Wine and Hot Shoes
Citizen Soldier Series
Book 6/ Audrey
NYT & USA Today Bestselling Author
by Donna Michaels
Copyright © 2016, Donna Michaels
Kindle Edition
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Cover Artist: Donna Michaels
This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents and dialogues in this book are of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is completely coincidental.
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About this Book
This Thanksgiving, Sgt. Audrey McNeil Watson is thankful for wine. Lots and lots of wine. And her closet of hot shoes. Together, they help her deal with the return of her sexy ex-boyfriend, the now famous NASCAR Champion she left after 9/11 to join the National Guard and make a difference. Too bad he still manages to accelerate her pulse and drive her crazy.
Professional stock car racing driver, Matthew “Stone” Bennett returned home to meet with the Wyne brothers to discuss a recent encounter with their estranged brother Keiffer, to face the reality of his cousin’s suicide, and for the wedding of his buddy, Ethan Wyne.
Volunteering to draw the paparazzi away from the happy couple, he and Audrey agree to spend time together with purely platonic intentions. But he soon discovers their old flame never died, as well as old hurts and resentments. Matthew must face the pain of his past in order to sort out his future.
**Wine and Hot Shoes is part of the Citizen Soldier Series. This story can be read as a standalone, but I recommend reading the other books in the Citizen Soldier Series in order to get maximum enjoyment.**
Thanks for reading,
~Donna
www.donnamichaelsauthor.com
Author’s Note
This story is a quick holiday read that leads in to the upcoming story of the final Wyne brother. Keiffer. The hero in this book is Greg’s cousin, and he deserved to have his story told, too.
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Table of Contents
Acknowledgements
Dedication
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Epilogue
ALSO BY DONNA MICHAELS
About the Author
Acknowledgements
A big shout out to my editors, Stacy, Emily, and Jes for editing around my crazy schedule. Again. You all rock!
Dedication
To the fans of my Citizen Soldier and Harland County series. This is a quick story to lead into the final Wyne brother’s book. I hope you enjoy.
To my wonderful husband for serving for over thirty years. Congratulations on entering your final year as a full time National Guardsman. So proud of you. Thank you for putting up with my long hours. Love you dearly!
To all the men and women who served and have served. Thank you for your sacrifice. And to your families for their sacrifices. My family thanks you.
♥
Chapter One
Hot Shoe: 1. Driver who has the most past wins among active drivers at a particular track; is the quickest in qualifying, and is favored to win at that track. 2. Gorgeous footwear.
Two days before Thanksgiving, Matthew “Stone” Bennett slipped as quietly from his car in the Wyne Resort parking lot as he had into Pennsylvania, with no sign of the paparazzi on his bumper. Leaving Florida several hours before dawn the night before had been the trick.
Stretching the kinks out of his back and neck, he sucked in the cool, crisp air of the Pocono Mountains, and the smell of wood burners, fireplaces, and wet leaves brought him right back to his childhood. Tension eased from his shoulders while a smile curved his lips.
Good to be home.
He grew up about twenty miles west of the popular resort run by his high school buddy Ethan and three other Wyne brothers. Two other brothers, his mind amended. One of the reasons he was there was about the third one.
The youngest.
Kieffer.
Not only had Matt been shocked as shit to run into his late cousin Greg’s best friend after the Fort Worth race two weeks ago, he’d been stunned by Keiffer Wyne’s appearance. Hair falling into his haunted eyes and long enough in back to touch his shoulders, the cut—or lack of—was a complete one-eighty from the days his former neighbor had worn his hair military short, but styled to a fault in order to catch the attention of the opposite sex.
Now, the only thing Keiffer Wyne looked capable of catching was cholera.
All these changes were a bit alarming, including the full beard. Hell, Matt hadn’t even known the kid could grow one, then had to remind himself Keiffer was only six years younger—exactly how long it had been since Matt had seen his twenties.
In truth, Ethan’s kid brother had grown up a long time ago. Two tours in Iraq and being the one to discover Greg’s dead body had seen to that.
He grit his teeth against the pain that stretched across his chest and squeezed tight. A year and a half since his cousin’s death and it still hurt like hell. Matt rubbed at the ache. Would it ever go away? Probably not until he lost some of the guilt eating his gut.
Not going to happen.
With a muffled curse billowing out like a puff of smoke in the night air, Matt snatched his duffle bag and strode across the parking lot toward the entrance. He was tired and hungry, and not necessarily in that order. A call from Ethan three weeks ago to ask him to be in his super-secret wedding no one knew about, had led to a conversation about retiring, and garnered him an invitation to stay in one of the private suites with a mini swimming pool, hot tub and sauna—secure from paparazzi—after the end of the racing season.
