In the Arms of a Soldier by Makenna Jameison Read Free Book Online

said, his voice deep.  I glanced over and could see the tension across his face as he clenched his strong jaw.  I knew it was hard on his mom having Josh deployed so far away.  She struggled enough with her illness as it was, and having to worry about her only son much of the time probably didn’t help matters.
    “Do you think you’ll ever get out of the Army?” Allie asked.
    Josh gave a shrug.  “Who knows.  I’ve put in eight years, so I could .  This is what I’ve been trained for though, and I’m good at it.  It would be hard to just throw my career away at this point.”
    “Just marry Jess,” Rob said with a grin.  “She’s a doctor.”
    Josh shifted uneasily beside me, and I glanced down at the time on my phone.  “Look, we should probably be getting back.  It’s been a long couple of days, and I’ve got work tomorrow.”
    “Yeah, I’m pretty wiped myself,” Josh said.
    I hugged Allie goodbye as we stood, and Josh and Rob shook hands.  “Let’s get together for a girl’s night soon,” Allie said.  “It’s been way too long, and I want to hear all about you and Josh.”
    I grinned back.  “That sounds like a plan.   We’ll find a time when Lexie is free, too.  Tom can babysit.”
    We finished saying our goodbyes, and Josh and I walked the short distance back to our apartment.  It was late afternoon, and the sun was already starting to lower in the sky.  Josh slowed his long pace to match my stride, and as we continued down the block, I could already feel exhaustion setting in.  It was never a good idea to end the weekend less refreshed than when you’d started it, and I had a feeling that the next few days at work would be a killer.  Twelve-hour shifts didn’t go well when you started one already at the peak of exhaustion.
    A man jogged by us wearing headphones, passing a little closer than he needed to, and Josh quickly tugged me to his side.  I glanced up at him, slightly puzzled. “Now I’m always going to be worried about you,” he said quietly.  He pulled open the door to our building and held it for me as we walked inside.  We silently rode the elevator upstairs to our apartment, and I could tell that something was on his mind.  He was much quieter than usual and his mood seemed to have changed significantly from when we’d left our apartment together hours ago.
    I walked over to the sofa and sank down onto it, pulling the chenille throw draped across the back around me.   Josh sat down beside me but didn’t put his arm around my shoulders or pull me close like I was expecting.  I glanced over at him, wondering what exactly was on his mind.
    “So, are we going to talk about what happened this morning?” he asked, a serious expression on his face.
    “Yes, I think we should,” I said slowly.  “I’ve been thinking—”
    “It was a mistake,” Josh said, cutting me off.  “I shouldn’t have taken advantage of you like that, and I’ve felt terrible all afternoon.”
    “Taken advantage…of me?” I asked, confused.  I’d been lusting after Josh practically since the moment he arrived home, and it wasn’t like I’d exactly pushed him out of my bed this morning.  We both knew exactly what was happening when our first kiss led to much, much more.
    “You were upset and vulnerable.  I never should have let that happen.”
    “Josh,” I started to say, but he cut me off again.
    “ I should be looking out for you.  I should have last night, before that guy attacked you, and I should have this morning, too.”
    “ Don’t I get any say in the matter?” I asked, suddenly feeling perplexed.  “It’s not like I was exactly fighting you off earlier.  Things have been different between us ever since you got back.  You think I’m the only one who changed while you were gone?  You’ve changed, too!”
    “I suppose we both have.   That didn’t give me the right to let things get carried away this morning though.”
    “ Josh, seriously, I’m