Page 28 of Summer with a Navy SEAL

Now, sitting in the airport, those words echo in my mind. I wonder if I’m making a mistake. If I’m giving up something precious for a job that, in the grand scheme of things, might not matter as much as what Brogan and I found.

“Flight 1876 to Seattle is now delayed by two hours due to mechanical issues,” a monotone voice announces over the PA system. I groan, leaning back in my chair. Just perfect.

More time to agonize over my choices.

Suddenly a commotion near the gate catches my attention. People are whispering, pointing, and...is that Brogan’s voice?

I stand up, my heart racing. It can’t be. He’s supposed to be in Love Beach probably entertaining Beatrice, not here in New York.

But there he is, striding through the crowd, looking amazing in a tight black T-shirt and jeans, his eyes scanning the waiting area. When he spots me, his face breaks into that heart-stopping grin.

“What are you doing here?” I whisper, hardly believing my eyes as he reaches me in a few long strides, pulling meinto his arms without a word. I melt into his embrace, breathing in his familiar scent.

“I couldn’t let you go,” he murmurs into my hair. “Not without telling you how I feel.”

I pull back, looking up at him. “Brogan, what–”

“I love you, Willy,” he says as I stare at him. “I love you, and I want us to make this work. I know you have your dreams, and I want you to chase them. But I want to be there with you, supporting you every step of the way.”

Tears spring to my eyes. “Brogan, I... I love you too. But how? We’re going to be on opposite coasts.”

He grins, that mischievous glint in his eye that I adore. “Well, about that. How would you feel about having a travel companion to Washington?”

I blink, confused. “What do you mean?”

“I mean,” he says, taking my hands in his, “that I’ve got the Hollister jet fueled up and ready to go. I just heard your flight’s delayed so why don’t we fly together?”

I laugh, a mix of disbelief and joy. “You’re crazy, you know that? You can’t just fly across the country on a whim.”

He shrugs, his smile never wavering. “Why not? I’m a Hollister, remember? It’s about time I started using the family perks.”

I shake my head, but I can’t stop smiling. “What about your job?”

“I’m off for another week,” he says. “But right now, this is more important.You’remore important.”

I can’t help but laugh. This man, this wonderful,infuriating man, flew across the country just to tell me he loves me.

He loves me.

“Okay,” I say, laughing through my tears. “Let’s do it. Let’s fly to Washington together.”

Brogan’s face lights up. “That’s my girl.”

He pulls me close, kissing me right there in the middle of the airport. I don’t even care who’s watching or what they’re thinking. In this moment, it’s just us.

An hour later, we’re settled into the plush seats of the Hollister jet, champagne in hand. As we take off, leaving New York behind, I can’t help but marvel at how much has changed in just a few short hours.

“So,” Brogan says, his fingers intertwined with mine. “Tell me more about this project in Washington. I want to hear everything.”

As I start to tell him about the project, the challenges ahead, the opportunities it presents, I realize something. For the first time, I’m not just talking about my career. I’m talking about our future.

“It’s going to be tough,” I admit. “Long hours, high pressure. And I’ll be across the country from you.”

Brogan nods, his thumb rubbing circles on the back of my hand. “I know. But we’ll make it work. I can fly out on weekends, you can come back to Love Beach when you have time off. And who knows? MaybeHollister Enterprises will find some business opportunities in Washington.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Oh really?”

“We’ll play it by ear,” Brogan says. “I might be in the middle of a transition myself, helping Preston out with the family business.”

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