Secret Regrets (Living For Today #2) (6 page)

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 wanted to check on my favorite roomie real quick,” he replied, waving a hand at the room service cart as he looked over her shoulder at me.

I felt my face flush when his eyes met mine.

“Well, you can see her at the reception. Go spend some quality time with Bryant and Grant,” she chided, shoving him out of the threshold and shutting the door. Before she could twirl back around, another knock sounded at the door.

“What?” Leslie demanded as she slung the door open.

“It’s time to get ready, dear,” Leslie’s mom announced, stepping into the room already dressed and ready to go.

Leslie quickly hugged her mom before locking arms with me to go get in her big poufy wedding dress. Although she loved her parents unconditionally, she was accustomed to it just being her and me. She’d insisted I would be the one to help her through the milestones of life.

Leslie had a go-big-go-home personality, and her dress fit her personality precisely. Once we had it pulled up, I began buttoning the hundred-plus buttons on the back, cursing her for not going with one that tied or zipped. Just as my fingers went numb, I buttoned the last one, and Leslie twirled around, letting the dress billow out as she spun. She was a princess if I ever I’d seen one. The hand embroidery on the corset top and layers and layers of tulle that created a huge skirt was exquisite, and my smile overtook my face as I once again dabbed away stray tears. Slipping on her garter and heels, she was ready to go marry the man of her dreams.

A
S
I
WALKED
UP
the aisle, I felt a pair of eyes on me. A blush creeped up my cheeks when my eyes met my partner’s, the ones I wanted to look into for the rest of my life. A pair of chocolate eyes that saw straight to my heart and soul, owning me. Returning a smile, I made my way up rest of the aisle, dreaming of the day it would be Bryant and me saying our vows to one another.

When I reached the front of the church, the bridal march began playing, and Leslie glided down the aisle toward Grant. She looked so calm and at peace with it all. My high-strung friend was settling down, and I couldn’t be happier for them. As they promised each other forever, my eyes teared up, and I looked across the way to find Bryant. He was wiping under his eye and smirked at me when he’d apparently realized I’d caught him crying at his best friend’s wedding.

“I love
you,”
he mouthed to me as Leslie and Grant sealed their fate with a kiss.

Applause broke out in the ballroom as the priest presented Mr. and Mrs. Grant Archer. I linked my arm with Bryant’s to exit the ceremony area, feeling so overjoyed for our best friends.

Bryant leaned down and kissed me behind my ear quickly. He whispered, “That will be us very soon. I can’t wait to make you Mrs. Matthews.”

The photographer snapped photos like paparazzi as we were assembled in different groups. Finally, after what felt like hours of flashing lights and clicking shutters, we were able to head to the reception and start the party. Leslie had bedazzled the ballroom into a glittery confection. It sparkled and caught the light and made me feel like I was living inside a diamond. It was the epitome of Leslie, flashy and glitzy.

As she and Grant danced their first dance as man and wife, Bryant pulled me into his hips, my back to his front, and swayed our bodies together as one until we were called to join them on the dance floor. His hands resting on my hips heated the skin beneath the thin satin dress I was wearing, and his breath warmed my neck. He pulled back and twirled me slowly, and I smiled as I spun under his arm, feeling more carefree and at peace than I had in quite a while.

After taking our seats, Bryant and I turned to where we could see out into the reception. Feeling eyes on me, I glanced up to see Jordan watching me closely, drink in hand and a forlorn expression on his face. It seemed he was so entranced, he was ignoring the women fawning over him in his Navy uniform and offering themselves up on a platter. As his eyes met mine, a smile grew on his face, making his green eyes sparkle. On second thought, maybe that was the effects of the alcohol in his hand.

“I want you,” Bryant’s husky voice whispered in my ear, making my skin cover in goose bumps. I felt my body come alive and beg for his touch as he nuzzled.

“I want you too, but if we leave, Leslie will kill us.”

A growl came from Bryant’s throat, and his hands ran over my body. “Let me worry about the logistics of this,” he confidently said. He turned and pulled me toward the door leading out of the reception. On the way out, he stopped to whisper God knows what in the ear of another one of Grant’s groomsmen, although, judging by the smug expression on his face as his eyes moved to me, I could easily guess.

Bryant pulled me quickly into a side room, giving me just a moment to glance around long enough to realize this was where the guys had gotten ready before the wedding. Before I had time to turn back to him, he slammed me against the wall, knocking the wind from my lungs as his mouth came down on my own. He used his hips to hold me against the wall, and his hands skimmed down my dress till they reached the hem and then pushed it up my legs.

“Now. Rose. I want you now!” Bryant’s gruff voice demanded.

My brain tried desperately to formulate a response, but his hand on my hip and the other skimming my lace panties made it impossible.

“I’m yours. I will always be yours,” I finally managed to mumble out as he dipped his fingers inside me.

Bryant’s mouth came back to mine. He kissed me senseless, and I attempted to unfasten his pants and remove the barriers between our bodies, desperate to get my fill of Bryant, to give him what he so obviously wanted.

A nice quick romp later, we both were smiling like school kids as we snuck our way back into the reception. Scanning the room, I saw Leslie talking with Jordan. I headed that way and could feel my muscles aching all over. I smiled to myself as Leslie and Jordan looked to me.

“Well, don’t you just look satisfied!” Leslie teased, making me turn a brilliant shade of red.

Jordan looked me over, making me run my hands down my dress to ensure my appearance wasn’t a disaster.

“Hello, Mrs. Archer.” Leaning in, I gave Leslie a hug. “Where is the mister?”

