Sophie stuffed her hands into the pocket of her winter coat and shuffled her feet. Across the tarmac of the airfield, the wind howled like a lonely wolf, its frigid bite nipping her exposed cheeks. This morning it had snowed and Sophie worried Finn wouldn't be able to make the trip to Washington.

But the ex-Navy Captain kept his promise and had arrived before sunrise. Coffee in hand, Sophie had greeted him at the door of Emily's condo, eager to get to the base. Thanks to Finn's connections, they'd been granted access to the waiting area on the open field. Along with a handful of personnel, they would be the first to greet the soldiers arriving home.

Another blast of wind tried to push Sophie over, and she leaned into the gale.

"Are you sure you don't want to wait inside?" Finn shifted his tall frame to act like a shield against the gusts. "Or back at the apartment? There's no guarantee we'll even be able to get close to Max."

Sophie tugged on the brim of her woolen hat. "I need to see him."

Until she laid eyes on Max, she couldn't find the faith to believe he was home.

Finn gave a curt nod. Although he didn't express his emotions in words, his rigid stance and pinched eyebrows indicated he had the same need.

A low whine turned the heads of the group, and Sophie followed their line of sight. In the distance a small dot appeared against the slate clouded sky. She loosened her scarf, exposing the fevered skin of her throat to the chilly air. The dot morphed into wings and the body of a giant ebony plane. The engine's roar rattled in Sophie's ear as the landing gear became visible. Her ears rang as the plane landed and drew toward the waiting crowd, the noise blocking out the pounding of Sophie's pulse.

The single rope acting as a fence cracked and creaked in the wind. After an eternity, the door to the airplane opened and Finn gripped Sophie's shoulder like he knew if she wasn't tethered to him, she'd leap over the useless barrier and charge up those stairs.

Max was on that plane.

The door sat vacant. No one emerged.

Sophie stomped her foot. "What's taking so long?"

Beside her, a woman dressed in a navy-blue wool coat spoke up. "They deplane the critically injured first."

Bile caught in Sophie's throat. Now she didn't want Max to be among the first off the plane.

There was a loud clunk and the back of the plane yawned open, creating a ramp to the tarmac. A man emerged, and Sophie's nails dug into Finn's forearm. They both exhaled when it wasn't Max. The attendant signalled, and an ambulance jutted out of the waiting line of vehicles, stopping at the bottom of the ramp. Sophie strained her neck to catch a glimpse of the person on the stretcher they loaded into the back.

"Not him." Finn mumbled. "Too tall."

The process repeated itself, this time a woman in a wheelchair emerging.

"Most likely, he'll go straight to the medical center for an assessment." Finn warned Sophie again. "Depending on the severity of his injuries, he might have to stay overnight."

Sophie placed her hand on her stomach like her fingers could quell the inner turmoil causing havoc on her nervous system. "And if he's—"

The question died on her lips as a short man with closely cropped hair limped out of the plane. Sophie's lungs refused to work, praying he'd turn around. Even though she'd know those broad shoulders at any distance, she had to see his face.

The man twisted his neck, and a strong jaw came into view.

Max.

Sophie's knees threatened to buckle. Finn clutched her shoulder, steadying Sophie. A quiet "thank goodness" escaping his lips.

Max moved to turn away, and Sophie found her voice. "Max!"

He halted.

Sophie shouted his name again. Max zeroed in on the cluster of people. She broke free from Finn's embrace, waving her arms like the landing crew, pushing forward against the rope. His gaze must have found her, a wide smile cracking across his face.

Her heart shuttered. She called him again, intent on ducking under the rope, when Finn caught her elbow. Her gaze snapped to him.

"Don't," Finn warned, his blue eyes hard as sapphires.

Sophie whipped back to Max, who was now lurching in their direction. At the sight of his limp, a boulder landed on her chest, and it was impossible to draw a breath. Caught between the need to touch him and the agony of witnessing his struggle to get to her, tears burned in her eyes. The image of Max blurred as he neared, but she couldn't miss the dark circle outlining his left eye. Her throat constricted. What had happened to him?

Her arms stretched out, her fingers desperate for contact. He boared into her embrace, his limbs tangling around her, drawing her torso over the dreaded rope, sealing her against him. The chilled skin of his face pressed into her neck.

"Sunshine." His voice was husky, like he'd been screaming at a rock concert only hours ago.

She attempted his name, to spit out an "I love you" but only a sob erupted from her. With the sensation of his pounding heart against her breast, the thin film she'd erected to keep her sorrow and fears at bay melted like butter on bread fresh from the oven.

Behind her, Finn said. "Glad to have you back."

Sophie squeezed him tighter. Did he feel thinner? His chest rose and fell against hers in huge waves and a tremor rolled through him like thunder. She gasped. He was injured and her embrace might hurt him. Her grasp slackened, and she stepped away. But Max refused to let go of her.

