Wine and Her New Year Cowboy (Citizen Soldier Series Book 4)

by Donna Michaels

  “I’d suggest you concentrate on getting your permit for now and wait until the weather breaks before you get behind a wheel.” Nico winked over his steaming coffee at her.

  Damn, hadn’t thought of that. Not something he’d dealt with too much in southern Texas. He’d driven to Colorado with Tanner to ski and tackled snow covered roads, but that was only once a year.

  She readily nodded. “Good idea.”

  Relief eased the knot that had suddenly appeared between his shoulder blades. It was better if he got comfortable driving in the snow before he even attempted to try to teach her.

  “That’ll give me time to get a job and save up for a car.”

  He was struck by how responsible she was at such a young age. Hell, when he’d been sixteen, he’d thought more about getting laid than earning money for a car. Although, he’d also had a job cleaning out horse stalls to help his mother with bills way before he’d entered his teens.

  “Ever think about working in a pizza shop?” Evie asked.

  Nico nodded. “Great idea, sis.”

  “Really? You’d hire me?” Missy bounced her hopeful gaze between the Martelli siblings.

  “Of course.” Evie nodded, her expression growing contrite. “Although, because of your age, I can’t have you waiting tables, since we serve alcohol. And you can’t be near the stove, oven, or deep fryers. That leaves bussing tables and doing dishes for minimum wage.” She shrugged, her tone matching her apologetic expression.

  “I started out doing that at your age, when I spent my summer here,” Jill said, smile tugging her lips.

  Mason’s gaze grew fond as he draped an arm around his fiancée’s shoulder. “And my brothers and I practically broke our necks trying to gain your attention.”

  Her smile widened. “I was too busy trying to blend in with the décor to notice.”

  The couple laughed along with the rest of the group.

  “I’m okay with bussing tables and doing dishes. I’ll take the job. Thanks.” His sister continued to grin. “When can I start? Is tomorrow too soon?”

  Damn. He grinned. That was the most he’d heard her speak since they met.

  Evie laughed, and the sweet sound interfered with his breathing.

  “Sure. But you’ll need a work permit from school.”

  Missy’s chin lifted. “Already have one.”

  He frowned. She did?

  “It’s that blue paper on the fridge next to my report card,” she told him, apparently noticing his confusion. “Dad said if I got good grades I could get a job, then he’d see about driving.”

  “Oh.” He nodded. “Well now, darlin’, it looks like you’re going to get both.”

  Another small smile tugged Missy’s lips.

  “Tomorrow’s fine with me,” Evie said. “But, you have the day off from school. Don’t you have plans to hang out with friends?”

  His sister shook her head. “No. I haven’t really seen them lately. Besides, I’d rather work. And keep busy.”

  A knowing gleam entered the beauty’s eyes and her chin lifted. “We’re usually very busy Black Friday, so I could definitely use your help. Why don’t you drop by around noon, and we’ll get the paperwork started and get a few hours in. Is that okay with you, Lucas?”

  He opened his mouth, ready with a reply, but when she said his name again, his mind blanked. The son-of-a-bitch just up and blanked.

  “Do you have work at that time?”

  Work?

  He cleared his dry throat, which grew dyer and dryer the longer he stared into her warm, caramel gaze. Damn. She was so close, he only had to lean in a little to taste her.

  “I think he’s scheduled to lead a hike up Chancellor’s Bluff at one.” Mason’s voice broke through his foggy haze.

  He cleared his throat. “Yes. I have a hike at one, so noon is perfect,” he finally answered and was suddenly surrounded by smiling women.

  “You know, Lucas, I’m curious.” Nona stirred her cappuccino and stared him down from across the table. “Why didn’t you come up with the other cowboys for Brandi’s wedding? I don’t recall seeing you there.”

  He held back a grin. “I was supposed to come up, but Kade asked if I’d stay behind to take care of the two rescues he’d just gotten in the night before.”

  Missy turned to stare at him. “You helped him with rescued dogs and cats?” Her gaze actually harbored a little admiration.

  Warmth settled in his chest. It was a new feeling. One he liked. A lot. “Yes. All kinds of animals. These two rescues were horses.”

