âI donât know how we ever ended up together in the first place.â
She regretted the words the moment they left her lips. When would she learn not to wave the red flag in front of the bull just because she was angry?
Jackâs eyes lit alarmingly and traced a path down her body, leaving her skin tingling again in their wake. A slow half-smile crossed Jackâs face. âOh, I think you remember why, Bren,â he said quietly. âI know I do.â
She was close enough to feel the heat radiating off his body. A rush of desire slammed into her, making her knees wobble and her heart beat faster. He traced a finger over her collarbone and down the top of her arm. A shiver moved through her.
âWeâve always had thisâ¦â
Sex wouldnât solve anything. It never had, she reminded herself. Theyâd been down this path many, many times. Fight bitterly, then have fabulous make-up sex. It never made anything better.
She had to remember that. No matter how much her body begged to differ. No matter how strong the ache was.
No matter how much she wanted him.
Dear Reader
Iâve been turning this story over in my head since a trip to San Francisco in 2008. We took a drive through wine country, and I was so taken with the scenery I knew I had to set a book there. I spent the plane ride home plotting and planning.
But then Jack and Brenna came to life. They were such strong characters that my plan for the story went out of the window as they took over. Sparks flewâand not just between Brenna and Jack! I know: sane people donât normally argue with the fictional beings they have created. But this was their story, and they werenât about to comply with just any old plot. This book allowed me to grow as a writer, and the end result is much better than I planned on that long-ago plane ride.
I had to learn a lot about wine for this story, and Iâm very thankful to have had two very knowledgeable sources to help me out with the details of wine-making: Frank LaFoon of LaFoon Vineyards, and Karen Hand of the Blue Sky Vineyard. Frank grows amazing grapes, and Karen makes wonderful winesâBrenna would definitely like both of them!
My first book was released a year ago this month, and itâs been an amazing and incredible year. Iâve learned so much and had a fabulous time! I thank all of you who have taken the time to write and let me know how much youâve enjoyed my booksâthose e-mails brought home the fact this was all real, not just some really cool dream.
All the best
Kimberly
Kimberly Lang hid romance novels behind her textbooks in junior high, and even a Masterâs programme in English couldnât break her obsession with dashing heroes and happily ever after. A ballet dancer turned English teacher, Kimberly married an electrical engineer and turned her life into an ongoing episode of When Dilbert Met Frasier. She and her Darling Geek live in beautiful North Alabama, with their one Amazing Childâwho, unfortunately, shows an aptitude for sports.
Visit Kimberly at www.booksbykimberly.com for the latest newsâand donât forget to say hi while youâre there!
Recent titles by the same author:
MAGNATEâS MISTRESSâ¦ACCIDENTALLY EXPECTING!
THE MILLIONAIREâS MISBEHAVING MISTRESS THE SECRET MISTRESS ARRANGEMENT
Boardroom Rivals, Bedroom Fireworks!
By
This one is for my mom:
If books are like children, then this book was me at fifteen: headstrong, occasionally wilful, and not afraid to do its own thing. But, based on your example, I just kept faith in it, and it turned out to be fabulous and totally worth it in the end (hopefully also like me!). I love you, Mom. Thanks for putting up with me.
âTHEYâRE ready, Brenna. Iâll call Marco and tell him to have the crews here in the morning.â
âItâs too soon.â Brenna double-checked the number on the refractometer in shock. No one else in Sonoma had grapes ripe this early; that was for sure. âWe should have a couple of more weeks, at least.â
âYou doubt me?â Tedâs affront was only partially feigned, and, though theyâd been friends and coworkers for years, Brenna rushed to smooth the ruffled feathers of her viticulturist.
âNot at all. No one knows these vines better than you. Iâm surprised, thatâs all.â
Placated, Ted popped a grape into his mouth and chewed, a small, blissful smile crossing his face. âObviously these grapes like our sunny summers and this drought. You just donât want to harvest in the heat.â
âTrue.â But that was only part of it. The new tanks had only arrived last week and were stacked haphazardly around the building. The main pump was still being temperamental, and there was so much paperwork left to doâ¦andâ¦andâ¦she needed those couple of extra weeks just to finish getting her head together. She wasnât ready to start the crush right now.
Brenna looked at the vines, all heavy with ripe fruitâfruit that wasnât going to hold on while she adjusted to the new situation at a leisurely pace. Amante Verano Cellars was her responsibility now.