Sweet Christmas Surrender

By Dahlia Rose

Christine Chapel met Wesley Kent in a coffee shop, and their attraction snowballed into a whirlwind relationship. She was the daughter of the richest man in Los Alamos, New Mexico, and he was just a Sergeant in the Air Force. That didn’t mean a thing, because nothing felt as perfect when she was in his arms. The final day before he left for his nine-month tour, Wes slipped a ring on her finger and vowed he was coming back. He left her with another gift. Christine was pregnant from the man she loved. Her not-so-nice father was breathing down her neck, since he had promised his shady business partner she’d marry him, with or without her consent. If he found out she was pregnant God knew what he’d do, so Christine had no other choice but to run, to have her baby in safety, all the while dreaming about Wes and praying he came home safe.

For the holidays he’d met the woman of his dreams, and while Christine hid in fear, her man was on his way. Wes was back, and mad as hell that her father made her run. He was about to tear New Mexico apart to find her, and his plan was to take down everyone in his path, including her father. Nothing was going to keep him from the woman he loved and being there for the birth of his child.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dahlia Rose
• Release date: Jan 5, 2015
• ISBN: 9781310393563

Dahlia Rose

Dahlia Rose is the best-selling author of contemporary, military and paranormal romance with a hint of Caribbean spice. She was born and raised on a Caribbean island and now currently lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, with her five kids, who she affectionately nicknamed “The Children of the Corn,” and her biggest supporter and longtime love. She has a love of erotica, dark fantasy, sci-fi, and the things that go bump in the night. With over six dozen books published Dahlia has become a reader favorite. Not only because of her writing but her vivacious attitude in talking to her fans online and at various events. Books and writing are her biggest passions, and she hopes to open your imagination to the unknown between the pages of her books. http://hearttoheartwithdahliarose.blogspot.com www.facebook.com/author.dahliarose www.twitter.com/dahliarose1029

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Sweet Christmas Surrender

By

Dahlia Rose

Sweet Christmas Surrender

Copyright © January 2015 by Dahlia Rose Unscriped

All rights are reserved.

Smashwords Edition

No part of this e-book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This book is a work of fiction, and any resemblance to any person, living or dead, or any events or occurrences, is purely coincidental. The characters and story line are created from the author’s imagination and are used fictitiously.

ISBN: 978-1-939151-83-4

Cover by For The Muses Designs

Edited by Narielle Living

Book design by Bob Houston eBook Formatting

Chapter One

You’d never think it was the Christmas season, especially in Los Alamos, New Mexico. Wes pulled off the jacket of his Air Force dress uniform and placed it neatly in the passenger seat of his Land Rover. It was official. In two weeks they’d be leaving for Afghanistan, and he’d be flying medical choppers for nine months. He had two weeks to close up his house and get his affairs in order. It wasn’t much of a big deal. His friend Gary would keep an eye on his house, and there wasn’t family to say goodbye to. It would be two or three beers with his friend the night before, and then he and his gear would be on base.

He looked around as the sun set over the town. People still managed to make it look festive, with lights on the houses and that included the desert trees and plants. A cactus was even wrapped in lights, and his lips curved in a smile. That was a mission he would not have accepted. He walked into town, and the lights were also strung in trees outside restaurants and stores. Los Alamos boasted strip malls that hosted shops ranging from the sunglass hut to Louis Vuitton. Who needed a nine hundred dollar purse, he wondered and shook his head as he passed the outlandishly expensive store. The dry heat gave way to cooler temperatures at night. Afghanistan was the same way. This was his second tour, so he knew what to expect.

Right now he was on a mission of his own. The Coffee Bean at the corner was his destination. He wanted his caffeine fix, yes, and to buy a few packs of his favorite dark roast for the house and for his pack that would be going with him in two weeks. But there was another reason. She sat in the corner with her laptop open, sipping chai tea from a very large cup, and staring at her computer screen intently. Sometimes she smiled or frowned, but she seemed uninterested in what was going on around her. No one met her, and he never saw friends, only her. She captivated him.

