Read Online Marrying Caroline (SEAL of Protection) by Susan Stoker - Free Book Online

here, Matthew is here, you’re here, all our friends are here…I want to get married now. Here. With you.” When Hunter didn’t say anything, but instead just lay on his bed and stared at her, Caroline stuttered, “If that’s okay.”
    “If that’s okay?” Cookie asked incredulously.
    “Careful, Cookie,” Wolf warned his friend, not understanding the tone of his voice.
    Cookie spared a quick look at Wolf and briefly flashed their SEAL sign for “okay” to him. Wolf relaxed and put his hand on the small of Caroline’s back in support.
    “Caroline, come here,” Cookie ordered. Caroline took a small step closer to the bed, and Cookie took hold of her hand in a death grip.
    “I can’t believe you’d do that. You should wait until you can do it right, until it’s perfect.”
    Caroline sat gingerly on the side of Hunter’s bed. “It’s perfect today. I’m sorry the day didn’t turn out like you planned it, but the bottom line is that I want to do this today. I’ve been looking forward to this day for the last two months. I don’t want to wait. But I want you to be okay with it. For all intents and purposes, this is your wedding too.”
    Cookie reached up with both hands and brought Caroline’s head down close to his. “I’m more than okay with it. I’m fucking honored you’d do this today here with me.”
    When Caroline sniffed with emotion, Wolf commented dryly, “If you two don’t stop sniffling over each other, the doctors will discharge Cookie and all your plans for an emotional bedside wedding will be for naught, Ice.”
    Caroline laughed and looked up at Matthew. “Keep your pants on, Matthew.”
    They all laughed and Caroline stood up. “Okay, I’ll send the rest of the group in. Matthew, you stay. I’ll see you in a bit.” She reached up and kissed her soon-to-be husband. She wasn’t quick about it, and Matthew took advantage of her emotional state to deepen the kiss. Finally Caroline pulled away, kissed her fingertips, held them to Matthew’s lips and backed out of the room.
    “Is she wearing flip-flops?” Cookie joked to his friend.
    “Yup.”
    “That’s not what I bought for her.”
    “Nope.”
    “You okay with this, Wolf?” Cookie asked seriously.
    “Fuck yeah.”
    “All right then.”
    The two men smiled at each other, both lost in their thoughts of the amazing woman that had come into their lives.
     
    * * *
     
    Caroline stood in the hallway of the hospital wringing her hands nervously. The men were all inside the small hospital room where Hunter was lying on the bed. The pastor was also inside the room. Everyone was waiting for her to get in there, but Caroline wanted to have a moment with Fiona and Alabama first.
    “You guys are the best friends a girl could ever have. I never had a sister, or even a close friend, but I thank God every day you came into Christopher’s and Hunter’s lives.”
    “Really? You’re going to do this now?” Fiona mock-complained, wiping away her tears.
    Caroline laughed and nodded. “No time like the present.”
    “Okay, then right back at ‘cha. When I was locked inside that hut in Mexico, I didn’t think I’ve ever get out of there. You don’t see me as broken, even when I literally descended into crazy-town right in front of your eyes.”
    Alabama chimed in as well, her words all the more meaningful because of her history. “I learned never to trust anyone, but you guys have shown me that people can be unselfish and genuine and I don’t know what I’d have done without you, Caroline, when I was homeless.”
    The three women surged together as if they’d planned it. They hugged each other and sniffled. Finally Caroline pulled away and wiped at her eyes. “Okay, I know I started it, but I want to get married. Can we please put this mushy stuff away until later?”
    Alabama followed Caroline’s lead and wiped her face and Fiona did the same.
    “Okay, Alabama, you go in first, then Fiona. It’ll be just like we planned