Forever My Girl

by Heatherly Bell

  Text copyright ©2017 by the Author.

  This work was made possible by a special license through the Kindle Worlds publishing program and has not necessarily been reviewed by Marina Adair. All characters, scenes, events, plots and related elements appearing in the original St. Helena Vineyard Series remain the exclusive copyrighted and/or trademarked property of Marina Adair, or their affiliates or licensors.

  For more information on Kindle Worlds: http://www.amazon.com/kindleworlds

  Dear Reader,

  Welcome to the St. Helena Vineyard’s Kindle World, where romance is waiting to be uncorked and authors from around the globe are invited to share their own stories of love and happily ever after. Set in the heart of wine country, this quaint town and its cast of quirky characters were the inspiration behind my St Helena Vineyard series, and the Hallmark Channel movie, AUTUMN IN THE VINEYARD. I want to thank these incredible authors for spending time in St. Helena, and all of you readers who are adventurous enough to take the journey with us.

  I hope you enjoy your time here as much as we have.

  Warmly,

  Marina Adair

  DEDICATION

  For Heatherly’s True Blue Belles, with special thanks to Jen Williams, Laura Watson, Lisa Biondolillo, and Kristie Jae Maynard. Thank you for the use of your names.

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  Dear Reader

  DEDICATION

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  ALSO BY HEATHERLY BELL

  Chapter 1

  “Thank you for your purchase and please come again!”

  Before handing over the Boulder Holder shopping bag, Mallory “Baby” Gilham stuck a couple of the Come Again Condoms in it that the shop’s owner, Clovis Owens, passed out for swag.

  Mrs. Garcia winked. “Those are my favorites.”

  Mrs. Garcia was eighty if she was a day, but she was a regular at the Boulder Holder. A widow, she was one of the senior citizens who took pole-dancing lessons from Mallory on Tuesday evenings.

  Mallory winked back. “Mine too.”

  “I’ll see you Tuesday, Baby.”

  Mallory smiled and wished for the eleventh millionth time that the residents of St. Helena would stop calling her “Baby.” It was getting ancient.

  But hey, give a guy a private lingerie show after hours and all of a sudden everyone’s talking about you. Again. This time, Mallory had learned her lesson. A few months ago, she’d been summarily fired from her closing manager position at the Boulder Holder by Harper Owens, Clovis’ niece. But because both Harper and Clovis should be canonized, they’d immediately found Mallory another position teaching dance to the seniors citizens at the Tap and Barre School of Dance owned by Sara DeLuca.

  Of The DeLucas.

  They were everywhere in this town. Mallory absolutely adored the quaint little vineyard town of St. Helena, but she sincerely wished there were far less DeLucas around. Every time she went anywhere for any reason: DeLuca. At the market: DeLuca. Napa Grand Hotel: DeLuca. Sweet and Savory Bistro: oh hey, it’s a DeLuca. It was as though they were multiplying. Sara was nice, sure, and technically only a DeLuca by marriage.

  When she’d landed in St. Helena six months ago, she’d been running hard from a past that she wanted to see in her rear view mirror. It wasn’t supposed to be permanent. Just a temporary stop on the way to her new life. But then Harper and Clovis had taken her in, had forgiven her for a bad choice. No one had ever done that for her before. The residents of St. Helena, most of them, were good-hearted people that had taken this wayward Texan in. Most of them.

  But after the fiasco with Adam and The Lingerie Incident, too many other residents had definite ‘opinions’ about Mallory for that slip-up. After all, Adam was a favorite son, and Mallory was…well, Baby. A co-ed from Dallas with a double major in dance and microbrewing. She figured she had a long road ahead, but eventually she would convince the people of St. Helena that she was not a homewrecker. Also, that she had absolutely zero interest in any of the very married, soon-to-be-married, or single, Baudouins or DeLucas.

  Mallory was finally back at the Boulder Holder and taking full advantage of her employee discount. Clovis needed the extra help because Harper now lived in Colorado Springs with her boyfriend Adam Baudouin, who would be training for six months with a special operations wildland firefighting team. Harper had become a good friend, and Mallory was happy to help.

