NO STRANGER TO LOVE
The Tavonesi Series #9
Pamela Aares
Released May 29th, 2016
SeaStar Press
Another page-turning contemporary romance in the Tavonesi Series
featuring love, suspense and adventure!
BUY NOW
With NO
STRANGER TO LOVE, USA Today Bestselling Author Pamela Aares delivers another
page-turning contemporary romance in the Tavonesi Series featuring love,
suspense and adventure!
Juliet Cabot is no stranger to
trouble, but she never imagined that her work defending endangered sea turtles
on a beautiful Greek island would turn deadly. Threats to her life force her to
call for help from the man who's haunted her dreams for years—wine country
landowner and international polo star Parker Tavonesi.
Parker owes Juliet big time for
getting him out of a fix in the past. Handsome, resourceful and fearless, she
trusts him with her life but she vowed she would never trust him with her
heart. When danger enshrouds them and warm island nights cause their bottled-up
passions to flare, Juliet's every fantasy could become reality . . . unless the
dark secrets of a sultry paradise prove fatal, not just for the struggling sea
turtles but for Parker and Juliet as well.
Don't Miss ANY of
The Tavonesi Series
EXCERPT
EXCERPT
After lunch, Juliet changed into the sleek silk
evening dress and headed down into the wine cellar with the stylist and
hairdresser. It felt weird to be in such a fancy dress at two in the afternoon.
Heck, it felt odd to be in such a fancy dress at any time. The dress and the
shoes probably cost more than an entire month’s pay.
When she reached the wine cellar, Athena tugged at her dress
and Brandy fussed with her hair. Barb had arranged a bank of lights in front of
a wine barrel. A silver tray set holding two crystal glasses sat in its center.
But Juliet’s mind was captured by the scent of the
cellar—cinnamon and berries and a deeper aroma she couldn’t identify. But she
recognized the mélange of scents as Parker’s. She’d caught whiffs of the heady
aroma in the guest room the previous morning and then again when he’d leaned in
close for the shots in the redwood grove. But Parker wasn’t in the cellar.
Dimmed ceiling lights curved down the tunnel that led deeper
into the wine cave. She shook off the hairdresser and peered into the darkness.
When footsteps sounded behind her, she turned.
And sucked in a breath.
If she had thought Parker handsome in his riding clothes, a
perfectly tailored tuxedo made him devastating.
His eyes landed on Juliet. He ran a hand through his hair as he
looked first down and then up. “My God, you are a vision.”
Juliet couldn’t tear her gaze from Parker’s. She managed a
smile and a nod, but didn’t trust her voice. For a moment, no one moved. The
only sound was their collective breathing, as if the cellar had lungs of its
own.
“Well,” Athena said, breaking the spell. “That’s the whole
idea, after all.”
“I’ll need to angle this light,” Barb said.
Brandy moved toward Parker, pulling a brush from the belt of
implements at her waist.
Parker held up a hand. “I do have limits,” he said in a gentle
but firm tone, his eyes never leaving Juliet’s. He shook his head as if he were
shaking off a troublesome thought. “And before we do this shot, I’d like for
all of you to taste the wine I’m launching.”
He strode to a cabinet at the far side of the arched room and
began to pull out glasses. Juliet let out the breath she’d been holding and
moved to help him.
“No.” Athena put a hand to Juliet’s wrist. “You might muss your
dress.”
God, she’d forgotten about the dress.
“Though we’ll have our wine critic taste all of these, I’d love
to taste your wine here in its home setting,” Mark said.
Parker pulled a bottle from the cabinet. “This pinot is only
three years in the bottle, but it’s ready.”
“I feel like we should have a drum roll or something,” Barb
said from behind the light she was adjusting.
The thrumming of Juliet’s pulse was all the drum roll she could
stand.
“As much as I’d like to, we won’t have to come back tomorrow,”
Mark said. “After this session, Barb will have what she needs, and I have more
than enough for the article.”
Juliet sighed, relieved.
Parker poured wine and handed out the glasses.
Juliet reached for hers.
Athena took the glass from Parker’s hand. “Best to wait until
after Barb gets her shots.”
“You must think I’m clumsy.”
“No one could ever accuse you of that.”
Parker’s sultry tone rolled through her. No one had ever called
her graceful. And though he hadn’t, she heard the message in his words. The
compliment pleased her more than it should have.
“Just a precaution,” Athena added. “I’ve
learned from experience.” She eyed Juliet. “We’d have a hard time coming up
with another gown that looked like this one does on you.”
Parker leaned close to Juliet’s ear. “I’ll make it up to you
after. You can have your own private bottle.”
“I might need it by then.” She shook off the shiver threatening
to take up long-term residence in her body. “Maybe a case.”
