THE WAR BRIDE CLUB Read Online Free PDF Page A

she heard Lilly laugh to her mother before following them down the street.  
          But she couldn’t have cared less. She was the luckiest girl in the world as far as she was concerned. And right now, that was all that mattered.  
          
    June was thankful to have her sister walking with them. Aside from his initial welcome, Eddie had seemed even shyer than her. They were walking side-by-side, arms bumping every few steps, and she felt every touch. Lost her breath every time he glanced at her and didn’t know how she could possibly cope with dancing in his arms.  
          “So Eddie, our June tells me you live on a farm.”
          Lilly winked at June and she wished it was dark. That night would fall and conceal her face.  
          “Country born and bred,” he answered.
          “And you’re not married or promised to a lass back home?”
          “Lilly!” June couldn’t believe she’d even thought to ask something like that.  
          “No ma’am,” said Eddie, his voice overlapping with June’s.  
          He stopped walking and faced her sister. Had he taken great offense to her question? Was he going to put an end to their night here and now? June bit hard on the inside of her mouth.  
          “I wouldn’t have asked your sister out if I was promised.”
          The look on his face was so serious June might have laughed if she wasn’t so embarrassed.  
          Lilly nodded. “Fair enough.”
          “I love her,” he blurted. “I fell in love with her from the moment she found me.”
          Heat rushed through June’s body. He loved her?
          “Love?” repeated Lily, waving her hand dismissively in the air. “Only an American would waffle on about love. You’ve only known her a day!”
          But though she couldn’t muster the energy to look at him, was too embarrassed to even think of responding, a warmth filled June’s heart that she couldn’t describe.  
          Eddie took her hand and squeezed it tight. She squeezed his in return. And as they walked, palms pressed together, for the first time in her life she started to believe in the idea of love at first sight. She might have despaired at finding him, when she’d first seen him, but one look into those dark hazel eyes had been all she’d needed. The realization had taken the breath from her lungs. She also knew, from that day forward, that she’d follow Eddie to the end of the earth, if it meant never having to let go of his hand.  

CHAPTER THREE
     
    JUNE wiped a tear as it trickled a path down her cheek. Just thinking about Eddie had her heart thumping. Would it still be the same? Would he be waiting for her as he’d promised? And her sister. Her mother. Her father. Would she truly be able to live a happy life without them?
          “You’ll be okay, luv. It’ll all be fine.”
          She squeezed Betty’s hand and turned to face her. The other two girls had already fallen asleep in their hammocks, tired from the excitement of the day. But June had decided to stay awake with Betty, who was struggling to get comfortable and still had cramps in her stomach.  
          “June?”
          She reached to pull a blanket over herself and made out Betty’s face in the fading light.  
          “You’re right, it’ll all be fine.” June sighed. “It just feels like there’s a long road ahead.”
          “You never did say what happened to your sister. Did she find her own prince charming?”
          That made her laugh. “Our Lilly had plenty of suitors, but she went and fell for a Yank too.”
          Betty was suddenly upright. “Oooh, please, you have to tell me!”
          June shook her head. “I’ve done enough talking for today. Let’s just say that Lilly met a man that night at the dance who managed to knock the cynicism out of her. But she was never going to