Zuri Day - Diamond Dreams

A dazzling dynasty

As the only daughter of Southern California’s most famous wine dynasty, Diamond Drake devotes all her waking hours to the family business. Burned by love, she’s not sure she ever wants to fall in love again. But construction millionaire Jackson Wright is sweeping her up in a whirlwind romance. Is he the real thing? Or will the sinfully sexy bachelor prove to be all flash and no substance?

A love that’s her true destiny....

From the moment he sees her, Jackson is dazzled by the stunning, sultry Diamond. He knows it’s dangerous to mix business with pleasure. If only Diamond will say yes to a future glittering with their passion and love....

The sax sizzled from the speakers, wrapping them in a sensual cocoon, a world of their own

It was as if time stopped, along with Diamond’s rational thinking. Because for the life of her, she couldn’t think of anything more logical to do than to kiss those lips, to crush the nipples that were even now hardening at the mere thought of being touched against Jackson’s hard chest.

She took a step.

Jackson’s eyes narrowed as he watched her come closer. He looked at her lips, slightly parted with desire. Wanting him was written all over her face. His message was being proclaimed from an area decidedly lower, by a rapidly increasing bulge in the front of his jeans.

He took a step.

They now stood just inches apart, neither moving, barely breathing. At the risk of having to fire himself for insubordination, Jackson reached out and ran a finger along Diamond’s jawline. His touch was more electric than the guitar that now accompanied the sax. She licked her lips and suppressed a shiver. He watched, wondering how they tasted, those lips, wanting to know how she tasted. Her eyes flickered shut, and then back open, even as her head tilted seemingly of its own accord. To hell with stalking ex-coworkers and iron-clad declarations. He would be a rule-breaker. Thoughts of consequences could come later. Right now all he wanted were her lips. On his. Now! He bent his head down. One more step and the kiss would begin. Just one more step....

Diamond Dreams

Zuri Day

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Dear Reader,

I am thrilled to introduce you to the Drakes of California!

When hearing the words wine country, most of us think of Napa Valley. So did I, until visiting Southern California’s vineyards, a beautiful community surrounded by mountains, nestled midway between Los Angeles and San Diego. This picturesque setting (and a few glasses of wine) served to inspire this story about a dynasty using land that has been in the family for almost one hundred years! The Drake Vineyard is approximately sixty miles north of the first California grapes planted at Mission San Diego in 1769.

I love writing about strong women. Diamond Drake is all that and a glass of high-priced brut! She’s used to being in control, which is why her irrepressible attraction to Jackson Wright is so exasperating. But we all know what happens when iron sharpens iron…sparks fly!

So, pour a glass of something delicious…and enjoy!

Zuri Day

To the wine country of Temecula, and especially winemaker David Vergari and media director Linda Kissam of Thornton Winery. The private tour and detail-laden interview were great, the wine…even better! And to my editor, Glenda Howard, who helped make this novel such a pleasure to write. La’Chaim!

To all the readers, far and near,

I raise my glass and toast with cheer!

May your dreams come true, your smile remain,

and your life be as bubbly as a fine champagne!

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 1

“I’m proud of you, Diamond,” Donald Drake said as he continued to flip through the latest report that she had provided. “The sketches are fantastic, and your attention to detail continues to be impressive. These innovative interior-design ideas are going to make ours one of the best resorts in California.”

“One of the best resorts, period,” Diamond corrected. “I told you that I could do it, Dad. I’m glad you trusted me with such a major aspect of our expansion.” Diamond beamed from her father’s words of praise. She considered herself the ultimate daddy’s girl and never wanted to disappoint. And being the only girl in the family made her quite competitive with her two brothers for their father’s attention.

“I don’t know how much trust had to do with it,” Dexter Drake drawled. Diamond’s always lovable yet sometimes annoying younger brother reared back in his chair and placed his interlocked fingers behind his head. “I think it was all of that whining and begging you did that finally wore him down.”

“I believe the correct verb is negotiated, dear brother. Mine was the best proposal submitted, period.” Even as she said this, Diamond knew that there was a thread of truth to Dexter’s statement. Her older brother, Donovan, handled most of the construction projects and had overseen the first phase of this one. It had taken a lot of research, idea submissions and—okay, maybe a little whining and begging—to convince Donald, the company’s founder, board president and chief operating officer, that when it came to the interior-design work and final stages of construction for Drake Wines Resort & Spa, Diamond was the woman to oversee the job.

Dexter continued his needling. “Was it the best proposal? Or just the only one submitted twenty times?”

“Ha! Come on, Diamond. Fess up,” Donovan said with a chuckle. “You did send that thing in several times.”

“I sent in several addendums to keep everyone up-to-date on the evolving ideas and projections,” Diamond retorted, with a tilt of her chin. “Which you would know, Mr. VP of Sales, if you pulled your head out of the books long enough to see what’s happening with the rest of the company.”

Donovan calmly rubbed his goatee. “I don’t miss a thing that happens around here, baby sis. Believe that.”

“How could you,” Dexter queried, “with those Dumbo-size ears on the side of your head?”

Diamond laughed as Donald frowned. “Watch yourself,” he said, his narrowed eyes fixed on Dexter. “Donovan’s ears are shaped like mine.”

“Dad, I’m not sure that is something I’d be pointing out,” Diamond said, still laughing.

“Sister, it’s something that he has no need to point out.” Dexter’s dark brown eyes twinkled and his brow wriggled as he looked pointedly at his father’s ears and then at the replicas on his big brother.

Donald couldn’t keep the frown on his face any longer. He burst out laughing. It had always been this way among his children: friendly teasing and healthy competition all held together with huge doses of love. From the beginning, he and his stay-at-home wife, Genevieve Drake, had raised their children to be a part of the business and had involved them in every aspect of their award-winning vineyard almost from the time they could walk. And while each person had their specific job title, theirs was a working knowledge of the business as a whole, and they were encouraged to multitask along those lines. This is how Diamond, the director of marketing and public relations, was now overseeing the major expansion project of turning Drake Vineyard into Drake Wines Resort & Spa.