Champagne and Cowboys

by Donna Michaels

  He chuckled. “My mom used to tell me the same thing.”

  “I did send them, Lucas. Honest.”

  “I believe you,” he said, stepping forward to set his hands on her slumped shoulders. “But I swear, I never received them.”

  She held his gaze for a long moment before acceptance relaxed the tautness from her face. “So, what do you think happened to them then?”

  He inhaled and forced his mind to choose his words carefully. “I’m not sure. I think I might have been deployed at that time. Maybe they got lost in the mail.”

  She nodded, her gaze sad and too upset for him to voice his actual thoughts.

  Dear old dad had never sent them.

  “I owe you an apology,” she said, and stepped forward to hug him.

  An actual, honest-to-God, hold tight hug.

  He slid his arms around her slight frame and hugged back. “It’s all right.”

  “No. It’s not.” She shook her head and sniffed against his chest. “I thought you didn’t want me back then, so I was trying hard not to want you around now. But I do. I’m glad you’re here.”

  He tightened his hold and kissed her forehead. “I am, too.”

  And he was so damn furious at his father he could spit bullets.

  Sixteen years. Sixteen sweet years he’d missed of his sister’s life. Years he could never get back, all because their dad was too damn selfish to mail her letters.

  God, the false hope she must’ve gone through every time she wrote one. It burned a hold in his gut to think about the disappointed she must’ve faced when he never responded.

  “So.” She drew back and wiped away the tears that had fallen down her face. “What time is this party tomorrow?”

  A grin twitched his lips. “Eleven, but we have to leave by ten thirty so we can pick Evie up on the way.”

  Missy’s smile grew. “You asked her to go?”

  “Yes.”

  “Good. I like her. She doesn’t treat me like an adolescent.”

  The sexy woman didn’t treat him like one either. “I like her, too.”

  Evie treated him like a man. And after today, he felt like the luckiest damn man alive. She made him feel good, and alive, and so damn satisfied, his bones were still mush. All his cares disappeared when he was with her.

  God, he wished he was with her now. If she wasn’t at work, he’d ask her over. He needed to get lost in the giving woman’s sweet curves. To forget his troubles, and the fact his dad was an ass who’d used him as a pawn to hurt his sister.

  “So…is…uh…Evie’s brother going to be at the armory party?” she asked, pretending to brush a piece of lint off her sweater.

  “Yes.”

  She nodded, as if it was no big deal, but the blush creeping up into her face gave her away.

  Big time.

  “I should probably go upstairs and figure out what to wear.” She surprised him with another hug, then drew back. “Good night.”

  And before he could respond, she was gone.

  He chuckled, but considering he was enthralled with a Martelli, too, he understood the pull.

  Big time.

  The Company A 332nd Headquarters Division Annual Christmas Party was in full swing and Evie marked this year’s down as extra special. She’d been attending them, along with her parents and Nona, ever since her brother had enlisted in the National Guard at seventeen.

  Many things hadn’t changed, like the Fallen Soldier table set up in front to honor those lost, the most recent loss being Keiffer’s friend, Greg. His absence was felt, along with Keiffer’s. The rest of the Wynes were there, putting up a good front, but she knew today was difficult.

  After the guardsmen had formation at eleven, the troops and their families sat down, except for the cooks who filled the serving trays and set them in the hot food warming station while awards and promotions were handed out. Then, the single officers and senior enlisted served dinner so the rest could enjoy the time with their families.

  An hour and a half later, some people still sat, while others mingled about, waiting for Santa to arrive with gifts for the excited children.

  “You okay?” Lucas leaned close as they sat at one of the five rows of eight tables running across the armory floor.

  The man had literally stolen her breath when he’d showed up at her door that morning, wearing his military dress greens, which showed off his broad shoulders and tapered waist to perfection.

  She’d hardly been able to take her eyes off him. His sister seemed to look at him differently today, too.

  “Wonderful.” She grinned. “How about you?”

  “Good. This was my first time at Christmas drill that I didn’t serve dinner.”

