Free Birthday Bride by Marie Pinkerton Page B

helped me up, and stuck his body between mine and the hunched over waiter. 
I took advantage of the soldier in front of me, adjusted my undies, and
smoothed my skirt back down.  Yeah, I was ready for the floor to swallow me up
still.
    “Abby
was supposed to get a Birthday spanking,” Glennys said, pouting. 
    Oh
really? Maybe next time she could fill me in on that plan? And possibly choose
someone less icky!
    “She
said no,” my soldier said firmly, glaring at the waiter until he limped away,
with a glare over at Glennys for instigating the whole situation, just for good
measure. 
    “You
okay?” My soldier’s gaze ran up and down my body, and heat pooled in various
parts of my anatomy as he did so.
    “Other
than my pride, I’m fine.” My head was pounding from adrenaline and margaritas,
and I gladly sunk into the vacated seat.  I put my head down on my arms against
the table and ignored the chatter and moving chairs around me.  What was
Glennys thinking? Just because she wanted to be spanked, and even spanked
publicly (there was a club she had mentioned once), didn’t mean that others
liked public humiliation.  Yeah, I didn’t mind the concept of a birthday spanking. 
I had been the recipient of one several times growing up.  But in public, with
strangers watching me? That might titillate Glennys, but not me.  When I got
spanked in real life and not my daydreams–and for me it was a when , not if – it would be in private.  Like, in a bedroom.  And after I was married.  “The
only person touching my butt will be my husband.”
    “Good
to know,” I heard rumble next to me. 
    Oh
my God.  Military man was still here… and eavesdropping on me talking to
myself! I lifted my head up, and gave him a weak smile.  “I’m not normally like
this.”
    He
put his arm around my shoulders and gave a squeeze, then rested it along the
back of my chair.  “You’re fine either way for me.  I’m Mark.  Mark Friedman.  You’re
Abby?”
    I
nodded, and looked around the table.  Mark’s buddies had all joined us, roughly
pairing up with each of the bridesmaids.  Glennys was perched in one lucky man’s
lap.
    “Where
you from, Soldier,” She asked, flirting wildly with him.
    “We’re
all stationed at Camp Pendleton.  It’s on the California coast, between San
Diego and LA.” Glennys’ Marine didn’t take his eyes off of her, but did address
the table. 
    I
was surprised they were acknowledging our existence.  They seemed more apt to
head up to a hotel room. 
    Shit. 
Glennys and I were sharing a room.  I might go upstairs later to a towel on the
door, for lack of a sock.
    “Oooh,
we’re all working at Palomar College! That’s just a quick jump down the
freeway!” Glennys squealed, almost a bit too innocently.  I narrowed my eyes at
her.
    Jackie
introduced the members of her bridal party, and the boys took turns introducing
themselves.  I work in admissions, and see hundreds of names a day, and my
memory for names resets almost as instantly as I see or hear them.  Mark’s name
I would remember, especially since his hand occasionally brushed my shoulder.  Swoon!
Glennys’ man was Carlos.  The rest, I would recognize for their chiseled
features and military bearings, but the names were a blur.
    An
hour later, the pounding in my head had been replaced by the pounding of my
heart.  I felt like a teenager! Mark had given up on the “accidental” touching
of my shoulder, and had fully put his arm around me.  It’s not like I
encouraged him by snuggling up next to him or anything.  Ahem….
    Everyone
else was just as cozy, so I wasn’t surprised when Glennys told me they were
leaving.  She asked me and Mark to join them, which caused my eyebrows to shoot
up (but curiously, not Mark’s), then told us the location, which caused both of
ours to shoot up (mine even higher).
    They
were going to get married.
    While
I had heard that countless couples got married on a whim in Vegas…