Hard Loving Cowboy--Includes a bonus novella

by A. J. Pine

  “Wasn’t exactly part of the interview,” Walker said.

  “Shit,” Luke said under his breath. “Come have dinner,” he said. “Let Jack, me, and the sheriff see that you’re doing okay, and I’ll get off your back about this. I want to believe you’ve got the hang of sobriety. I really do. But you could have killed yourself that night at Nora’s. You don’t know what it was like for Jack to get that call from Cash—or for me to get the call from Jack. Jenna burst into tears when I told her, and then I had to talk her out of driving an hour to Oak Bluff in the middle of the night just so she could see you and know you were okay.”

  “Thank you,” Walker said softly. “For not letting Jenna see me like that.”

  He hadn’t even thought about what it must have been like for his brothers or his aunt to get that call. God, he’d been a selfish prick. He still was.

  “Old habits die hard,” he mumbled. His brother raised a questioning brow. “I’m doing the best I can,” he said more clearly.

  Luke nodded. “All I’m asking is for you to check in with us every now and then so I don’t have to act like an overprotective parent.”

  Overprotective parent. Wasn’t that a load of horseshit? The only way their father had tried to protect Walker after he and his brothers had already been removed from his custody was sending him a bottle of J.D. on his fifteenth birthday. Walker had downed the whole flask. Didn’t matter that it made him sick only a couple hours later. The gift had done the trick. Like father, like son.

  Walker scratched the back of his neck. “You know, you sound an awful lot like Jack lately.”

  Luke winced.

  “What the hell’s wrong with sounding like me?” Jack rounded the corner that separated the foyer from the kitchen. He popped some sort of flaky appetizer into his mouth.

  “You’re the oldest,” Luke said, “and a father and a lawyer and basically the grown-up of the three of us. Saying I sound like you is as good as calling me Grandpa.”

  Jack swallowed. “Your girl sure as hell can cook, but you’re an asshole.”

  Walker laughed at that, partly because he did miss this sort of interaction with his brothers but also because the attention was no longer on him.

  “What are your dinner plans?” Jack asked.

  Walker still hadn’t given Luke a yes or a no, and he apparently didn’t answer fast enough for his oldest brother.

  “Looks like you’re free. Come sit down.” Jack led the other two brothers into the common room where a long wooden table was set for what looked like a feast. “Lily made a pot roast and these amazing pastry things with some kind of fancy cheese inside. No idea what they’re called, but I think I already ate seven of them.” He patted his stomach.

  “It’s called brie,” Luke said. “Some fancy French cheese. But Jack’s right. It’s pretty damned delicious.”

  “I love brie.” The woman’s voice came from behind. All three men turned to find Violet Chastain standing in the open doorway of the kitchen. The ends of her hair were damp from the bath she’d taken alone. Walker’s dick twitched at the reminder of the offer he’d rejected. She wasn’t wearing her dress and her fancy shoes. Instead she wore a white, long-sleeved T-shirt that showed off her curves and a pair of hip-hugging jeans. On her feet? A pair of Chuck Taylors.

  She smiled at the three men, giving Walker himself no more than a cursory glance. He supposed he deserved that. “Olivia realized I was here without a change of clothes. Ava contributed the shoes.”

  Walker’s brows furrowed. “And she teleported these items to you?” Because hadn’t he been in that room only fifteen or so minutes ago?

  Violet raised her brows. “Looks like you don’t know your Oak Bluff architecture very well. There’s another stairwell that comes down to the kitchen. I was going to take a nap, but when Olivia mentioned food, I realized I hadn’t eaten since breakfast. I’m so hungry I could eat a whole pot roast.” She laughed. “I promise I won’t, though.”

  Walker knew it was only a change of clothing, but seeing her like that—dressed down and relaxed—it was almost like she belonged in their little town. Oak Bluff looked real good on her, whereas when it came to him it didn’t seem to fit anymore.

  Luke stepped toward her, holding out his right hand. “Luke Everett,” he said. “We haven’t met yet.”

  She extended her bandaged palm. “Violet Chastain.”

  Luke hesitated.

