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SARAH SIGHED AS SHE woke up the next morning and stretched languorously in bed. The sheets were twisted around her, and she flushed remembering their night of lovemaking.
So much for spending the evening packing.
Ryan had taken her again and again, and she was deliciously sore today. Thankfully they both had the day off. They’d decided to forgo any traditional rehearsal dinner tonight. They’d relax together this morning and do last-minute wedding preparations, and then she’d check into the hotel with her girlfriends this evening.
They’d have some girl time, order room service, and hang out on her last night officially single. With hair and makeup appointments, maybe even a massage in the morning, she’d be rested and ready for her wedding ceremony on the beach.
Freeing her legs from the tangled sheets, she frowned as she saw Ryan’s neatly packed bags by the bedroom door.
Damn.
He’d gotten up early and packed while her clothes were still scattered about everywhere?
Good grief.
She’d fully intended to spend the night before organizing her things until Ryan had literally swept her into bed and given her orgasm after amazing orgasm. She needed to get organized, stat, and pack her hotel bag and suitcase for the honeymoon if she wanted any chance to relax with Ryan today before they spent the night apart.
Her phone buzzed with a text, and she grabbed it from the nightstand to see Morgan’s name flash on the screen.
Tomorrow’s the big day!
Can’t wait to see you later.
Sarah grinned, texting her friend back.
I am so ready! And girl’s night at the hotel will be fab. xoxo
She set her phone back down on the nightstand, and Ryan walked into the bedroom, carrying a tray full of food and hot tea. He was already showered, shaved, and dressed, and she could smell the spicy hint of his cologne as he got closer. “I thought I’d make you breakfast in bed,” he said, his voice deep.
“Awww, that’s sweet,” she said, flushing.
“It’s the least I could do after distracting you last night,” he said, his lips quirking.
“True, I’ve still got a ton of stuff to do.”
He set the tray down, smiling as he sank down onto the bed beside her. “I didn’t hear you complaining too much when you were crying out my name,” he murmured in a low voice.
Sarah raised her eyebrows. “You got me there—you’ll get no complaints from me when we’re in bed together,” she teased. “But you know how I hate packing. I don’t want to be frantically racing around before we leave for the hotel.”
“What else is left? You’ve got your dress; the flowers and cake are being delivered. I’ll load up the car later on, drop you off to meet Morgan and Bree at the hotel, and then meet you at the end of the aisle tomorrow.”
“You make it sound easy,” she said with a sigh, spearing a piece of fruit with her fork. “I’ve got packing, prepping, going over my list to make sure I don’t forget anything.”
Ryan chuckled. “All that matters is us. I’ve wrapped up stuff on base for the time being, and you’ve said goodbye to your clients for the next week—all we have to focus on is the wedding.”
Sarah looked at him doubtfully. “And you’re sure you won’t get called back to base for some emergency?”
“I’m sure,” he assured her. “We’ve got other teams on standby if something urgent comes up.”
“The guys out in California?”
“It’s handled,” he said. “And besides, I’m the only one who will be gone for a week while we’re on our honeymoon. The other guys will all be working as usual.”
Sarah lifted the mug and took a sip of her herbal tea. “I just can’t believe our wedding is tomorrow, you know? It seems like everything is falling into place too perfectly—I’m worried something is going to go wrong.”
“Nothing is going to go wrong,” he assured her. “And hell—even if it does, all that matters is the two of us saying our vows. The cake could be awful, the skies could open and rain down on us, and it wouldn’t matter. You know why?”
Tears smarted her eyes as she looked up at him, and Ryan’s gaze softened. “Because we’re getting married,” she said, a single tear rolling down her cheek.
“Why are you crying?” Ryan asked, his voice gruff as he gently thumbed away the single stray tear.
“I’m just happy,” she said. “And a little bit stressed—but mostly happy.”
Ryan chuckled. “I don’t want you so stressed that you’re crying. I’ll help you pack—whatever I’m allowed to see, that is,” he added with a wink. “Eat your breakfast, take a bubble bath, and then we’ll get organized. I’ve got to tie up a few loose ends around here since we’ll be gone for a week and make sure the place is locked up, but then we’ll relax and enjoy the afternoon together before I drop you off.”
“That sounds good,” she said.
Ryan took one of her hands and brushed his lips over the back of it. “I promise—even if everything in the world somehow goes wrong, all that matters is that we’re together.”
“You’re right,” she said. “I’m just being silly. It’s just wedding jitters or something like that. I’m not worried about us getting married, just something going wrong with the ceremony.”
“And like I already said, nothing will go wrong. You’ll walk down the aisle, I’ll kiss the bride, and we’ll sail off into the sunset.”
Sarah giggled. “Except there won’t be any boats.”
Ryan shrugged. “I’m in the Navy—what can I say? That’s how I think. We’ll toast at our reception, and I’ll carry you off to our hotel room.”
“And then we’ll jet off the next day on our honeymoon,” she said excitedly.
Ryan ducked down and kissed her forehead. “Exactly. Now eat your breakfast. Relax. We’ve got our entire lives ahead of us, sweetheart.”
***
SARAH KISSED RYAN GOODBYE in front of the hotel later that evening, grinning as the bellhop put her suitcase, overnight bag, and dress onto the luggage cart. “Are you sure you don’t want me to help get that to the room?” Ryan asked, his voice deep.
“I’m fine, sweetheart. Morgan will be here any minute.”
He nodded, bending down to brush his lips against her forehead one more time. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach, and she knew it was probably just wedding nerves. “The room’s in my name, and they already have my payment information. When you check in, everything should be all set.”
“Great. I’ve got my wallet and stuff, so no worries if something goes wrong.”
“I don’t need you paying for our hotel on our wedding night,” he countered.
“Good thing that’s tomorrow then,” she said with a wink. “So you have everything you need, right?”
“I’m all set,” he assured her. “Have fun with your girlfriends tonight. And you’ve got those hair appointments or whatever in the morning?”
“Hair and makeup,” she confirmed. “They’ll come right to the room, so after we have a late brunch, we’ll be getting ready for the ceremony!”
“This is the hairstylist friend of that guy you met?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Yep. She’s got her own salon here in Virginia Beach and luckily had an opening, can you believe it? I think she had a cancellation or something, because everyone else was booked since this was so last minute.”
“We’ve had a few weeks to plan,” he said with a chuckle.
Sarah lightly swatted at him. “Trust me, in wedding planning, that’s last minute. You’re just saying that because of all the last-minute missions you’re involved with. Some people spend an entire year planning their wedding—maybe even longer.”
“Thank goodness that’s not us.”
“Seriously. All right,” she said, looking into the open hatch of his SUV. “I think that’s the last of my stuff. And you’ll just bring your luggage tomorrow?”
“It’ll be in my car,” he assured her. “We’ll go back to the room tomorrow night after the reception and then fly out the next day on our honeymoon.”
“Sounds perfect,” she said excitedly, jumping up and down. “Oh, my phone’s buzzing with a text. I bet that’s Morgan. So, I’ll see you tomorrow!”
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” he said, ducking down for one last kiss. Sarah shivered as Ryan’s lips brushed over hers. The bellhop was discreetly looking away when Ryan stood back up, and Sarah flushed. That kiss was completely chaste, but something about the fact that they were getting married tomorrow was turning her into the typical blushing bride.
Sarah stepped toward the bellhop and then turned and blew Ryan another kiss. The next time she saw him, it would be at their oceanfront ceremony. She thought she might actually explode from excitement.
