Wine and Her New Year Cowboy

by Donna Michaels

  Okay, she just officially stepped into the twilight zone. Her brother never tried to set her up before. Ever. It was an unspoken rule between them. She didn’t set him up; he didn’t set her up. An agreement that had worked well for over a decade, sparing the family mutilations and unnecessary deaths.

  “Who are you talking about?” Her father finally pulled his attention away from his plate.

  “Sergeant Harper,” her brother replied. “He transferred up from Kade’s unit in Texas.”

  Evie’s heart rocked. A guardsman? From her friend Brandi’s husband’s unit? No way. The goof had to be yanking everyone’s chain.

  “You are trying to set me up with a guardsman after your no guardsman rule for the past decade?”

  He nodded. “Like I said, most weren’t good enough for my baby sister.”

  “And you think this one is?”

  “Yep.”

  Well, damn. Now she was curious. “Why?”

  “Because, when he found out he had a teenage half-sister from a father who’d deserted him, he had three choices…and he chose number three.”

  She watched and waited for him to elaborate as he refilled his wine. Said grace a little late. Ate a few bites of lasagna. Reached for a breadstick.

  Per amor del cielo!

  “Nico! Come on.” She smacked his arm. “Finish telling me what this Harper guy did.”

  “Ah, see? I knew you’d be interested.”

  “Nico—”

  He chuckled. “All right. I’ll tell you about Lucas.”

  Damn…Lucas was a nice name. Sounded like the kind that came with dark hair and a five-o’clock shadow.

  “What were his choices?” Jill asked as everyone continued to eat while her brother took his time responding.

  “He could do nothing and let his sister become a ward of the state. Make her leave everything she knew and move down with him in Texas. Or…”

  “Leave everything he knows, move up here, and become her guardian,” she finished, her heart a little warm for this guardsman she never met.

  He put family first, even though being deserted by his father would have made many people bitter. His unselfish act was damn admirable. “You’re talking about Missy Williams, right?”

  Missy and her dad had been regulars, and friendly. She used to enjoy her chats with them when they’d stopped in most Friday’s to eat, or picked up a pie to take home. Her heart had gone out to the teen girl when Mr. Williams died last month after falling off his roof.

  Nico nodded. “Yes. Lucas found out she was his half-sister and moved up here to assume guardianship.”

  “What a nice boy.” Her mamma nodded, wiping her wet face. “His dad would be proud.”

  Nona leaned closer to the table. “If he’s from Texas, does that make him a cowboy?”

  Nico shrugged. “Maybe. I’m pretty sure he worked on a few ranches.”

  “Well then, Evangelina, you need to save a horse and ride that c—”

  “Mamma!” Her mother reeled back.

  “What?” Nona blinked. “You saw those cowboys up there at Brandi’s wedding last year. They were hot.”

  With her head shaking back and forth so fast it was a wonder she didn’t get whiplash, her disgruntled parent shoved a dish of eggplant parmigiana at her own mother. “We are not having this conversation.”

  “Doesn’t this Lucas work for you, Mason?” her dad asked.

  Her cousin’s fiancé nodded. “Yes, for almost three weeks now. He’s been a huge help, picking up some of Keiffer’s tasks.”

  Keiffer.

  No one had brought Mason’s youngest brother’s name up in a while. The poor man hadn’t been the same since his childhood friend’s suicide back in March. He’d found the body, and it had changed him both physically and mentally. By the middle of the summer, he was no longer in the National Guard, and apparently, he’d had enough with the area. He’d packed up and left the state for good.

  Keiffer had dated half her graduating class, but never made a pass at her, much to her disappointment. Nico, no doubt, had something to do with it. She wasn’t ashamed to admit she would’ve welcomed Keiffer’s advances. Had secretly harbored a hope that someday the sexy soldier would open his eyes, forget about her brother’s stupid warning, and realize she was perfect for him.

  And for a brief moment at Lea’s wedding, she’d thought the tide had turned in her favor. They’d shared a few dances, then later on, a few heated kisses. But he’d suddenly stopped and pulled back, muttering it was a mistake and he was sorry, before rushing out the door.

