Christmas with a Soldier (Soldier Series Romance Novellas) by Makenna Jameison Read Free Book Online

about which ornaments were hers, and she was more than happy to tell him the story behind each.  I called them to the table before long, and Trent helped me carry the food over.  He poured us each a glass of wine, and I smiled when he commented that he like my wineglasses.  Hannah said a prayer, and then Trent made a toa st.  “To new friends,” he said.
    I smiled, happy that he was here with us.  “To new friends,” I echoed.
    I helped Hannah slice her food, and before long we were all enjoying a nice meal together.
    “Will you come back and have dinner with us again?” Hannah asked.
    Trent met my eyes.  “Well, that’s up to your mom.”
    “Mommy, can he come back again?  He’s really nice and even brings presents!”
    I laughed and looked embarrassedly at Trent.  “We’ll see,” I said.  “Speaking of presents, do you want to open yours now?”
    Hannah excitedly jumped down from her chair and went to retrieve it from the other room.  She came running back into the kitchen and sat down right on the floor to open her present.  “A doll!” she yelled out a moment later, happily holding the box up in the air.
    “Need some help opening that?” Trent asked as her little fingers tried to p ry their way into the cardboard and plastic.
    “Yes, please!” she said eagerly, thrusting the box to him.  I smiled to myself as I carried our plates to the dishwasher, pleased to see her so happy.
    An hour later she was still happily playing with her new doll under the Christmas tree while Trent and I each enjoyed another glass of wine.  Hannah was starting to yawn, and I picked her up to carry her off to bed.
    “Say goodnight to Mr. Trent,” I said, holding her in my arms.
    “Goodnight.  I have to go to bed soon because Santa’s coming.”
    “That he is,” Trent said with a low chuckle.  “Goodnight Hannah.”
    I carried her upstairs and tucked her in, eager to have some quiet time alone with Trent.  I still had a few presents to finish wrapping and had to get everything under the tree before Hannah woke up tomorrow morning, but there would be plenty of time for that later.  Right now I wanted nothing more than to relax and enjoy some adult company.
    Trent was standing there looking at ornaments on the tree when I came back downstairs.  He turned to look at me and smiled, his brown eyes locking with mine as I descended the last few steps.  “Thank you for dinner,” he said, walking over to me.  “I can’t remember the last time I enjoyed myself so much.”  He took my hand and brought it to his mouth, and I flushed as his lips brushed against my skin.
    “I’m glad you could come,” I said softly.  “Hannah adored you.”
    “Well, I’m pretty fond of her and her mother,” he said, a smile playing on his lips.  We were close enough that I could smell the spicy scent of his cologne, and I was forced to look up to meet his gaze since he towered above me.  He bought his hand up to my face and slowly traced his knuckles across my cheek.  Something began to stir inside me, and I wanted nothing more than for him to take me into his arms.
    As if reading my mind, he put his hands on my waist and gently pulled me closer to him.  He filled out his uniform nicely, and I couldn’t wait to feel his body against mine once more.  I reached up, putting my arms around his neck, and he lowered his head, giving me a sweet and gentle kiss.  I stood up on my tiptoes, wanting to be closer to him still, and he suddenly reached down and scooped me up into his arms.  My legs wrapped tightly around him, and he carried me in his arms as if I weighed almost nothing, walking over to the sofa.
    The room was dimly lit from the white lights on the Christmas tree, and I loved the way a warm glow was cast about the room.  It created a magical, romantic atmosphere.  Trent sat down on the sofa, with me straddling him, and I felt a bulge beginning to form beneath his trousers.  “I take that back,” he said,