Wyne and Chocolate (Citizen Soldier Series Book 2)

by Michaels, Donna

  His gaze was dark and devilish as he leaned close. “I’m sure I could teach you to ski without falling down.”

  Her stomach fluttered and heart rocked against her ribs. She was sure he could teach her a good many things. Things her good parts were clamoring to learn.

  Apparently, they were going to have to be uneducated a while longer, as he must’ve realized he was holding her hand and that his siblings had noticed because he released her and sat back.

  “What about ice skating, Jill? Can you skate?” Keiffer asked, no doubt fishing for another funny tale of her inadequacy.

  Far be it for her to disappoint. Just in time, too, because she needed the distraction and hardly noticed the loss of Mason’s heat. Much. “Yes, actually, I can skate. I learned at Rockefeller Center when I was seven,” she said. “But not without the paramedics being called in.”

  “Oh, no.” Lea frowned, concern darkening her pretty blue gaze. “Were you hurt?”

  A grin tugged her lips. “No. Not me.”

  “Let me guess,” Keiffer said. “You took out two lawyers and a stock broker.”

  Her grin increased. “Close. It was one lawyer and an elf.”

  “Elf?” Mason frowned.

  “It’s New York. They dress in all sorts of things on the ice. Besides, this had been close to Christmas.”

  “You took out a Christmas Elf?” Now Ethan was leaning forward, staring at her, gaze hovering between amused and horrified.

  “Technically, I didn’t take him out. He did that all on his own,” she said. “Him and his curved boot. It kind of got stuck in the lawyer’s skate and they took each other down.”

  She shivered, remembering how horrible she’d felt freezing her buns off, literally, as the whole fiasco played out around her.

  Mason slid her a glance. “And what part did you play?”

  “A small one.”

  “Define small.”

  “Very little.”

  He laughed. “Which consisted of…?”

  “Someone bumping into me, then me falling on my butt, which caused the skater behind me to jump over my sprawled out body, trip and fall, but not before grabbing the nearest person, who grabbed the nearest person…”

  “I get the picture.”

  Mason nodded, big smile on his face that completely took her breath.

  The table was laughing again.

  “A ten-person pile up on the ice.” Keiffer chuckled.

  She nodded. More like twenty, but they didn’t need to know.

  Mason’s younger brother smiled at her. “I’m almost afraid to ask if you snowmobile.”

  “I’d like to learn, but I should make sure my insurance is paid up first.”

  Again, the Wynes laughed, and warmth spread through her body at having provided them with some enjoyment without being ridiculed or reduced to tears for being stupid. But the Wynes would never do that. They were good people who understood flaws and didn’t condemn. They accepted. Like the Martelli’s, her mom’s side of the family.

  After her dad died in a construction accident when she was four, her mother hadn’t handled it well, and they’d moved in with her Papa Martelli. Life had been pretty good. Her grandfather, a lonely widower, had made the best cannolis and happily taught Jill all he knew about baking. They were the best six years of her life, until Papa died of a stroke when she was ten. Her mother didn’t like to be alone and married several times, uprooting Jill until she’d graduated high school and was old enough to dorm at college. That’s where she’d met Donny.

  “You’re in luck.” Keiffer continued. “Mason’s taking some guests snowmobiling tomorrow, and there’s still room for two more.”

  The handsome guide at her side studied her, lazy gaze half-daring her to chicken out. And she wanted to, not because she was afraid of the snowmobile, but because she was afraid to spend recreational time with Mason.

  “Sweet! Then sign us up,” Lea said, draping an arm around Jill’s shoulders and pulling her close. “We’ll take the spots. I haven’t been on one of those puppies in ages. It’ll be fun!”

  “Yeah.” Keiffer nodded, mischief dancing in his brown eyes. “As long as no one challenges you, right Ben?”

  Jill raised a brow, gaze bouncing between Lea and her unsmiling boyfriend, clearly having missed something. “Okay, I’ll bite. Did Lea challenge Ben on a snowmobile and win?”

  “No. Skis,” Ethan answered with a grin.

