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1
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Everything Drake Vargas thought he knew about his life was a lie. His parents weren’t really his parents. His brothers weren’t really his brothers. Only Devon was. His other brothers were really his cousins.
His stomach roiled as if someone had sucker punched him in the gut. His lungs tightened, and he yanked the drawer of his nightstand open, digging around until he found the L-shaped inhaler. As he sat up, he placed it in his mouth and dispensed the medicine before he tossed it back in the drawer. He slammed it shut and rested his hands on his thighs as he waited for his lungs to loosen. Air filled them again.
If he had been twelve, he would have hid in the barn and cried.
But he wasn’t twelve. He was twenty-three. A man. One with responsibilities that demanded his attention regardless of the searing pain in his soul.
Other cowboys stirred in the still dark bunkhouse. Ha. He wasn’t even really a cowboy. Just some stupid barista in his family’s coffee shop on his family’s guest ranch and resort.
So many things vied for his attention as he stomped into the shower stall. The hot water rained down on his back as steam filled the tiny space. He propped one hand against the wall and bowed his head as his eyes burned. Temptation curled around his heart. It’d be so easy to give in and cry. He wanted to. Maybe it would help soothe his aching heart.
The last thing Drake needed was for the other cowboys to catch him crying or see his reddened eyes. Sometimes he hated being the soft-hearted youngest of five brothers.
Wrong! Youngest of two. The thought made his stomach churn.
He rubbed a hand over his face. Then he scrubbed body wash over his chest.
Thanksgiving Day had been a disaster. Had it really only been yesterday?
In the middle of a proposal gone awry, his brother Devon let it slip that his and Drake’s parents had died. Their father, Devon Sr., had been killed in action in Afghanistan. Their mother? Died bringing Drake into the world.
Had the news not torn him to shreds, he would have talked to Devon to make sure he was alright after breaking up with his girlfriend instead of proposing. Probably would have been the first to try to convince him he was being an idiot. Just cause Raina couldn’t bear children didn’t mean Dev should walk away.
But Drake held back, too furious that Devon kept the secret about his parents for five months. As far as Drake was concerned, Dev betrayed him.
Worse yet, Drake heard the words Devon did not say. Drake’s birth killed his mother. As if finding out everything he’d ever known was a lie, learning his mother died giving birth to him—the weak, asthmatic Vargas—it still ached deep in his soul.
Mami—or Aunt Catalina. What should he call her now? She’d always been his mamacita. She’d always taken care of him. Coddled him because of his asthma. Should he keep calling her Mami? Act like she still was?
And Papi? What about the man who raised him? Dalton J. Vargas, the third, “Tres,” was really his uncle. His birth father’s older brother. Yet Drake had only known him as Papi.
His oldest three brothers were really his cousins. Dalton, Dylan, and Derin.
Devon? Drake slammed his palm against the tile and growled loudly. How had he carried the secret for months—never once telling him the truth? Devon was his only true brother. It was the two of them left to carry on their parents’ legacy. The parents they had never known.
“Drake?” Devon’s voice came from outside the shower stall. “You okay?”
Drake grabbed his towel and wrapped it around his waist before he scraped the shower curtain aside.
“No! What do you care?”
Then he shoved past his brother. A hand clamped around his slick biceps. He jerked his arm, loosening his brother’s hold.
“Hey. Let’s talk about it.”
Drake whirled around, lungs squeezing tight. He closed his eyes and gripped the closest wall until air filled his lungs again. Through gritted teeth, he replied, “I gotta go open the coffee shop.”
Then he stormed back to his bunk, toweled off, and dressed for his day. As he stalked out of the building, he noticed Devon’s concern. Didn’t matter. He’d marry Raina as soon as he stopped being an idiot. Then Drake would be alone.
As he slammed his truck door shut, he yelled at the top of his lungs, gripping the steering wheel until his knuckles turned white. None of it was fair. Rage warred with sorrow. Sorrow for losing parents he’d never known.
The worst part of it all? Christmas was right around the corner. For the first time in his life, Drake dreaded the holidays and the good cheer that usually came with it. He felt like a grinch and he was almost ready to steal Christmas—his formerly favorite holiday.
He jerked the shifter into Reverse and spun his wheels in the gravel before jamming it into Drive. In a few minutes, he pulled into his parking space behind the dining hall.
Dalton stood, leaning against the building, arms crossed over his chest. Crud. That couldn’t be good. He swung his truck door shut with a thud so hard it rocked to the side.
