CHAPTER 1

        Samaire Grainger’s hands kept shaking while her chest tightened with anticipation as she turned her car into the parking lot. She took a deep breath and looked at herself in the rear-view mirror.

“You stop it, Sam… Keep your mind on what’s important! Focus!” she muttered, trying to motivate herself. “Besides, he’s your best friend’s brother. He is only a client and nothing more.”

          Well, her brain was saying that, but her body wasn’t listening to a word. It never did when Dominic Weston was involved. Dom, the town’s golden boy now operated his family’s wine bar and tasting room. He was also the star of her wildest fantasies… and her wicked thoughts had become more frequent since they’d started working together.

          It was getting embarrassing. The one fantasy that kept replaying in her head was inconveniently set in his office, since, in the beginning, they were spending a lot of time there.

          During more than one of their meetings, Samaire’s mind had drifted and she had imagined sweeping her arm across his desk and tossing everything to the floor. She would then lay Dom on the desk and rip open his shirt before she licked a path down his rock-hard abs.

          He, of course, would then not be able to keep his hands off her. It was her fantasy, after all… In her dream, the man was overwhelmed with desire and stripped her bare before she straddled his hips and rode him hard.

          Yet, somehow, the fantasy ended with her bent over the desk as he took her from behind, the piece of furniture creaking in protest from his powerful thrusts and Samaire encouraging him with delighted moans.

          That was one of her tamer fantasies, but it kept looping in her head every time she visited him at work. It was worse when they actually met in his office. Last week, Samaire had been in there with him for a brainstorming session and she’d gotten so caught up in the fantasy that she actually pushed a pile of folders off his desk.

          Samaire felt her face turn red at the memory. After that, she’d made a point of meeting away from his office. Still, her pulse skipped when she saw the sign for ‘Cedar Creek Wine Cellars’.

          ‘Okay, Sam… Stay focused. No more fantasizing about Dom and his bare chest, hard abs… Stop that immediately!’ she reminded herself fiercely as she parked her car.

          She grabbed her bag and hopped out of her car. Realizing that she was a little too eager to see Dominic again, Samaire stumbled to a stop and took a deep breath. The September air held the scent of turning leaves and chimney smoke.

          The familiar aroma of fall did nothing to calm her. If anything, it made her think of Dominic sprawled on top of her next to a roaring fireplace.

          ‘Really? Are you doing this right now? Girl, what the hell! Be professional!’

          Samaire pulled her blazer closer to ward off the breeze and looked out into the distance at the snowy cap of Mount Winbourg. The wine bar had a great view and location, but so did all the other tasting rooms that sat side by side on the curving street at the edge of town. At the moment SUVs and sports cars zoomed by, but in the evening, there would be groups of wine enthusiasts walking from one tasting room to the next.

          She frowned when she noticed yet another winery shop had opened up across the street. She recognized the name and shook her head. So unprofessional… and wrong on so many levels. No wonder Dominic had asked her to drop by.

          Tasting rooms were a big business and she was Dom’s secret weapon. As she strode to the entrance of ‘Cedar Creek’, Samaire spotted a few of her neighbors sitting on the patio and enjoying the wonderful sunshine. She waved and they saluted her with their wine glasses.

          As she walked past them, she heard one of the women ask the others, ‘Who’s that girl?’ Samaire sighed as weariness settled in her chest but she didn’t turn around. She was used to that lukewarm reception. It was the disadvantage of always flying under the radar.

          Even if that question stung a little, Samaire kept walking so she didn’t have to hear how the others would answer. From experience she already knew: they’d say she looked familiar but none of them would be able to place her. She’s going to be ‘this girl’ or ‘that girl’… but never Samaire Grainger.

          Which should make her happy… Samaire had cultivated her anonymity since high school. She’d grown up in the small and rural town of Bellmare but her former classmates would be hard-pressed to describe her as anything other than ‘pleasant’ and ‘just a good girl’.

          Samaire was good at marketing her clients and one day she would work on marketing herself. But for now, it was better if she worked in the shadows and behind the scenes. It was safer for someone like her. No one looked at her too closely or sensed the tension that resided in her every moment. She had hidden it well.

          She stepped across the threshold of ‘Cedar Creek Wine Cellars’ and was immediately aware of the casual and lively energy. The dark wood floors and red walls seemed almost too modern for the sleepy town.

          The wine bar was on the first floor and a large spiral staircase that wrapped around a huge wine rack led customers upstairs to the tasting rooms. There were windows everywhere, offering magnificent views of Cedar Creek and evergreen forests.

