A Marine for Christmas (Hearts Ablaze: Men in Uniform) Read Free

have Amy gently disagree with everything she said, attempting to be the voice of reason.  Amy obviously must have the patience of a saint in order to deal with preschoolers all day long.  Melissa was a real estate agent and used to being aggressive to attract new clients and close the deal.  She definitely wasn’t used to being around young children, even though she’d looked forward to starting a family one day with Michael.  As she’d spent the last ten minutes—and first glass of wine—complaining, Amy had subtly tried to change the topic and calm her down.
    “Well it should!  Ben was obviously a jerk if he got over you that quickly.  Just like Michael is a complete bastard….”
    Amy carried their plates over to the table and picked up her own glass.  “I really don’t get Michael at al l,” she said, taking a sip of Shiraz.  “Has he tried calling you?  Maybe he’ll come to his senses and change his mind.”
    “As if!   He’s probably out drinking with his Marine buddies tonight, picking up some new girl already—after all, he doesn’t want to be tied down.”
    “I thought you said he worked the late shift,” Amy said.
    “Well, he’ll be out there this weekend.  The guy didn’t even shed a single tear.  And there I was, sitting there sobbing on my sofa, like some teenager who’d just gotten dumped by her first boyfriend.”
    “He did really love you.  He asked you to marry him!  Maybe he just needs some time?  Or got cold feet?”
    “ Pfffffft,” Melissa said, expressing her distaste in that idea.  “Michael had his chance.  He had the girl, bought the ring, set the date….It’s over.”
    “ So no second chances?”
    “We broke up.  Finito.  Finished.  Over.”
    Amy eyed the wine bottle and wondered if her friend had poured even more when she wasn’t looking.  Melissa wasn’t one to overindulge, but she didn’t blame her for need ing an extra glass or two tonight.  Anyone who was just dumped by her fiancé would be equally as upset.
    “ Anyway.  I saw that hottie across the street when I was coming in.”  She let out a long whistle, and Amy laughed in surprise.
    “Who?”
    “The Marine across the street from you.  I don’t know his name.  But I saw him jogging by when I pulled up—bulging biceps, a tattoo peeking out from underneath his sleeve, broad chest, strong legs….”  She eyed Amy wickedly.
    “You mean Jason?  You just broke up with someone!”
    “I was just dumped by someone.  But I didn’t mean for me.  I was thinking more along the lines that you haven’t dated anyone in a while….”
    “Jason?  He’s way too old for me.  And that’s really weird; I’ve never seen him jog by here before.   I go running all the time….”  Amy looked puzzled as she contemplated this new piece of information.
    “He’s what?  Ten years older than us? ”  Amy’s attention snapped back to her friend.  “That is hardly too old.   Ten years is nothing.  And look at it this way: He’s also got ten more years of experience. ”
    “Experience?” Amy asked, somehow sensing where Melissa was going with this.
    “ Experience.”
    “Was Michael lacking in that area?”
    “Of course not!  Michael was amazing in bed.  A-MAZE-ing!  But I was thinking more for you.”
    Amy burst out laughing.   “Great.  I’ve been upset about Ben all this time, and my new lover could very well have been just out my front door.”
    “ Just across the street.  I like your way of thinking,” Melissa said with a grin, spilling some of her wine on the table as she excitedly picked up her glass again.
    “I was being sarcastic!  And I think it’s time I cut you off ,” Amy said, taking the second bottle they’d opened away.  She’d had two glasses compared to Melissa’s…four?  Five?  Who was counting?  “Ex-fiancé or not,” she continued, “we still have to get to work in the morning.”
    “Oh, I don’t have to be in until 10:00,” Melissa