“Good morning to you too,” Dalton said as he unfolded his arms. “Just a reminder you’ve got an interview today for a new barista. Rennie set it up so the candidate could help you open if you decide they’re a good fit.”
“Yeah, I know. I’m not a kid anymore.”
“Wake up on the wrong side of the bed?”
Drake glowered at his taller, perfect brother—er, cousin?
“Look, I know you’re still stewing over the family secret.”
Drake snorted. “What do you care?”
“ I’m sorry. I know it must have hurt.”
“Whatever cuz.” Dalton would have been in junior high during Drake’s birth year. Surely, he noticed two new brothers moving into the house. Why had he said nothing?
Dalton held his gaze and clamped a firm hand down on his shoulder. “None of that. Papi asked us to welcome you as brothers, and we did. We’ll always be brothers.”
Drake stilled as the emotions pushed to the surface. Dalton tugged and Drake accepted his brother’s embrace, a soul wrenching sob escaping to his mortification.
“Let it out,” Dalton’s deep voice reverberated near his ear.
He felt foolish. A grown man sobbing like a schoolgirl.
“It was tough news for anyone to hear. I can’t imagine what this has stirred in you.”
Drake pushed back, swiping a hand over his eyes. “I’ll get it together.”
“Drake, that’s not what I’m worried about. I’m worried about you. Not about you projecting some macho attitude after receiving life-altering news.”
“Don’t worry. I’ve got Christmas. I won’t let you down.”
Drake ducked his head and pushed past him into the dining hall, straight to the coffee shop counter. He flipped the switch on the espresso machine. It whirred on while he started setting out pastries in the display case.
“Morning!”
His head snapped up to the overly cheery voice. A rail thin woman’s bright smile met his gaze, her coppery hair glinting under the overhead canned lights.
“I’m Candi. Candi Kaine. The new barista.”
Drake wanted to throw up. No way could he work with this bundle of Christmas cheer. Decked out in red pants. Didn’t she know the red clashed with her gorgeous copper hair? A candy cane apron—how ironic—rested over the top of her white, flowing blouse. A giant felt red bow on a headband wrapped around her head, exposing her delicate neck. Snowman earrings dangled from her ears, vibrating with her eternal well of enthusiasm.
His eyes traveled from her head to her feet. Bells jangled on her black sneakers as she bounced with energy.
Great. Christmas threw up in his coffee shop in the form of one boisterous elf named Candi Kaine. You’ve got to be kidding me.
__________
“It’s Candi with an ‘I’,” she rambled nervously under the intense scrutiny of her new boss.
Well, he wasn’t her new boss yet. She still had to dazzle him with her mad barista and baking skills. Still, it’d be easy-peasy to win over this grouchy…
Cowboy? She wasn’t sure. He wore the jeans, boots, and that belt. She rolled her eyes. It oozed masculine cowboy all the way.
Yet the tatted sleeves on his exposed arms and the tightly coiled man bun on the top of his head kinda contradicted the whole cowboy vibe. It was more hipster. Mysterious and sexy.
Candi giggled. She’d never thought that word about a man before. He had her all flustered with his scowl.
Talk about an identity crisis. The man definitely had one. If he hired her, she’d fix that up, too. Help him embrace who he was in Christ. It was a gift. Besides, she couldn’t resist a man in crisis. Um. Maybe that wasn’t such a good thing. Her best-friend Holly would probably wave her off or remind her about Nick. She shrugged. Oh well.
“Candi with an ‘I’, who exactly hired you again?”
Narrowed dark brown-sugarery eyes pierced her. Or gingerbread. Mmm. She loved gingerbread eyes.
“Well, no one yet. What’s your favorite drink?” she asked as she gently nudged him away from the gleaming espresso machine.
Nice. A mostly manual model. Her favorite. They pulled a much better brew than the fancier automatic machines. She went about calibrating it while she waited the eternity for the grumpy hipster cowboy to respond.
“A breve cappuccino.”
She snorted. “Piece of cake. Though I didn’t picture you as a cappuccino man. You seem more like a caramel macchiato.”
When his face flushed, she saw through the hipster cowboy’s ruse. He was a caramel macchiato guy, and he asked her for the other drink because he wanted to stump her. No problem. She’d make both to perfection.
After reaching down to the fridge under the machine, she retrieved whole milk and creamer, along with two stainless steel steaming carafes. She found the thermometers and clipped them to the side of the carafes before pouring the milk in one and the cream in the other. Then she set them aside while she ground and tamped down the espresso. She inhaled the tantalizing rich aroma, which was almost as energizing as downing a double shot, not that she had ever needed caffeine for a boost. With a quarter turn, she locked the portafilter holding the espresso onto the machine. Snagging two shot glasses, she placed them under the spouts and pressed the button to start the brew.
