Page 116 of Not Faking it with the Colonel

“I am. And I already have your daughters’ blessings.”

“The answer is yes.”

“You don’t need time to think about it?” He grinned as he stared into her eyes.

“I’ve already thought about it. There’s nothing I want more than to spend my future with you—as your wife.” She would have gone to Colorado with him, but she didn’t mind the longer flights between LA and North Carolina, especially with how much Graham loved the work he’d begun with his new position in the Special Warfare training group. And, of course, he was looking forward to spending time with a grandbaby and his kids.

She’d hoped he’d propose soon after meeting Piper, even on this trip so that the entire family could celebrate the news together. The timing was perfect. And so was their kiss. Their first kiss as an engaged couple sent the same flutters through her as their very first kiss.

“How would you feel about making it a destination wedding? Here.”

“I’d love that, except a spring wedding here isn’t going to work with Megan about to have a baby then, and I don’t want to wait over a year.”

“Neither do I. How about a New Year’s Eve wedding?”

“Tomorrow? You’re serious?” He certainly looked serious.

“It just so happens that Tommaso is ordained to officiate weddings. We’d still have to legally marry in the States, but the family is here now.”

He was right. Her extended friends and family didn’t need to witness their vows. Graham had quickly won over at Thanksgiving—after they got past the initial shock that she was involved with a widowed Army colonel who’d romanced her via social media. And she didn’t want to wait. Or stress about a wedding. It was the marriage she wanted. “Let’s do it.”

“I was hoping you’d say that.” He kissed her again. A kiss filled with so much promise.

“Let’s tell the kids.” The goosebumps on her arms were from excitement, not the cold.

Rather than sitting around the dining table shuffling cards as she expected, the kids all lingered close to the glass doors, wearing guilty and anticipatory smiles.

“She said yes,” Graham told them. “And we are getting married here tomorrow.” His announcement brought smiles, cheers, and applause from everyone in the room.

Tommaso peeked in, and Graham gave him a thumbs up.

“The photographer comes at two. The wedding is at three. Then we go get pictures at the best spot for the sunset.” The way Tommaso rattled off the wedding day schedule talking with his hands in his Italian accent, clearly, he and Graham had been planning this. “Then we have a wedding feast. And there will be fireworks.”

“Do you have a jeweler on standby for the rings too?” Erin teased.

“I’ve already got those taken care of,” Graham said.

“It’s a good thing I said yes. You all might have flipped the script on having a shotgun wedding.”

“M-4 instead of shotgun,” Reece deadpanned.

Megan groaned and shook her head.

“And you’re not faking it because General Miller wants you married now, right?” Reece continued.

“I never had to fake anything with Erin. Well, other than the breakup,” Graham stated. “Do you realize Bryson’s team deploys in two weeks? We would have met McKittrick’s deadline.”

“I like that this is our own decision and whatwewant. And have the support of the people who matter.” She took in the faces of their about-to-be-blended family.

“Send McKittrick a wedding announcement. Maybe they’ll send you a gift.” Jace didn’t come close to sounding sincere.

“I already got my gift.” Graham hugged Erin to his side and kissed her temple. “If McKittrick hadn’t threatened to transfer me, we probably wouldn’t have met. Maybe Iowehim a gift.”

“Instead of announcements, I’ll change my Facebook status,” Erin joked. “Maybe Sally will see that before we get home and tell Sean.”

“You can change your status too, Dad.” Megan couldn’t keep a straight face.

“Maybe I will. But the only picture I’ll be putting up is of me with mywife.”

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