  Her brows furrowed. “Oh, wow. What was wrong with them? Were they hurt?”

  An image of the poor, emancipated mares flashed through his mind, and his blood pressure shot through the roof. How anyone could be so damn cruel and neglectful to a living, breathing creature they were responsible for, he’d never understand.

  He did, however, empathize with the mares. His father may not have left him starving, but he had shirked his responsibility when he’d sent him away.

  Period.

  Despite his disgust, he cleared his throat and kept his tone even. “They were in pretty bad shape from starvation. It was touch and go for a while.” The youngest nearly died. Twice. “But, they’re thriving now. It’s amazing what a caring family can do.”

  Mrs. Martelli nodded. “You are so right.”

  “Yes,” Mr. Martelli agreed. “Family is everything.”

  “Exactly.” Nona nodded. “So, it would be great if my grandchildren started giving me some great-grand bambinos. I’m not getting any younger, you know. And neither are the two of you.”

  Jill, Mason, and his sister smiled while both Nico and Evie muttered a curse. He glanced at the mortified woman next to him and clenched his jaw to keep from grinning. The color flooding her cheeks made her even more beautiful.

  Damn.

  “Just look at Lucas and Evie,” Nona continued. “They’d make some beautiful bambinos, don’t you think, Regina?”

  Ah, hell no.

  Something sucked all the air from the room…and his lungs. Shit. His chest hurt. And his snickering sister didn’t help. If he could talk, he’d set the smiling, older women straight. Hell. He was having difficulty learning how to be a brother. Last thing he needed right now was to be a father.

  Although, he certainly wasn’t opposed to the act of baby making, especially with Evie. The woman was gorgeous, and built for sex. At least, in his mind. She was his ultimate fantasy woman.

  Not that he’d ever say it out loud.

  “Nona!” His fantasy woman gasped. “I can’t believe you just said that.”

  “What? That you two would make beautiful bambinos? But you would. Just look at him. Jet black hair. Sky blue eyes.” Nona winked at him. “Are all the cowboys down in Harland County good looking?”

  Very aware all eyes were on him, Lucas shifted in his seat and resisted the urge to tug at the collar of the only decent flannel shirt he owned.

  “The ones that came up last year for Brandi’s wedding were hot.” The older woman grinned. “Why, if I was in my twenties, and they were single, I tell you, I’d take that tall one, and his handsome brother, and let them make a sandwich out of me.”

  “Mamma!” Now Mrs. Martelli gasped while he and Evie joined in on the snickering.

  Nona reeled back. “What? I’m eighty. Not dead.”

  Evie leaned closer, her gaze hovering between amused and mortified. “I’m sorry. Nona had a little too much wine with dinner.”

  He smiled. “No need to apologize, darlin’. I think she’s great. I like a woman who speaks her mind.”

  Her deepening blush revved his pulse, and he got the impression she had a mind that spoke often. The woman was playing havoc with his senses, though. In an attempt at self-preservation, he turned his attention back to his half-eaten dessert and dug in. If he didn’t get out of there soon, he was in deep trouble. It was tough enough fighting his unexpected attraction to the woman without her matchmaking
family pushing them together, suggesting thoughts better left unsuggested.

  But…damn. Now, he was never going to get the thought of having sex with Evie Martelli out of his head.

  “Would you look at that, it’s time for our annual football game.” Nico rose from the table and clamped a hand around his shoulder. “You in?”

  Hell yeah! Anything to get away from the conversation.

  He stood. “Sure. To watch on TV, or play?”

  “Play,” Mason Wyne answered, also on his feet. “Every Thanksgiving we play in my dad’s front yard. He has a big yard,” he added.

  “And the girls make s’mores and drink hot chocolate around the fire pit. This year, Jill’s providing the chocolate.” Evie stood and faced his sister. “Are you interested?”

  Missy hesitated a moment before nodding. “Yeah.”

  Five minutes later, he and his sister were in his truck following Nico and his sister down the road. He hoped the game was full contact tackle because, for some reason, he had a lot of pent up energy to expel.