  Of his own townhouse.

  After a few minutes, when it was obvious he wasn’t returning, she’d fixed her dress, wiped the tears from her face, slipped her shoes back on, and snuck out the back steps, praying no one had seen her.

  Thankfully, no one had, and after he’d sought her out to apologize again a few days later, she’d done her best to put the embarrassment behind her.

  “Lucas is great with our horses,” Mason said.

  Nona slapped the table. “I knew it! See, Evangelina? You need to save them.”

  Mason and Nico chuckled, and soon the mood lightened.

  A second later, the doorbell rang, and her thudding heart lodged somewhere between her collarbone and throat. She couldn’t help but feel her brother was joking about setting her up with this cowboy guardsman. But, still, he’d planted the seed in her mother’s brain, so regardless of what Nico or Lucas wanted, her mother was in matchmaking mode, and no one was safe.

  She just prayed to God Nona didn’t mention saving any more horses in front of their guests.

  Chapter Two

  Lucas Harper always thought hell was south and hot. No one ever told him hell was below freezing and up north. But he was stuck in it, in the Poconos of Pennsylvania, dealing with a new guard unit, new job, new climate…new teenage sister.

  For nearly three weeks, he tried to make it work. Tried to reach some sort of common ground with Missy. He shifted the bottle of wine in his hands and glanced sideways at the brooding sixteen year old, whose round shoulders and sullen expression gave the impression she was a prisoner heading to a penitentiary, instead of standing on the front porch awaiting the hospitality of a nice family.

  He almost hadn’t come. Almost didn’t accept the invitation from one of the guardsmen he’d met at drill earlier that month. In fact, he’d originally turned Nico down, but he’d run into the guy at the resort two days ago, and this time, when the good-natured Italian had tossed out the offer again, Lucas accepted with his sister in mind. The holidays were going to be rough on her without her dad.

  Just because his feelings toward Stan Williams simmered in the rat-bastard realm didn’t mean he’d ever share that with Missy. She’d obviously had a different relationship with the man who’d paid his mother to take him and move to Texas right after his first birthday.

  He’d never heard from the guy again. Never knew he’d had a sister. Dammit. He would’ve loved to have had…

  Didn’t matter now. He unclenched his jaw and forced his body to relax. What was done, was done.

  And what was going to happen, was going to happen.

  Like heading back to Texas.

  As soon as the New Year rang in, if things didn’t change radically, he was packing up his sister, and moving her to Harland County, Texas. He’d tried keeping her at home, keeping her life as normal as possible, but she wasn’t responding.

  Hell, she’d never even cried.

  And he knew she was hurting. Her silence and the tension tightening her shoulders spoke volumes. All he got were one-word answers in a clipped tone. But despite her unfriendly attitude, she offered no resistance in any way. It was as if she was afraid he was going to revoke guardianship and make her a ward of the state.

  God, he’d never do that. He’d never put her through what he’d endured at seventeen, when his mother had died of a massive heart attack.

  Time and again, he’d insisted she was stuck
with him, he’d never desert her, and yet, still she remained quiet and aloof.

  He was hoping that by being around people, families, she’d finally let her emotions out. Even if it was rage, at least that would be something.

  The door swung open on his second knock, and his friend greeted them with a smile.

  He nodded. “Nico, I’d like you to meet my sister, Missy.”

  “We already know each other from the pizza shop,” the guardsman said, smile widening. “Hi, Missy. Glad you could make it.” His friend stepped back to let them in.

  Lucas motioned for Missy to go first and had to hold back his shock as color actually flooded her cheeks.

  “Thank you,” she said a little breathless.

  Her lips actually turned up and warmth entered her gaze. It was as if he was seeing her for the first time. She was even more beautiful. He was going to have to buy more than one bat to keep the horny teenage boys away.

  “Everyone’s in the dining room.” Nico led them through an immaculate, pale green living room with built-ins filled with knick-knacks, photos of Italy on the walls, and spotless, cream colored furniture.

