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“When in the hell did you make coffee?”

She grins, shaking her head at me. “It’s set on a timer so I don’t have to deal with bullshit in the morning.”

“Shit, I forgot how grumpy you get in the A.M.,” I shoot back with a laugh and she shakes her head again. With the steaming cup in her hands, she walks across the kitchen and sits cross legged on one of the dining room chairs. I arch a brow as I start opening cupboards, looking for a pan to cook in. She points one out. “Next to the stove.”

I open the cupboard she mentioned and grab the pan. “Thanks.”

She nods in response and I grin as I set the pan on the stove.

“Now, what were you saying about a sex dream?”

Laughing, she rolls her eyes. “I didn’t have a sex dream, you pervert. I had a dream about that little vacation we took to South Carolina right before you deployed. Do you remember it?”

About two weeks before I deployed, I took leave and Piper and I went down to Charleston for a little getaway, something to remember during the year we were going to be apart and we spent five days on the beach or in bed, loving on each other and wishing we didn’t have to go back. I glance over at her and nod.

“Yeah, I do.”

She smiles. “We should do it again someday.”

“Yeah,” I agree as I open the carton and grab an egg. That trip was amazing and by the time we got back, Piper and I were so connected that I had no doubt in my mind that we were going to make it. Too bad I never saw the storm coming until it was too late. Just as I’m about to crack the egg over the pan, I turn to her.

“We should do it.”

She rolls her eyes. “I know. I just said that. Geez, pay attention, Landry.”

“I was paying attention, Pip.” I glare at her playfully as I set the egg back down in the carton and walk over to her. As I sink into the chair next to her, I grab her hands. “I’m saying let’s go back now.”

“We can’t just go back now.”

“Why not?”

Her gaze flicks up to the clock above the sink. “Because I have to be at work in an hour.”

“Yeah, but, do you, though?” I ask. “You are your own boss and I think Eden would understand if you bailed for a few days to spend time with your husband.”

“Don’t you dare use Eden’s obsession with getting us back together to your advantage,” she grumbles, her eyes betraying her mood. As much as she wants to be a responsible business owner and partner to Eden, she knows this sounds like a damn good idea. We can get to know each other again and really talk about everything. By the time we get back, we’ll be unbreakable.

“Come on, baby,” I urge, squeezing her hands between mine before leaning forward and cupping her cheek. “We need this.”

She sighs.

“Okay. Only because you look so pitiful when you beg.” She leans forward and kisses me before standing up. “I’ll call Eden and get her to cover or reschedule my shoots for the next three days if you’ll find us a house on the beach to rent.”

I nod. “Deal.”

Flashing me a huge grin, she jumps up to go grab her phone and as I watch her walk away, a feeling of peace settles inside me. This trip is going to be perfect and by the time we get back, that fear I see in her eyes will be gone, banished from our lives forever.