Page 80 of Not Faking it with the Colonel

“I’ll get back to you today,” Erin promised before Ian ended the call. “I can hardly breathe,” she told Megan.

“I’m not surprised. I knew as much as Dad and Reece loved the scripts, it had to be fabulous.”

“Will you be okay if I’m gone next week?” With Reece at work, Erin had spent the past few days with Megan. Although her headache and fatigue had abated, she still had to limit her physical activity.

“Yes! If needed, Alex can help, or Reece can take off work. Heck, I’d have Aunt Sharon come before I’d let you miss this opportunity because of me.” Megan hugged her awkwardly from her position beside Erin on the bed. “Now stand so I can see this dress on you to decide if you’re wearing it for the ball or the Academy Awards.”

* * *

Rather than tellGraham the news over the phone, Erin headed to his house to wait for him. Of course, Noelle came out to walk her dog the second Erin pulled into Graham’s driveway. It was like the woman had a radar lock on Erin or an Intel unit tracking her car, but she was in too good a mood to take evasive action.

“Colonel Holmstrom’s not home yet,” Noelle stated as if Erin couldn’t see that his car wasn’t there.

She used the key Graham had given her to unlock the door but decided not to even joke that Noelle didn’t need to call the MPs about somebody breaking into his house. Better not to give her any ideas.

“Did everything go well with Megan today?” Graham asked when he arrived home.

“Yes, the headache’s completely gone. And we had fun trying on the dresses that arrived. She’s picked hers for the ball, and I think I have too.” The bright blue dress made her feel beautiful, and it was now her lucky dress since she had been wearing it when Ian called.

“And do I get to see you in it before then?” Graham raised his eyebrows in a way that made her heart race and her skin heat.

“No, I’d rather wait for the big reveal.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“Fine. Let me change into something cooler. Did you get any writing done?”

She followed him upstairs. “A little this morning before we tried on dresses. However, Ian called.” She proceeded to fill him in on the phone call. “It’s still not a sure thing, but getting the pilot ordered would be huge. That Levi wants to see more scripts frommemeans there’s a good shot at becoming one of the primary writers for the series.”

“That’s fantastic.” He wrapped her in a hug. “Congratulations. I know you’ve worked hard for this. Based on what I’ve read, they’d be fools not to bring you on as a writer and advisor.”

“I know this is short notice, but is there any way you could go to California with me next week?”

The grimace on his face told her his answer before he even spoke.

“While I’d love to make the trip with you, I should have clarified earlier that I don’t have free reign. I’d have to run it past public affairs before I could talk with producers, even unofficially. It would also require bringing a public affairs or Pentagon movie liaison officer along.”

She’d known how hard it was to get access to the team, and that the use of military vehicles required approval, but she hadn’t known all that.

“In addition to things I have scheduled next week, we couldn’t get approval that quickly.”

“I knew it was a long shot. I thought it might hold some sway if I showed up with my sexy Special Ops boyfriend.” She kept it light, eyeing him as he removed his uniform.

“I don’t think I will have the same effect on them as I do on you.” He broke into that endearingly bashful grin.

That was probably true. And thinking it through, if Ian and his boss knew she was in a romantic relationship that would end soon, it might hurt her case rather than make it stronger.

“Thanks for understanding. It’s not that I don’t want to support you. The Army just has lots of rules and regulations when it comes to dealing with the media. But I certainly would like to take you out to celebrate.”

She closed the distance between them. “How about we celebratebeforewe do dinner?”

ChapterThirty-Four

Graham knocked before enteringthe code to unlock the condo door.

“You’re early.” Erin remained on the couch with Smokey on her lap.

---