  “Oh, it’s okay,” she said. “It doesn’t hurt. I’m all glued up and will be good as new by this time next week.”

  Luke shook her hand, but Walker could tell he was being careful.

  “Nice to meet you, Violet. We’re glad you’re still on board to help prep for the wedding and winery launch after what happened today.”

  “You mean my silly accident?” Violet asked. “Because I’m just happy you haven’t fired me yet.” She gave him a nervous smile.

  “No. I meant spending the day with Walker. That’s enough to send any sane human being running for the hills.” Luke laughed. “And fire you? Hell no. I’m guessing there aren’t many sommeliers who’d put up with three ranchers who don’t know a lick about wine.”

  Her cheeks flamed at the mention of Walker, but then she was laughing, too. “For someone who doesn’t know about wine, you pronounced sommelier correctly. That’s impressive.”

  Walker’s jaw tightened…not because his brother was showing him up, but because he knew that comment was meant for him even though Violet continued to avoid his gaze.

  “Well then maybe I’m not so clueless after all,” Luke said with a self-satisfied grin. She was charming the hell out of him, not that Walker was surprised.

  “Olivia invited me to dinner,” Violet said. “But I didn’t realize it was everyone down here. Feels kind of like the first day of middle school.”

  Luke looked her up and down appraisingly. “You’re too tall to stuff in a locker.”

  Jack nudged Luke’s shoulder with his own. “Maybe one of the athletic ones like I used for baseball. Had enough room for all my gear. What do you think?”

  Walker rolled his eyes. “All right already,” he said. “Enough hazing the new kid.”

  But he knew his brothers’ teasing meant they liked Violet right off the bat. It also meant if he messed up with her, they’d likely kick him to the curb before they would her. All the more reason to stick to the rules, even if that wasn’t his strong suit. The only problem? What was best and what he wanted were far from the same thing. That seemed to be a repeating pattern for him.

  “Are you staying for dinner, too?” she asked, looking directly at Walker.

  Two minutes ago he had one foot out the door. But he rationalized caving to his brothers by telling himself that he needed to figure out how to be around Violet and not want her. Plus the thought of her alone with his brothers, the sheriff, and their three female counterparts was enough for him to reconsider.

  “It would be cruel of me to leave you alone with this bunch,” he said. “Next thing you know Olivia will have you working here full-time, Lily will somehow convince you to be her sommelier or whatever the hell the word is, and Crossroads Vineyard will be shit out of luck.”

  He pronounced the r on sommelier on purpose. Last thing he needed was the whole lot of them knowing he was taking a liking not only to Violet but to her second language as well.

  Jack slapped him on the back. “Well then, little brother. Looks like it’s a family dinner after all.”

  There were no wineglasses on the dining table, only tumblers. Walker knew that was for him, that even before he’d said yes his brothers had counted on him staying, and wondered if anyone would say so. One of the reasons he’d been keeping his distance from his brothers was because it also meant steering clear of sobriety talk. Since Luke had already broken that seal, he crossed his fingers the subject wouldn’t come up again tonight.

  In the center of the table, along with the roast, a bowl of redskin mashed potatoes, and another of saut�
�ed asparagus, there were two glass pitchers—one of fruit-infused water and one of iced tea.

  “So this is your family, huh?” Violet asked quietly as Jack kissed Ava on the cheek and then started filling glasses while Lily put Luke to work cutting the roast. Olivia was doing something in the kitchen and Sheriff Cash Hawkins was playing backseat driver to Luke’s carving of the meat.

  “Against the grain, Everett. You have done this before, right?” Cash asked.

  Luke elbowed the sheriff in the arm with his next carve, and Walker chuckled.

  “Yep,” he said as they stood in front of the long wooden table. “Family and then some.”

  “Sorry I’m late, y’all!” a woman called from outside the room. Walker would recognize that voice anywhere. “But traffic was a doozy. I knew I should have listened to Lucy and left earlier, but it looks like I haven’t missed anything yet.”

  “Lucy predicts traffic now?” Luke asked with a teasing tone.

  Jenna swatted him on the shoulder. “Hush, you. Lucy was right about you and Lily. She can be right about traffic, too.”

