Wyne and Chocolate (Citizen Soldier Series Book 2)

by Michaels, Donna

  “I know,” he said, grasping her elbow as she slid on a patch of ice. “Humor me. I’m not about to let you walk into a dark house without checking it out first.”

  She glanced sideways at him as they stepped onto the porch of her quaint little bungalow. His concern was unwarranted. Despite being located an hour from the big city, this part of the Poconos was quiet. And she had some awesome neighbors.

  As she watched him slip the key into the lock, she was still trying to decide whether he was being sweet or looking to wrangle an invitation to stay. While she was banking on the former, her body was begging, Oh please, let him stay. We promise we’ll be bad.

  “Stay here,” he said, after opening the door and handing her the keychain.

  He patted around the inside wall and light instantly appeared on the porch and in the hall. Dropping the keys back into her purse as he checked out her house, Jill knew what he was seeing. A small but neat one bedroom home with so much character in the arch doorways leading into the quaint living room and cute kitchen, complimented by gorgeous woodwork, she’d signed the lease right on the spot.

  And now…she was trying to remember if she’d put away her laundry.

  “Everything’s good,” he said, walking to her with a smile.

  “Thanks.” She nodded, and had to admit, she was a little surprised when he grabbed her by the shoulders and gently twisted them around so she was in the house and he was on the porch.

  “You have a nice place, Jill,” he said, reaching in to turn off the porch light.

  “Thanks,” she said again, inanely.

  Then her heart beats increased to near deafening tone when he leaned against the door frame and removed his gloves, stuffing them in his coat pocket. She swallowed, watching his ministrations, mind working overtime, trying to figure him out.

  She had nothing.

  “Why are you taking off your gloves?”

  “So I can do this,” he replied, then cupped her face with both hands.

  And…oh, God, covered her mouth with his and kissed her.

  Chapter Nine

  The instant his lips touched Jill’s, Mason felt a current straight down his spine. Charged with some serious sexual energy, the voltage nearly knocked him on his ass. He captured her startled breath, loving the feel of her soft, sweet mouth.

  So damn sweet.

  He nibbled on her lower lip, tasting, sampling, taking his time to savor every dip, every nuance, and give her a chance to push him away. Her hands gripped his upper arms, and he waited to see if she was going to push or pull.

  God, he was rooting for pull.

  After the longest two seconds of his life, she sighed and slid her hands up his shoulders and into his hair, knocking his hat clean off. He let out a low growl, not unlike the wolf he’d teased her about, and tilted her head to suit him.

  Hot damn, did she suit him. Big time.

  Her lips parted, and she was kissing him back, hungrily, desperately, like he was the flavor of the day. Chocolate.

  Then things got a little crazy. Her tongue touched his lower lip, and his mind just blanked, cut out, as all the blood rushed south to his throbbing groin. If it weren’t for the fact they needed air, he wouldn’t have pulled back and ended such a spectacular kiss.

  “That was…” she gasped, placing a finger over her mouth as she stared up at him, looking as dazed as he felt.

  “Amazing. Fantastic. Please, I need another…?” His oxygen-starved voice was rough even to his ears.

  She laughed. “Yeah. Those.”

  He smiled back and repeated, “Yeah. Those,” then slipped his gloves on. “Goodnight, Jill,” he said, and his smile widened when he caught the relief and sorrow mixing in her big, brown eyes.

  “Good night, Mason.”

  Only when she closed the door, did he turn and walk to his Jeep. She wanted him, but didn’t want to want him. A feeling he understood one hundred percent.

  He understood something else, too.

  She wasn’t the type of woman to fall at his feet. No. There would be no exposing her tatas to him in the hot tub. No phone numbers slipped into his pocket. No going out of her way to gain his attention. No. Jill Bailey would be a damn challenge.

  Question was, was he up for it?

  After a kiss like that?

  Hell yeah.

  The next morning, Jill stood with Lea and the rest of the group on the south side of the resort where Mason had four snowmobiles lined up. Even though they’d already determined she was the only one without experience on the back of a Cat, as he called it, he ran through instructions, safety protocol, and trail etiquette with everyone.

