I knew how you two met.”

“Erin volunteers with the USO.” Graham left it at that.

Mahinis stopped the cart at the first tee box. “Wait. USO? Is this the same Erin that was observing one of your teams?”

“How do you know about that?”

“My guys did that defensive driving course with one of your teams. They mentioned she was there and something about research for a television series she’s writing. They wondered how she got approved for that. Guess I know now.” Mahinis grinned.

“McKittrick signed off on her observing the team.”

“He did? What’s in it for him?”

Graham laughed, got out of the cart, and pulled his driver from his bag rather than answer. Though he trusted his friend, Graham wouldn’t get into his dilemma even if Mahinis didn’t report to McKittrick.

“What do you know about the TV series?” Mahinis asked while they waited for the foursome ahead to move on.

“What series?” Lundy asked.

---