Valentine from a Soldier(16)

Tears started to roll down my cheeks, and Ryan stepped closer, tenderly wiping them away. “Please don’t cry,” he said.

“I couldn’t stop thinking about you,” I said.

“Me either,” he said, gently grazing his knuckles along my cheek. “I knew you were busy with the wedding this week, but I had to come see you. And I want to give you this.” He pulled a small velvet box out of his pocket and opened it up. A silver necklace with a filigree heart pendant lay inside. “Turn it over,” he said, his voice sexy and low.

My fingers trembling slightly, I pulled it out of the box and flipped the delicate pendant over. Inscribed on the back were the words “Sarah, My heart belongs to you. Love, Ryan.”

“It’s beautiful,” I whispered, staring at it intently.

“Just like you.”

I gazed back up at him and met his blue eyes.

“I know we need to talk things over,” he said, “but I was really hoping that I could be your date this evening. Morgan said it was okay,” he added, a gleam in his eye. “And more than anything, I want to make things work for us.”

“I can’t believe you’re even here,” I said softly.

“I know what it’s like to love someone and lose them,” he said, his eyes growing misty. “And I know it’s not every day that you meet someone and have the connection that we did. I want to be with you, Sarah.”

“So do I.”

“So,” he said, a smile coming to his face. “Does that mean you’ll be my Valentine?”

“Is that another cheesy pick-up line?”

“Maybe,” he said, his eyes not leaving mine. His hands wrapped around my waist, and as he leaned down, I could smell the clean scent of his aftershave and feel the warmth radiating from him. As my heartbeat sped up and breathing became shallow, he softly brushed his lips against mine.

“There you two are!” Morgan suddenly called out. I glanced over my shoulder and saw her rushing toward us and pulling Josh along with her. “I’ve been dying to meet this Ryan of yours.”

“Of mine,” I said, laughing softly at her choice of words.

“Yes, yours,” he said, wrapping his arms around my waist and pulling me close as I turned to face the new bride and groom. I reached up to put on the necklace that I’d been clutching in one hand, and Ryan’s hands caught mine.

“Allow me,” he said, his voice deep. He brushed my hair aside and fumbled for a moment, fastening it behind my neck. “Perfect,” he whispered as he ducked his head down, his breath hot on my skin.

“So are you two going to join the party or what?” Morgan asked, looking at us both with a gleam in her eye.

“I thought you wanted an introduction,” I said, a realization slowly dawning on me.

“Oh, Ryan and I are old friends now,” she said with a wink. “Josh and I picked him up from the airport the other night.”

“And you didn’t even tell me?” I protested. “Unbelievable.”

“Guys! They’re ready for more pictures!” Chris called out, rounding the corner.

“Well, let’s go then,” I said, taking Ryan’s strong hand in mine. “Some wedding planner I am, leaving Chris in charge of things.” I started to walk away, tugging Ryan along behind me, and I felt myself flushing as I felt his gaze admiring the way my clingy dress hung from my backside. Although the front of the dress kept me fully covered, the back was mostly open, with delicate spaghetti straps crisscrossing between my shoulder blades. The opening dipped low, with the material below my waist draping across my bottom and falling all the way down to the floor. Suddenly I found myself wishing the reception was already over. We had a lot to discuss this evening, but after we’d talked, I somehow knew I’d be back in Ryan’s strong arms again tonight.

***

Ryan and I moved slowly to the music at the end of the reception as he held me tightly in his embrace. I rested my head against his muscular chest, hardly able to believe all that had happened this evening. We’d talked things over at dinner, as much as we could at least given all that was going on. Ryan had barely left my side the entire night, and I loved holding his hand in mine as we made our way around the room together, greeting my friends and the other guests. As the evening begin to wind down, we joined everyone at the entrance to the banquet hall, throwing rice and confetti at Morgan and Josh as they made their way out into the lobby. I knew they were only going upstairs, but it was still fun to give them a big sendoff.

“What do you say we get out of here, too?” Ryan asked as the other guests were beginning to leave.