An invitation he couldn’t resist.
When he stopped to fuel up a few hours earlier, he spoke to Ethan to give him an ETA and eagerly agreed to beer and pizza upon his arrival. Two weeks ago, he’d talked to his buddy to discuss his “Keiffer encounter”, but it would be good to catch up with the Wyne brothers in person.
Yawning, he yanked open the resort door and walked into the lobby where something plowed straight into him with the force of a hemi, knocking the duffle bag from his shoulder and a grunt from his chest.
But it was no engine. No. A person. A very feminine, great smelling person.
On instinct, he wrapped his arms around her and absorbed the impact, preventing them both from falling into the door. While his brain registered a familiar jasmine scent, his body immediately remembered the feel of her softness…and all that he’d lost in order to pursue his and his father’s dream.
Audrey McNeil—the only one in town he wasn’t ready to meet.
If ever.
Damn, the heels on her shoes had to be at least four inches, because when she shifted in his arms their cheeks
brushed. In the past when they’d stood toe-to-toe naked, the top of her auburn head used to hit his chin.
He felt her body stiffen as she drew back to blink at him.
“Matthew?”
Only Audrey called him by his full name. He hadn’t heard it in years. The sweet, breathless sound, coupled with the impact of her extraordinary blue/green gaze induced brain fade. The momentary lack of attention that could cost a driver a race was now costing Matt his control. Nothing new with Audrey. Just stronger. The same, inexplicable, mind-fogging, physical reaction he always got from the feel of her pressed against him.
During his teens, he’d been part of USAC—the United States Auto Club—considered the minor league of auto racing. At eighteen, he was racing around the country in a sponsored midget car, and when not racing, he worked at the local pizza shop and spent all his free time with the pretty neighbor who owned his heart.
“Hello, Audrey,” he replied, staring into the beautiful face of the woman who used to be such a big part of his life.
She was a year younger than him, so he’d fought his raging hormones, until she turned eighteen, then he’d devoted his time to discovering how to handle her curves and drive her wild. The only thing close to ever rivaling the high he got from racing was the feeling of sinking inside her sweet warmth. By the time Audrey had graduated Matt had won a championship and moved on to Pro Series racing.
A year later, they parted ways.
Everything had changed when the towers fell. His mind still stuttered recalling that day. He had watched it all unfold on TV in the safety of his small Florida apartment while Audrey had been back in PA to start her sophomore year of college. A helplessness had strangled his chest, knowing how deep the impact would have on his hometown, less than two hours from ground zero. It wasn’t long afterwards that Audrey announced her plans to join the National Guard, claiming she had more to give than sitting in a college classroom, or in hotel rooms while he raced.
He’d tried to follow, to do the same…but fate had stepped in. So, while he became a professional stock car racer in the World Truck Series, she joined the National Guard where, a few years later, she met and married another soldier, only to become widowed before the end of her second tour.
Inhaling, Matt’s whole body sparked to life. He never forgot her or her jasmine scent, hot taste, those soft sighs and little mewls she used to make when he drove inside her. No woman had ever compared to her. He straightened his shoulders. But she’d made her choice and he’d respected it, even though it had ripped out his heart.
From then on, he’d steered clear of her when he visited home, with the exception of the funerals of their respective fathers, and Greg’s last year. Even then, he’d kept it to only polite condolences.
So, it was really weird to be standing in the lobby of his buddy’s resort with the night desk manager smiling behind the counter as he checked in a balding businessman, all while Audrey was smashed against him, causing blood to rush through his ears on its journey south.
Again, nothing new.
He remembered everything about her. He knew the wavy auburn hair falling well past her shoulders was silky soft, and he fought like hell to give into the urge to touch the lone strand caught on the stubble of his jaw. Maturity only enhanced the beauty of her face, and he was happy to note her light sprinkling of freckles remained. The effect was like a punch to the gut.
God, how could she appear delicate and strong at the same damn time?
Snapping out of his stupor, he cocked his head and narrowed his gaze. “Are you okay?”
No. She wasn’t. Not completely. He could tell. He felt a quiver ripple through her body. No doubt the same unwelcome awareness flowing through him. He’d always felt the flash of heat with Audrey, although, he’d gotten good at ignoring it and her over the years.
She blinked, and her gaze cleared. “Yeah. I’m okay.”
They lived in two different worlds. He was married to the circuit and traveled February through November, spending his two and a half months of downtime alone in a quiet, private bungalow he owned in the Florida Keys. His existence was simple and casual, including romantic entanglements, except when he was racing, then there was only the track. It was game on. Audrey, on the other hand, had always played for keeps. She wanted total commitment—something he was incapable of doing ever since she’d left him. Two failed engagements proved it.
