Surrendered Hearts Read Online Free PDF Page B

at the ceiling and bit her trembling lower lip. “I don’t understand why Lauren would ask me to be her bridesmaid. I don’t even know her, and I feel like I hardly know Wes.”
    She slowly shook her head. “I only wrote him a few times while he was working in the Middle East. I didn’t email him very often either, even though that would have been the easiest thing in the world.” She pressed her lips together. “Then after he was arrested, it was too late.”
    “You had no way of knowing that would happen. None of us did.”
    “I tried to help him. I contacted some congressmen and wrote a few letters to government officials, but after a while I ran out of ideas and hope.” She brushed a tear off her cheek. “But I’m the only family he has. I shouldn’t have given up. If I’d kept at it, he wouldn’t have been stuck in that awful prison for eighteen months.” Shuddering, she rubbed her hands down her arms.
    He wished he could give her a comforting hug, but he didn’t know if she would appreciate that. “Don’t be so hard on yourself. That was a tough situation. There wasn’t much anyone could do except pray.”
    “I suppose.” She released a shaky sigh. “But I still can’t imagine why they want me in their wedding.”
    “You’re his sister. He loves you. And I guess he figures he’s only getting married once, so you better be there to see it happen.” He grinned, hoping he could tease her out of her sadness. “Come, on. It’ll be fun. Wes and I are going to wear these stiff-as-a-board penguin suits. We’ll have to pose for a thousand photos and smile until we feel like our faces are going to crack and fall off.
    “Sounds wonderful,” She muttered and reached for a tissue from the box on the counter, but a small smile lifted the corners of her mouth.
    That spurred him on. “Oh it will be. I promise. And I don’t want to be the only one who’s suffering. So you have to get all dressed up and wear tight, new shoes that’ll pinch your feet and make you want to cry.” He paused realizing he was probably getting carried away. “Seriously, they both want you in the wedding.”
    She glanced up at him. “I suppose you’re right, but what do I say now? I feel so stupid. They probably think I don’t like Lauren or the dress or . . .”
    “Just tell them the truth.”
    She released a choked laugh. “What? That I’m totally selfish, and I don’t deserve half the kindness they’ve shown me?”
    “No. Say thanks, I’d love to be in your wedding.”
    “Just like that?”
    “Yep. Just like that.”
    “All right, but . . .” She bit her lip and looked at him hesitantly.
    “What?”
    “The dress . . . I don’t think—”
    “What? You’d look great in that dress.” As soon as the words left his mouth, he felt his neck and ears burn. “I mean, it’s a great dress, but if you don’t like it—”
    “No. I like it. I just don’t think it’s . . . right for me.”
    “Then go with Lauren and pick out another one. You heard her. She wants your opinion.” Jennifer still looked doubtful so he added, “Lauren’s sweet. I’m sure she’ll listen to whatever you say. Give her a chance.”
    She smiled, and her gaze settled on him. “Okay. Thanks.”
    “For?”
    “Listening and talking me out of this weird emotional . . . thing.”
    He chuckled. “Not a problem.”
    But as he followed Jenn into the dining room doubts circled through his mind. Had he’d made a mistake stepping in like that? Wasn’t Wes the one who wanted to get closer to her? He cast that thought aside. Wes wouldn’t mind. He’d be grateful.
    But he sensed a warning in his spirit. He needed to be careful and not invest too much in this friendship. When the wedding was over, Jenn would be headed home to Oregon.
    * * * *
    Bill flipped the page, read the final lines of the chapter, and groaned to himself. How could he stop there? He checked the clock on his bedroom end table and found it was after eleven. If he