"I don't hold it against you. And you're my mom-of-the-year. You're my glamorous mother. A little bit selfish, always fabulous and I wouldn't have you any other way," Wyatt said.
She hugged him and he was engulfed in a wave of Guerlain Black Dress perfume. She was tiny when he hugged her and it occurred to him that he'd always thought of both of his parents as bigger than life because of their strong personalities but now Boots was dead and his tiny mom felt almost fragile in his arms.
"Okay, now that we've sorted all that out," she said. "Are you interested in that woman? I didn't get a good look at the one you were making out with but was that Juliette Rossi?"
"Mom, no. We are so not going there. The last thing in the world I want to do is talk to you about a woman. You and I are good. I love you," he said, kissing her on the top of the head before walking away.
"If you change your mind, I'm here," she said.
He just nodded and kept on walking. As he re-entered the ballroom. He scanned the room trying to play it cool but he knew he was hoping Juliette wasn't on the dance floor with another man.
The old boot factory would be sold to the Lavender Dream company. And then … he wouldn't really have to do much with Juliette again. She'd be just another person in a their medium sized town …
Was his subconscious really working that hard to find some justification to spend the night with her? Damn. Maybe that meant he should avoid her. One night was his policy for a reason. He didn't want to leave behind a trail of broken hearts like his father had. It wasn't that he thought he was so irresistible to the ladies, but he did okay with them. Which was why he'd always kept it light.
Until …
Juliette.
He heard the sound of her laughter and noticed she was standing with the woman who'd come back from Paris with her. Both of them were beautiful and for tonight's gala all of Whiskey River shown. Like the moon reflecting off the tributary of Pedernales as the current drove it through the middle of their town.
His life was complicated. He didn't have time to get involved with a woman at least until the year was up and he could be back in his own place.
But moonlight kisses and yearly galas weren't for relationships. They were for cutting loose and going after what he wanted.
And he wanted Juliette.
There was no denying it.
She looked over at him, gave him that heated look he'd glimpsed earlier when he kissed her.
To hell with it.
No more debates or second-guessing. He started over toward her, bumping into Britt Henderson. She'd gone to high school here in Whiskey River but had gone on to become a celebrity blogger. She had her own talk show and millions of rabid fans that hung on her every bit of advice on what to wear, what to and where to travel.
"Wyatt, babe, it's good to see you?" Britt said leaning in to brush a kiss across his cheek.
"And you. Thanks for featuring Kelly Boots in your column last month," he said.
He'd never been interested in the tall blonde nor she him. She had trailed after Trey a bit but that had never panned out. She'd always been focused on getting out of Whiskey River and Wyatt had to say she'd done that in a big way.
"You're very welcome. This gala is fab as always. I heard a rumor about your two new brothers … "
"I'm not about to discuss it, but Nicholas might chat with you about it." Wyatt figured a man-eater like Britt would be easy enough for Nicholas to handle. Plus it was about time the Blues started to see the downside of being the most famous sons of Whiskey River. All the people who thought they owned the right to know all about their family.
"Nicholas Blue?" she asked.
"Yup," Wyatt said. "He's over at the bar."
He pointed toward Nicholas and then gave Britt a nudge toward him.
He turned to find Juliette, but she was gone. Maybe it was better, he thought. He really didn't have time for romance.
"We have to present the winner's boots, and as you're the CEO I thought you might want to be up on stage. Also mom is looking for you. She wants both of us up there when she announces the total that was raised from the silent auction."
"Okay. Let's find Nicholas and Xander. We should all be up there," Wyatt said. Taking out his phone he texted his brothers to meet them in the ballroom.
"We need to talk to Nicholas. He's flirting with all the daughters of Mom's bridge group friends. I think it's a little bit funny, but I doubt she will," Trey said.
"Hell. She's already got a bee in her bonnet where the Blues are concerned," Wyatt said. "Where is he?"
"Last I saw him he was out by the corral telling Mimi how anyone could ride horses but it took a real man to ride a bull-"
"Hey, that's my line, Trey. 'Sides I thought you were a horse man," Nicholas said. "You boys were right about the tux. I can't keep the women away dressed like this. I might have to start wearing one more often."
Nicholas snagged a margarita off the tray of a passing waiter and flashed them a smile that reminded Wyatt of their father. Wyatt had high-carded Nicholas to get him to wear a tux. Something the other man had been dead set against.
"You might not live beyond tonight if you keep going after the daughters of Paloma's bridge group."
"Hey, that's not my fault. Those ladies are all over me. You saw them, Wyatt," Nicholas said.
Wyatt rolled his eyes. "Just be careful. You don't want any trouble that will come back to bite you later."
"True 'dat. I got a text saying I was needed. Where is Xander?"
"Right here, bro. This party is … off the hook. I can't believe I didn't want to come," Xander said.
Nicholas fist bumped his brother and Trey started laughing. "See there are a few good things about being Boots's sons."
"I'll give you that. So what's up?" Xander said. "You needed us."
"Yes," Wyatt said. "It's presentation time. Each year we auction off a pair of custom made boots. Dad used to announce the winner but Trey and I thought we could all do it this year. Then our mother will announce how much was raised and we'll tell everyone to grab a gift bag on the way out and come back next year."
"So what do you want us to do?" Nicholas asked. "I'm guessing stand there and look pretty. Lord, knows I can do that."
"Damn, man, one day soon you are going to get knocked on your ass," Wyatt said. "I just hope I'm there to see it."
"Lots have tried," Nicholas said with a wink.
"Okay, enough, let's get this over with. I have plans for the evening and it doesn't include standing around joshing with you boys," Trey said.
"I bet it involves a beautiful lavender farm owner," Xander said.
Nicholas joined in ribbing Trey and Wyatt realized that they were becoming brothers in the real sense of the word. He'd never admit it out loud but Boots had been on to something when he'd insisted they all live together at the ranch house.
"Let's go," Wyatt said.
They moved toward the stage and Wyatt signalled the dee-jay that they were ready to take the stage. Emma Belding who was the hostess for the evening led them up on stage. She was a local girl who now did the evening news in San Antonio.
Wyatt announced the winner of the boots, photos were taken and his mother gave him a very disappointed look but was gracious to Nicholas and Xander. Even posing for a picture with all four of them.
Wyatt wasn't really interested in family or tradition at this point. He couldn't stop thinking about Juliette and the one kiss they'd shared. He wanted more.
Chapter Three
‡
Juliette had walked out of the ballroom while Wyatt had been up on the stage. Her intent was to leave but the late March air had been crisp and the wind had blown around her stirring her. Making Juliette wish she were someone else instead of her the same old boring Juliette. The woman who was going to run away to avoid having her heart broken.
She wasn't dumb. She'd spent the entire evening in that man's arms dancing, flirting and in general acting like she was his for his taking. But was she?
Most people saw a woman focused on business but the truth was, no man had ever really wanted her. Fought for her. Her focus was on business because it was safer. Not a chance of being hurt the way her mom had been when her father had left.
Father.
The word was almost meaningless to her. The man who'd sired her had been gone before she was born. And she'd never heard from him.
Her mother had told her that she didn't know who her father was. That the name he'd given her must have been a lie because she'd never been able to find him. Juliette had tried searching as well but it was true. No matter where she looked there was no man who matched her father's description.
She thought she was smarter than that, but the truth was sometimes she got a wild hair and felt like she could take on the world and have everything she wanted.