Seduction in the lap of luxuryâ¦
Award-winning wines have helped Dexter Drake turn his familyâs luxury resort and spa into the most successful vineyard in Southern California. Yet Dexter has another talentâhis prowess with women. He is having too much fun to settle downâ¦until he meets Faye Buckner, a guest at the vineyardâs hotel. Her act of kindness makes it impossible for him to get the beautiful doctor out of his mind.
Faye believes in making the world a better place, and has dedicated her career to saving lives. She plans to concentrate on her work. But she soon discovers that the breathtaking playboy isnât just gorgeousâhe is intelligent and compassionate, too. Should Faye remain focused solely on her career or listen to Dexterâs passionate promisesâ¦and her own heart?
âThanks again,â Faye said, fumbling for her key card. âIt was a very nice evening.â
âMy pleasure,â Dexter said, his voice slightly husky as he gently removed the card from Fayeâs hand, keeping his gaze locked with hers as he unlocked her door. He took a step, one that put his body within inches of hers; he was so close that she could feel his heat, imagine his âintention.â
âOkay, so, good night.â She averted her eyes and held out her hand. Please! Just give me my key card before I die!
But, no, that would have been too much like right. He had to place one hand on her shoulder and another on her chin, and turn her head ever so slightly. Then, he had to run his hand down her arm as he lowered his head and placed a kissâsoft and featheryâon her parted lips.
âGood night, Doctor,â he murmured.
âGood night.â She walked into the room, offered as best a smile as she could muster under the circumstancesâkeeping her knees from buckling and her heart from beating out her chestâand closed the door.
Inside the room, silence enveloped her. Thatâ¦and abject loneliness unlike any sheâd ever felt. She leaned against the door, took several calming breaths and asked herself the million-dollar question. What. Just. Happened?
ZURI DAY
snuck her first Harlequin romance at the age of twelve from her older sisterâs off-limits collection and was hooked from page one. Knights in shining armor and happily-ever-afters filled her teen years and spurred a lifelong love of reading. That she now creates these stories as a full-time, award-winning author is a dream come true! Splitting her time between the stunning Caribbean islands and Southern California, sheâs always busy writing her next novel. Zuri makes time to connect with readers and meet with book clubs. Sheâd love to hear from you, and personally answers every email thatâs sent to [email protected].
Dear Reader,
Platinum is one of the rarest elements on earth: exceptionally resistant and highly valuable. I believe the same can be said about the love between Dexter and Faye. Like platinum, he is lustrousâpolished, dazzlingâwhile her malleability during years spent doctoring in third-world countries has served her well. The rarity is in these two opposites attracting; the resiliency and value is a sustainable relationship formed on common ground.
Faye returns to the States from Port au Prince, Haiti, the capital city of the Western Hemisphereâs poorest country, which was devastated by an earthquake in 2010. She reminds us that all these years later, much restorative work is still desperately needed. There are several charitable organizations through which we can pitch in and help, either by offering our time and services, as Faye did, or by making monetary contributions, Dexter-style.
Either way, for both this couple and for Haiti, love wins!
Zuri Day
In love, a promise is a beautiful token
When heartfelt words are lovingly spoken
And thereâs magic when a partner makes a platinum vow
So amazing that the only response isâ¦wow!
Thanks to Glenda Howard and Harlequinâs âTeam Zuriââespecially Mr. IT (wink)âfor being wonderful and fabulous. Because you areâ¦I am!
Chapter 1
Practical, no-nonsense Dr. Faye Buckner lay in uncharted watersâliterally and figurativelyâfeeling wanton, wicked and strangely...free. The water swirled around her body as her loverâs tongue traced circles against her heartbeat, causing flutters from her stomach to her heat. Ah, yes. The beautiful beaches of Haiti. But how did I get here with him?
âRelax.â Her loverâs voice was as soothing as the water and as warm as a summer breeze.
âI canât.â
âYes, you can. Iâll help you.â He laid a trail of kisses down her neck, over her collarbone and on her shoulder, all the while brushing feathery fingers up and down her arm. Goosebumps appeared on the upper part of her body. A furnace of passion exploded within. He captured a nipple with his teeth, pulled it inside his mouth. Not wanting to appear rude or neglectful, he slid his hand to her other nipple, pebbling it between his thumb and forefinger before moving his hand down farther...to her navel, hip and inner thigh.