  “Stay on the right side of the trail. Slow down and give the right of way to any skiers, hikers…”

  As her body focused on his talented, moving lips, her mind fuzzed over. After a kiss like the one she’d experienced last night, she’d thought about making an excuse not to show up today, but her truthful nature wouldn’t allow it. So, she’d joined her friend for breakfast and now this, pretending she hadn’t been kissed to within an inch of her life by their guide.

  The heat and goosebumps spreading down her shoulders at the memory of the embrace wasn’t on board with the faking part. They increased when he glanced her way.

  “Good morning, Jill,” he said when he was through with his speech. He drew near, voice deliciously warm, like his gaze that said, “I tasted you. I liked it. I want more.”

  Her heart dipped and raced at out-of-control speed. Good Lord, he wouldn’t kiss her here, in front of everyone…would he?

  But he didn’t. Just stopped in front of her and smiled. “Sleep well?”

  “Yep,” she managed, fighting down unreasonable disappointment. “You?”

  “Like I was plowed over by someone on skis.”

  Warmth shot straight to her toes, and she chose to ignore the surprised look raising Lea’s brows, but couldn’t disregard the fact Ben had joined them due to a last-minute cancellation. The handsome soldier slipped an arm around his smiling girlfriend.

  Great. Jill knew what this meant. Lea was no longer her riding buddy.

  Having donned the powder blue, bibbed snowsuit and jacket provided by the resort when she had insisted on paying for the outing, Jill was suddenly hot and very bothered. She tugged the zipper down on her collar, trying to let some of the cold air in.

  “All right, grab your partners, then your ride,” Mason ordered, and everyone broke off into pairs of two, except for her, a skinny guy with thinning hair, and a cute, perky little blonde who had her gaze set on their guide all morning.

  The moment of truth.

  Did she let Snow Barbie claim him? Or did she head the chick off at the pass?

  A second later, the decision was made for her when Mason strode directly to Jill and gently grabbed her elbow. “You’ll be riding with me. Since you’re a virgin.”

  She blushed straight to her roots as every single person in their eight person group stared at them. “Novice,” she corrected with a smack to his shoulder. “I’m a novice, not a virgin.”

  “My mistake.” He chuckled, then let go of her to climb onto one of the black beasts gleaming in the winter sunshine.

  The snowmobile seemed bigger up close. And just a wee bit terrifying.

  Oh God…why am I doing this?

  To branch out. Try new things...

  Parcheesi.

  She never played Parcheesi. Maybe she should've started with that instead.

  “Come on, Fireball. You can do this,” he said, and she caught the mischievous grin lighting his eyes before he shoved his helmet on.

  Her kick of nerves took a back seat as she donned her helmet and climbed behind Mason. Nerves of a different kind soon took over, fluttering her belly, warming her limbs when she scooted up the seat to slip her arms around his waist and press her body into his solid back.

  He started the snowmobile and revved the engine. “Ready?” he asked over his shoulder.

  No. “R
eady,” she replied, and saw him close the shield on his helmet, so she did the same, then squeezed her eyes shut and tightened her hold.

  He hit the gas and they launched forward, and she couldn’t help it, she screamed like a little girl. And also squeezed him tight. Real tight. But, figuring he needed to breath, clamped her mouth shut and eased up just a little on the death grip.

  He took off down the trail and up a hill that seemed to go forever, which suited her because, holy smokes, she didn’t want it to stop. Wind whipped at them as he sped around trees, up another trail, and she only realized she was laughing when it echoed through her helmet.

  God, she didn’t want it to stop. She felt light. Carefree. Just…free.

  It’d been a while since she’d done something for herself, took a chance, and embraced the moment.

  Mason continued to give her the ride of her life, this time heading down a hill that had her pitching forward, gripping him, tight. Then across an open field where he hit the gas again, and her legs automatically squeezed around his, tight.

  It was exhilarating, and so damn freeing she hated to see it end.

  But, ten minutes later, he sped to a grove of trees where he stopped and shut off the snowmobile. Then he removed his helmet and twisted to face her. “You okay?”

