Read Marrying Daisy Bellamy for Free Online Page A

girl is present when you whip it out.”
    â€œThat’s the plan. I invited her to our commissioning ceremony, so if she comes for that—”
    â€œWait a minute, if? There’s some question?”
    â€œWell, things have been a little weird for us,” he said. Understatement.
    â€œOh, now there’s a fine basis for a lasting relationship,” she said, putting away her gear and grabbing his hand. She yanked, helping him to his feet.
    He shook out each limb, schooling himself not to wince at the pain. His nerve endings had nerve endings,but pain was only a feeling. Everything was in proper working order—that was the key. Despite the fiery aches, he was sure they hadn’t overlooked a break or sprain. Nope, he was good to go.
    â€œSee, here’s the thing,” he said, wading up the chute. “With Daisy and me—we’ve been like a moving target. Nothing is ever simple. She’s got this kid, a great kid, but he complicates things. She’s going in one direction, and I’m going in another, and we can never get on the same page.”
    He and Sayers started hiking out of the woods. His heart sped up as he thought about Daisy. “I’m nuts about her, and I know she feels the same. Getting engaged is going to cut through all the extraneous crap and simplify everything.”
    Sayers stopped walking and turned to him, putting her hand on his chest. “Oh, honey. Can you really be that stupid?”
    He grinned. “You tell me.”
    She studied his face, her expression reflecting concern, exasperation and barely suppressed compassion. “My mama once told me never to underestimate the thickness of a man’s skull. I think she was right.”
    â€œWhat? She’s nuts about me, too,” Julian pointed out. “I know she is.”
    â€œThat makes two of you, then.”
    It took a while to get back, make a full report, tag and submit the chute for a safety study.
    Julian ignored a deep twinge of soreness in his shoulder as he returned to campus, stopping off at the student center to check his mail. He sorted through the small stack as he hiked back to the residence hall. He tried not to let the commissioning ceremony mean too much to him. It was a personal milestone, his achievement toown, and if nobody but his half brother, Connor, showed up for it, Julian would be okay with that.
    Then again, he was probably telling himself that, preparing for disappointment.
    Others in his detachment were planning on half the civilized world to show up. Julian simply didn’t have a ton of people in his life. His father, a professor at Tulane, had died when Julian was fourteen. Julian’s aunt and uncle, in Louisiana, had lacked the means and the space to take him in. With no other options available, Julian had gone to Chino, California, to live with his mother.
    It wasn’t the kind of personal history that gave rise to a host of adoring relatives. Could be that was why he was so at home in the service. The people he trained with and worked with felt like family.
    As usual, his mind wandered to Daisy. She came from a big extended family, which was one of the many things he loved about her, yet it was also one of the reasons he had trouble imagining a future with her. His duties meant she’d have to tell them all goodbye. It was a hell of a lot to ask of someone.
    Flipping through the mail, he came to a small envelope, pre-addressed to him. He ripped into it, and his face lit up with a grin.
    Everything fell away, his worries about the ceremony, the pain in his shoulder, the fact that he had a presentation due tomorrow, everything.
    He stared down at the simple reply card: “Daisy Bellamywill___ will not attend.” At the bottom, she’d scribbled, “Wouldn’t miss it! Bringing camera. See you soon.—XO.”
    He was in a great mood by the time he got back to his room. Davenport, one of his suite mates, took onelook at his