Secret Regrets (Living For Today #2) by Megan C. Smith Read Free Book Online

have been a well-groomed, nicely dressed man, every red flag in my mind was warning me to be careful.

CHAPTER EIGHT
     
    T HE FIRST WEEK OF CLASSROOM PREP passed without further incident, and I’d done my best to avoid Ian. It wasn’t that he had done anything in particular; in fact, he’d been extremely helpful and courteous to me. It was just an eerie feeling that washed over me anytime he was near.
    “Hello, earth to Rose,” Leslie called behind me.
    Spinning in my salon chair, I turned to see Leslie finished with hair and makeup. She was positively glowing, looking like the most beautiful bride in history. Her hair was elegantly pinned up, and small curls escaped. Her makeup was lightly done with a sheer shimmer, making her sparkle like the diamond on her left finger.
    “Leslie, you look stunning. Grant is going to hit the floor. I’m going to text Bryant and warn him to be ready to catch him.”
    We both giggled.
    “I can’t believe this day is here. I dreamed it. I wanted it. I just didn’t think I ever deserved the happily ever after,” Leslie whispered breathlessly.
    I gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “Nobody deserves it more!”
    My hair and makeup was done shortly thereafter, and Hayley and Shandi were waiting out in the front by the limo for us to head back to hotel’s bridal suite.
    Inside the limo, we all toasted with champagne glasses, giggling like school girls as we gushed over Leslie’s makeup and hair. Before we knew it, the car had come to a stop, and the driver was opening the door for us to slip back out.
    After swiping my keycard, I held the door open for the girls to stroll in. Grant had set up the reservations and had the room overflowing with white roses. I spotted a card on the entry table and handed it to Leslie. Seeing she was already tearing up, I read it aloud to her.
     
To my beautiful bride—
The day you become mine fully is finally here. I can still remember seeing you at that fall festival playing on your phone without a care in the world. As soon as our eyes met, my heart filled with love, and I just wanted to steal you away. I will love you forever, cherish you always, and never let you go. I’ll be waiting for you at the end of the aisle, so hurry up!
Love, your groom
     
    Shandi and Hayley were both wiping away tears while trying to not ruin their makeup, and we all hugged one another, bubbling over with giddiness and joy for the day. A knock at the door broke the tension.
    “I’ll get it,” I announced, grabbing my handkerchief to dab my eyes. Thank God, the makeup artist had made sure she’d used the best water-resistant mascara, or we’d all look like raccoons by the time of the ceremony.
    Opening the door, I locked eyes on a brilliant set of emerald ones staring back at me. Squealing, I leaped into his arms and wrapped myself around his strong muscular form. “Oh my God! Jordan!” I exclaimed.
    His arms encircled me, as he held me for dear life. I felt his body shake, and he laughed at my enthusiasm.
    While Jordan set me down, he continued to hold me close and stared into my eyes. “I have missed you so much, Rose. So. Damn. Much.” Leaning down, he placed an innocent kiss on my forehead.
    Behind us, I could hear Shandi and Hayley whispering. They’d met Jordan at FSU and knew our history, or at least how it had appeared to everyone on the outside.
    Stepping back to put some distance between us, I saw the confusion on Jordan’s face. I raked my eyes over him, admiring his perfectly pressed Navy Dress White uniform. It fit his body flawlessly, enhancing every muscle I knew was beneath it. Unbelievably, he looked to be in even better shape than when he left to go to the service. Goodness, he looks delicious.
    Leslie shoved past me to hug Jordan, knocking me out of my trance. “Jordan! You made it! Grant is going to be thrilled. What are you doing here, though? The boys are downstairs.”
    “Yeah, I was coming to deliver the champagne for you girls and just