Valentine from a Soldier by Makenna Jameison Read Free Book Online Page B

best friend was.
    The minister began the ceremony, and I stood beside Morgan at the altar, holding her bridal bouquet of deep red roses along with my smaller one , a mixture of red and cream flowers.  Morgan looked radiant in her cream lace gown, a long veil with delicate embroidery trailing down her back.  I hadn’t seen her take her eyes off of Josh since the moment she’d walked into the room , and he was beaming back at her as well.  Chris stood beside the groom, happily gazing down at his little sister, and three other bridesmaids and groomsmen rounded out our bridal party.   As the minister said, “You may now kiss the bride,” the room broke into applause as Josh kissed Morgan in a passionate embrace.
    Chris took my arm as we followed them back down the aisle, leading the rest of the bridal party as the maid of honor and best man.   My sensuous red silk gown flowed around me as I walked, revealing a peek of the matching red satin heels that I wore .  The colors Morgan had chosen for the wedding were in tribute to Valentine’s Day, but I was glad that she’d let me mak e sure it was tastefully done.  I’d seen the slight look of regret in Chris’s eyes as he gazed at me, and I felt a pang of guilt , knowing what it felt like to want something you could never have.  Chris and I had been friends for years though, so s urely he must have known that at this point , we were destined to be just friends.
    I’d left my small purse at the back of the banquet room and wanted to retrieve it to check the messages on my phone.  It was more stressful managing a wedding that you were participating in than I thought , and I was certain there was probably some crisis that needed tending to.  Chris guided me out into the lobby, where Morgan and Josh were already posing for pictures in front of an enormous fountain.  Instead of going over to join them though, he pulled me in the opposite direction, toward a small sitting area off to the side.  “Where are we going?” I asked, confused.  “We have to get our pictures taken, too.   There’s going to be some of the entire bridal party. ”
    “That’s not for half an hour,” Chris said easily.
    “You actually read the schedule I sent out?” I asked in surprise , referring to the detailed agenda I’d emailed everyone yesterday .
    “Yep,” he said with a grin.  “Impressed?”
    “Maybe a little.   But you still didn’t tell me where we’re going.”
    “I think there’s someone here who wants to talk to you,” he said in a low voice, his mouth hovering close to my ear.
    We rounded a corner , and standing there in front of me, wearing his dress uniform, was Ryan.  My mouth dropped open and heart skipped a b ea t as I stared at him, taking in his short dark hair, chiseled face, and piercing blue eyes.  His broad shoulders and chest filled out his uniform nicely and narrowed to a slim waist.  He looked unbelievably big and strong filling up the entrance to the hallway, and I clutched onto Chris as tears filled my eyes.  Ryan walked over, his eyes never leaving my face, and Chris took my hand from his arm and placed it in Ryan’s, almost as if I was the bride and he was giving me away.
    My hand trembled as Ryan’s warm fingers wrapped around mine.  “Can I talk to you?” Ryan asked, his deep voice sounding sexy and low.
    “Okay,” I whispered, and Chris gracefully made his exit, seeing that I was okay.
    I clasped my hands to my chest, somehow feeling like I needed to protect myself even though another part of me only wanted Ryan to pull me into his arms.
    “I’m sorry, Sarah,” Ryan said, gazing down at me.  “I should have told you everything last Friday .  I just couldn’t imagine needing to because I never thought that I’d fall in love with a girl I just met.   Then when I found out that you were leaving right away the next morning, I just couldn’t find the right words to explain myself.   I felt like writing a letter was the only