Her black hair was pulled back in a soft ponytail, and she had a habit of brushing her long bangs from her forehead to one side. She worried one side of her lip sometimes when she was working, and it was definitely cute on those full lips. She wore lip-gloss, no lipstick, not that she needed it. Her lips were a soft rose color that complimented her ebony skin. If she did look up, her chocolate brown eyes were warm. She’d met his gaze once or twice and looked away shyly.

Oh yeah, I have to know her. Wes walked up to the counter and ordered his usual and a chai tea for her. The barista was her usual friendly self, and for the holidays the little bells on her elf hat jingled merrily. He added in a blueberry scone for good measure and walked over to her table, balancing them all expertly in his hands. Her eyes widened in surprise when she looked up at him standing there, and he could swear she blushed shyly under that smooth, ebony skin.

I thought you may like a refill, Wes said casually.

What if I say no? she asked.

A slow smile spread across his face. Then I’d be stuck drinking chai tea after coffee, and I don’t think my caffeine would like that. Don’t make me find out, invite me to sit.

She smiled and his breath stilled for a moment. Well, since you did go through the trouble, and I don’t want to see the effects you just described, sit.

She moved her computer to one side and he placed the chai tea down carefully then handed her the plate with the blueberry scone before he sat down.

Wes held out his hand. Sergeant Wesley Kent, United States Air Force, nice to meet you.

Her hand was soft when she shook his. Christine Chapel, food blogger extraordinaire.

Really? He grinned. Extraordinaire?

She shrugged. After your introduction, mine needed some pizzazz.

Wes laughed. You need no such thing, trust me. What does a food blogger do?

I eat at different restaurants ‘round the country and sometimes internationally, then I write about my overall experience, she explained.

Then I definitely need to know you. Wes took a drink of his coffee. I’m not known for my cooking skills, but I can man a mean grill. Maybe I should make you a steak sometime, and you can tell me how it is.

What if I don’t like it and blog about how horrible it was? she teased.

He pressed his hand over his heart. I’ll be forever wounded, probably won’t recover, and spiral into a depression from whence I’ll never return.

Wow, dramatic. She was smiling, and Wes counted that as a good thing. Remind me to be gentle with you.

He winked. Please don’t be gentle, I like it rough.

She fanned her face with a napkin suddenly and looked into her cup of tea. She was shy, he liked that, it was sweet compared to some of the women he’d met over the years.

So, about our date, Wes hinted.

I haven’t said yes, she pointed out.

But you’re going to, he answered. I’ve got two weeks before I deploy, and I want good memories of you to take with me.

You move very fast, Christine said.

Slow and steady wins the race, but sometimes the direct approach is best. He took a long drink from his cup and watched her.

I don’t do rolls in the hay, she said with a frown. If that’s where you think this may be heading, for you to bust a nut before you leave, I’m going to have to disappoint you.

He laughed out loud at her words. She had fire, and that intrigued him even more. I’m not that kind of guy.

I wouldn’t know, I just met you. Don’t all military men say that and leave a bevy of broken hearts in their wake? Christine asked.

Get to know me, and you’ll see I’m everything I claim to be, including a bad cook but excellent griller, Wes said smoothly.

And if I don’t like what I find out?

You can slap my face, call me a dirty liar, and then ruin my grilling reputation on your blog, he replied.

She nodded. Okay, I’ll give it a whirl.

Yeah? He smiled widely.

She wrote quickly on a piece of paper and ripped it from the legal notepad on the table. My apartment address, pick me up at six, tomorrow evening.

I’ll be there, he said as she began to pick up her things. Leaving already?

Other commitments, she said. I’ll see you tomorrow.

I’m looking forward to it, Christine Chapel, Wes said.

She smiled. Me too. Goodnight.

He watched her leave and admired the curve of her body as she moved. She fills out a pair of jeans rather nicely, he mused and she gave him a small wave from outside the window as she walked by. Wes raised his hand in acknowledgment and watched her get into her compact car. He’d dared after weeks of watching her, and it had paid off. He had a first date with Christine, and he planned to make it a second, third, and beyond.

* * * *

Christine had a smile on her face until she parked by the fountain in the circular driveway. Since her