  She reached for his hand and squeezed. “Because you have family.”

  He nodded, a deep satisfaction mixed with joy, giving his eyes a new light.

  “Things seem a little different between you and Missy.” She motioned with a nod to his sister who stood talking with Phoebe and Scott’s theater loving grandmother.

  He nodded. “Yeah. We had a talk last night.”

  She waited for him to elaborate, but he remained quiet. Still, she got the sense something was bothering him.

  He grasped her hand and brought it to his lips. “We still on for later? Missy is going back to Tyler’s with them after the party for a few hours.”

  Her body warmed under his thoughtful gaze. “Good, then you’ll be able to come to my place for…dessert.”

  Heat flashed through his gaze. “I love your dessert.”

  “Yeah, Evie makes the best cannoli,” Nona said, sitting down across from them. “Because she had a good teacher. Me.”

  “Yep.” Faith and Jenna echoed in agreement as they plopped down, too.

  Followed by Nico, Scott, and Jeremy, their plates loaded with Jill’s chocolate cake, and…oh, look at that, my cannoli. Every year, she donated several dozen. This year, she was glad, because it’d kept her busy during her down time that week.

  Which kept her mind off of a certain cowboy.

  Mostly.

  “Yes, my sister makes the best tasting cannoli,” Nico stated, then turned his gaze on them. “Wouldn’t you agree, Lucas?”

  Evie inhaled. Bene! He did not want to go there. Because, two could play at that game.

  “Yes. Melts in your mouth,” the cowboy replied without missing a beat, holding her brother’s gaze.

  But his hand was beneath the tablecloth, slipping under her red dress, drawing circles very slowly up her thigh.

  All the retorts she’d planned to sling at her brother melted away as her brain began to fog.

  “Quit teasing your sister’s boyfriend.” Nona slapped Nico’s shoulder. “And put that energy into finding your own girlfriend to sample her cannoli before your belly falls over your belt and you start to lose your hair. No woman will want to sample your sausage then.”

  Jeremy and Scott shook as they silently snickered, while Faith and Jenna laughed outright.

  “There’s nothing wrong with my sausage, Nona, or my hair or my belly,” her brother exclaimed, unfazed by their grandmother’s words.

  “Good, then now’s a great time to sample Faith’s cannoli while they’re still perky, and you don’t need a blue pill to put spring in your sausage to satisfy her meat craving.”

  If Evie wasn’t so shocked, or hysterical, she would’ve jumped to her friend’s defense. But the most she could do was sit there with a hand over her mouth, trying to keep the laughter inside. Even Lucas released her leg and sat back and laughed.

  Faith closed her gaping mouth and glared at Nico. “Thanks, but no thanks, Nona. Your grandson couldn’t handle my cannoli. His tastes tend to run toward artificial, and there’s nothing artificial about me.”

  Nona nodded and patted her friend’s hand. “You tell him, hun. Save your perky cannoli for someone who appreciates it.”

  Before anyone could reply, Santa walked in and the decibel level in the room rose to a
pitch below deafening. The rest of the party changed gears, catering to the young and the young at heart.

  When it was over, Evie stayed behind with Lucas to help several others clean up, her gaze straying to the dark-haired, blue-eyed Texan. Her heart thrilled at the fact he’d never corrected Nona when she’d called him her boyfriend.

  But it was also concerned by the troubled look that skittered through his gaze when he thought no one was watching.

  Maybe, in time, would he open up to her?

  Chapter Nine

  December was flying by. Christmas Day was a few days away, and Lucas knew he was stupid to let his dad continue to get to him. Life was good. He had a job he enjoyed. His relationship with his sister was good. And for the first time in his life, he found a woman who understood him, didn’t try to change him, didn’t want to change him. Evie liked who he was, and he liked who he was when he was with her.

  Yes, life was good.

  And yet…he had this burning ball eating a hole in his gut whenever his mind strayed to the past. It’d been over two weeks since his sister told him about the letters. The first few days, he’d searched the house, looking for them, but came up empty.

