Dear Reader,
You are about to embark on a sexy, passionate, suspenseful, life-affirming journey with Vaughn Hamilton and Justin Montgomery. This novel gave me an opportunity to tap into the world of politics, family secrets, suspense and an unquenchable love storyânot to mention a few surprising twists. I am thrilled that Harlequin has reissued what was certainly one of my most popular novels. So if you are joining me for the first time, I thank you. For those who have taken the ride before, welcome back. And do be sure to look for the steamy sequel, A Scandalous Affair, coming soon.
The wonderful team of editors at Harlequin talked me into writing a new family series. This will be a first for me and I am thrilled about the upcoming story of the Lawson family of Louisiana. The first novel will debut in February 2011, and Iâm eager to hear what readers have to say. Many of you may have already met the sexy, dashing, playboy Rafe Lawson, who made an appearance in my Arabesque title Heartâs Reward, this past August. If not, you are in for a treat.
Well, donât let me keep you from diving into this juicy story. I love hearing from you. And you can find me online at www.donnahill.com, or follow me at twitter.com/donnahill and on Facebook.
Until next time,
Donna
www.dhfanclub.ning.com
www.donnahill.com
Tiny beads of moisture clung to Vaughnâs nude body as though unwilling to relinquish the hold of her satiny ebony skin. She stepped out of the shower and padded into her bedroom, allowing the warm spring breeze to finish the work her towel had missed.
Sitting on the edge of her bed, she took an almost sensual pleasure in languidly smoothing scented body oil over her damp skin. It was one of the few luxuries she allowed herself. With her grueling schedule as assembly woman for the State of Virginia, Vaughn Hamilton found that leisure time was a rare commodity.
Completing the ritual, she stood in front of the full-length mirror, critically assessing her reflection. As a young girl, sheâd always been overly sensitive about her dark complexion. Her father, on the other hand, had always called her his âebony princess.â But back in the old days, ebony was not the thing to be. And the old chant âthe blacker the berry, the sweeter the juiceâ didnât ease the pain from the taunts sheâd received as a child. Sheâd grown up longing for the fair skin and long, silky hair preferred by society. As a result, sheâd tried to overcompensate in every other area of her life by being the very best at everything she did, as though that would somehow make people overlook how dark she was. Fortunately, with maturity, sheâd grown to be proud of her ebony coloring and had long ago dismissed the notion that to be light was right.
She angled her chin toward the mirrorâher profile sideâa flicker of a smile tugging at her full lips, revealing deep dimples. All in all, hers was a pleasing face, she mused, and her long, shapely body only added to the total picture. She strove hard to keep it in top shape, from the food she put in it, to the clothes she put on it, to the rigorous exercise regimen she adhered to devoutly. As a result, her small, rounded breasts were high and firm to the touch. Her narrow waist was the envy of her few close friends. Her rounded hips and tight thighs tapered down to striking âshowgirl legs,â as her mother would call them.
She took a long look at her body. But then a shadow passed across her deep brown eyes, darkening them to an almost inky black. Her long, slender fingers lovingly, almost reverently, stroked the blade-thin faint scar. She turned away from the reflection as the mists of her past swept over her. It was always thereâmocking her, reminding her.
How often had her mother tried to persuade her to have it removed by plastic surgery? âNo one need ever know, darling,â her mother, Sheila, had said. Vaughn exhaled a deep breath. She needed to know. She needed to be remindedâevery day of her life.
But for now sheâd push those thoughts behind her, she decided with finality. She jutted her chin forward. Tonight she had to be focused, refreshed, and full of energy. Tonight was the beginning of a new direction in her political career. She couldnât let anything interfere with that, especially ghosts from the past. This was a night sheâd dreamed of for years. A shimmer of doubt creased her brow. Hadnât she? Or was it her fatherâs dream? Momentarily she squeezed her eyes shut. At some point her fatherâs, Judge Elliott Hamilton, great aspirations for her had become her own, driving her relentlesslyâto the exclusion of everything and everyone else. Regardless, she was a politician and she loved the job. âIt is my dream,â she said aloud, âand Iâm going to capture it.â If there was ever any doubt, it was too late now. There would be over two hundred guests awaiting her arrival at her parentsâ estate in Norfolk. There was no turning back.