  Ben scoffed. “Two kids crossed my path. What was I supposed to do? Plow them over?”

  Mason chuckled. “Jill would’ve.”

  “Hey!” She smacked his arm. “Okay, you’re right, but only because I wouldn’t know how to stop.” She laughed and the others joined in.

  “Unless there was a sidewalk nearby,” Mason added.

  Jill smacked him again, enjoying the grin on his face. A grin sadly absent from Mr. Sourpuss the past year. It was nice to see. Great, actually.

  Lea giggled and patted Ben’s chest. “That’s what you needed, honey. A sidewalk.”

  In the blink of an eye, the disgruntled Wyne lifted Lea right out of her chair and deposited her on his lap mid-squeal.

  A pang of some unknown emotion rippled through Jill’s chest as she watched the happy couple playfully embrace.

  Once upon a time, that had been her and Donny.

  “Oh, man, get a room.” Keiffer scowled, but amusement sparkled in his eyes.

  “Already got one,” Ben proclaimed after he and Lea came up for air. Then he glanced at Mason. “Would you mind driving Jill home?”

  Ah, crud. “That’s not necessary. I can call a cab,” she rushed to say as heat flushed her face.

  “Of course not, and no, you’re not calling a cab. I’ll take you home,” Mason insisted.

  His brown eyes filled with a stubborn determination she knew better than to test. The Wynes were famous for it.

  “Okay, thank you.” She nodded, wishing she hadn’t come, despite having fun tonight. God, she hated being a burden. “I’m ready whenever you are.”

  “All right. Just let me get my coat,” he said, before disappearing from the bar.

  “Ethan, what time does that snowmobiling start?” Lea asked.

  Dang, she’d hoped the woman had forgotten about it.

  “At eight a.m.”

  Her friend turned to her and smiled. “Okay, then I’ll swing by and pick you up at seven so we can get in a good breakfast beforehand.”

  “I’ll have the chocolate ready.” She smiled, when she really wanted to whine.

  Mason and recreation. Not good. Although, there would be others around, and he wasn’t going to ignore them and dote on her. Jeez, she needed to get over herself. And fast. Tomorrow, though, was a great opportunity for Resolution #4: Be more social. And, darn it, she was going to honor that resolution. No more hermit.

  “Ready?”

  Mason appeared, looking damn edible in a fleece lined, denim jacket, black knit hat and a smile.

  Because her mouth was watering and pulse pounding, she opted to nod instead of speak. He’d already fluttered her stomach with his lazy smile, warm brown eyes, bulging muscles stretching a dark green Henley, well worn jeans hugging…more bulges.

  Unable to stop the heat from flushing her face, she rose to her feet and reached for her coat, but he already held it open for her.

  “Thanks,” she said, slipping it on, and two minutes later, she was sitting beside him in his Jeep and on her way home. “Thanks for the ride. I’m sorry they made you take me home.”

  “First of all, Jill, no one made me do anything,” he said, sparing her a sideways glance that held just enough serious in his brown depths to convey he meant business. “And second, I’m happy to spend time with you.”

  The warm and fuzzy feelings his words produced were enough to melt the snow off the trees lining the road. Unsure how to respond, she decided silence was her best course. She didn’t live that far. Only about fifteen minutes from the resort. Surely, she
could keep her attraction in check and a secret. So far, they hadn’t crossed any boundaries.

  “Had you always lived in New York?” he asked as they drove down the quiet road.

  It was pretty cold outside. Everyone was probably already at their destinations for the night. A few more minutes and she’d be at hers.

  “Yes,” she replied, stalling for time. “You’ve always been here?”

  He nodded. “Yep. I grew up in a big house, where my dad still lives, until I went to college.” He slid her a glance. “I get the impression that’s not the case with you.”

  “True.” She didn’t want to talk about herself, but hated to be rude. He’d had a loving, stable environment, and she’d had a host of families. Sort of.

  “Gonna make me work for it, aren’t you?”

  He smiled that damn sexy smile that had her lips responding in kind, and spilling the beans.

