Page 68 of Small Town Sash

"Best team on base," Hadley agreed, standing up to wrap her arms around Braden's waist. "Just like us."

"Us against the world," he replied, planting a kiss atop her head.

"Except we're conquering it—one dress and one patrol at a time." She stepped back, her gaze returning to the designs sprawled across her desk.

"Conquerors in love and business," Braden mused, his brown eyes glinting with mischief. "Sounds like a cheesy rom-com."

"Only the cheesiest for us, Sergeant." Hadley winked, her laughter mingling with the sound of Braden's hearty guffaws, causing her new toy Yorkie to perk up and whine from his dog bed in the corner of the room.

"It's all right, Valentino," she told him as she went over and picked him up to get him to calm down.

"Speaking of business, I've got a briefing. And you have an empire to build." He pointed toward her computer with a mock, stern expression.

"Go, protect, and serve," she said, giving him a playful salute. "I'll hold down the fashion fort."

"Roger that, CEO Wilder-Harding." Braden saluted back before slipping out, Dash following loyally behind.

Hadley turned back to her work, and the uptick on her website was a testament to dreams unfolding in real time.

After a long day of work,Hadley squinted at the sun dipping below the horizon, its last rays casting a warm glow over the base housing. She leaned against the porch railing, the aged wood creaking slightly under her weight.

"Missing Hero yet?" Braden's voice broke the evening stillness as he walked up the pathway, his uniform crisp and authoritative.

"Sometimes," she admitted with a wide smile, "but this is home now. All I need is you."

"Good answer." He wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her close.

"Besides," Hadley continued, "we've got our own slice of paradise here." She gestured to the small garden she had coaxed into life beside their quarters.

"Paradise with a side of your killer tomato salad," he teased, kissing her forehead.

"Killer? Really?" She raised an eyebrow, feigning offense.

"Kills me how good it is," he corrected quickly, earning an eye roll and a chuckle from her.

"Smooth save, Sergeant Harding." Her hands found his cheeks, pulling him down for a kiss, soft and slow.

"Every day with you is a smooth save," he murmured against her lips, their laughter mingling.

"Even with my not-so-smooth dance moves?" She pulled back, swaying exaggeratedly.

"Especially then." He joined in the absurd dance, their bodies brushing together in a playful rhythm.

"Think this place can handle us both together?" She glanced up at him through lashes heavy with humor.

"It's got nothing on us," he declared, dipping her dramatically before another kiss sealed his promise.

"Nothing at all," she agreed, breathless when they righted themselves.

"Oh, I have something for you." Braden pulled out a piece of folded paper and handed it over to her.

Hadley opened it and read the contents out loud. "I hurt the most when lost, yet also when not had at all. I'm sometimes the hardest to express but the easiest to ignore. I can be given to many, or just one. What am I?" She glanced up at him with a confused look for a moment, than she snapped her fingers and smiled. "The answer is love."

"I should have known you'd get that one fast. You're really good at riddles."

"You should know that from the scavenger hunt you made me back in Hero," she teased with a wink.

"I do. It's one of the many things I love about you, Hadley Wilder-Harding," he said, his brown eyes locking onto hers with sincerity shining through the jest.

"Love you more, Sergeant Harding." She stood on tiptoes, her declaration sealed with a kiss that held all the warmth of their shared laughter and the depth of their unshakeable bond.

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