She typed back: "That's because I actually use seasoning. Miss you too."
The response came immediately. "When do you land?"
"Three hours. Meet you at the usual spot?"
"Wouldn't miss it."
Mara set the phone down and stretched, feeling the familiar mix of anticipation and contentment that came with knowing she'd see Logan today. Six months of figuring out how to make long distance work. Six months of stolen weekends and careful planning and learning how to balance two demanding careers with a relationship that mattered more than either of them had expected.
It hadn't been easy. But it had been worth it.
She got up and started packing. The mission in Houston had wrapped up two days ago. Four women extracted from a trafficking ring operating out of a massage parlor. Clean operation. Everyone safe. Now she was heading to North Carolina for a long weekend with Logan before his team deployed again.
They'd developed a rhythm over the months. Video calls every night when possible. Texts throughout the day when they couldn't talk. Visits every two to three weeks, alternating between Louisiana and North Carolina. Sometimes Logan would fly down to L'Abri Sûr and spend time with her team. Sometimes Mara would go to Fort Liberty and integrate herself into Logan's world. They'd learned to exist in both spaces, supporting each other's work while building something that was just theirs.
The flight to Raleigh was smooth. Mara landed at 1300 and found Logan waiting at arrivals like always. He looked good. Relaxed. Happy. The tension he'd carried for years had eased over the last six months. He claimed it was because he'd learned to actually take leave instead of working nonstop. Mara suspected it had more to do with having something worth coming home to.
"Hey beautiful," he said, pulling her into a kiss that made the elderly couple next to them smile.
"Hey yourself." Mara leaned into him, breathing in the scent of his cologne. "How was training?"
"Brutal. Hawk's got us running scenarios for the deployment. New guys are shaping up but they've still got a lot to learn." Logan took her bag and they headed for the parking lot. "How was Houston?"
"Good. All four women are safe. Local contacts are helping them get situated. Quinn's already tracking three more potential targets in the same region." Mara slid into the passenger seat ofLogan's truck. "Sloane wants to schedule a follow-up operation in three weeks."
"You'll be back at L'Abri Sûr by then?"
"Should be. Unless something urgent comes up." Mara reached over and took his hand. "What about you? When do you deploy?"
"Two weeks. Afghanistan this time. Probably four to six weeks in-country." Logan's thumb traced circles on her wrist. "I know the timing's not great."
"The timing's never great. That's just part of what we do." Mara squeezed his hand. "We knew this was the deal when we decided to make it work. Deployments happen. Operations happen. We adapt."
They'd had this conversation before. Multiple times. The reality of their careers meant that sometimes weeks would pass without seeing each other. Without even being able to talk. But they'd learned to handle it. Learned to trust that the relationship would survive the distance because the foundation was solid.
Logan drove them to his place off base. Small apartment. Neat. Organized. Very much a reflection of twenty years of military discipline. Mara had slowly added touches over the months. A blanket on the couch. Photos on the bookshelf. Evidence that someone other than Logan lived here part-time.
"I'm cooking tonight," Logan announced, dropping her bag in the bedroom. "Real food. Not DFAC garbage."
"What are we having?"
"Steak. Baked potatoes. Salad. The works." He pulled her close, hands settling on her waist. "But first, I'm going to kiss you properly. Without an audience. Without worrying about airport security giving us looks."
"I'm not complaining about that plan."
They made it halfway to the bedroom before Logan's phone rang. He groaned and checked the screen. "It's Hawk. I have to take this."
"Go. I'll unpack."
Logan answered the call and moved to the living room. Mara could hear the low murmur of his voice discussing training schedules and deployment logistics. She unpacked methodically, hanging up the few clothes she'd brought, placing her toiletries in the bathroom that had slowly accumulated her things over months of visits.
This was their life now. Stolen moments between missions. Phone calls interrupted by work. Deployments that meant weeks of silence. But also homecomings. Also reunions. Also the knowledge that someone understood exactly what the work cost and chose to be there anyway.
Logan came back looking apologetic. "Hawk needs me on base for two hours. Training thing with the new guys. I tried to get out of it but?—"
"But you can't. I know." Mara kissed him. "Go. I'll be here when you get back. I brought work anyway. Quinn sent me files to review for the next operation."
"You sure?"