She reached for the cream and held it under the steam wand. After dumping a shot of espresso in the paper cup, she poured the steamed cream into it, leaving an inch for the foam. She returned the cream to the steam wand and tilted the carafe to create the smooth bubbly foam. Then she scooped it with a spoon over the top. She reached for the cinnamon and eyed the hipster cowboy. He gave a slight nod. She lightly dusted the top of the drink with the cinnamon powder. Then she snapped the lid on and slid it across the counter to him.
Candi reached for another cup and poured the other shot of espresso in the bottom with two pumps of caramel and one of vanilla syrup. Then she steamed the whole milk before pouring it into the cup.
“You don’t strike me as a whipped cream fan, but I’m not sure.”
Hipster cowboy crossed his arms over his incredibly muscular chest. Her eyes roamed over his tats before snagging on the ostentatious silver cross around his neck. Wonder why he wore it—if it was decorative or represented a deeper meaning for him?
She shrugged and reached for the whipped cream and caramel drizzle, topping off the drink. Then she snapped on the lid and handed it to him.
His dark eyes held her gaze for a few heartbeats. Goodness, he did strange things to her pulse.
“Morning!”
A woman called from the other side of the counter. Candi turned to greet her.
“You must be the new barista. I’m River Vargas. Grinch’s sister-in-law.”
Candi giggled. “Candi with an ‘I’ Kaine.”
River dropped her head back as laughter shook her shoulders. “Love your name. It’s perfect. Exactly what we need around here.”
“Let me guess. Iced mocha even in the winter.”
River’s laughter faded and her eyes rounded. “Did he tell you?”
“Nope. Hasn’t grunted more than a few words to me yet.”
“Don’t let him get to you. He’s normally not so…” She sighed. “Anyway, yes. Iced mocha please.”
Candi shot a glance to the hipster cowboy and noted he sipped the macchiato. She had his number alright. Then she breezed through making River’s drink.
Hipster cowboy cleared his throat when his sister-in-law left. “Not bad.”
“And the breve cap?”
“Not really my thing, but you made it perfectly. Most people skip the cinnamon, but purists will scold you for it.”
“Glad you like the macchiato. So, wanna give me the tour, Mr. Vargas?”
He rolled his eyes. “Fine. You’re hired. And it’s Drake.”
Hmm. Drake. She liked the surly hipster cowboy’s name.
About the Series
Love is in the air at the Vargas Guest Ranch & Resort near Wickenburg, Arizona. The Vargas family lives and breathes their family motto: We do not deviate from the Lord’s plan. Five brawny brothers keep the ranch and resort running while life lassos their hearts in this epic contemporary cowboy romance series.
Falling for a Real Cowboy (Book 1) - Dalton Vargas
Release Date: November 21, 2023
She’s trying to resurrect her career. He’s sworn off women. Will this city-meets-country duo find love where they least expect it?
Falling for a Shy Cowboy (Book 2) - Dylan Vargas
Release Date: December 19, 2023
She’s a single mom with a disabled son. He’s been in love with her since high school. Will this shy cowboy finally win her heart?
Falling for a Bossy Cowboy (Book 3) - Derin Vargas
Release Date: March 26, 2024
She’s famous and nearing the end of her career. He’s blunt, bossy, and downright annoying. Will these two find the perfect balance between truth and love?
Falling for a Smart Cowboy (Book 4) - Devon Vargas
Release Date: June 25, 2024
She’s an orphan on a mission to change children’s lives. He’s an overwhelmed overachiever and her boss. Will these two learn to work together and find love in the process?
Falling for a Humbug Cowboy (Book 5) - Drake Vargas
Release Date: November 5, 2024
She’s the happiest person he’s ever met. His world has turned upside and he is in no mood for the holidays. Will these coworkers find middle ground as they head into the holidays?
Falling for a Devoted Cowgirl (Book 6) - Solana Vargas
Release Date: 2025
They’ve secretly loved each other for years. He can’t get past their age gap. She can’t get him to see her as woman she’s become. Will they let go of their fear to find true love?
Falling for a Pregnant Cowgirl (Book 7) - Renata Vargas
Release Date: 2025
She’s pregnant with someone else’s child. He’s falling for her when he shouldn’t. Can he learn to trust her with his heart?
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