Champagne and Cowboys Read online

  Champagne and Cowboys

  Donna Michaels

  Hildie McQueen

  Amanda McIntyre

  Tori Scott

  Gem Sivad

  Kathleen Ball

  Rhonda Lee Carver

  Victoria Vane

  Wine and Her New Year Cowboy

  Copyright © 2016 Donna Michaels

  New Year with You

  Copyright © 2017 Hildie McQueen

  Lost & Found

  Copyright © 2016 Amanda McIntyre

  Cowboy Masquerade

  Copyright © 2015 Tori Scott

  Cowboy Burn

  Copyright © 2017 Gem Sivad

  A Kiss at Midnight

  Copyright © 2015 Kathleen Ball

  A New Year’s Cowboy

  Copyright © 2015 Rhonda Lee Carver

  A Cowboy’s Midnight Kiss

  Copyright © 2017 Victoria Vane

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

  Kindle Edition

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  This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents and dialogue in this work are from the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual events or persons is completely coincidental.

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  Contents

  Wine and Her New Year Cowboy

  by Donna Michaels

  New Year with You

  by Hildie McQueen

  Lost & Found

  by Amanda McIntyre

  Cowboy Masquerade

  by Tori Scott

  Cowboy Burn

  by Gem Sivad

  A Kiss at Midnight

  by Kathleen Ball

  A New Year’s Cowboy

  by Rhonda Lee Carver

  A Cowboy’s Midnight Kiss

  by Victoria Vane

  Wine and Her New Year Cowboy

  by

  Donna Michaels

  Chapter One

  Going no male.

  Evie Martelli was done. She was through being a good-enough-for-now girlfriend, the one who paid the tab, smiled, and claimed she was fine when the guy decided to just be friends. Tired of getting stood up, and passed over in favor of sporting events and drinking with buddies.

  She was through with men.

  Done feeling inadequate.

  Tired of questioning her femininity.

  For a while, anyway.

  Now, if she could just convince her matchmaking mother.

  “Evangeline, you’ll like Brantly.” The smiling matriarch of the Martelli family beamed, cutting into the dish of seven-layer lasagna that was their Thanksgiving Day tradition, because every Martelli knew a meal wasn’t a meal without pasta and wine, especially on a holiday. “And his father is a doctor. Isn’t that wonderful?”

  She held back a sigh. The profession of her prospective boyfriend meant nothing to her. In fact, it made Brantly more unappealing than his name.

  Just once, it would be great to sit down at a gathering where her love life wasn’t the topic of discussion.

  Evie glanced apologetically at her cousin, Jill, and fiancé, Mason. Poor couple were subjected to this conversation every time they dropped in for a family meal. Judging by their matching sympathetic smiles, they agreed the topic was old.

  “That’s nice, Mamma, but I’m not interested.” She sipped her Zinfandel, resisting the urge to gulp down a dose of liquid encouragement—or in her case, liquid patience—and glanced at her father for support.

  Although his gaze held a measure of compassion, he shrugged and handed his plate to her mother.

  No help there.

  She shifted her attention to her brother, but the teasing gleam in Nico’s eyes and smirk on the idiot’s face warned he was about to make things worse. She narrowed her gaze and cocked her head, willing the jerk to keep his grinning mouth shut.

  “Isn’t his father a baby doctor, Mom? Maybe if Evie was his daughter-in-law, he’d give her a discount.”

  Nico’s curved lips were ripe for a bruising, and if he uttered one more word, she was going to knock him upside the head with her breadstick. Except, the parmesan crusted layers, all warm in her clenched palm, were too good to waste on her brother’s thick noggin.

  But, she wasn’t above lobbing the basket at him.

  “Yes. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?” Her mother directed a wistful stare in her direction after she finished loading her father’s plate with lasagna, manicotti, eggplant, and a helping of the turkey breast paired with balsamic vinegar, bell pepper sauce, and pistachios Evie had brought over. “According to Mrs. Lombardi, he’s quite a good one, too. He delivered all three of her grandchildren.”

  “Ah, bambinos,” Nona spoke up, seated on the other side of her son-in-law. “It’s been years since these walls heard the wailing of a hungry little tummy, or harbored the stench of a loaded diaper.”

  Per carita. Her idiot brother just opened the grandchildren debate. Now their grandmother was getting in on it. But it still didn’t matter.

  She lifted her chin and held her mother’s melancholy stare. The short, dark, wavy hair framing the sad face concealed her age. And it wasn’t from a bottle. No. The lack of gray was from fear. The silver strands were, no doubt, too damn afraid to invade the tiny yet formidable sixty-one-year old’s head.

  “Well, it’s going to be a lot longer,” Evie finally said. “Unless Nico decides to quit playing the field and settle down to produce an heir to carry on the Martelli name.”

  Nona nodded. “Your sister’s right, Nicodemo. You’ve sowed enough oats to put all the feed stores in the northeast out of business. Time you married a nice Italian girl and settled down to fill the house with bambinos.”