          Instead of being stuffy and pretentious as some wine bars could be, Samaire found ‘Cedar Creek Wine Cellars’ warm and welcoming. There were a few customers sitting at the dark wooden tables, enjoying the start of happy hour.

          Samaire saw Dominic walk out of the kitchen with a tray of appetizers. Her breath hitched in her throat as she studied him. Dominic Weston was tall and muscular... and dangerously handsome.

          She noticed how perfectly his button-down shirt hung from his solid shoulders and laid against his broad chest. Samaire bit her lip as her gaze traveled down his flat abdomen to take in the way his faded jeans clung to his thighs.

          The man had been handsome and athletic in school but now, at twenty-eight years old, he was in his prime. Samaire dragged her gaze back up to his face. It was risky… sometimes she couldn’t stop staring at him. She knew every line and angle of his blunt cheekbones, square jaw, and slightly crooked nose. Today she noticed he needed to cut his dark brown hair.

          He usually kept it short because he didn’t like how it curled. He spoke to a small group of elderly women who were enjoying a day out. She couldn’t hear what Dom said but Samaire caught snatches of his deep, melodic voice.

          From the mesmerized attention the other women showed, Samaire realized she wasn’t the only one who could listen to him all day. The left corner of his mouth tilted up and then he smiled.

          ‘Oh, sweet Jesus… have mercy on me… I’m hanging by a thread here…’ she thought and sighed slowly, soaking up that brilliant smile.

          Dom was a charmer… a flirt. He knew how to tease gently and how to work that smile. Samaire thought it would be so amazing to see it every day and, especially every night.

          He must have felt her gaze because he suddenly looked in her direction. Samaire tried to give a cool nod as she watched his bright blue eyes light up. Her heart thumped hard against her rib cage, but she wasn’t dumb enough to read anything into his reaction. Dominic was just… a friendly guy when it comes to her. Yep, she was deep into the friendzone…

“Sam!”

          Dom motioned for her to meet him at the bar near the staircase. There were times when he didn’t use to welcome her so warmly, she remembered. Samaire had been the annoying friend of his little sister who was always at his family’s home growing up. He was only two years older but there had been times when it felt as if he had been a world away and just as far out of her league as he was now.

“Okay, Dom,” Samaire said as she sat down on a barstool and placed her bag on the seat next to her. “I came as quickly as I could. What’s the emergency?”

“Have a drink first!”

           He stood on the other side of the bar and rested his arms on top of the counter.

“Chardonnay, right?”

          Samaire was surprised that he remembered her favorite drink from his family’s boutique winery. The wine bar had many loyal customers but she was usually here to discuss projects and rarely indulged in a glass.

“No, thanks. I have to drive later… Now, what’s going on?”

“Listen, I decided to have a party for our reserve label next weekend. Everyone is invited. Not just the wine club.”

          Dominic gestured with his hands as he pictured his idea.

“We have to promote it big.”

“Another event? Next weekend? Are you sure?” Samaire asked cautiously.

          She should keep her mouth shut. Dominic was her best client. She needed all the work she could get but this was getting out of hand. Dominic was always optimistic. Too optimistic for her taste. But then, the guy never failed. Every project he started, every idea that came into his head, was golden.

“Yes, I am. I was thinking… Next Friday. It’ll be fine.”

          Dominic gave another lopsided smile that made her forget to breathe.

“Yay! Who doesn’t love a party?”

          ‘Yours truly… Samaire Grainger… the quintessential wallflower.’

          But no one had ever accused Dominic of being one of those. He knew how to throw a party and these events showcased his strengths. Who was she to say anything?

“Think you can handle the short notice?” Dominic asked.

          Tension squeezed her chest as she considered the amount of work she had to accomplish for her other clients during the week. But to suggest she couldn’t handle the party would be admitting defeat.

“Oh, of course. Piece of cake!” she said with a weak smile.

          Samaire watched him tap his fingers on the bar. The man had a restless, almost insatiable energy. Some people found it exhausting. She found it exhilarating. She wished some of it would rub off on her.

          She had learned from experience that nothing would temper his enthusiasm for his latest project. He couldn’t be bothered with schedules and budgets. Still, Samaire felt compelled to remind him of the potential problems.

“Your events calendar is already packed.”

“I know! Isn’t it great?” Dominic asked. “Business has really picked up since we’ve been focused on our social media. Thank you so much!”

          Samaire ducked her head as her face warmed from the compliment. It felt good to be recognized for her work.

“You’re very welcome,” she said gruffly.

“Hold on, Sam, I’m being called to the kitchen,” he said and walked around the bar. “Wait here. I’ll be right back.”