“Thanks for helping me, Lea. I appreciate you giving up your weekend for me.”
She shrugged, trying to play it off as if it was no big deal. “Like I told you the other day, I had the time off, so it’s all good.”
He nodded, and she tried not to take offense at the relief washing through his features. “Good, because I don’t want you to get the wrong idea. I just need you to pretend to be my girlfriend when the others are around.”
“Especially Mrs. Dankirk.”
“Exactly. …” He paused, his gaze transferring to something out the window behind her.
Was it bad to wish it was the woman?
A second later, she wondered if the colonel’s wife was outside because when Ben’s attention returned to her again, his gaze was hot and interested and…consuming.
Her heart tried to burst from her chest. Then he shifted closer, sexy smile on his face trapping the breath in her lungs. She couldn’t blink. Forgot how to breathe. Just sat there watching the sexiest man alive lift a hand to cup her face.
Breathe, idiot! The last thing she needed was to faint. Not when she was about to get the kiss she’d dreamt about since puberty.
God, she hoped she was about to get the kiss she’d dreamt about since puberty…
What they’re saying…
About Her Uniform Cowboy:
“Ms. Michaels pens a tale with pure heart and true grit! This story will hit so many readers close to home there is not one part of the plot that will feel foreign. No super models here, just true, down to earth servicemen and woman getting back to their place in the world. The characters and plot have a wonderful arc and the laughter, tears and emotional ride readers get to take on this journey will not disappoint.”
—InD’tale Magazine, Crowned Heart of Excellence 4.5 Stars
--Voted BEST COWBOY in a Book/Reader’s Choice-LRC
About Her Forever Cowboy:
“Ms. Michaels has done it again! Book four in this series is another great success. The author knows how to lure her readers in by telling them a wonderful story that’s wrapped around characters we get to know and love as if they’re real people. This book was no exception. I highly recommend this book and this author!”
—Night Owl Reviews, Reviewer Top Pick
About Her Fated Cowboy:
“As always, this author perfectly blended an amazing storyline, which contained characters you just can’t help but fall in love with and she worked her magic in creating a masterpiece of the heart. I even enjoyed her sense of humor sprinkled throughout, which was placed in all the right places. This is one story I highly recommend and one author I just can’t read enough from. Since this is the first book in the Harland County series, I’m eagerly looking forward to the next book.”
—Night Owl Reviews, Reviewer Top Pick
Dear Reader,
Thank you for purchasing Wyne and Dine. This is the first book in my new Citizen Soldier Series, a Harland County Series spinoff. Guarding the hearts of the Pocono Valley.
This series showcases the National Guard brothers of the heroine from the third Harland County book-Her Uniform Cowboy. The Harland County clan will make an appearance for Brandi and Kade’s wedding to be held up in the Poconos.
This first book is about Brandi’s brother Ben, whom we met in her story. Ben is fulltime National Guard and set in his ways with a sour outlook on love. All the women in his past have left him to make it big in the Big Apple. It takes a woman who understands him, knows him, loves him completely to supply the Bn. S4 with another option.
Lea Gablonski is that woman. She’s Brandi’s best friend who has known Ben practically her whole life, and has had a thing for him from way before he and her older sister started to date. She has an MA in History, her sights set on a job in one of New York City’s museums and Benjamin Wyne.
When he asks Lea to pretend to be his girlfriend at a weekend retreat, they discover they have chemistry. Of course, Ben fights it tooth and nail, until he realizes he’s about to lose the woman who has always been there for him.
This hot, heartfelt, sexy read, is the first in this series and will include several characters from Harland County, as well as introduce you to a few future National Guard heroes.
Thanks for reading,
~Donna
www.donnamichaelsauthor.com
Also by Donna Michaels
~Novels~
Captive Hero (Time-shift Heroes Series-Book One)
The Spy Who Fanged Me
Her Fated Cowboy (Harland County Series-Book One)
Her Unbridled Cowboy (Harland County Series-Book Two)
Her Uniform Cowboy (Harland County Series-Book Three) Her Forever Cowboy (Harland County Series-Book Four)
She Does Know Jack
~Novellas~
Cowboy-Sexy
Thanks for Giving
Ten Things I’d Do for a Cowboy
Vampire Kristmas
~Short Stories~
The Hunted
Negative Image
The Truth About Daydreams
Holiday Spirit
~Do-Over Series~
Valentine’s Day Do-Over
Valentine’s Day Do-Over Part II: The Siblings
UPCOMING RELEASES:
Royally Unleashed
Cowboy Payback (Cowboy-Sexy Sequel)
~Time-shift Heroes Series~
Future Hero—Book Two
~Harland County Series~
Harland County Christmas (Novella/Brock and Jen)
Her Healing Cowboy (Book 5/Jace)
~Citizen Soldier Novels~
Wyne and Chocolate (Book 2/Mason)
Table of Contents
What they’re saying…
Dear Reader
Also by Donna Michaels
Print edition September 2014
Book 1 in Citizen Soldier Series
Dedication
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter One - Wyne and Chocolate
For announcements about upcoming releases and exclusive contests:
Wyne and Dine
A Citizen Soldier Novel
Book 1: Ben
By
Donna Michaels
WYNE AND DINE
A Citizen Soldier Novel//Book 1: Ben
Copyright © 2014 Donna Michaels
Cover Art by Donna Michaels © 2014
Excerpt from Wyne and Chocolate Copyright © 2014
Donna Michaels
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form whatsoever without written permission from the author—except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review to be printed in a magazine, newspaper, or on the web. For information, please contact the author via email at [email protected]
All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.