  Chapter Three

  Sitting in a chair on Mr. Wyne’s front lawn, watching a dozen of the Poconos’ handsome men playing football, Evie didn’t need the fire in the pit in front of her or the hot chocolate in the mug clasped between her hands to keep warm.

  Not by a long shot.

  After meeting Lucas Harper, she was definitely rethinking her going no male early New Year’s Resolution. The handsome, dark-haired, blue-eyed Texan with a sexy drawl and freakin’ five o’clock shadow was slightly reserved, but respectful, and so hot her body still sizzled where they’d brushed while he’d eaten her cannoli.

  Damn… She’d love for him to eat her cannoli.

  Mamma mia! What’s wrong with me?

  Her mind never went to the sex spot. Not even after a few dates. And yet, her whole body was aware of the gorgeous cowboy she just met, and the way he moved his strong, powerful body with a confidence that stole her breath.

  Heck, the low timbre of his voice and sexy southern drawl had her humming with a sexual buzz she had no idea how to stop.

  It was strange and exhilarating and making her think foolish thoughts.

  “You weren’t kidding, Evie,” Jenna said, dropping into the chair next to her, mug of hot chocolate in hand. “That cowboy is hot.”

  When had her friends arrived?

  “Shh…” She straightened and glanced to her right, but Missy was no longer there.

  “Relax, she’s inside helping Jill and Mr. Wyne make more of this delicious hot chocolate.”

  “Yeah.” Faith patted her shoulder and sat next to Jenna. “Your brother’s just going to have to do without one less fan drooling by the fire.”

  Cripes, she had been so entranced watching the play of muscles rippling as Lucas threw the football to Nico, she hadn’t even noticed the arrival of her friends.

  Metallica could’ve played a set behind her and she wouldn’t have noticed.

  She cleared her throat and tried to act all nonchalant. “I didn’t hear you two pull up.”

  “That’s because you’re too busy drooling over the cowboy.” Jenna smiled.

  Yeah, she totally was. “Sorry, he’s just…I don’t know. Different.”

  “I think the word you’re looking for is hot.”

  She laughed. “And sexy, just like the Wyne brothers.”

  Faith raised her mug. “And Nico and Jeremy.”

  “And Scott.” Jenna lifted her drink.

  Evie sipped her own hot chocolate and wondered if her friends realized just how telling their tones were. Jenna was in love with her brother’s sexy paramedic friend, Scott Holden. And Faith, per carita, no matter how much that woman denied it, she had a love/hate thing going on for Nico.

  Both men were too dense to notice.

  “So, what’s the scoop on Lucas?” Jenna nodded toward the cowboy whose Stetson sat on a chair on the other side of the fire pit. “My brother said he left Texas to come up and take care of Missy.”

  “Jeremy’s right.” She nodded. Her friend’s brother was a local cop, and in the guard, and best friends with Nico and Scott. “From what my brother said, Lucas’ dad apparently never told him about her.”

  Which struck her as odd. Mr. Williams had been very friendly and ready to lend a helping hand. Heck, she was living proof. He’d helped her out when she’d been at the side of the road with a flat tire and no spare. He also always supported fundraisers for the FSG—National Guard Family Support Group. He didn’t seem the type to hide the fact he had a son.

  And yet, she’d had no idea. No one did.

  “Well, I think it’s wonderful that he didn’t let her fall into the system,” Faith said.

  She and Jenna both mumbled in agreement while the three of them sipped hot cocoa and silently ogled three different men.

  “Headsup!”

  The warning filtered through her fogged brain two seconds before she caught sight of the football spiraling through the air at Mach ten speed…straight for her. She dropped her mug and shot her hands up just in time to grasp the torpedo. The momentum knocked her off her chair and onto the ground.

  “Are you all right, darlin’?” Lucas was kneeling at her side a second later, concern darkening those beautiful blue eyes.

  “I’m fine.” She nodded and hoped the smile made it to her lips, because whenever she stared at him too long, it felt as if she was swimming against a current…of quicksand. “But, you owe me a hot chocolate.”

  Stupid tongue. Why’d she say that?

  His lips twitched into a smile, and the concern lightened to amusement in his gaze. “Yes, ma’am. It’ll be my pleasure. Let me help you up.”