  “My childhood was a bit chaotic. My dad died when I was four. Mom didn’t like to be alone so we moved in with her dad until he died, then she remarried. Divorced. Remarried. Divorced. By that time, I’d graduated and was living at college, where I met my ex. So, you see? Chaotic.”

  “Summers here with your uncle must’ve seemed—”

  “Like heaven,” she interrupted. “It was the only stability I had during my teens. I loved it here. And envied the heck out you and Brandi and your brothers.”

  “You did? Why?” He frowned, driving through the deserted streets in town.

  All the shops were closed, including hers. Theresa was manning the store tomorrow, so Jill had worked alone today. After closing, she’d fetched Lea and Ben from the bus station, expecting to be dropped off at her house. Not. Instead, she’d spent a…pretty great evening with a bunch of nice people.

  And she really wished Mason would drive faster so she could get home and not have to be answering these tough questions.

  She sighed, knowing she’d run out of time and needed to reply. “Because you had your parents and each other and you didn’t get ripped away from your life every few years.” An involuntary shudder rushed through her at the memory of just finding her feet in her new life, then being uprooted to start again, all the while trying to sooth her mother.

  “Jesus, Jill.” His gloved hand covered hers and squeezed. “I’m sorry you had to deal with all that, especially as a child, but, even though I wasn’t forced to move around, my childhood was far from ideal,” he said, mouth as grim as his tone. “My mom walked out on us when I was eleven.”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t know. I thought your mother died,” she stammered, feeling more foolish by the second. The gossip she’d picked up all those years ago at the pizza shop hadn’t been correct.

  Shocker. That’s why it was called gossip.

  “She did, sort of. That was Brandi’s mom.”

  She frowned. “Wait, Brandi’s not your sister?”

  Yeah, she was beginning to wonder if she had any of his childhood correct.

  Chapter Eight

  “Not by blood,” Mason replied. “My dad adopted her when he married her mother. Catherine was kind and a great step-mother.”

  “She’s the one who died of cancer,” Jill said, beginning to piece things together.

  He nodded.

  “How old were you?”

  “Fifteen.”

  “That must’ve been hard. I was four when my dad died, but I don’t remember him much. And Mom’s other husbands never adopted me. Just tolerated.” She laughed, but he didn’t laugh back. In fact, he was frowning, and entwined their fingers together.

  “I wish I had known.”

  She reeled back, freeing her hand. “Why? There wouldn’t have been anything you could’ve done. But that’s sweet.” Her chest was hurting, having cracked open enough for him to burrow inside, and for her to know she liked the guy.

  Dammit.

  That took them out of the acquaintance category and dropped them into the friend category.

  Not good.

  “I would’ve worried about your uncle less and you more,” he said, upping her confusion factor one hundred percent.

  She twisted in her seat, as much as the belt would allow, and studied him. “Why were you worried about Uncle Al?”

  “I liked him. Still do. But back then, out of respect for him, we all left you alone.”

  She sucked in a breath. “Wh-what do you mean?”

  “Jill, you were a gorgeous chick from the big apple. We would’ve bent over backwards to score a smile from you.”

  “No way!” She laughed. “Mason, I was a gangly, skinny, brace-face with acne.”

  “No.” He shook his head, smile barely visible from the dashboard lights. “You were beautiful. Like now.”

  That shut her up. Sent the butterflies in her stomach a fluttering again. Hot freakin’ Mason Wyne thought she was beautiful.

  Holy cocoa beans.

  She was still trying to wrap her brain around that and was enjoying the warmth his words had invoked when he pulled into her driveway.

  She blinked at him as he turned off the Jeep. “How did you know where I lived? I didn’t tell you.”

  “No.” He smiled. “Ben texted your address when I went for my coat.”

  “Ah.” She nodded, digging her key out of her purse. “Thanks for the ride. Sorry you were forced—”

  “Hey. What’d I tell you about that?”

  “Sorry, I’m not used to feeling like a burden. I’m used to helping.” She’d always been the helper, not the helpless.

  “It’s okay to need help once in a while, Jill.”

  “I know.” She nodded, twisting the keys on her lap. “It’s new. I’m working on it.”