  Eclectic, but neat and clean, it bespoke of a family full of life.

  Envy sliced through his gut. He pushed it aside and followed his host and sister toward the laughter coming from the back of the house. Life with his mother had been simple but happy. No reason to have wanted anything more.

  They walked into a delicious smelling room bustling with activity as people stood and the table was cleared.

  “This is Lucas, and you already know his sister, Missy,” Nico introduced, drawing them toward the smiling crowd. “This is my mother and father.”

  Lucas stepped forward and handed the bottle of wine he brought to his hostess. “Thank you for having us, Mr. and Mrs. Martelli. I have it on good authority this goes well with chocolate.” He smiled at the approaching chocolatier. “On Jill’s authority. Hello, darlin’.” He kissed her cheek, then shook Mason’s hand, pleased to note some of the stiffness leave his sister’s shoulders at the sight of the familiar couple.

  The two had been instrumental in helping him transition into his new life, and very kind to his sister.

  “And this is Nona.” Nicco presented them with a pint-sized version of his mother, a little older, but just as bright.

  “Very nice to meet you, ma’am.” He grasped her hand and kissed her knuckles.

  “Such a nice boy.” She tugged free to pat his face. “But please, none of this ma’am business. Call me Nona.”

  He nodded. “Nona.”

  “Or darlin’.” The older woman winked.

  He chuckled. “Absolutely, darlin’.”

  She giggled and clapped her hands. “Yes, from now on, you can call me darlin’. Not Nona”

  “Doesn’t Nona mean grandma?” Missy asked, confusion clouding her gaze.

  “Yes, it does, angel. Everyone calls me that.” The older woman grasped Missy’s hand and smiled. “I hope you will, too. I don’t mind.”

  He watched his sister nod, but her gaze was full of caution.

  “And this is Evie, my sister,” Nico said.

  The man drew another small woman close, but…damn, this one had a big impact. Her beauty knocked Lucas off kilter.

  The guys at the armory had warned him Nico’s sister was smokin’ hot, but off limits. Which was fine with him. He’d been around plenty of gorgeous women and had no issues resisting their charms. Hell, just this weekend alone, he’d been propositioned three times by out of town guests looking for a no-strings romp, and he’d turned them all down.

  Had it happened a few months ago, he would’ve taken them up on it…at the same time. But, that was the old Harper. Not the new Lucas. No. He was here for his sister. No one else.

  But…son-of-a-bitch…Evie was stunning.

  Her dark blonde hair glistened gold under the lights, and warm brown eyes resembled one of his favorite desserts—melted caramel. And her lips…damn, they were full and kissable, and curved into a beautiful smile that took his breath.

  “Hello, Missy. It’s nice to see you again.” The woman shook his sister’s hand, then fully faced him. “Nice to meet you, Lucas.”

  Operating on automatic, he grasped her hand and brushed his lips across her fingers, noting color flooded her cheeks at the same time a shaft of heat rushed through his veins.

  What the hell?

  Over the years, he’d kissed countless women’s hands, of all ages, and he’d never felt what he could only describe as a spark that had just passed between him and the blinking beauty as she muttered something about five o’clock and shadows. He was losing it. The woman was definitely playing with his mind. Maybe it was because she’d called him Lucas. Yeah. That had to be it. He was used to people addressing him as Harper back in Texas.

  But this was a new town. New chapter in his life. Seemed only fitting to go by his first name. It was just…different hearing it fall from an attractive woman’s lips.

  You don’t have that reaction when Jill or Missy say it, his mind countered.

  True.

  But he was unwilling to dissect his reaction to Evie. The last thing he needed was a woman in his life. He had to concentrate on his sister. She was hurting, and needed him. No time for distractions, no matter how gorgeous or curvy.

  “Nice to meet you, too, Evie,” he said, finally releasing her hand.

  “Why doesn’t everyone sit down while Evie and Jill get the desserts?” Mrs. Martelli suggested.