  Without waiting for her reply, he slid an arm under her waist and helped her to her feet as if she weighed a feather, then held her against his hot, hard muscles a little longer than necessary. But, not nearly long enough.

  “Thank you,” she said. At least she thought she did. Her mouth was open, but his gaze had dropped to her lips and, mamma mia, he was staring at her as if he would die if he didn’t taste her.

  The butterflies bypassed her stomach and took up residence in her tight chest. No man had ever, ever looked at her like that before. Her whole body shook with the same need darkening his gaze.

  “Hey, Harper. Toss me the ball, then you can go back to ogling Evie,” Jeremy joked.

  She forced her attention to her friend’s handsome brother as he approached, hands out motioning for the football.

  Evie winked at the cowboy. “Allow me.” Then lobbed the ball at the off-duty cop.

  Air whooshed from the jokester. “Damn, Evie. That’s some arm. Hey, Nico, why didn’t you tell us your sister had game?”

  Santo cielo! The rest of the guys approached.

  “Never mind my sister. Let’s play ball.”

  Jeremy reeled back. “Seriously? You’re not going to do anything?”

  Her brother frowned. “About what?”

  “About the full contact foul Lucas had going on with your sister a moment ago.” The idiot glanced at Lucas and shrugged. “Sorry, man, but I’m confused. For years, this big, bad brother snarled at anyone who even smiled at his sister.”

  Scott nodded. “It’s true, Nic. You’ve decked recruits for whistling.”

  “I know.”

  Her brother shrugged, and she wished she could fade into the background to avoid the curious gazes.

  “He helped my sister to her feet. Big deal.”

  She chanced a glance at Lucas, absolutely mortified the guys were making such a stink; he was going to avoid her for sure now. But when she met his gaze, she found amusement instead of irritation.

  “Of course I did.” He turned to face the smiling pack of idiots. “You didn’t expect me to let her stay on the ground, did you? It was my fault she got knocked over.”

  “See? He has manners. Something you cavemen could learn,” Nico grumbled, right before swiping Faith’s mug from her hands and downing what was lef
t of her hot chocolate.

  “Hey, you big Neanderthal! You’re one to talk. That was mine,” her friend huffed, hands on her hips, green gaze glaring.

  “Here, jeez.” He shoved the mug back at her disgruntled friend. “Don’t get your panties in a twist. I thought you were finished. The least you could’ve done was save me more than a mouthful.”

  Evie snorted and shook her head. Her brother was a jerk. Now, he was just pushing Faith’s buttons, and her poor friend was too aggravated to realize it.

  “Are you friggin’ kidding me?” The angry brunette rounded on him. “It was mine. Why should I save you any? Get your own da—”

  “You can have my mug, Nico,” Missy announced.

  The teen approached with Mr. Wyne and his grandson, Tyler, while Jill, Phoebe, and Lea, the fiancée, girlfriend, and wife of the older man’s sons remained on the porch. Whatever had gone on in the house had agreed with the young girl because her shoulders were no longer stiff, and the smile on her lips lit up her pretty blue eyes.

  Her brother turned to the approaching teen. “Thank you, Missy.”

  Poor girl blushed all the way to her roots.

  Evie glanced at Lucas, a little worried. He met her gaze and sighed, obviously aware of his sister’s crush.

  “You sure you’re okay?” he asked quietly in a slow, southern tone, glancing her over, a mixture of concern and heat visible when his blue gaze returned to her heated face.

  She tried to swallow, but failed. “Yeah, I’m fine.”

  He cocked his head, and a lopsided grin twitched his lips. “Yes, you certainly are.”

  More heat rushed to her cheeks. The gorgeous, viral Texan just flirted with her. She was completely caught off guard. A guy she was strongly attracted to paid her a compliment. This had never happened before. Since she had no idea how to respond, she just smiled and resisted the urge to play with her hair.

  She was twenty-six, not sixteen.

  But that’s how she felt. Giddy and stupid and…santo cielo! He stepped closer.

  Her heart stopped when he lifted a hand to brush something off her shoulder, then pulled back with a piece of leaf between his fingers.