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

as a business proposal, a marriage of convenience and she hoped that it might lead to…
    No, she couldn’t go there unless she wanted to end up hurt. But she couldn't back out of it now. Well, she supposed she could. Nothing was set in stone. She didn't want to back out of it.
    “So I guess it's all settled.” Caitlyn forced a smile.
    ****
    During the work week, Caitlyn’s mood lifted. Although she was usually no-nonsense and professional at work, focused on the various legal paperwork she was responsible for managing, she was distracted by the wedding. She daydreamed about the affair, swept up in the excitement. During lunch or after work, she took care of little details and paperwork before their wedding on Friday.
    When she passed Slade in the office, she asked, “Are you going to class at Kadena tonight?”
    “Yes. Why?”
    “Can I hitch a ride with you? They have a better PX and I have to shop for some things.”
    “Like what?”
    “A dress.”
    Caitlyn never learned how to drive. A car accident, when she was, fifteen left her scarred both mentally and physically. Luckily, Okinawa had a decent public transportation system and a number of taxis. And since she spent much of her free time with Slade, when he wasn’t in class or studying, she rarely had to use them. He drove them all over the island.
    The shopping area on the Air Force base was much bigger than the one on their Marine one and she needed to find a wedding dress. Not the traditional type, but a simple dress that she bought especially for her big day. The last place she ever expected to buy her wedding gown from was a military PX, but she didn't know where else to look in town. Most of her shopping off base was for gift items to send back home.
    “Can I help you find something?” a saleswoman asked.
    “No, thank you. Just looking.” It was difficult to describe what you were looking for when you weren’t sure yourself.
    At last, she found what she was looking for—a soft champagne satin design with spaghetti straps that could pass for elegant or more casual depending on the occasion or accessories. She tried it on and it flowed down her body, hugging her curves in all the right places and flowing down to her calves. She lingered in front of the mirror, twirling one way then the other as the satin gathered around her in slow-motion. This was it, it was perfect. Her wedding dress.
    Caitlyn picked out a simple pearl necklace and matching earrings. She had a pair of strappy sandals that would work fine. Wonderful. She was all set.
    On the drive back to the base, she realized she was missing a couple of things: something borrowed, and something bluethree of the four criteria.
    Guess it's a simple wedding. Correction: a fake wedding. Besides, it's not like I have any family or friends around, or any bridesmaids to help me with this stuff.
    ****
    Caitlyn’s uncertainties about their upcoming wedding almost vanished once they began their apartment hunt. They both couldn’t contain their excitement.
    “Check us out, Slade. Young twenty-somethings living on our own in an apartment in Okinawa, Japan. A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
    “Pretty cool.”
    “I know. Being on base is okay, but living on the island with the locals is—I don’t know—awesome!”
    Slade laughed. “All right. Practical matters. We need an apartment not too far from the base so we can get to work easily. Two bedrooms. Off the main highway. And it needs to be affordable.”
    They were only E-3s on the pay scale, which wasn't exactly high up the totem pole. They should get a living allowance since the on-base housing for families were completely full, yet they weren't sure if it would cover the full amount of rents in Okinawa, which could be astonishingly high for such a small living space.
     If they made a decent salary, they wouldn't even have to do this wedding thing. They would simply pay rent for an apartment like normal people, like roommates. But this was the