  The shop was empty now, so Mallory busied herself with organizing the Fanny Wrappers display and folding some cheeky boy-shorts. Tonight, her Friday plans involved a date with Netflix. She’d cuddle up with Sugar, the white cockapoo pup she’d adopted from Shay last month, and binge watch The Crown. Sugar loved all the bling, and she yipped every single time Winston Churchill appeared on screen. Sugar had excellent taste in bling and British Prime Ministers. Mallory had made a good decision when she’d adopted her. Because she, Mallory Gilham, was the “forever home” for Sugar. When she’d adopted her from St. Paws Animal Rescue, it gave her hope that if she could give a pet a forever home, maybe someday there would be a forever home for her, too.

  The doorbell chimed that a new customer had walked in, so Mallory looked up from her folding and pasted on a smile. “Welcome to the Boulder Holder!”

  “Shhhh!”

  Oh hell no, he did not just shush her!

  The customer was a man, which was rare enough at the shop. Occasionally, Jonah Baudouin came in to surprise Shay with some of her favorite Parisian Peek A Boos. But she’d never had a man come in here, of all places, to hide. The current gentleman, and she used the term loosely, had his rather large body shoved behind a rack of the banana hammocks. He kept staring at the entrance to the storefront, and after a few minutes crouched lower, practically in full-on recon mode.

  A soldier. Mallory would bet her life on it. Not only was his hair cut military short, but he was built like a running back. Broad shoulders, long legs, and um…a very great backside. Mallory joined him by the banana hammocks. She picked one up, a green camouflage pattern he might appreciate, and held it up for him.

  “No need to be shy. We here at Boulder Holder do not judge. Is this what you want?”

  “Looks like I lost her. Didn’t think anyone would come looking for me in here.” Then he turned and his chocolate brown eyes took her in. As if he’d just noticed her.

  “Are you in trouble? Or are you seriously too shy to buy the banana hammock?”

  His eyes narrowed. “The banana what?”

  “This. Ladies love them. A chance to display your…um, wares.” And by the looks of him, he had nothing to be ashamed of when it came to his wares.

  He recoiled. “Are you out of your mind?”

  She set it back on the rack. “Well, they’re not radioactive.”

  “You mean to tell me men actually wear that shit? And the women…like it?”

  “Some women.” She tilted her chin up. And up, just to try to meet his eyes.

  He was large and a little bit intimidating, which made her take a step back. And then another one. Upon closer inspection, that military cut showed signs of growing out, and his dark brown hair curled slightly around his ears. He was scruffy, too, with that day’s worth of stubble that drove most women batshit crazy. He stared at the rack of banana hammocks like they might bite him. She wasn’t all that crazy about them herself, but Clovis wouldn’t carry them here if they weren’t selling.

  “You don’t want the banana hammock. So what do you want?”

  “Nothing. You’ve been a great help. Tha
nks for letting me hide in here.” He turned, and he and that great ass began to make their way to the front door.

  “Uh-uh,” Mallory said, twitching her finger. “I know you do not think you can come in here, hide among the panties, and then just expect to walk right out of here. At the least I deserve an explanation. But it would also be nice if you bought something.”

  “Seriously? It’s a free country, and I don’t have to rent space to stop in here for two minutes.”

  She went hands on hips. “Then an explanation! How do I know you didn’t just rob a bank or something? What if I’ve been harboring a fugitive?”

  At this, his lips tipped up in a smile, and holy beejebuz what a smile. Mallory went a little limp inside. She’d always had a thing for Tall, Dark, and Difficult.

  “I was hiding from my cousin.”

  “Okay. Why?”

  “She thinks I want a phone number.”

  “Wouldn’t it be easier to tell her you don’t need the phone number?”

  “You would think so, wouldn’t you?”

  “So…why don’t you just tell her that?”