“Upping the ante?” he whispered, his teasing tone warming her
belly.
He’d already paid far more than he should have. “No. But I will
be glad when we’re done here. I’m sure you will be too.”
He held her gaze. “Maybe. I guess we’ll see, won’t we?”
Everyone except Juliet sipped the wine, admired it in the light
and murmured kudos to Parker. There was talk between Mark and Parker about the
aroma of the pinot varietals. Juliet concentrated on the words, the facts,
anything to keep from looking Parker in the eye.
“I think at five years this wine will be at its peak,” he said,
as proud as any artist would be over the fruits of his work.
“Black cherry and...” Mark paused. “I was going to say ripe
tomato or mushroom. Smooth. Balanced.”
Parker beamed.
“Delicious,” Barb said as she set her glass down on the
cabinet. “And now, time for work, gang. The sooner we wrap, the sooner Juliet
can imbibe.”
At first Parker stood on one side of the barrel and Juliet on
the other. Barb instructed them to raise their glasses and touch the rims
together as if in a toast. Her camera whirred as she ran off a few shots. She
looked at her preview screen and frowned.
“I think they should kiss,” Mark said in a matter-of-fact tone.
“I think you’ve had too much wine,” Parker said.
“No, he’s right. Romance.
That’s what’s missing from this piece,” Barb said. “You two aren’t shy, so
let’s try it. I’d like to shoot it from this angle. Mark, give me a hand with
these two lights.”
Barb tugged Juliet close to Parker and then took up her camera
a few steps away.
The new light positions threw a golden
glow across Parker’s face. The soft light played over the sculpted planes of
his jaw and cast the shadows of his long lashes onto his cheeks.
Juliet leaned close. “Now you really need my help,” she whispered. And without further comment,
and before she could chicken out and blow their cover, she raised her hands and
pulled his head down so that her lips touched his.
Her body quivered at the contact. She closed her eyes and
brushed a light kiss along his lips. Trembling, she pulled away. She opened her
eyes and, not trusting her ability to school her features, looked down at her
hands.
Barb moved to their right. “Can we try that again from this
angle?”
Neither Juliet nor Parker moved.
“And keep your eyes open for this one. I want to capture you
gazing into each other’s eyes,” Barb said.
“One more,” Juliet said, trying to keep the waver out of her voice.
Parker moved first. His hand slid up her bare back and shot
shivers along her spine. Juliet’s gaze locked with his. He looked as stunned as
she felt. Or maybe she was projecting. But as he leaned down and kissed her,
the lights, the room and the people in it melted away, and she was locked in
the throbbing energy of his kiss.
Shocked at her response, she broke off their kiss and stepped
back from him. Leaning her palms on the wine barrel to steady herself, she
turned to the camera and pasted a false smile on her face that would’ve had her
drama coaches applauding.
Then she turned to Parker. His lips were pressed together in a
tight line.
“Smile,” she whispered so that only he
could hear. “Mission accomplished,” she added, widening her own smile.
He flashed a quick grin that only she knew wasn’t real. Athena,
Brandy and Mark applauded. But Barb stared at them, head nodding, her lips
quirked into a smile as if they’d pleased her. Juliet could only hope that the
camera had captured what Barb had wanted it to. The way Juliet’s legs were
trembling beneath her gown, she couldn’t pull off a repeat performance.
“That’s a wrap,” Barb said as she flashed
through the shots on the preview screen. “We definitely have our cover shot.”
Parker handed Juliet her glass of wine. “I’m thinking you might
need this. God knows I do.” He turned from her and filled everyone’s glasses.
Barb flashed the shot for the cover to the group. Still stunned
by Parker’s kiss, Juliet barely registered the good news. Her heart stuttered
when she saw the photo. Anyone viewing it would think she and Parker were truly
in love.
“To First Flight wines,” Mark said as he clinked his glass
against Barb’s. “And to your always
amazing work.”
“He says that to all the ladies.” Barb set her glass down and
began to wrap the light cords into their cases. She looked up at Juliet. “Have
you set a date?”
“April twentieth,” Parker answered.
“I’m sure you already have your dress,” Barb said. “But if you
don’t, my friend Vera has the most delicious wedding designs. They’d be
gorgeous on you.”
Juliet couldn’t look her in the eye.
Parker topped off the glass that Barb had set aside. “That’s
the date we’re launching First Flight.”
Barb smiled and picked up her glass. “Ah, yes.” Her eyes slid
to Juliet. “First things first.”
Thankfully, the sound of raised voices coming down the
passageway had everyone turning.
“You really are a
rat,” Zuri said, aiming her comment at her brother as she and Coco burst into
the room. “Did we miss all the action?”
“You could say that,” Parker said. “But I saved you a taste.”
