His olive complexion glowed with healthy exertion. His hooded National Guard sweatshirt and track pants covered all the hard plains of his body, every inch earned with hard work and dedication.
“No. You look like you could breeze through a half marathon if you wanted to.”
“Damn right. And stop worrying. You two have what it takes to make it.
“I love you, Aldo.”
Surprise lit his eyes.
“Not likethat.” Harper rolled her eyes. “You’re the closest thing to a brother that I’ve ever had and I love you.”
“Well, shit. I love you, too, Harpsichord,” he said, gruffly.
“Don’t say it because I said it!” She punched him in the arm.
Aldo put her in a headlock and ruffled her hair. “I didn’t, dummy. You’re the little sister I never wanted.”
They started forward, slowly working their way back up to speed. “So, you planning to surprise Luke when he comes home?”
Harper snorted. “Can you think of anything he’d hate more? No. In fact, he told me he doesn’t even want me to meet the bus. He wants to meet me at the house.”
“You know why he wants it that way.”
Harper sighed. “I do. But it still hurts my heart to think of him coming home with no one there to greet him. It’s been so long. I don’t want to waste the time it would take him to drive home. Ever since he told me that he’s coming home, every second feels like half an hour. I just want him here. I want to look into his eyes and ...”
They broke through the woods just as the sun began its climb over the trees. A lone figure in fatigues stood facing them, his back to the spectacular sunrise.
“No,” Harper whispered, shaking her head. Shock flooded her system. “I...”
He opened his arms and Harper was in motion, sprinting to him.
He was running, too now, and they collided in mid-air. Luke boosted her up, clutching her to him. Harper wrapped her legs around his waist and cupped his face in her hands.
“Is it really you? Are you really here?”
She drank in the hazel eyes, the long lashes, the strong cheekbones, the growth of stubble on his perfect jaw.
“I’m home, baby,” his voice was rough and raspy.
A sob escaped her and then Luke was pulling her in. His mouth found hers in a kiss laced with a frantic need and possession. The lick of flame swept through her as Luke’s tongue met hers. Alive. That’s how she felt with his hands on her.
She couldn’t breathe anything but his air. Didn’t want anything else. She had everything she needed in this moment.
Harper tasted salt and realized it was her own tears.
A whimper worked its way free from the back of her throat, and Luke groaned, slowly retreating from the kiss with her lower lip between his teeth. Her hands fisted in his collar to keep him close. His grip on her ass tightened.
Harper moved to kiss him again but the clearing of a throat stalled her.
“You guys are ruining my view of a perfect sunrise,” Aldo teased.
Luke let Harper slide down his body, but he kept her anchored to his side.
“You knew and you didn’t say a freaking word!” Harper smacked Aldo on the arm.
He grinned. “Surprise!”
“Thanks, man,” Luke said, wrapping his friend in a one-armed man hug.
