Chapter Nineteen
It was four thirteen in the morning when the plane landed at LAX. Allison had lost a few hours with time zones. If miracles had happened and her prayers had been heard, Birch would be okay, Bermuda would have Birch waiting with her outside the airport, and he wouldn’t be upset with her. The last thing she’d heard from Bermuda as she waited at the airport at eight thirty p.m. was that Birch was hurt, but it wasn’t serious, and Bermuda was almost to the Air Force hospital two hours east of L.A.
She prayed again, grabbed her carry-on, and followed the crowd off the plane. She popped in a breath mint and put on cinnamint lip gloss as she rushed through the airport. Excitement built inside her. Birch might really be here. The nightmare of missing him and worrying if he’d seen, and even worse believed, Jeremiah’s stunt could be over soon. Most importantly she could be in his arms.
She burst through the sliding glass doors. It was a chilly December morning, maybe fifty degrees, and she’d left seventy-five in Kauai. She didn’t care about the cold—she only wanted Birch. Only a few cars and one bus were waiting. She darted around, looking, looking, then a car door opened and slammed about fifty feet away.
Allison started that direction and then the figure came clearly into view—tall, strong, handsome. Her Birch.
“Birch!” she screamed, yanking her suitcase along as she ran to him.
He jogged her direction, a smile lighting up his handsome face. “Ally.”
As they reached each other he wrapped her up tight and didn’t waste any time kissing her deeply and thoroughly. When they pulled back they were both gasping for air.
“You do know how to say hello to a girl,” Allison said.
Birch chuckled. “I’ve missed you.”
“Nowhere close to as much as I’ve missed you.” But she had to know. “You don’t believe the lies Jeremiah spouted and that picture?”
Birch shook his head, his gaze steady on her. “Jeremiah is a conniving idiot. I would never believe any lies about you. Though I wish I could scrub that picture from my mind.” He winced as he said that.
“We’ll make better pictures in your mind, love.”
He smiled and softly kissed her. “I’m holding you to that.”
Allison’s eyes stung from withheld tears. She blinked quickly. She didn’t want to cry, she wanted to love Birch. “So you’re okay with trusting, and loving, an actress?”
He nodded solemnly. “Blade appeared to me.”
Her eyes widened.
“A dream as I was waking from being injured. He said that was my sign, that you were the right one.”
Allison couldn’t hide the tears now and they traced down her cheeks.
Birch gently rubbed one away. “Blade would’ve loved you and I’m sure if he would’ve had more time he would tell me I would be an idiot to pass up a woman as perfect as you.” He cradled her face in his hands. “But how about we call you my leading lady or my dramatic performer instead of an actress, just for my peace of mind?”
She smiled. “We could do that. Can I show you a dramatic performance?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
She went onto tiptoes and kissed him with all the pent-up passion she’d been storing for him. Who knew how much time passed when a loud whistle interrupted them and then Bermuda hollered, “Come on you two, it’s four a.m. and I’ve been waiting up all night so Romeo here could get some rest with his head injury. Let’s go.”
“You have a head injury?” Allison grew concerned.
“Very mild concussion. I was only out for a few hours. More than worth it to finally get my answer from Blade. Sadly, I missed a good battle though.”
Allison’s eyes widened as Birch chuckled.
“I think Bermuda is correct,” he said. “Let’s go snuggle on your couch and then make plans for the next couple of weeks. I have medical leave. Being with you for two weeks is definitely worth getting hit with an IED and rolling the Humvee.”
Allison’s stomach dropped. “Birch, you’re terrifying me.”
“Just nine to five stuff, love. No stress. We save the traumatic events for the weekends.” He winked and took her hand. Allison needed the entire story and she needed to hold him for the next two weeks. After that, they’d have to face reality again, but he’d gotten his answer from his brother and he’d chosen to trust her, again. They could work through anything if they’d both do that.