A Marine’s Proposal by Lisa Carlisle Read Free Book Online

convenience back in your Marine Corps days?”
    “I honestly care about Slade and I don’t want to think about being with anyone else right now so it’s not an issue.”
    “But do you love him?”
    Caitlyn didn’t answer. She didn’t know how to answer.
    “And he doesn’t love you. You don't honestly think that he's going to suddenly fall in love with you once you get married, do you?” Laura asked.
    Caitlyn remained silent.
    “Caitlyn?”
    Frustrated, Caitlyn chose not to answer. She knew Laura was being sensible while she didn't have any sense at the moment. “Why can't you be happy for me? I'm getting married. Who cares about the reasoning behind it?”
    “I can't be happy for you because you're setting yourself up to get hurt. I don't want you getting screwed over.”
    “Who says I will?”
    “The law of probability.”
    “Laura, why do you have to be such a realist? Don't you have a romantic bone in your body?”
    “Caitlyn, let me ask you something. Why did you call me of all people to talk to about this? You know how I would react. You probably wanted to hear it.”
    “That's not true,” Caitlyn lied. She knew that was exactly why she wanted to talk to Laura.
    “What about your parents? What are you going to tell them?”
    “Umm. I'll probably tell them the truth. They know we're friends. I'll explain how we decided to do this together and our reasons for doing so.”
    Laura exhaled audibly. “Well, I know you. And it's not like you're going to listen to me anyway. Once you have your mind settled on something, I may as well talk myself blue in the face. So congratulations, I suppose.”
    “What? That's it?” Caitlyn asked incredulously.
    “What's the point in talking about it any further? You obviously have your mind made up. I hope it works out well for you and that you don't get into any serious military shit.”
    “Well, fine. Thanks, I guess,” Caitlyn said coolly.
    “Bye,” Laura returned, equally frosty, then she hung up.
    Caitlyn wanted to throw the phone across the room. Why couldn't Laura be happy for her? Why couldn't she be optimistic for once?
    She's right, Caitlyn thought. I'm being stupid and blind. I should listen to her.
    Her fuming was interrupted by a knock on the door.

Chapter Four

    “Who is it?” Caitlyn asked.
    “Me.”
    Was he psychic or what? Just as she was starting to think doubts about this whole marriage thing, Slade showed up. But hearing the sound of his voice sent such a thrill through her body, her doubts dissipated.
    When Caitlyn threw open the door, Slade gasped. “Am I interrupting?”
    “No, why? I just got off the phone with my friend.”
    “Your face.”
    “My face?” Caitlyn asked, then glanced in the mirror. “Agh. Oh my God, I look like the Incredible Hulk.” The anger was still on her face from Laura's call and combined with the green mask, she looked positively scary, “Go away, go away!”
    Slade chuckled and strode into the room, closing the door behind him. “If we're going to be living together, I have to get used to seeing you in all your glory.”
    Caitlyn furiously began splashing water on her face. How could she have forgotten the face mask? Yes, this was a real good way to seduce the man you wanted—scaring him away.
    “I found out what we need to do by Friday,” Slade said.
    “That's nice,” Caitlyn said. She was more concerned with getting the green goop off her face than anything else right now.
    “So here's the plan,” Slade said.
    “We need to get blood tests,” Slade began.
    While Slade laid out the details, Caitlyn realized that she wasn't as enthusiastic as she was earlier. She couldn't get her conversation with Laura to stop replaying in her head. Why did she have to put a damper on this whole affair? A voice nagged in the back of her mind saying Laura was right. She was being deceitful. They were being deceitful no matter how they rationalized it. And she wasn’t being straight with Slade either.  He saw it