She did just that, hanging the child’s drawing next to the eight-by-ten of her ad for Palette Cosmetics.
Poppy stood back with her hands on her hips to appraise the new second row of photos that she’d devised.
Demi Barnes, fists clenched in the pocket of her waitress uniform, came up to Poppy.
“Keval is insisting on hazelnut syrup in his Hairbender and we’re out. What should I do?”
Poppy glanced over at where Keval held Miss Sweetie, hand-feeding her the toast he’d ordered while Poppy’s chocolate Lab sat patiently, waiting for his dole. “None for Jackson,” she called out. “He’s getting to be a beast since I’ve been bringing him in here.”
To Demi she lowered her voice and said, “Convince Keval that the caramel’s equally good. And put hazelnut on the shopping list you’re writing up for me.”
Her mom came in wearing a sun visor and wraparound sunglasses. “Now, don’t forget to clean the vent hoods and the ice machine next week. The HVAC guy is coming Tuesday. And—”
“I’ve got it, Mom. You just go now and have fun.”
“Don’t worry, we’ll keep an eye on her,” called Liz Greenburn from the table where she sat with Heath’s dad, who was munching a muffin.
“Scarlett?” Big Pop entered wearing his fancy new driving cap, in search of his wife. Outside along the curb, their motor home idled loudly. “We’re burning daylight. Poppy’ll be fine. You can call her every day from the road.”
“I know . . .” Mom gave Poppy a wistful look.
Poppy gave her a hug. “You heard him. Get going. I love you.”
“Oh, I love you, too, honey. Take care.”
* * *
“What is Demi doing working for Poppy?” asked Sam at the corner booth he shared with Red.
Red raised an eyebrow. “Government budget cutbacks are a bitch,” she replied, smirking around the straw she held to her lips.
They watched Heath stroll in after pumping his future father-in-law’s hand one last time before the Springers left on their extended trip south.
“Second question,” said Sam as Heath greeted Poppy with a hug and a kiss. “What technique did you use to convince Poppy that Heath was the one?”
“Nothing but a little reverse psychology. How about you? How’d you light a fire under Heath?”
Sam laid his napkin beside his empty plate. “Chemists always have solutions.”
To his satisfaction, Red groaned and rolled her eyes.
“Owens, you are so lame.”
Sam folded his arms and leaned in. “Heath always knew what he had to do. All he needed was a shove in the right direction.”
At that, she gave him a grin. “Up high,” she said, raising her hand.
Their palms met with a resounding slap.
Acknowledgments
Intoxicating marks a turning point in my writing career. Kensington has announced that my next series, A Ribbon Ridge Romance, will be published in mass-market paperback as well as digitally. And it’s all due to you, loyal readers. I can’t thank you enough!
For me, novel writing is not so much about finding the right words as it is editing out the wrong ones. Getting to the heart of the story in much the same way that a sculptor carves away stone to reveal the statue underneath.
After months of hard labor, with the trepidation of a mother surrendering her newborn, the manuscript is finally delivered to its editor. I’ve been blessed to find a nurturing foster mother in my editor, Esi Sogah. With a few well-chosen words of her own, Esi zeroes in on just what is needed to make my books the best they can be.
Thank you to Esi, production editor Rebecca Cremonese, and all the professionals at Kensington Publishing who have helped nurture Intoxicating, our sixth book-baby.
Last, I want to mention how much fun I had researching real senior superlatives on the Web. I pored over dozens of clever examples in my quest to compose one that was uniquely Poppy. Thanks to all you bright young journalists for the inspiration. Keep writing. And never stop reading.
All the best,
Heather
A PERFECT PAIRING
Juniper Hart has her dream job—or rather, her dream job has her. Under Junie’s management, the winery her late father started is finally getting noticed. But she’s lonely, deep in debt, and overwhelmed with work. Even if she had time to date, the only men she meets are smug, stemware-breaking hotshots like Lieutenant Manolo Santos, whose good looks and smooth charm don’t half make up for the sour taste he leaves on Junie’s palate.
After years as an army engineer and a childhood in a restaurant kitchen, Manolo can see Junie’s winery is about to go sideways—and he’s bursting with ideas to help. Except Junie’s far too magnetic for comfort. He left New Jersey to escape becoming one more Santos man shackled to a captivating woman and a failing family business. But in the misty hills of Oregon, with a sip of supple pinot on his tongue, pulling away is the last thing he wants to do . . .