With a laugh, and obviously knowing I was redirecting the conversation, Leslie pointed her finger in the direction of the outdoor bar where Grant and Bryant were celebrating with the groomsmen with a scotch and cigar.

“And why aren’t you celebrating with the boys?” I asked Jordan.

“That is just not where my interest lies,” Jordan smoothly replied with a debonair wink.

Someone grabbed Leslie’s attention, and I felt the brush of Jordan’s hand as he grasped mine and tugged me toward a corner.

“Jordan, what are you doing?” I nervously asked.

He turning quickly back to me, and I could see the concern in Jordan’s tear-filled eyes as he searched me over. “Are you okay? I heard about the accident. Oh my God, Rose. I wanted to come. So. Bad. But I couldn’t leave training,” he explained, reaching out and caressing the scar on my forehead. “Grant told me that you and Bryant were reconnecting.” He changed course quickly, mentally giving me whiplash trying to keep up with his train of thought. “Rose, it’s not smart. I don’t want to see you hurt by him again. He is trouble.”

Putting my hand up to stop the words that were spilling out of his mouth, I was stunned. I thought we had moved past all this in college when I’d run off to Italy. “Jordan, I need you to respect my decision. Bryant has my heart, always has, always will. You know that.”

Shaking his head, Jordan started to argue when Bryant wrapped his hands around me from behind and pulled me into him. “Hey, man. Long time. How is the Navy treating you?”

Stiffening his jaw, Jordan searched my eyes once more before glazing them over in aggravation and looking to Bryant. “Not too bad. Keeping pretty busy with the workload and training. Probably heading to Afghanistan later in the year.”

My stomach clenched at the thought of Jordan in a combat zone.

“I’m going to go find Leslie. See what my next job is as maid of honor,” I rambled, desperately wanting an excuse to escape this hell. Turning a corner, I leaned my back against a wall as tears welled in my eyes. Afghanistan. With Bryant back, I had neglected Jordan and our friendship, but with Darren returning, I needed Jordan now more than ever to lean on. Afghanistan! What if he got hurt — or killed. A sob grasped me by my throat. Not today. I couldn’t deal with this today. Pulling in a deep breath, I dashed away the few tears that had collected on my cheeks and searched out Leslie.

CHAPTER NINE

R
OLLING OVER IN THE HOTEL BED,
I snuggled up against Bryant’s firm body. I gently ran a hand up his chest and traced the lines of his muscles.

“Good morning, hun,” his thick husky voice crooned.

Looking up to him, I smiled. “Good morning.”

Bryant’s hands held me close, and he softly caressed my lips with his own.

“Let’s order some room service. Leslie and Grant are probably still in bed before catching their flight, and I don’t want to go down to the restaurant,” I pleaded.

Bryant grabbed the menu then dialed for room service as I looked at the few options. “Good morning,” he called into the telephone. I pointed to the pancakes on the menu to give him my order, and he continued without missing a beat. “I’d like two orders of pancakes with bacon, a coffee, and a hot tea please.”

A knock on the door had me untangling myself from him as he finished up our order. Wanting to look semi-decent I scooped up Bryant’s tuxedo shirt to put on and buttoned it up as I walked to the door.

“Open this damn door, Rose Barnes! You’re not done with maid-of-honor duties yet!” Leslie hollered through the wooden door.

As soon as I cracked it open, Leslie and Grant strutted in, already dressed for the day. While I walked past them back to my comfy bed, Grant whistled, and Leslie smacked my ass.

“Ow!” I yelped, covering my just barely clothed cheeks and leaping into bed for Bryant’s protection. “Make them go away,” I whined, nestling into his arms.

“Shouldn’t you guys be heading to the airport for your honeymoon?” Bryant asked with a laugh.

“Yeah, I just need Rose a minute before we head out. You take care of her while I’m gone. Don’t be an ass.” She scolded Bryant like a mother would her child.

“Yes, ma’am!” he shot back, saluting her with his right hand.

Jordan.

Leslie dragged me to the bathroom as I made a mental note to reach out to Jordan before he left to go back. Shutting the door behind us, I returned my attention to her.

“What’s up?” I asked, taking a seat on the toilet lid. Judging by Leslie’s face, etched with worry and concern, it didn’t look good.

“I just want to touch base with you before we go. We were so busy this week that we really haven’t talked about the bachelorette party any more, the new school with Mr. McCreepy, and then Jordan last night. I just don’t want you to get overwhelmed. I don’t want you to run. I am here for you, and Bryant is too if you’d just open up to him.”

A knock at the door had us both hushing and looking at it like it might jump out and bite us.

“Girls, I only ordered so much food, and… well, Grant will eat that amount alone. We are going to head down and get a table. Meet us in ten?” Bryant called through the wood.

“Yeah, grab a table. I’ll get her presentable,” Leslie called back.

Ugh.
So much for staying in bed!

With a huff, I stood up and walked out of the bathroom and got dressed to meet the guys at the restaurant.

Thirty minutes later at breakfast, we were all seated in a round corner booth with plates of breakfast food steaming in front of us. The aroma of maple syrup and scrambled eggs made my mouth water as my stomach grumbled its demand of
“Feed
me!”

Bryant raised his glass of orange juice. “To the happy newlyweds,” he said, clinking glasses with Grant. “And to us joining their ranks soon,” he crooned, touching mine.

My cheeks felt hot as they filled with color. Bryant seemed so ready for me to become Mrs. Matthews.

“Yes, Rose, when will you decide on a date?” Leslie interrogated.

She damn-well
knows
my hesitation.
I love Bryant so much, but we have
just found our footing after years of craziness.
Can’t
we just enjoy a moment’s peace before parading down the aisle?