  His dad probably tossed them out the same day Missy had written them.

  Damn.

  His insides twisted. He needed to let it go. To just forget about it.

  “Hey? Is everything okay?” Evie asked, settling down on the couch next to him in her living room.

  It was one of those rare evening where Missy had work, and they did not. He refused to ruin it by dwelling in the past.

  “Not quite.” He pulled her onto his lap. “This is better,” he murmured, kissing her smiling lips.

  She opened up for him, kissing him back, running a hand down his chest and abs before her wicked fingers skimmed over his crotch. Heat skittered down his spine, and just like that, he was hard.

  Damn. She was hot. And good. The woman knew exactly how to touch him and where to touch him to take him from zero to ninety in less than half a second.

  “Keep that up and I’m going to get us naked,” he said when they broke for air.

  “Mmm…then you’re going to have to keep it up.” She chuckled, stroking him harder.

  Muttering a curse, he shot to his feet with his arms full of her soft curves. “You asked for it.”

  “Yes I did,” she muttered against his neck as he carried her into her foyer. “You better give it to me good.” Then she bit him.

  Ah, hell.

  She was killing him.

  There was no way he was going to get them up the steps. He needed to touch her and taste her. Now.

  He set her on her feet, then quickly locked the front door. When he turned back around, the woman’s jeans were already on the floor.

  “You’re falling behind, cowboy,” she proclaimed, yanking the sweater over her head, apparently on the same page.

  With more than enough incentive standing in front of him, he tugged his boots off, then made quick work of his clothes.

  Her gaze was dark and sinfully sweet as she reached behind to unhook her bra. He loved watching her glorious breasts bounce with their newfound freedom.

  He stepped close, cupped what he could in his hands and kissed the parts that spilled over. She moaned and arched back. Desire burned through his veins with vigorous force. He nudged her backward until she was sitting on the stairs, while he knelt between her legs.

  “Cold,” she squeaked, her wicked hands anything but as they skimmed down his sides and over his quivering abs. “Mmm…but you’re not.”

  That’s because he was on fire. He kissed a path up her throat while his fingers slipped under her thong and tugged the sexy lace all the way off. Then he grasped her knees and spread her wider before he drew back. “Damn, Evie, that’s hot.” His heart caught at the sight before him.

  She leaned back on her elbows, thrusting out her ample breasts with silver dollar nipples that were puckered and aroused. And her eyes, God, her eye were hungry, and trusting, and willing. His gaze skimmed south over the sweet swell of her hips and trembling thighs, and his mouth watered at the decadent treat waiting for him at the center.

  Dipping down, he pressed his mouth to her thigh, and kissed his way up, letting his hand trail ahead to stroke her. She gasped.

  Ah, hell, she was so damn wet.

  Need fisted his groin tight, but he pushed it aside. Not yet. Not until he tasted her and made her burst. He stroked her again, then removed his finger and blew a breath over her heated flesh.

  “Lucas…” She stared down at him, need hooding her smoldering eyes.

  And while he held her gaze, he leaned closer and licked.

  She cried out and lifted off the stair.

  “Easy, darlin’.” He set a hand on her belly and gently held her in place. “I’m just getting started. Then he drapped her legs over his shoulders, put his mouth back on her and stroked her plump flesh with his tongue.

  She let out a low, throaty moan that throbbed straight through his erection.

  “Don’t stop,” she rasped, shoving her fingers in his hair and gripping tight. “Don’t ever stop.”

  Damn, he loved hearing her say that.

  With his mouth too busy to reply, he held onto her sweet ass and curled his tongue to give her a different angle. That’s when she burst, her cry echoing up the stairwell. He lapped her up, drawing out her orgasm until she finally stopped rocking.

  He released her and slowly drew back, setting her feet on the stairs.

  “Wow, Lucas.” She smiled down at him, satisfaction warm in her eyes while her chest rose and fell, rippling with her labored breathing. “That was amazing.”