"Randall." A sharp voice demanded attention.

Max moaned against her throat.

"Randall." The man repeated. "Let's go."

Max relinquished his grip on Sophie. His head inched back and brown eyes the size of saucers met hers. "I lost my phone." Tears sprang from her. "I couldn't call you."

She tried to tell him it was okay, but the lump in her throat barred the words.

"Here." Finn slipped his phone into Max's pocket. "Take mine." Finn's eyes darted to the man storming across the tarmac. "Sophie's staying at Emily's condo. Call us when you can." Finn pulled Sophie away from Max. "We'll be here. No matter how long."

A weak smile shadowed across Max's lips. "Thanks."

Finn shoved lightly at Max's shoulder. "Go. Before they court martial you."

With a final glance at Sophie, Max backed away, turned, and, dragging his left leg, returned to the waiting Navy personnel.

***

Outside the wall of windows, Sophie paced in front of the Potomac river lazed by people jogging along the banks or sitting on benches as if this were an ordinary day. Oblivious that Sophie's worst nightmare had narrowly been avoided. She glanced at the clock over the microwave. Her throat constricted. Max had called over an hour ago, on his way off the base. Had something happened? A car accident? Pain pierced her thoughts, her teeth sinking into her bottom lip.

On the couch, Finn flipped through channels, fingers stabbing at the remote like a wood-pecker in search of food. At a rap on the door, his hand froze.

Sophie flew across the room, threw open the door and drank in the sight of a very alive Max. Dressed in Navy informals, the brim of his hat shadowing his face, hands at his side, he appeared like a man who hadn't been missing for days in a foreign country. No. He looked fit and healthy.

In the bright lights of the hallway, Max smiled at her. "Hey sunshine." His chin lifted and the illusion of an unharmed man cracked. Sophie winced at the bruise around his eye, the abrasion on his jaw, his pale skin. The edge of clean, white bandages peeked out from under the cuffs of his uniform.

Between them, the air stilled, and Sophie fought the sob clogging her throat. Max hung before her like a statue. Her own limbs locked in place while her heartbeat whooshed in her ears.

At the end of the hall, an elevator dinged and, as if the noise was a starter gun, they both jerked.

Max's hand lifted, then dropped to his side. "Can I come—"

Sophie launched herself at him, grasping his cheeks gently with the pads of her fingers and laying her lips on his. With effort, she kept the kiss light, barely brushing her mouth against his. He tasted like her dreams. Like Max. The tight knot binding her shoulders loosened.

Strong fingers grasped her waist, and they propelled Sophie into Max's chest. He grunted, and Sophie tore her lips from his. "Did I hurt you?"

"You could never." Max tugged on her hips and took her mouth with vigor. She swallowed his moan and melted into his embrace, the warmth of the living, breathing Max.

"Ahem."

Max's lips stopped their sweet caresses at Finn's interruption.

"Hate to break you two lovebirds up." Finn's tone contained a smile. "Maybe at least leave the hallway?"

Sophie tangled Max's hand in hers, led him across the threshold and sat him on the couch, walking slowly to accommodate his limp. "Are you thirsty? I can make coffee." Max shook his head. "Something to eat. What do you need?"

Max tugged her onto his lap. "I need you."

Sophie's heart skipped a beat, yet she slid over to the empty seat cushion, worried about the weight of her body on his bad leg.

Finn settled into the armchair across from them. "How long are you out?"

"They gave me a 24hr leave," Max said.

Finn rubbed the center of his chest. "Em would like to see you. Maybe I could bring her and Lucy in tomorrow morning. We could grab lunch before you return to base."

"I'd like that."

Finn scooted forward on the chair and slapped Max's knee. "Good to see you. Everything square?"

Max's hand shook, and Sophie sandwiched it between her palms. His skin was warm yet dry, like over floured dough. He cleared his throat. "A few minor scrapes. No permanent damage."

Sophie glanced out the window, staring at the grey sky while Finn and Max discussed the details of how Max had been abducted by rebels, held captive as insurance and managed to escape. Even though her eyes burned, she bit on her lip to keep the tears at bay. Max was alive and well. That was all that mattered.

For the next twenty-four hours, at least. Then Max would return to the Navy. Return to the place that had taken him away from her.

"Sunshine?" Max tugged her hand. "You're holding on too tight."

Sophie glanced down to find white fingertips pressing into Max's skin. She relinquished her grip and stood. "You must be starving." She rubbed her palms on her jeans. "Finn, do you want..."

Her words trailed off. Finn was nowhere to be seen.

Max stood and placed his hand on the small of her back. "Finn's gone. Had to get back to Emily." He traced a circle on her shirt. "Its just the two of us."

"I'll make us something to eat." Sophie offered him a smile.

In the kitchen, Sophie fell into the familiar patterns of preparing a meal, letting her hands be busy, distracting her mind from the fear swimming like a shark in her heart.