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

said carelessly.
    “Lucky you.  I’ve got a roomful of kids coming at 9:00—and I have to be ready for them.”
    “All right, whatever.  I’ll hang out her e and watch some reality TV with you while you do your crafty stuff.  That new dating show is on tonight.  Maybe I should sign up….”
    Amy laughed as she cleared their plates away.  Apparently the evening of cheering up her best friend had worked like a charm.  Melissa had called her sobbing only several hours ago and was now checking out the men who lived on her street and talking about signing up for a dating show.  She knew Melissa’s newfound cheerfulness was only the wine talking—her friend would be upset again tomorrow, once the reality of her situation set in, and they’d have to deal with cancelling the wedding.  Amy had just picked up her bridesmaid’s dress two weeks ago and wondered if she could return it since it hadn’t been altered yet.  She sighed, wondering what on earth had gotten into Michael.  One thing was more true than ever though: their girl’s weekend couldn’t get here soon enough.

Chapter 5
     
    Jason opened the front of his mailbox, pulling out a pile of bills, an ad, and one lonely sports magazine.  He glanced at the football player on the cover, jumping midair to catch the ball.  Although the guy was in good shape, Jason wondered how he’d fare during their early morning training runs.  It was one thing to run around a field holding a football, but could this guy handle running distances in uniform with gear strapped to him?  That was another beast entirely.
    Jason had been on a different shift down in Quantico this week but would be back to his usual arrival time of 0600 on Monday morning.  The change in schedule had thrown off his whole routine.  He didn’t normally jog around the neighborhood in the evening, preferring instead to train on base. He’d seen the redhead staring at him as he jogged down the street earlier.  Was she a friend of Amy’s?  Although he’d just gotten a glimpse of her as he ran past, he thought it looked like her face was red from crying.
    He guessed the redhead must be a friend or coworker—definitely not a sister.  Whereas Amy was brunette, tanned, and toned, the redhead was pale and slightly more curvaceous.  He wondered if Amy had any family close by, if she were even from the area.  Jason had grown up a military brat, traveling all over the world.  His parents had retired out in California.  His brother was also a Marine, currently deployed in the Middle East, and his cousin was an Army Special Forces officer.  He barely knew any other lifestyle.  To serve and protect had been ingrained in him since he was a young boy.  Since he, his brother, and cousin had all joined the military like his father and uncle, he knew the call to serve ran deep in their family.
    Tossing his mail on the kitchen table, he headed upstairs to grab a quick shower before dinner.  Catching a glimpse of himself in the bathroom mirror, he could see the way his biceps bulged in the white tee shirt that he was wearing, the anchor and globe of his Marine Corps tattoo just peeking out from beneath the sleeve.  He was dripping in sweat from his run, but he looked strong and healthy—his blue eyes alert, his skin still slightly tanned from time spent outdoors, his dark brown hair cropped short.  He smirked at the memory of Red watching him.  Although he was used to getting attention from women, she wasn’t really his type.  Any woman that would stand there on the street ogling him as he jogged by wasn’t exactly his style.  That was way too obvious.  He seemed to always fall for the more sweet and subtle, girl-next-door type.
    Stripping off his shirt, he turned on the shower, letting the water heat up.  Nope, Red definitely wasn’t anyone he’d be chasing after.  Now her friend, on the other hand, was another story….

Chapter 6
     
    Amy glanced around her classroom the next morning,