She wasn’t going to be put off another second. She would fly to Washington D.C. if she had to. It had been three flipping weeks since she had been home, and she still didn’t have an answer. She squirmed into her dress, and tried to reach her zipper, but it was too far in the back.

“Dammit!”

Einstein yowled and jumped off the bed, then stalked out of the room.

“Need some help?” Gray asked as he sidestepped her cat and wandered into the bedroom.

“I so shouldn’t have bought this dress. It’s Susan’s fault,” Riya huffed.

Gray put gentle hands on her shoulders and looked at the yellow sheath dress that lovingly accentuated every one of her curves. “I’m going to have to thank Susan the next time I see her,” Gray said as he zipped up her dress.

Riya bit her lip. “Isn’t this a little over the top? Where are we having dinner?”

“You’ll know when we get there,” Gray smiled.

“I hate surprises.”

“I know. Now tell me what has you so worked up. Besides the zipper.”

She went to the closet and pulled out the white pair of heels she’d worn to the wedding. She saw Gray’s appreciative smile and heat coiled inside. Dinner out was nice, but coming home was going to be even nicer.

“Let me help with those,” Gray said as she sat down on the bed.

She held out a foot and Gray took his time putting on her right shoe. “Riya, tell me what has you so fired up.”

“I want to know what kind of retribution is going to happen to the Saudis. They can’t get away with that. It’s wrong on so many levels. General Astor has to know something, but he isn’t coming clean.”

“He’s not going to tell you,” Gray said as he put on her left shoe.

“But he has to. If not me, then you. You’re in the military, don’t they tell you things? Don’t they tell you what happens to the bad guys?”

Gray burst out laughing. “You have got to be kidding. We just do our little job and stay in our bubble. We’re never informed about anything after the mission is done.”

Gray winked at her.

What did that mean?

“Why did you wink?”

He smiled, and continued to kneel at her feet.

“That means that what you said isn’t true. Right? Did I figure it out?” She thought she was right. She was beginning to know when he was teasing.

“Yes, Sweetheart. Part of it is true, they never tell us, but…we find out things on our own. Dex is very, very good at finding out information. It seems that the King of Jordan is taking some steps at retribution. Right now it is in its early stages, but it’s going to be substantial.”

“What is it?” Riya was bouncing on the bed.

“It could go a few different ways. But in a few months you’ll be seeing it on the evening news. The King is so good, it won’t even look like it was done by his country, but you can be damn sure it was handled by him. And the Prince will know too. You don’t mess with the King of Jordan’s family and get away with it.”

“Thank God,” Riya said fervently.

“Now can we go to dinner?” Gray asked.

She threw her hands around his neck. “Absolutely.”

Gray’s heart was overflowing. Riya cinched it with the bloodthirsty episode in the bedroom. She fit him in every single way imaginable. Not that this would have mattered. He was going to seize her no matter what.

He parked his SUV at the restaurant. He saw all of his friends’ vehicles in the parking lot as well, and it cracked him up that Riya didn’t pick up on it. But that wasn’t her skill set. She was on another plane of existence, that’s what made them the perfect couple.

Gray fingered the little velvet box in his suit pocket.

“Gray, this is a fancy restaurant.”

“Yes, it is. That’s why we’re dressed fancy.”

He escorted her in, and the hostess whisked them to a door at the back of the restaurant. “Are you ready?”

“What do you mean?” she asked.

Gray opened the door.

A cacophony of voices yelled ‘Surprise’.

Riya shook. Gray put his arm around her. He seemed to always know what she needed. He pressed his mouth close to her ear. “It’s all friends, Honey. All friends.”

She relaxed, just a little. Then she slowly looked around the large table from face to face to face. Gray was right. Every single person was a friend.

Miranda stood and held up a glass. “To a genuine hero. Hurrah.”

Each member of Midnight Delta then slowly stood up, their faces solemn. “To our hero.”

“You fucking rocked it,” Wyatt called out.

She reached out to her right and gripped Gray’s arm with everything she had.

“You’re seated at the head of the table,” Susan gestured. “We ordered family style.”

“Good, because this is too overwhelming to figure out what I want to eat.”

Gray held out the chair for her.

Before she could blink, there was a peach Bellini placed in front of her. Susan winked. Riya laughed. She took a healthy swig.

“Watch it, Lady,” Gray said. “I know tonight’s overwhelming, but I do want you capable of making some decisions.”

“I want something chocolate for dessert,” Riya said decisively.

“Well, that’s good.” His grin was wicked.

He pushed out his chair and turned hers so they were knee to knee. “But I’m hoping I have something better than chocolate to offer you.”

Riya’s gut clenched. This was serious. She looked into his eyes, they shined like diamonds. It was really serious. But she saw it was all about love. Whatever it was, it was good.

She knew that this was a man she could always believe in, that she could trust her life and her future to, because he would always love her.

He pulled out a velvet box, and before he had a chance to open it, before he had a chance to say a word, she sighed her answer. “Yes, Gray. Always and forever. Yes.”

Riya thought she heard something like a roar in the background, but she wasn’t sure. It was possible that people were clapping but it was as if she were surrounded by Gray’s love. She held out her hand and he smiled. He opened the box, and slipped on her ring.

“As you wish,” he said.

Thank you for reading Her Captivated Hero. For more Military Romance check out my Midnight Delta series. Her Vigilant SEAL, Book 1 is free.