Valentine from a Soldier by Makenna Jameison Page A

hopefully wouldn’t attract much male attention since they all appeared to be married.  One of the women was giving a loud toast to their weekend getaway sans husbands and kids .  The older couple to my right was also unlikely to cause me any problems.  The woman was happily sipping a glass of red wine and the man enjoying a beer.  Maybe I’d be able to order a quick meal and eat in peace after all.
    The bartender took my drink order, and I glanced down at my phone, looking at the flurry of text message s coming in from my friends.
    Noooo , you can’t miss it!
    What?!  How can we have the bachelorette party without you?
    I can’t believe the weather is ruining our night out!!!
    I sighed, knowing there was nothing that could be done.  On my way back from the airport I’d sent a text en masse to my friends, telling them I wouldn’t be home in time for the bachelorette party .  I’d already warned Morgan this morning after watching the weather report.  Being a complete optimist, she blew off my worr ies and said that she’d see me tonight .  But since contingency planning is something I do best, I went ahead and lined everything up so that the evening could go off without a hitch in my absence .  She was getting married in one week , so it’s not exactly like we could reschedule the bachelorette party for next Friday night.  We’d be busy with the rehearsal dinne r and other last - minute wedding details then .  I’d have to just make the best of it.
    The bartender placed my glass of Merlot down on the counter, and I was dismayed to see the couple beside me leaving.   Hopefully someone looking to chit-chat wouldn’t sit down be side me.  After the three-day conference I’d just pulled off, I was getting a little tired of making small talk with strangers.  Even if I didn’t bat an eye at chatting up clients and conference attendees Monday through Friday , by the time the weekend rolled around I just wanted to relax and unwind .  Since going out with my girlfriends tonight wasn’t an option, I at least deserved to enjoy my wine in peace and quiet.
    The barstool beside me was suddenly yanked back , and a guy in his early thirties sat down.  He had short dark hair , cut in a military style, and a chiseled, masculine face.  He shrugged out of his black leather jacket, and I saw that he had on a black v-neck tee shirt and well-fitting jeans that hung perfectly from his hips.  Normally I didn’t like v-neck shirts on men, thinking they were too feminine, but there was no mistaking he was all male.  Taking in his strong biceps, broad shoulders , and muscular chest, I noticed that h e certainly filled it out in all the right places .  I couldn’t help but wonder what lied beneath it and then found my self blushing and turning away before he caught me watching him.  It wasn’t like me at all to g o undressing a man in my mind.
    He sat close since the bar was crammed full of people, and I could smell the clean scent of his soap and aftershave.   When he ordered a beer, his deep, sexy voice had my mind spinning in circles.  Could this guy be any hotter?  And why tonight of all nights , when I just needed a break and desperately wanted to be left alone, had he sat down beside me?  I took a sip of my wine, wishing that I’d order ed a shot of tequila instead.  Then I could have quickly thrown back my drink and gone.   If I stayed to finish my glass of Merlot, I’d almost certainly have to say something to him.  We were, after all, the only two people seated at the bar who seemed to be here alone.   Was I supposed to sit by his side and ignore him all evening?
    T he stranger beside me finally glanced over my way, and I looked up into his piercing blue eyes.  “Don’t worry, I’m not going to hit on you,” he said in his deep voice.
    I laughed, thinking that was in fact the cheesiest pick - up line I’d ever heard, but he had a look of complete seriousness about him.  He wasn’t leaning