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Join author Heather Heyford as she uncorks a sparkling new series following the St. Pierre sisters, heiresses to a Napa wine fortune who are toasting the good life and are thirsty for love . . .
Chardonnay St. Pierre’s father is as infamous for his scandals as he is famous for his wine, and it’s up to Char to restore the family name. The Challenge, an elite charity competition held in Napa, seems like the perfect opportunity for the socialite to cement her image as a philanthropist. But all eyes—including Char’s—are on the Hollywood heartthrob who’s also entered the race . . .
Long before his face was splashed across the gossip magazines, Ryder McBride grew up in a working-class family in Napa. He knows all about the St. Pierre sisters and their notorious father, and when he learns he’ll be up against Char in The Challenge, he assumes the grape doesn’t fall far from the vine. But the more they get to know one another, the more they begin to realize that nothing pairs better with a heated rivalry than a healthy pour of flirtation . . .
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Raise your glass and join Heather Heyford as she pours a second serving in her series following these headstrong wine heiresses in their quest to strike out on their own . . .
Merlot St. Pierre is struggling to break free from her family name. Her college classmates whisper behind her back that her passion for jewelry design is little more than a hobby, since she’ll always have her father’s fortune. But Meri is determined to prove them wrong, and with the help of a handsome jewelry buyer, she just may taste her first sip of success—as long as she can hide who she really is . . .
Mark Newman’s family owns a chain of high-end jewelry stores, and he’s working hard to get out from under his aunt’s thumb and prove he has a good eye and a head for business. He’s certain Meri’s designs could be the next big thing, but he’ll have to convince her that she can use her famous last name to her advantage. As their business partnership takes root, an attraction begins to flourish—but they’ll both find that love, like wine, takes time to perfect . . .
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Join Heather Heyford as she returns to Napa for a third taste in her series following three wine heiresses, each as vibrant and unique as the grapes for which they were named...
Sauvignon St. Pierre has always been fiercely ambitious. She easily could’ve cashed in on her family’s fortune, but instead she struck out on her own, breezed through law school, and landed a job at a small firm in Napa. Savvy’s life is as tidy and straightforward as her sizable collection of little black dresses, and she likes it that way—but every now and then, she can’t help but long for her first sip of love . . .
After a chance encounter with Esteban Morales, the caliente son of Papa St. Pierre’s long-time rival, something inside Savvy wakes up. It could be that Esteban’s interest in cultivating lavender appeals to her passion for perfumery. But there’s something else about the charming but down-to-earth farmer that she simply can’t resist. They both
know their families are an unlikely pairing, but together, Savvy and Esteban just may be the ideal varietals for a perfect blend . . .
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As author Heather Heyford pours a final glass in her series following three Napa wine heiresses, a newcomer must work her way into a tightly-knit family whose bond has been fermenting for years . . .
Though they each have their own ambitions and are known to be competitive—even with one another—the St. Pierre sisters are fiercely loyal. Chardonnay and Merlot are thrilled about Sauvignon’s wedding day, and it’s slated to be the soirée of the decade among Napa’s most elite residents. Given the family’s notoriety, it almost stands to reason that their eccentric father, Xavier, would arrive by helicopter. But no one could have anticipated the wedding surprise he’d brought along with him . . .
The product of one of Xavier’s many affairs, Sake is introduced as the half-Japanese sister the St. Pierre girls never knew they had. She struggles to break into clique-ish Napa society—and getting in with her sisters is proving more difficult than nabbing a ’74 Cabernet. It seems only high-end realtor Bill Diamond can tell there’s more to Sake than meets the eye. Afraid of repeating her mother’s mistakes, Sake just hopes that getting drunk on love won’t leave her with a hangover of rejection . . .
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Heather Heyford learned to walk and talk in Texas, then moved to England. (“Y’all want some scones?”) While in Europe, Heather was forced by her cruel parents to spend Saturdays in the leopard vinyl back seat of their Peugeot, motoring from one medieval pile to the next for the lame purpose of “learning something.” What she soon learned was how to allay the boredom by stashing a Cosmo under the seat. Now a recovering teacher, Heather writes romance novels set in the wine country. She is represented by the Nancy Yost Literary Agency.
Click here to get all the latest news from Heather Heyford!
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