ISBN-13:
ISBN-10:
Print edition September 2014
Book 1 in Citizen Soldier Series
Dedication
To Donna Michaels’ Minions-my wonderful Street Team, thank you for your continued support! To Harland County fans, I hope you enjoy this spinoff series and the story of Brandi’s brother Ben, the set in his ways military man with trust issues.
To my husband Michael and the PA National Guard for inspiring me to write this series. I’m honored to create a series around all of you.
To my family, my cp JT Schultz, and the HOODS. And finally, to my editor, Stacy, and to Emily for their help in the final stages. ♥
Chapter One
“Sit on my brother Ben and make the bugger call me,” Brandi Wyne, soon-to-be Brandi Dalton, ordered from the other end of the phone.
Lea Gablonski choked on the bite of cinnamon raisin toast she’d just sat down to eat with her morning coffee. Her bright idea to take advantage of the lull in the breakfast rush at her family’s diner—The Pocono Eatery—just hit the dimmer switch at her best friend’s blurted request.
She blushed.
Dammit.
Still, it was a miracle she didn’t self-combust given the amount of heat rushing through her body at the thought of settling her backside on the lap of the virile, prime beef that was Sgt. Benjamin Wyne. The sexiest man alive.
So sexy, so potent, he could set a lake on fire.
And did.
The National Guardsman had actually achieved the feat, along with her brother Ryder, back when she had been eleven, and they were seniors in high school. Something to do with an inner tube and a birthday celebration gone wrong. Lea couldn’t help but feel her sister had been involved, too.
Her perfect, blonde-haired, blue-eyed, older sister, Gwen.
The now famous New York model, Gwen.
She had always suspected Gwen, a year younger than the boys, had caused the mishap, and Ben, being the knight-in-shining-armor that he was, and dating her sister only a few weeks at the time, had taken the blame.
“Even with today’s technology we’ve been playing phone tag for the past two days,” Brandi continued, bringing Lea’s mind back to the present. “I can’t even reach him on Skype.”
Living in Harland County, Texas and planning a wedding in the Pocono Valley of Pennsylvania had to be hard. Lea was doing whatever she could to help.
Ever since befriending the new girl in fifth grade, she and Brandi had become best friends. How could they not? They were so much alike. Clumsy introverts with a love of classical as well as country music…and Belgium chocolate. A bond that had strengthened when they both lost their mothers in middle school. Where Brandi had turned to practicing the violin, Lea had shoved her nose into books. Many, many books, and her love for history was born.
As well as her appreciation of the male physique, thanks to hanging out at the Wyne household, or as she silently dubbed, The Hot Spot. Each of Brandi’s four step-brothers had set the bar high for boyfriend standards. The combination of responsibility, compassion and humor, coupled with their good looks and ripped bodies, made Lea’s search for a viable mate near impossible. She’d started to doubt one existed beyond the Wyne household, until last year when she had met Brandi’s fiancé. Kade Dalton was a little bit of all right. Okay, he was a lot-a-bit of all right. He was flippin’ gorgeous and steadfast, and so respectful of Brandi that Lea had hoped she might actually discover one for herself outside of Wyneville.
Her friend had assured her Harland County had an overabundance of good-looking, charming, respectful cowboys and had been badgering Lea to head to Texas. But since her siblings had thriving careers, the job of keeping the restaurant afloat while her father recovered from back surgery fell onto her shoulders. She wasn’t going to go anywhere but crazy.
On a fast train.
With no brakes.
“I’m pretty sure he had drill down the Gap this weekend and was probably too busy to get on the computer,” she replied before taking another bite of her toast.
With the restaurant located right across from the National Guard armory, there were soldiers in and out of the Pocono Eatery all day long. The scuttlebutt of drill dates, activations and deployments always found her ears. Besides, her brother had mentioned it. Even though Ryder owned his own construction company, he was still a part-time soldier in the National Guard.
“Oh. That explains it.” A sigh filled her ear. “Cell phone reception is spotty down there.”