  “Because if I do tell her I don’t want the phone number of the woman she wants to fix me up with, then she’ll tell my aunt. Who will call my mother. They’ll get together and conspire as to how to ruin my life…or in other words, marry me off. Then my mother would call me and ask whether I enjoy having her picture me dying alone. Oh, and don’t forget childless. I’d calm my mother down, and then have to go kill a DeLuca. And that wouldn’t be good.”

  “A DeLuca?”

  “I’m David,” he said with a slow smile. “David DeLuca.”

  Of course he would have to be a DeLuca. They were everywhere, falling from the vines like low hanging fruit.

  “And you are?”

  “Ba—Mallory. Mallory Gilham.”

  David DeLuca.

  Yes, she’d heard of him. Who in St. Helena hadn’t? David DeLuca, according to Clovis, was in St. Helena for a little much needed R&R. He was one of the Colorado DeLucas. They were spreading across the USA. His father had married a non-Italian and lived to tell it. David was one of four boys, each one wilder than the previous one. He was an Army Ranger and the youngest. No surprise there. She had before her yet another DeLuca. This one devastatingly handsome, sexy, and annoying. This was unfortunately her very favorite combination.

  But he was complaining about a family who cared for him so much that they’d sent for him, treated him to an all expense two week vacation in paradise. She should have such problems. Giving up, Mallory went behind the register. She would not be making a sale today. But instead of leaving, David followed her to the counter, stuck hands in his pockets, and rocked back on his heels.

  “That’s it, Bamallory? You’re just going to let me go without buying something?”

  “No, just…Mallory. You’re a DeLuca and I don’t mess with DeLucas.” With a hand, she shooed him out. “You can go now.”

  “Getting rid of me?” He picked up a Come Again condom from the basket, quirked a brow, then met her gaze and gave her a slow, easy smile. “Ribbed for the lady’s pleasure. Yeah.”

  She slapped it out of his hand. “You can’t have that. It’s swag for the paying customers.”

  His gaze swept the store. “Do you have extra large?”

  “Of course we do. This wouldn’t be a vintage shop for the curvy woman if we didn’t have extra-large.”

  “I meant in the condoms.” He met her eyes.

  Oh, snap.

  “Of c-course we do.” She sifted through the basket and tried to pretend she talked to men every day about their condom size. “Then you’re buying something?”

  “You didn’t say a condom was part of the deal. Don’t bury the lead, my big brother always says. He’s a reporter.”

  Sexy and Annoying was quickly becoming just plain annoying. He was trying to embarrass her. Tease her.

  “What are you going to buy? A banana hammock? We don’t have any other underwear here for men at the moment. Unless there’s a special lady, but you made it sound like there isn’t.”

  “She doesn’t have to be special. Give me something you like.”

  “That won’t work. I have to know her size.”

  “What about your size? You look about right.” He cocked his head slightly and his gaze swept up her body.

  Well, the man had really accomplished his goal because now he had her flushed and flustered. Not to mention hot and bothered. She picked up a pair of the honeysuckle cheeky boy shorts she’d been folding in size medium, and rang it up quickly to get him out of here. She threw in an extra-large condom.

  “Thank you for shopping with us. Please come…I mean, see you later.”

  “Thanks,” David said, holding up the bag. “Never know when this will come in handy. Saves me a trip.”

  She would have wished him luck, but the guy wouldn’t need any.

  Chapter 2

  The sunset over the California horizon burst in front of David, a splash of orange and red. He stood on the courtyard patio overlooking his cousin Nate DeLuca’s vineyard. Quiet. Calm. In this moment, he believed that the mini-vacation in St. Helena could be the one thing to make him feel human again. After two deployments in a row, and his required four years, his contract with the United States Army was over. Now, he only needed to decide if he’d extend his contract and re-up. He’d been close to signing away another four years when his mother had begged him to take a couple of weeks in wine country and get his head screwed on straight.