  She pulled her helmet off. “Yeah.” She smiled. “Why?”

  “Because we’ve stopped, and you’ve still got a killer grip on my legs.”

  Feeling heat rush to her face, she immediately released him and pushed back on the seat. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize—”

  “Hey, it’s okay, but, damn, I wish I was facing you,” he said, getting off the Cat as the others began to pull up and park alongside them.

  Since they were no longer alone, and she was still working on catching her breath, Jill busied herself with stowing her head gear, and trying to contain the visual of his words.

  Filing those images away, she let him help her off the snowmobile, but then leaned into him when her legs decided to shake-rattle-‘n’-roll without warning.

  “Whoops. Sorry, Mason,” she stammered, holding him in a death grip again. “My stability seems to have remained at the resort.”

  “That’s normal,” he said, helping her to rest against the seat. “It happens sometimes after a long ride. Especially to…novices.”

  The hesitation of his last word, coupled with the mischief lighting his eyes, tugged a laugh out of her. “Smart man.” She winked. He knew better than to use the word virgin.

  “I know it.” He returned her grin and looked like he was about to say more when Lea and Ben appeared.

  “So? How was your first ride, Jill?” her friend asked, big grin anchoring the knowing look on her face.

  “Amazing,” she answered truthfully. “I can’t wait to do that again.”

  Satisfaction warmed Mason’s expression as he pulled out a thermos and poured a cup of something hot. “Soon, Fireball, but first we need to recharge with some trail mix and hot chocolate.”

  Happy no one asked about the Fireball nickname, mainly Lea, Jill sipped her hot chocolate, her mind and taste buds instantly noting missing ingredients, as she glanced around and watched the others pull out identical snack packs provided by the resort.

  “Wait. Don’t drink that,” Lea said, stepping close as she withdrew something from her coat pocket. “You need the secret ingredient. Namely, your secret ingredient, Jill.” Grinning, her friend uncapped a bottle of Jill’s chocolate syrup and added several drops to her cup, the opened thermos, then went around and doctored everyone’s drink. “Now, it’s hot chocolate.”

  Jill took another sip and smiled. “Mmm…yep, better. Thanks, Lea.”

  Soon more ‘Mmm’s’ echoed around the group as they gushed over the drink.

  “Where can I get some of that stuff?” Snow Barbie asked, pointing to Lea’s bottle.

  Her friend quickly pocketed her stash as if afraid she was about to get jumped, then pointed to her and smiled. “At Jill’s shop in town. Confection Connections is on the corner by the traffic light. You can’t miss it. She sells it by the pint.”

  The blonde squealed, and Jill thought maybe her eardrum had been ruptured from standing too close to the blast, but thankfully, the ringing stopped after a minute. Mason exchanged a look with Ben.

  Unsure what it all meant, she gave up trying to figure it out and decided to just enjoy her trail mix and what was left of her drink. Sometimes, she over-thought things. It was time to chill.

  “You should sell online,” Lea said.

  Snow Barbie nodded. “Yeah, you’d make a killing.”

  “It’s on my to-do list.” But it involved giving up control and hiring more people, including an accountant and web guru.

  “Mason can help. He knows all about running a successful internet business,” Ben volunteered, and judging by the dark look on his brother’s face, not something he liked to talk about.

  She had to assume it was the business he’d shared with Renee. “Thanks, but I’m just toying with the idea,” she said, hoping it came out as non-committal, because she did not want to commit either of them at the moment.

  “So, are you going to drive this time, or let Mason?” Lea asked, nodding toward the black beast.

  Jill’s initial thrill for the subject change soon turned to panic when the words sank in. She stilled. Then swallowed. “I-I don’t know. I really like it on the back.”

  “Oh, go on,” Ben urged. “I’ve the feeling you’ll give my brother a ride he won’t soon forget.”

  Nearly swallowing her tongue along with the last of her hot chocolate, Jill coughed. Then choked, taking solace in the fact Lea smacked the grinning guy upside the head, and Mason’s expression hovered somewhere between annoyed and amused.

