Zuri Day - Secret Silver Nights

Will winning the race mean losing her love?

The third son of a powerful Northern California dynasty, Nico Drake has dreams of one day becoming governor of his state. First item on his agenda—beating his newest mayoral challenger. Ivy League dazzler Monique Slater is already swaying voters with her innovative ideas…and arousing an irresistible desire in the heart of her unattached opponent.

Monique has big plans for the small scenic town of Paradise Cove—plans that don’t include falling for her sexy political rival. Keeping their sizzling relationship under wraps while running against each other is a tightrope act. Now someone is trying to not only ruin Monique’s reputation, but also make sure Nico does not win the race. With both their futures on the line, can Nico convince Monique that there are no losers when it comes to love?

“It’s going to be all right, Monique.”

He felt her shoulders heave and thought she’d pull away. Like all the other times. But she didn’t. She leaned into him, and placed her arms around his waist. He pulled her closer to him and began rubbing his hand across her back. “It’s okay, sweetheart. You can let go. We’re all very concerned. Everything is going to be all right.” He brushed his lips across her temple and kissed her there.

She stilled. Her arms around him loosened slightly. Niko silently chided himself. He hadn’t meant to kiss her. It was a reflex, pure and simple. She pulled back. He lifted his head, ready to apologize. Until he saw the look in her eyes, and how they quickly shifted from looking into his eyes to looking at his lips. Just before she leaned in and joined hers to them. She did this, but moved no further. So Niko took over. He slowly moved his head, rubbing his lips across hers, creating a delicious friction that immediately increased the heat. Her mouth opened, and it took all of his restraint not to plunder her sweetness like a love-starved youth. But she didn’t need that type of treatment right now. She needed gentleness and kindness and understanding. He was there to give it all.

ZURI DAY

snuck her first Mills & Boon romance at the age of twelve from her older sister’s 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, she’s always busy writing her next novel, but Zuri makes time to connect with readers and meet with book clubs. Contact her via Facebook, www.facebook.com/haveazuriday, or at Zuri@ZuriDay.com.

Secret Silver Nights

Zury Day

www.millsandboon.co.uk

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Dear Reader,

Volunteering on the presidential campaign and then attending the historical 2009 inauguration in Washington, D.C., was an incredible experience, one of the more memorable of my life.

As it turns out, some of the Drakes were there, too!

Niko is particularly inspired, so much so that after a long talk with his grandfather Walter and his family he decides to test the waters of a political career by running for mayor of Paradise Cove. The politics there are on a much smaller scale, and Niko feels a win is already in the bag, until a formidable opponent shows up and makes the race interesting in more ways than one. Ooh…I love it when a confident man gets his cage rattled by a sexy surprise!

Niko’s family rallies around him for support, including his sister, Teresa. Her story is next. In the meantime, I’d love to hear from you at zuriday.com.

One love!

Zuri

A huge shout-out and thank you to “Team Zuri” and the Z-Nation!

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

About the Author

Title Page

Dear Reader

Dedication

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

Copyright

Chapter 1

“Niko. Heads up, guy. We’ve got a problem.”

Attorney Nicodemus “Niko” Drake barely glanced away from the speech he was tweaking as his campaign manager threw down the day’s Cove Chronicle newspaper next to the iPad that had his attention. April had turned to May, but that hadn’t stopped the rain. And that it was Saturday didn’t deter this perpetual go-getter from showing up at the office or his loyal sidekick from following suit. On Monday, Niko was speaking at a dinner for the members of the chamber of commerce. He wanted to make sure that the speech was just right.

“Niko, did you hear me?”

“How could I not hear you, man?” He didn’t look up. “Even this early, seven in the morning, your voice reverberates off the walls.”

Bryce Clinton plopped into the seat behind a desk that was a mere six feet away from where Niko sat. “All right. Don’t pay attention. But later today when you get blindsided, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

At six foot one and a lean one hundred and ninety-five pounds, Niko rarely felt he had to be warned about anything. So Bryce’s comment got his attention. He reached over the iPad and picked up the paper. The headline caught him at once: Newest Mayoral Candidate Promises A New Day.

Hmm, interesting. So far there’d been only two other residents silly enough to not drop out of the race the moment he’d announced his candidacy. So who was this fool?

He unfolded the newspaper to read the article and was hit with his second surprise of the morning. The photo of said “fool.” Someone he not only knew but had actually sparred with...and lost.

“Well, I’ll be damned.”

“He finally gets it,” Bryce announced to an imaginary audience. Bryce was not only Niko’s campaign manager but one of his best friends for the past twenty-plus years. Having grown up together in the tony Golden Gates neighborhood of their town, Paradise Cove, the two had lost contact during their college years. But after running into each other at one of the local restaurants and discovering that they’d both returned to their roots, they’d reconnected around eighteen holes and a couple of beers. Their friendship continued as though no time had been lost.

“So what are you going to try to do with this one?” Bryce asked, eyeing his laptop and flipping through a myriad of emails. “She’s not from around here, so your name is likely not to have the same effect that it did on your previous rivals.”

“I know her.”

Bryce’s head shot up. “Huh?”

“Mo is Monique. I would have never made the connection.”

“‘Mo is Monique’? You’ve lost me.”

“Monique Slater,” Niko continued. “Successful attorney who practices in Los Angeles, or used to. Steel fist in a velvet glove who takes no prisoners, who’s known for chewing up prosecutors for breakfast and spitting out judges for lunch.”