  He kissed her knee, before he moved to fish a condom from his jeans. Those warm, glistening curves of hers beckoned. If he didn’t get inside her soon, he was going to burst just staring at her.

  After rolling on the condom, he returned to her. She hadn’t moved. Just sat there smiling the best satisfied smile he’d put on her face yet.

  But he wasn’t done.

  He kissed his way up her warm body still trembling with aftershocks, paying extra attention to her gorgeous peaks, sucking one into his mouth and pressing it against the roof with his tongue.

  She gasped, and gasped again when he kissed a path up her throat to bite the curve of her neck. So soft, and warm. He’d never tire of worshiping her with his mouth. Never.

  She squirmed and clutched his head. “Lucas, I need you inside me.”

  “Not yet,” he said, gripping the step above her as he captured her mouth for a deep, hungry, frenzied kiss. When they broke for air, he switched their positions. “I don’t want to hurt you with my weight.”

  She smiled and kissed his forehead. “That’s sweet.”

  He smacked her ass and smiled. “So’s that.” Then he gripped her hips while she straddled him and slowly lowered down.

  Son-of-a-bitch. Now that’s sweet.

  The feel of her slick heat surrounded him, welcoming him in. Nothing was sweeter.

  This was what he wanted. What he needed. This total oblivion. His cares faded away. Nothing matter. Not his past. Not his dad. Just this woman and her total acceptance of him.

  “You feel so good, Lucas,” she said, and hot damn, started to move.

  She gripped the rail with one hand and palmed the wall with the other as she began to ride him hard.

  Ah hell. He wasn’t going to last. He’d barely held on when she’d climaxed before. He was working on borrowed time. She just felt too damn perfect. Looked too damn perfect with her breasts bouncing wildly, eyes closed, mouth parted.

  So beautiful.

  He sat up, bringing their bodies flush, thrilling at the scrap of those peaks against his chest. “Evie. Look at me.”

  She opened her eyes, and the impact of the pleasure and need spilling from her gaze rippled straight to his heart. Holding her gaze, he began to move with her, slowing their pace, using long, slow thrusts to take them high
er, carry them to a place he’d never been.

  “Lucas.” She moved her hands to his shoulders and blinked, wonder softening her features and joining the slew of emotions filling her eyes.

  “I know,” he said against her lips, still holding her gaze, letting her see he felt the same.

  Then need took over, and he upped their pace. He was done. She felt too damn good. Sliding a hand to her center, he found her wet and plump, and heat skittered down his spine while a tell-tale tightening in his groin signaled he was close.

  She gasped.

  And with nothing between them, and everything out in the open, he watched her gaze glaze over as he applied just the right amount of pressure exactly where she liked it the most. A second later, Evie called out his name as her walls clamped around him. Tight.

  Lucas cupped her sweet ass, thrust up hard and completely lost his breath and bearings as he followed her over with the fiercest release he’d ever had.

  When his vision returned, along with some strength, he lifted a hand to stroke her face, and watched her come back to herself.

  And as the beautiful woman slumped against him, panting and spent, Lucas knew why he’d never found a lasting relationship in Harland County.

  Because the woman with the key to his heart had been in the Poconos.

  The day after Christmas, Evie was having a hot chocolate with Jenna and Faith at Jill’s shop in the resort, waiting to meet up with Lucas. They’d had a wonderful holiday, but the more times the cowboy had to leave her to go home, the longer the nights had become.

  He was bringing Missy for her workshop, and she was hoping they could slip away for a little while to go take care of the horses again. Warmth spread through her chest just thinking about that special lunch they’d share.

  In the weeks that’d followed, he’d been wonderful, giving, and attentive, both in and out of bed.

  “I know that smile,” Faith teased. “You had another good day with Lucas yesterday, didn’t you?”

  “Yes.”

  “I’m so happy for you.” Jenna reached across the table to squeeze her hand.

  “Thanks. It’s incredible. For the first time in…well…ever, I’m looking forward to a future with a man.”