  “Your ex was pretty needy, huh?”

  The night sky was clear and full of stars, and a beautiful, bright full moon, which illuminated the cab. Mason’s face was serious with just a touch of anger sparking behind his dark eyes.

  She shrugged. “At times, but toward the end, he’d just been cruel.”

  To the point Donny hadn’t even blinked when one of the bookie’s goons tied her to a chair and threatened…well, not nice things if he didn’t pay up. Thank God the landlord had chosen then to knock on the door and try to collect the rent. An hour later, she was sitting in a hotel room with one suitcase full of clothes and her uncle on the phone.

  “Why do I get the impression I need to go to the city and beat the shit out of this guy?” he asked, voice harsh, with a hint of lethal.

  A smile tugged her lips. “Thanks. I appreciate it. But, the visual is enough.”

  Due to the drugs, Donny had lost weight and lean muscle mass. She had no trouble picturing Mason whipping her ex’s ass. Okay, the handsome, solid guard scowling next to her could’ve probably taken her ex-husband even before the weight loss.

  But, none of that mattered now. She was done thinking about the past, and talking about her.

  Shifting away from his touch, she lifted her chin and held his gaze. “What about your ex? Was she needy?”

  Blowing out a long breath, he glanced out into the night. “Not really. Just the opposite, in fact. We lived together and had a business together, so, I guess I’d grown accustomed to Renee’s independence. Didn’t see the signs until it was too late.”

  She knew about the too late. Lea had told Jill how Mason’s fiancée had left him the morning of their wedding.

  God…who did that? Who did that to a person? Well, okay, it was better than waiting until the day after the wedding, but still. The woman had obviously not loved him for a while.

  “I’m sorry Renee strung you along, Mason,” she said, shaking her head, and then because she couldn’t stand to see the shadows return to his eyes again, tried to lighten the mood. “Sounds like I need to pay her a visit. Does she live near a sidewalk? Because I can slip into a pair of skis...”

  He chuckled and amusement chased the darkness from his gaze. “Thanks. I appreciate it. But, the visual is enough.”

  “Tha
t’s good because…I’d have to borrow a pair of skis.” She wrinkled her nose. “I don’t like to keep weapons in the house.”

  Still chuckling, he shook his head. “What am I going to do with you?”

  Several suggestions sprang to mind, but because they were all naughty and involved getting naked, she clamped her jaw shut.

  “So, about tomorrow,” he said, a little bit of serious creeping into his gaze. “I can’t help but feel you were hoodwinked. Sorry, my family’s misguided idea of helping. You can back out if you want.”

  This was it, her chance to get out of spending recreational time with Mason. But, since she’d already come to terms with the fact there would be others, and he was there in a job capacity, she chose to enjoy herself and not worry.

  “Thanks,” she said. “But, I already told Lea I’d go. I don’t want to let her down.” She refused to acknowledge it had anything to do with spending the day in his presence. It was Lea she wanted to spend the day with—sort of a girl’s day out. “Besides, I’m kinda looking forward to it.” God, she hoped it wasn’t complicated. “I can just ride on the back with someone, right? I don’t have to drive.”

  “Right, but driving’s the fun part. Trust me,” he said with a wink. “It’ll be fun.”

  Fun? The last time she heard that, she’d donned a pair of skis, took out the instructor, two students, three innocent bystanders and a dog.

  She stilled and held his warm stare. “There won’t be any dogs around, will there?”

  “No.” He chuckled. “Just a couple of resort guests, Lea, and me. But I’m more of a wolf than a dog,” he said, swiping the keys from her hand before getting out of the Jeep.

  A wolf? Oh Lordy, what did he mean by that? And why was he getting out of the Jeep? He didn’t expect her to ask him in, did he? Because, yeah, she certainly wanted to, with every beat of her thundering heart. But, that would be stupid.

  And she refused to be stupid where a guy was concerned, ever again.

  Jill quickly slipped out, before he had the chance to open her door, and met him in front of the Jeep. “You don’t need to walk me to my door, Mason. I can manage.”