  As her brother’s grin turned into a scowl, the breadstick made it to Evie’s mouth and…mamma mia, the garlic/parmesan dough tasted extra delicious.

  Not so smug with the boot on the other foot. The first responder might be a great fireman and National Guardsman, but there were times when he was a pain-in-the-ass as a brother. Although, he was damn good for business.

  At least once a week, his fan base hung around Martelli’s Pizza Bar and Grille, filling up booths, sipping wine, ordering more and more as they drooled over her brother’s flexing muscles while he tossed pizza dough behind the counter. The restaurant was always in the black on the days her brother worked.

  Even she stopped in if he worked on her days off. Not to drool; no, she left that up to the two friends she met every Wednesday afternoon for pizza and breadsticks. While Faith and Jenna gawked, Evie enjoyed her brother waiting on her for a change.

  “Sorry, Nona, those bambinos will have to come from Evie.” The smug bugger motioned to her with a nod. “She’s the one who wants to settle down.”

  True. After attending Brandi’s wedding last year, and Lea’s this past summer, she wanted what her two high school friends had found. A good man who supported and adored his wife.

  Was that too much to ask?

  Apparently.

  The only men she
attracted either neglected or cheated. Hence, her early New Year’s resolution to go no male for a bit. That, and the fact her mother kept throwing perspective grooms at her. She was trying her best to duck this one.

  “All the more reason for her to give Brantly a try.” The woman huffed, slapping lasagna on Nona’s plate, before reaching for another dish. “He could be the one. You never know. Sometimes they show up when you least expect it, isn’t that right Jill?”

  Color flooded her cousin’s pretty face as her loving gaze drifted to her fiancé. “True. The last thing I wanted after regaining my freedom was a relationship, but then Mason came along, and I fell hard.”

  No one had realized how much the kind chocolate maker had suffered in her first marriage, until she finally left her abusive husband and reached out to the family for help. Within an hour, Evie had been on her way to New York City with her dad and brother to fetch Jill.

  That was two years ago.

  Now, her cousin had a sexy, faithful fiancé, and a successful chocolate making business, with two shops, one on Main Street, the other in the Wyne Resort that attracted year round outdoor enthusiasts.

  “I fell right along with you.” Mason grasped his fiancée’s hand, his gaze as warm as his words.

  That was what Evie wanted. Someone to look at her like he couldn’t survive without touching her. Like he was happiest when he was with her. The most she’d gotten was a squeeze before the guy belched in her face, or the “let’s be friends” speech.

  Probably because she didn’t put out as easily as some women. Took a lot more than two dates to get her in bed. Mostly, because she wasn’t comfortable with them seeing her naked. She wasn’t exactly the skinniest chick on the block. Not even close.

  Hello.

  She was vertically challenged.

  Italian.

  And made pizza and breadsticks for a living.

  She had curves. Had them early. While Faith, Jenna, Lea, and Brandi had been in training bras, she’d been sporting a C-cup. Now, she was a full DD, and although she wasn’t blind to the appraisal men gave her, she wasn’t comfortable with using the girls to get a date. That wasn’t her style.

  Nor was she looking for just sex. She wanted more, so she did her best to wear clothes that covered her cleavage.

  “And we’re glad you did.” Her mom swiped a tear from her face and grabbed another plate.

  It took Evie a moment to realize her mother was responding to the happy couple and not her plight of hoping a guy would happen by and notice her eyes for a change. Or her smile. Something—anything—other than her curves.

  “You two deserve to be happy.” Nona patted Jill’s other hand. “Have you set a date yet?”

  “No,” her cousin replied, her gaze drifting back to Mason. “Not yet.”

  Nico passed her a loaded plate. “Any tips for Evie? She’s looking for a happily-ever-after.”

  “You’re right.” She waived her half-eaten breadstick at his grinning face. “I would like that, but so far, my soulmate seems to be on vacation.”

  Her mother muttered something Italian under her breath. “That’s why I’m trying to help you out. Give Brantly a chance.”

  “No, Mamma. I appreciate it, but I’d rather find my own husband.” She shook her breadstick at her brother again. “And thanks to you warning your guard buddies to steer clear of me, you’ve eliminated half the county.”

  An exaggeration, but close enough to the truth to have her brother nodding.

  “Most aren’t good enough for you.”

  “Aww…” She leaned close to kiss his cheek. “Why’d you have to ruin the momentum of our conversation by being sweet?”

  He grinned. “Come on. I’m a sweet guy.”

  Snickers and groans went around the table.

  “What?” Nico slapped a hand over his heart and winced. “I am. I’m sweet and lovable.”

  “And full of the bullshit.” Nona shook her head.

  “Not true. I’m so sweet I invited a guy over here for dessert who is perfect for Evie.”

  She stilled, and the delicious sip of wine soured before it hit her stomach. “You what?”

  Her mother’s face lit up. “Oh? Is that why you invited him and his sister? I thought it was because he was new in town.”

  “Well, that, too, but I know he and Evie will hit it off.”

  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 i
n 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.