  But when she came into view, Jenna wasn’t alone. Trailing behind her was a tall man with broad shoulders, his cheeks reddened either from a day in the sun or because he was here to tear Walker a new one for letting his daughter get hurt her first day on the job.

  “Shit,” Violet hissed under her breath.

  “Did you invite him here?” Walker asked.

  “No,” she insisted. “I let them know not to expect me back in Santa Barbara tonight and that I was staying at the Oak Bluff Bed and Breakfast. I have no idea what he’s doing here, and also—this is probably the worst time to tell you this—but I haven’t exactly told my parents about our breakup yet.”

  Walker’s teeth clenched as Jenna led Gabriel Chastain toward the bed-and-breakfast’s dining room.

  “Dad!” Violet said, running out to the foyer to cut him off at the pass. “What are you doing here?”

  Jenna bounded into the room greeting everyone with hugs and kisses, diverting everyone’s attention from Violet leaving the room. Well, if Violet was running interference, he’d better prep the team. And fast.

  “Jenna,” he whisper-shouted, and his aunt finally made her way to him.

  “Aw. Is my nephew jealous I said hello to everyone else before him?”

  He waved her off. “I need your help. And fast. You can give me all your I told you so’s later, but right now I need you to play along and make sure everyone else does, too.”

  She narrowed her eyes at him. “Walker Everett, what are you up to?”

  He blew out a breath. “Violet’s parents think we’re dating.” His aunt’s eyes widened. “We’re not. But for tonight I need everyone here to act like we are, and I’m putting you in charge of making sure everyone plays along.”

  He’d barely gotten the last word out before Violet and her father appeared in the dining room’s open entry.

  “Jenna…?” Walker said under his breath.

  “I’m on it,” she whispered. “But you owe me, and I always collect my debts.”

  He was sure she would, but right now he relied on her making her way around the room once more to subtly spread the word.

  Violet smiled nervously at her onlookers—Walker’s entire family and their friends.

  “Hey, everyone. Um, so, this is my dad, Gabriel Chastain. He was a little concerned about my accident.” She waved her bandaged hand. “And the fact that I wasn’t able to make it home, so—overprotective guy that he is—he came to check on me.”

  Her tone was teasing, but Walker sensed the nerves beneath the surface.

  “Good to see you, Gabe,” Walker said as he held out a hand.

  Violet’s father shook it, his grip firm and his expression cautious. Walker could hear whispers floating about the room, and he hoped to hell it was Jenna doing her part.

  “I meet you for the first time less than a week ago, and the next time my daughter sees you she’s in the ER and isn’t coming home for the night. We may need to rethink that whole first-name basis situation.”

  “Papa!” Violet scolded. “It was my shoe. It was my fault. My first day on the job that I royally screwed up.”

  A throat cleared, and Walker turned to see Jack rounding the edge of the long table.

  “Mr. Chastain, I’m Jack Everett, the one responsible for hiring your daughter. I’m a father myself, so I understand your concern, but I can assure you that she’s in good company in Oak Bluff with my brother and with the Crossroads family.” He brandished that annoying lawyer smile Walker often wanted to wipe off his oldest brother’s face, but for once he was happy it existed.

  Gabriel Chastain’s expression softened, but he wasn’t smiling yet.

  “Luke Everett,” the middle brother said, waving his carving gear. “Normally I’d shake, but…”

  “Sheriff Hawkins.” Cash reached a hand across the table since he was only backseat carving.

  “I’m Jenna!” Walker’s aunt waved. “Aunt to the Everett clan. And this is Ava, Lily, and Olivia.” She nodded toward each as she said their names. “Because goodness knows these boys need a few good women to keep them in line.”

  Finally Gabriel smiled, which wasn’t surprising. It was damn near impossible not to when Jenna was around.

  “Stay for dinner?” Olivia said, raising a brow at the spread before them. “We’ve got plenty.”

  Violet’s father closed his eyes and inhaled. “Who’s the chef?” he asked, searching the faces surrounding the table.

  Lily Green—in a T-shirt that said I DON’T ALWAYS BAKE…OH WAIT. YES I DO—raised her head proudly. “That would be me.”