  In a way, she’d been right. There hadn’t been as many cars backfiring here in wine country, making him jump. Slowly, he’d been coming down from his high alert levels every time a stranger approached. He’d gotten to the point where he didn’t scan his surroundings every minute of every day. But truthfully, he’d been roped into this visit. Could have found plenty of trouble to get into in his Colorado hometown to chew up the time. Even in late summer, though he much preferred the winters, where he could take up his previous occupation of full time ski bum.

  He also had one other option to consider. His childhood buddy Quinn wanted him to go into the ski resort business with him in Colorado.

  Nate joined him, handing him a goblet of wine filled with some of the red stuff. David wouldn’t know a Sauvignon from a Merlot from a grape.

  He held up his glass in a toast to his cousin. “You’re a lucky man, Nate.”

  “Frankie tells me that every day.”

  “Well, yeah.” David’s hand swept the view in front of him. “I meant this. But her, too.”

  “Yeah, sure. “ Nate chuckled.

  “Hey, marriage looks good on you. I mean it.”

  “Thanks.” Nate leaned against the balcony. “But it’s not for everybody, I get it.”

  “You’re the only one who does.”

  “The ladies are having their fun. It isn’t often they get a single DeLuca male around these parts. You’re sort of fresh meat.”

  “Yeah, well, a woman would be nice. But I’m not looking for forever. And I’m thinking this is not the place for temporary. Catch my drift?”

  “Yep. I hear you loud and clear, cuz.”

  “They’re not going to stop until I have a date to Founder’s Day. Frankie gave me a phone number, too.”

  “She doesn’t want to be the odd one out. And honestly? Let’s not make this into a contest, or Frankie won’t stop until she wins.” Nate took a sip of wine. “Who have they tried to fix you up with so far?”

  “Jen Williams, for one. Lexi gave me her phone number. Said she’s very sweet and very available.”

  Nate groaned. “She’s sweet, but what is she? Nineteen?”

  “Jesus!”

  “Who else you got?”

  “Laura Watson. That’s the number Frankie gave me.”

  “Ah, well. Not to sound like I’m playing favorites, but she is definitely over eighteen. And very pretty.”

  “The point is I’m not looking.”r />
  And if he were looking, he’d be interested in one Mallory Gilham. She’d hit him hard today with the feminine curves and the ribbed condoms. One look at her diligently searching for his size, serious as a heart attack about it, and he already knew who he wanted to use it on. Not that he would because she was…vulnerable. He saw it clear as a bell in her hesitancy when he’d first locked gazes with hers. She’d backed up two steps. Fear. And if it was easy for him to recognize the signs of someone in full-on protective mode, it should come as no big shock to anyone.

  It takes one to know one.

  “I’d have a name from Regan, too, but I ducked into the Boulder Holder and she lost me.”

  Nate coughed and hit his chest. “The Boulder Holder?”

  “Who would think to look for me in there?”

  “Right again. So how is Clovis doing these days? Knee any better?”

  “Not Clovis. Her name is Mallory.”

  “Baby’s back working there, huh? Well, that’s interesting though not surprising. Clovis Owens, the owner, is a saint. Besides, she wanted Baby to be the hired sex.”

  “The what?”

  “Not literally.” Nate laughed. “She hired Baby to bring in the right clientele. She’s quite…attractive. Not that I noticed.”

  “No, of course you didn’t.” He’d defy any man with a pulse not to notice her stripper-like body. Big green eyes. Long and wavy blonde hair. His cousin Nate would have to be dead not to notice. “And why do you keep calling her Baby? Is Frankie cool with that?”

  “Everybody calls her that.”

  David squinted. “Why?”

  “I honestly don’t know. She first landed here six months ago. Used to be a cheerleader, I think. Maybe Adam started calling her that.”

  “Frankie’s brother?”

  Nate sighed. “A few months ago, before he and Harper got together, there was a little incident.”

  “What kind of incident?”

  “Dude, I don’t like gossiping. That’s a Baudouin thing, not a DeLuca thing. Feels like we’re two little old ladies now sitting in a knitting circle. Ask the women.”