She cleared her throat. “How about you?”
“Perfect.” The truth of that statement ricocheted through him. He did feel perfect. Holding her in his arms…it felt good. Great. Right. It transported him back to high school when he’d had everything, before his life with her went to shit.
She pushed out of his arms and frowned. “What are you doing here?”
The accusation in her tone made him grin. “Didn’t know I wasn’t allowed to visit home.”
“Home?” Her chin lifted. “This hasn’t been your home in almost two decades.”
Ouch.
“I’m surprised you noticed,” he volleyed, fatigue suddenly gone as he watched her glossy lips part on an inhale.
Damn, he missed that mouth. Those lips had done some pretty amazing things to his bod, which had both haunted him and fueled numerous hot fantasies over the years.
She shifted her weight to her other leg, and he glanced down to check out her footwear. Just as he’d thought—black, high-heeled ankle boots to match her soft leather jacket. Sexy as hell. His insides tightened with approval and fisted as he took in the black skirt showcasing her sweet curves, and how her folded arms emphasized a mouthwatering chest hugged by a blue sweater the same unusual shade as her narrowed eyes.
“Shouldn’t you be out celebrating with some model or something?”
He jerked his head back in surprise. She had noticed. “You watched the race?”
“No,” she scoffed, flicking her hair over her shoulder. “It’s been all over the newspapers here. You know. Hometown boy does good. That sort of thing.”
Yeah, he knew. The paparazzi had been up his ass since Sunday. He also knew she was lying. Her gaze centered on his throat and wouldn’t meet his. She had watched him win the championship in the final race of the season. Perhaps the final race of his career.
The thought of her tuning in to watch spread warmth throughout his body, but before he had time to digest the reason, she lunged forward and grasped his arms.
“Look out.” She yanked him close as two guests entered, pulling a pile of suitcases.
Once again, his arms automatically went around her while he moved them to stand on the other side of his duffle bag. That undeniable zing washed through him a second time.
“Thanks.”
She nodded, but didn’t immediately push away. That’s when he saw it. A flicker of awareness had skittered through her gaze, and for a few incredible seconds, she remained crushed against him, seemingly lost in the connection.
But then she shook her head as if to clear it and pushed free again. “Well…good night.” With a slight tremor in her hands, she straightened her jacket and headed for the door.
Walking out of his life again.
“You seriously going to pretend you didn’t feel that?” he asked her back, unsure what had come over him, or why he even cared. She was the one who had left him, and he’d gone into a tailspin that had gotten worse the day she’d gotten married.
She froze, then slowly turned to face him. “What are you talking about?”
And yet, here he was…egging her on. “You know what.” A smirk tugged at his lips. “That chemistry thing that happens when we’re close.”
“It’s late, Matthew, and you’ve obviously been driving a while.”
He chuckled. “You trying to say I imagined it?”
She lifted a shoulder. “We have a history.”
“True. I’m surprised you remember.”
“Of course I remember.” Her gaze dropped to his chest and she shrugged. “It’s only natural to feel
things that aren’t there.”
“Is that right?”
“Yes.”
“So, you’re admitting you felt something in my arms?”
Her gaze shot to his as she clearly realized she’d just given herself away. “Why aren’t you at your mother’s?”
Her blatant attempt to change the subject put a smile on his face. “My mother lives in a one-bedroom cottage now.” Not that he hadn’t tried to talk her into letting him buy her a bigger place, but she insisted she didn’t need bigger, just cozy. “So, for the time being, I’ll be residing here.”
“I’m surprised you’re not with your model flavor of the week, or at your place in Florida. You know, anywhere but here,” she scoffed. “Why come home now?”
Until that moment, he thought his answer was Keiffer, Ethan’s wedding, and to contemplate retirement. But now, with his heart beating hard and loud for the first time in over a decade, and a non-race related rush of adrenaline heating his veins, he realized he had some unresolved issues with Audrey to fix while he was in there, too.
Noting her ringless left hand, he stepped close, and finally giving into the urge, he twirled a strand of her silky hair around his finger. “Maybe I’m here for you.”
He dipped a brow. Why the hell did she just snort?
“You can’t just drive back here and pick up where we left off, Matthew.” She jerked her hair free from his grasp and poked a finger at his pec. “Besides, maybe I’m already seeing someone.”
His gut rippled as if punched, but then he registered the change in tone and shifting of her stance, and he suddenly felt a whole hell of a lot better.
He grinned and leaned in close to whisper in her ear, “Liar.”
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