  “What?” Ben blinked. “I was talking about the snowmobile. You need to get your mind out of the gutter, woman.”

  This afforded him another smack.

  “Man, you don’t know when to quit,” Mason said with a shake of his head, then stepped to Jill and stared down at her. “So? What’s it to be? Drive or ride?”

  The thought of pretzel-hugging him again made her sweat. But the thought of her butt to his crotch, back to his chest while he spooned her made her wet. Darn it…she wished she’d had her helmet on and visor down because…

  Oh God, he’d read her mind. She could tell by his intake of breath and the way his brown eyes turned a deep, dark chocolate shade.

  “Jesus, Jill, if you don’t stop looking at me like that I’m not going to be able to remain professional,” he warned, and she wasn’t sure if it had been for her, or for him.

  But as she opened her mouth to respond, her cell started to ring from the inside of her coat pocket. Heartily surprised of cell service, she shoved the empty thermos lid at him, then pulled out the phone and frowned. Theresa. She took a few steps away. Shoot. Her heart dropped. “Hello?”

  “Jill, I’m so sorry to bother you on your day off, but my mother-in-law just called. I need to go home because her sister is in ICU and I don’t have anyone else to watch my son.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry, Theresa. It’s okay. You lock up and go home immediately. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

  “Thank you, Jill,” her employee said, relief evident in her tone.

  “You’re welcome. Go home,” she said again, then hung up and glanced at the time before pocketing her phone. Barley after ten. Darn. It was too early. And she couldn’t blow off the day. Saturdays were a good money day for the shop.

  Lea stepped close. “What’s up?”

  “Theresa’s babysitter has an emergency, so she needs to go home, and I need to get to my shop.” She sent Mason an apologetic smile, wishing she could’ve prolonged the euphoric feeling he’d supplied today.

  “I’ll take you back to the resort,” Lea offered, but Ben shook his head and stepped forward, deep frown marring his brow.

  “Oh no. You’re not leaving me here to piggyback my brother. Sorry,
hun. I’ll take Jill back.”

  Her friend glanced from one Wyne to the other and smiled. “Damn, I would’ve paid good money to see that.”

  “Me, too.” She giggled and was rewarded with a deliciously dark look from Mason. He stepped right to her. “I’m taking a rain check on that ride, Fireball.”

  “We’ll see,” she replied with a grin, unwilling to give in so easily, even though, yeah, she was very easy around him.

  Lea handed her keys to Jill. “Take my car. I’ll be fine. Ben has his truck.”

  “Thanks,” she said, and five minutes later, was holding onto another handsome Wyne, but this time, there was no thundering pulse, or fluttering belly involved. Those chaotic responses were reserved for the dark-eyed guide.

  When they returned to the resort, Ben parked the snowmobile by the garage where they were kept, and being a typical Wyne, he helped her off and held onto her while she found her snow legs.

  “Easy there,” he said, holding her arm. “Sorry you had to cut your day short. You’re good for my brother. I couldn’t believe I actually heard him laugh today. It’s been a while. Thank you.”

  Throat suddenly hot for no stupid reason, she nodded, thankful she was still wearing her head gear. Her heart ached for the guy who had his heart ripped out, and yet, she didn’t want it to, because that meant something. It meant Mason meant something to her. She wasn’t ready to cop to that just yet.

  “Thanks for bringing me back,” she said, finally removing her helmet and handing it to him. “I’m sorry I cut into your time off with Lea.”

  “Actually…” He scratched his temple. “I wanted to talk to you anyway.”

  Her brows rose. “Oh? What about?” She held her breath and silently prayed…Please don’t let it be about Mason again.

  “Lea. And Valentine’s Day,” he replied.

  She couldn’t help the sigh of relief that whooshed from her mouth, and smiled. How sweet. He thought enough of her friend to order her something for the most romantic day of the year. Her final Valentine’s Day with her husband was spent at the ER getting his stomach pumped.

  “What do you have in mind?”

  He returned the smile, but she could tell he was a little nervous by the way he toyed with the helmet gripped tightly in his hand. “Well, you can sculpt chocolate, right?”