“True,” she agreed, nibbling more toast.
“But since it’s the Monday after drill,” Brandi continued, confidence strengthening her tone, “and my brother is nothing if not predictable, he’ll be into work early to get a jump on the paperwork, and that means he’ll also be in to see you this morning.”
Lea’s heart dropped to her ribs where it raced the sudden fluttering in her stomach. God, she wished Sgt. Hotty was coming in to see her. But, it wasn’t her he stopped by to sample every morning. She should be so lucky. Just the thought of that firm jaw scraping her skin as those full lips kissed a path to parts south had her sighing in her coffee—the very thing that drew the man into her restaurant. Not her sigh. Her coffee.
Sure, he was friendly. He’d always been friendly to her. In fact, Ben treated her special, like one of the family.
Too bad so sad for her; she wanted to be treated like a lover, not family. To know him intimately. But, family was all she was ever going to be to the man, and she’d learned long ago not to wish for more. Wishes didn’t come true. At least, not for Lea Gablonski.
If that was the case, she’d be putting her Masters Degree in History to good use, working in one of New York City’s many museums…and sleeping in Ben’s bed at night.
She glanced at the train-shaped clock on the wall. The one she’d purchased from the local train and anthracite museum where she worked one Sunday a month. The old, black locomotive wasn’t going anywhere, and neither was she. Her responsibility rested with her family. She loved them, and they loved her, and she’d do what was expected, helping her dad out at home and at the restaurant since her siblings were busy with their successful careers. Though she’d given up her position at a museum in Philadelphia to come home until her father was well, she also made a promise to herself. She vowed to reach for her dream by applying for a job in the Big Apple. It was time she put herself first.
After she made sure her dad was back on his feet, of course.
“Yeah, it’s nearly nine am,” she said, bringing her mind back to the conversation. “Your brother should be here soon. He usually comes in this late after drill weekend.”
Twisting around in the booth, she strained her neck to see if the hotty had snuck in while her back had been turned. Nope. Only Mary, her server, and a few locals dotted the restaurant. A young couple held hands as they sat on the same side of a booth; a happy family of four enjoyed breakfast before heading out on one last summer adventure; old man Tierney argued about the Mets at the counter with old man Simpson who, in turn, argued about the Yankees.
Yep, business as usual.
“Well, until he does, I want to thank you for all your help, Lea.”
“Hey, that’s what maid-of-honors are for, right?”
She was so happy her friend had found someone who appreciated her friend, unlike jerkman, Brandi’s former boyfriend who had been using the talented woman as a status symbol. Not an issue now. A fact that had been more than evident when Lea had met Kade last Thanksgiving. The gorgeous Texan was a man of few words, but his expression had said all she wanted to know. He adored his fiancée.
“You go above and beyond,” Brandi stated. “So, why don’t you tell me more about your date with Clark last night?”
Lea silently cursed her friend’s sudden change of subject, no doubt due to the slipup she’d made at the beginning of the call, telling her about running into an old schoolmate. She should’ve known her astute confidant wasn’t going to let it go. She straightened back around in her booth—the one she and Brandi had shared so often over the years her dad had dubbed it the B/L booth—and she shrugged as if her frie
nd were seated across from her. “It wasn’t a date. We met by accident at the Confection Connection and decided to share the Special of the Day since it was so dang huge.”
“Huge? What the heck did Jill come up with this time?” Brandi asked.
Jill Bailey, a New Yorker who knew her way around all things chocolate and decadent, wasn’t afraid to combine ingredients to create new desserts. Much to everyone’s delight—and their waistline’s dismay.
“A double-decker banana split. It was to die for.” Just thinking about it made her mouth water.
“And Clark didn’t mind sharing?”
“No” she replied, then lowered her voice when she heard customers settle into the booth behind her. “He was very generous.”
“Wow, Clark generous. That’s new. He was always so bossy.”
She laughed. “True, but not last night. He let me go first.”
“I’m shocked.”
“I know, right? He’s usually demanding, but this time I got to eat my fill, and let me tell you, I did.”
She could always count on Jill to take care of her chocolate fix. If only the woman had a recipe to satisfy her unreasonable craving for the unattainable Benjamin Wyne.
Full-time National Guardsman, Sgt. Benjamin Wyne slid into his usual booth across from his brothers, Keiffer and Mason, ready to order his usual breakfast and recharge his batteries from three days of training before he jumped back into the after-drill workload. He hated when people didn’t do their jobs and was tasked with picking up their slack, but sometimes it was as unavoidable as his after-drill headache.
He’d kill for coffee.
One thing he’d learned from eating at Gabe’s, the name he, his father and three brothers had come to call the Pocono Eatery, was he could always count on the delicious, homemade food to pull double duty in decimating his appetite and the pounding in his head.
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