  He hid a smile when his sister took the chair next to Nico, which forced him to sit on her other side. The way she blushed and stared at the guy was actually sweet, mainly because he knew Nico would never do anything about his sister’s crush. Not only because he was twice her age, but because of the unspoken rule about guys and their sisters.

  Even though his friend hadn’t warned him off Evie yet. It was only a matter of time. And not warranted, because he wasn’t…

  Ah, hell.

  He should’ve sat on the other side of the table so he couldn’t see the woman moving around in the kitchen.

  Now he was noticing things he shouldn’t. Like her figure.

  Damn.

  Sweaters and jeans were made for women like her. Curvy. Sure she was stacked, but the size of her chest was balanced out by the sweet swell of her hips. Perfect.

  His body tightened in appreciation.

  While Jill and Mrs. Martelli passed out coffee, espresso, and cappuccino, Evie passed out dessert. She set a dish in front of him, and when he turned to thank her, heaven help him, he got a facefull of her delectables. He sucked in a breath.

  Son-of-a-bitch, the woman even smells good.

  Delicious, actually. Now, he was hungry and hard.

  When she took the only vacant seat—next to him—he silently cursed his string of luck. Great. He was going to have to act like he was unaffected by the brush of her soft curves and smell of her sweet perfume.

  “So, Missy, what grade are you in?” their hostess asked.

  His sister stiffened at his side. “Tenth.”

  “Are you in any sports?”

  “No.”

  “Cheerleading?”

  Again, his sister shook her head, appearing more and more dejected. That about killed him. He wished he knew more about her so he could offer something, but she pretty much stayed cooped up in her room at home, even eating up there. No matter what he did to try and spend time with her, she always retreated to her room. Because he knew she needed space and time to adjust to losing her father one month and gaining him the next, he let her be.

  But, there was one thing he could offer the conversation.

  “She has good grades, and I’m betting she has a good shot at being inducted into the Honor Society in the spring.” If they stayed in the Poconos.

  Missy’s head snapped in his direction and surprise washed over her face.

  He smiled at her. “Your report card is on the front of the fridge.
All A’s and one B is pretty fantastic. I had mostly C’s with an occasional B at your age.”

  She shrugged, but some of the tension had disappeared from her body.

  “Yeah, that is real good,” Nico said, and suddenly Missy was smiling.

  He knew he should be happy she wasn’t angry or sad, but dammit, he’d been working hard to put that expression on her face with no luck. All his friend had to do was look at her and say something nice.

  “She’s brutal at video games,” Mason said. “Ethan made the mistake of challenging her to one of Tyler’s puzzle games and she kicked his…butt.”

  Everyone laughed, even Missy. “In his defense, it was the first time he’d played.”

  “Okay, but what about the first shooter RPG? Or the car game?” Mason grinned. “Ethan told me you kicked his butt in those, too.”

  His sister’s smile increased, and for a moment, she looked genuinely happy. “I like cars.”

  “Me, too.” Nico grinned. “Do you have your learners permit or a license?”

  Her smile instantly disappeared. “No. My dad didn’t want me to drive. He said it would interfere with my studies.”

  Bullshit.

  Anger shot through Lucas so fast he shoved a cannoli in his mouth before his tongue had a chance to say what he thought. There were steps that could be taken to avoid that outcome.

  “It can, but not if you don’t let it,” Evie said quietly.

  Bless her. He appreciated the kindness he heard in her tone.

  Missy nodded. “That’s what I told him. But he still said no.”

  Lucas knew he should probably wait until they were home alone…before she disappeared to her room, but he grabbed his sister’s hand and waited until she met his gaze. “If you really want to learn how to drive, I’ll teach you.”

  Her blue eyes widened. “You will?”

  “Yes. Absolutely.”

  A sweet smile curved her lips, and her face lit up from the inside. “Thank you. I promise I’ll keep my grades up.”

  The urge to pull her in tight for a hug was strong, and unexpected. He wasn’t a hugger. But, it was too much too soon for them both, so he refrained, and a second later, she tugged her hand free.