Page 35 of Kiss the Bride

“My dad loves what he does, but raising citrus was never in my blood.” Daniel broke the last cracker in half. “There are easier ways to make a living than in the Corps. I’m not kidding myself about that. I can handle it. It’s Brianna I worry about.”

He studied the dedicated young man. Daniel had clearly considered all the angles to his career choice, but from what he’d heard, the frequent moves and long separations sometimes took a toll on marriages. “You don’t think she’s up to it?”

“Oh, no, sir. Not that. Brianna is strong. She’s had to be.” One by one, Daniel ate the final two pieces and emptied his glass. “It’s just that, well, she’s already been through so much. As soon as we get back from our honeymoon, I’ll report for more training. I could be gone as long as three months. I hate to think of leaving her alone all that time. Deployments mean even more time apart. Is it fair to ask her to share that kind of life?”

Ryan leaned forward, one elbow propped on his knee. “I assume you’ve talked with her, voiced your concerns?”

“Sure. We’ve talked. She says she’s on board, that whatever I choose, she’s there for me. I just—I worry she doesn’t really know what she’s getting into. Being the wife of a Marine is a huge commitment. What if she wakes up one day and wishes she’d chosen a guy who works from nine to five, stays home on weekends, and helps coach the kids’ soccer games? It keeps me up nights.” Daniel brushed a few crumbs from one pants leg into his cupped hand.

“Do you love her?”

“More than anything else in the world.”

“And she loves you. I can see that in her eyes every time she looks at you. They say that’s all that matters.” Ryan lowered his head. The young man deserved better than platitudes, but the advice was the best he could give.

“Yeah, but when I think about the things she’s giving up to marry me, I, um, it’s an awfully big ask. I’ve been on the verge of calling the whole thing off more often than I like. Sometimes I can’t get past the idea that asking her to marry me was the most selfish thing I’ve ever done.”

Every fiber of his being focused on the man sitting across from him. The one who apparently was willing to sacrifice his future happiness to give Brianna a chance at a better life. That was true love. A Heart’s Landing kind of love. The kind of love he wanted for himself one day.

How could Daniel possibly walk away from that?

He wished he knew what to say to ease the young Marine’s fears, but he’d drawn a blank, and his time had run out. Even as he searched for the right words, he spotted Greg emerging from the back of the shop, carrying an armload of fabric swatches.

Daniel saw their host for the afternoon, too. He leaned in. “Ah, man. Listen to me. I shouldn’t have had that glass of wine. It makes me run my mouth. Forget I said anything, okay? I made a commitment, and I won’t back out on Brianna. I wouldn’t do that to her.”

Ryan forced his back into the couch cushions. Feigning a relaxation he didn’t feel, he zipped one finger across his lips. “Mum’s the word if that’s what you want. But, uh, you’ll let me know if you have any second thoughts, right?”

“Sure. But I won’t. Me and Brianna, we’re going to get married on Sunday.” With that, Daniel jumped to his feet, his eyes on the approaching store owner.

“I’ll catch up with you in a minute,” Ryan said when Greg beckoned the young Marine to a tall worktable. He waited until the two had their heads together before he ran a hand behind his neck and wiped away a trickle of sweat. Heart’s Landing had a lot riding on seeing the Wedding-in-a-Week couple walk down the aisle. With a photographer from Weddings Today on hand to snap pictures, the publicity the town stood to gain from the event was worth its weight in solid gold bullion. If that were all, it’d be reason enough for concern. But it wasn’t. Not by half. Every citizen from Boutonniere Drive to Champagne Avenue was invested in giving this couple the wedding of their dreams. From Mildred Morrey at Forget Me Knot Flowers to Walter’s son at the Honeymoon Cottages, every person in town would be crushed if Brianna and Daniel broke up the very week of their wedding. Not only that, but he’d personally be called on the carpet. After all, the mayor had put him in charge of shepherding the groom throughout the week. Of making sure the wedding went off without a hitch. He could just imagine the pointed questions he’d have to answer if he failed.

He suddenly wished he could talk to Evelyn. He felt certain she’d know exactly what to say to convince the young Marine he’d be making a huge mistake if he walked away from the woman he loved in the hopes of giving her the kind of life he thought she deserved. Sighing, he pulled his phone from his pocket and hit speed dial. Seconds later, he listened to a recorded message that let him know the one person he wanted to talk to, the one person he’d sworn to stay away from, was unavailable.

“Great.” It was just his luck that Evelyn was nowhere to be found when he needed her the most. With no other option, he left a message asking if he could stop by her office at the Captain’s Cottage later. He crossed his fingers, disconnected, and went to help Daniel and Greg design the perfect suit for a young man who was teetering on the brink of leaving his bride at the altar.

Evelyn slid the first paycheck from the stack, held it up to the computer screen, and compared the numbers. They matched. She’d known they would, but it never hurt to double-check. She lowered the paper to her desk. Bending, she signed it, slipped the payment into a waiting envelope, and crossed the first name off her list. One down. Seventy-five more to go. She grabbed the next one from the pile.

Three knocks in rapid succession interrupted her routine before she got any further. She straightened, but it was no use. A two-foot-tall wall of fabric samples stacked on the edge of her desk blocked her view. Grumbling, she propped herself up on her chair’s armrests to peer over the pile. Her pen clattered to the floor the instant she spied the tall figure standing in the doorway of her office. Her heart rate leaped into overdrive. Ryan! A welcoming smile sprang to her lips.

“Hey.” She waved him in. “I didn’t expect to see you tonight.”

She was certainly glad he’d stopped by, though. She needed to talk to him. But more than that, she’d wanted to see him, wanted to spend time with him.

“You didn’t get my message?” Ryan’s brow furrowed.

“Sorry. No.” She lifted her cell phone from her desk. The screen, which normally sprang to life whenever she so much as breathed in its direction, stayed dark. “Battery’s dead,” she announced, feeling her face warm. “I’ve been so busy since I got back from shopping with Brianna, I didn’t even notice.”

“Looks like I’ve caught you at a bad time.” Ryan lingered at the door. “Payroll?”

“Yeah. Much as everyone loves working at the Captain’s Cottage, no one wants to do it for free.” She grinned.

“Well.” Ryan hesitated. “I’ll let you get back to it.”

“Don’t be silly. You’re here, aren’t you? C’mon in.” She started to motion him to a seat, but a quick glance confirmed what she’d feared. While she’d been busy with other things—like holding the hand of a weepy Wedding-in-a-Week bride—someone had stacked mail and other deliveries in the guest chair. She leaped to her feet. “Here. Let me get rid of that.”

Ryan covered the distance between them in two quick strides. Her breath caught in her throat when they reached for the boxes at the same time. Their fingers touched, a move that sent tiny lightning bolts arcing up and down her arms. She told herself she should break the connection, should withdraw her hand, but she remained where she was, secretly enjoying the steady zing of electricity that coursed through her.

“Um.” Ryan’s voice severed her connection to him.

---