  Gabriel Chastain grinned. “You did a coffee rub on that roast, yes? One of my favorites.”

  Lily beamed. “Yes! Your olfactory senses are well trained. I hear you’re a chef, too.”

  “Ol-what?” Luke asked, and a ripple of laughter spread throughout the room, easing the tension once and for all.

  Violet’s father turned to face her. “I guess I overreacted.”

  She crossed her arms. “You know I don’t live at home because I have to. It’s for Ma—”

  “I know,” he said, sounding sheepish even with the low timbre of his voice.

  “So if I make the decision not to come home, even after a very small, insignificant emergency situation, you can trust me, yes?”

  He kissed her forehead. “Sometimes I wonder who the parent is, me or you.”

  The room was silent, and Walker felt like he was intruding on something he didn’t deserve to be privy to. Violet wasn’t really his anything, yet here she was, practically airing her family’s dirty laundry in front of a room full of strangers, and she didn’t seem to care. Walker envied that.

  “How about that dinner invitation?” Jack asked, reiterating Olivia’s offer, but Gabriel shook his head.

  “Thank you,” he said. “I have to get back to my own restaurant. But I’d love to come and check out your menu once you’re up and running.”

  Lily bounced on her toes.

  Violet gasped. “You drove ninety minutes to check on me and then turn around and leave?”

  “Ninety-four,” Walker said under his breath.

  “Maman is having a very good night,” Violet’s father said to her. “She’s working the hostess stand, doesn’t even know I’m gone.” He studied Violet’s injured hand, flipping it over to see the bandaged palm. “I guess I’m trained to always think the worst. I’m sorry to have interrupted your evening.” He directed the last part to the whole room.

  Violet slid an arm around Walker’s waist. “I’m in good hands, Papa. Promise.”

  Walker swallowed. All eyes were on him, everyone in the room knowing he and Violet were a lie—everyone but Gabriel Chastain. He knew he should say something, but he couldn’t find the right words.

  “Come back to Oak Bluff any time,” Jack said. “We’d love to have you.”

  The older man nodded. “I’
d love to get a tour of the vineyard, taste the grapes maybe, and get an idea of what your first vintage will yield. I’m always in the market for new local labels to add to my wine list.”

  Jack busted out the lawyerly grin once more, and the two men shook hands. “You got yourself a deal,” he said.

  Finally, Gabriel’s eyes found Walker’s. “My apologies for misjudging,” he said, reaching for Walker’s outstretched hand. “But now that she’s going to be spending more time with you and working with you—still not sure how I feel about you two doing both—we ought to get to know each other a little better. Don’t you think?”

  “I think I’ll walk you out, Papa,” Violet said as she let go of Walker. “Last time I checked, I invited you to spend time with the men I dated and not the other way around.” And as quick as their family dinner had turned into a charade, Gabriel Chastain was gone.

  Seven pairs of eyes stared Walker down, but no one said a word. So he decided he’d be the one to break the tension that was thick as molasses.

  “I’m starved,” he said. “Let’s eat already.”

  He sat down, and slowly everyone followed suit—except for Cash and Luke, who were still cutting the meat. When Violet appeared in the doorway again, both Walker and Jack stood, but she waved them off and climbed into the seat next to Walker.

  “You all are either the best damned folks to work for, or you’re gonna fire me right now. Lord knows I wouldn’t blame you. But I’d really like to get some of that roast first, if that’s okay.”

  “Aw, Violet honey. We like you just fine, don’t we?” Jenna didn’t give Jack or Walker a chance to chime in. “But I want the story from you, nephew number three. You were awfully quiet throughout that whole exchange.”

  Walker painted on a smile. “Is that number three my birth order or my rank in who you like best?” he teased, but he knew he wasn’t getting out of this.

  She narrowed her gaze at him. “Please. Everyone knows Owen is my favorite.”

  “I got Walker and me into this situation,” Violet said. “So it’s only fitting I set the record straight.” She waved at everyone around the table. “First, now that I know who you all are, hi. I’m Violet, and it looks like I go full throttle when I step in une tarte aux vaches.”