Coco sidled over to Barb. Juliet heard her asking for tips
about lighting and camera angles.
Parker poured wine into a glass and handed it to Zuri. He
turned to Juliet and raised the bottle. She shook her head. Her head was
spinning well enough without alcohol. Zuri knit her brows as she looked from
her to Parker and back again to her.
Mark took out his notebook and began peppering Parker with
questions about the launch.
Before Zuri could corner her with questions, Juliet slipped out
of the room. The stiletto heels made it hard to navigate the brick flooring of
the dim passageway, but it wasn’t the shoes that made her feel unsteady. What
had happened back there? Flaring passion she didn’t want to admit to feeling
flooded her as she finally exited the tunnel and stepped out into the daylight.
She didn’t stop walking until she reached
the barn. Just past the entrance, she sank down onto a bale of hay, ignoring
the prickle of the straw through the silk of her dress.
Lowering her head to her hands, she pressed her palms to her
eyes. She hadn’t planned on her heart having to pay the price of her deception.
“Yo!” Zuri’s voice startled her. “Hope you don’t mind that I
followed you.” Zuri sat on the bale next to her. “Hey, you okay?”
“Just tired.”
“We could spend the night here. Unwind. Have a girls’ night.
You can drive home in the morning.”
“I should get back. We wrapped the shoot.”
“I heard. Parker seems pleased.”
When Juliet didn’t respond, she added, “This was really, really
good of you. Parker said you played your part perfectly. He even admitted I was right—pulling this off was so
much easier without all the stickiness of attraction.”
But she hadn’t played her part perfectly. Her heart had pulled
up stakes and crossed the line and now... Now she had to corral it back to
reality.
But at hearing Parker’s words via Zuri, her anger fired and she
couldn’t stuff it down.
No
stickiness of attraction.
Well, wasn’t that a kicker?
When had her feelings begun to run away with her? To obliterate
her good sense?
She shouldn’t feel anger toward him. He’d donated to the
foundation. He’d done everything he said he would.
Zuri tapped Juliet on the knee. “He owes you, you know. He told
me so this morning.”
“He doesn’t owe me. He wrote the check.”
Zuri narrowed her eyes. “Did he do something he shouldn’t have?
I’ll have his—”
“Zuri, he was a perfect gentleman.”
“Well, he has many talents, my brother. If you ever need help,
just ask.” She laughed. “I doubt you’ll need a polo player, but he’s really
good at throwing parties.”
Juliet stood and brushed the hay from her gown. “I need to
change. And I should get going. Mom will be thrilled that I can have dinner
with her tonight. Especially since she couldn’t make it for the shoot.”
And maybe, after a good night’s sleep in familiar surroundings,
she’d wake up and be able to remember the past two days for what they were—a
caper. Wasn’t that what Zuri had called it?
She’d fly back to Kona early, wrap up her work there and make
her reservations to fly to Greece.
And try to forget the chasm that Parker had unwittingly opened
in her heart. Try to forget a caper gone wrong.
Pamela Aares is a USA Today
Bestselling, award-winning author of contemporary and historical romance
novels. Her contemporary series, The Tavonesi Series, explores the lives,
loves, friendships and sizzling romances of the Tavonesi family.
Her popularity as a romance writer continues to grow with each new book release, so much so, that the Bay area author has drawn comparisons by reviewers to Nora Roberts.
Pamela Aares writes romance books that she loves reading, particularly those that entertain, transport and inspire dreams while captivating and tugging at the heart. She takes her readers on a journey with complex characters in both contemporary and historical settings who are thrown in situations that tempt love, adventure and self-discovery.
Before becoming a romance author, Aares wrote and produced award-winning films including Your Water, Your Life, featuring actress Susan Sarandon and NPR series New Voices, The Powers of the Universe and The Earth’s Imagination.
If not behind her computer, you can probably find her reading a romance novel, hiking the beach or savoring life with friends. You can visit Pamela on the web at http://www.PamelaAares.com.
Her popularity as a romance writer continues to grow with each new book release, so much so, that the Bay area author has drawn comparisons by reviewers to Nora Roberts.
Pamela Aares writes romance books that she loves reading, particularly those that entertain, transport and inspire dreams while captivating and tugging at the heart. She takes her readers on a journey with complex characters in both contemporary and historical settings who are thrown in situations that tempt love, adventure and self-discovery.
Before becoming a romance author, Aares wrote and produced award-winning films including Your Water, Your Life, featuring actress Susan Sarandon and NPR series New Voices, The Powers of the Universe and The Earth’s Imagination.
If not behind her computer, you can probably find her reading a romance novel, hiking the beach or savoring life with friends. You can visit Pamela on the web at http://www.PamelaAares.com.
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