Romancing the Wine: A Boxed Set of 9 Newest Novellas from Award-Winning Authors

by Jan Moran

  “You crunching the numbers?” she asked.

  “I know not every night is going to be like this, but holy shit, what a rush. We made money, enough to pay wages, supplies, everything. I could even replace the barrel we lost last week.”

  “That’s great.”

  “I can even pay you for all the hours you’ve worked, not just the ones you’ve clocked.” Courtney wasn’t concerned about her paycheck at the moment. What she wanted was the experience in marketing, the chance to put all her schooling to use.

  “I was happy to help tonight,” she said.

  “Tonight and every other night you worked past six. How many newspapers did you send the press release too?”

  She held her breath, expecting his frustration at her overstepping her bounds to step up again, but he just waited, a smirk on his face. “Two dozen, I think. I’d have to check my spreadsheet to be sure.”

  “I read it. It’s good. Perfect. Do you know how many people I served tonight who said they’d read it?”

  Courtney shook her head.

  “All of them. That’s why they came. Some of them even asked if they could help with the harvest next year. Said it sounded like fun.”

  “It was fun, mostly,” she said. She’d had an emotional day, first saying good-bye to Humphrey, then Austin offering her a dream job, and Aiden losing his temper with her.

  “I was an ass again,” he said.

  “I get it,” she admitted. “I didn’t mean to betray your trust, but you must realize how important my career is to me. I majored in marketing because that’s what I want to do. I enjoy working here, but if I don’t get to do the marketing, it’s not a good career decision for me to stay.”

  “I know,” he said. “The thing is, I was mad because I don’t want to lose you.”

  “You’re not,” she assured him.

  “But I am. I can’t do this,” he said spreading his arms to signal the winery, “not alone. Tonight was a success because of everything you did.”

  “Tonight was a success because of everything you’ve done, Aiden. If you want advice on marketing or even help, I can do that, but I’m not going to keep working as a receptionist when my dream job was just handed to me on a silver platter.”

  “What if I offered you the marketing position here? I probably can’t meet what Hale offered for salary, but I can do one better. You won’t just be in charge of marketing, but you’ll be the operations manager here.”

  Courtney shook her head. “That’s your job.”

  “No, I’m the owner. I’m needed everywhere. I missed some things tonight, things that wouldn’t have been missed if this was my sole responsibility, but it’s not. I need to oversee the vineyard and the wine making and whatever else pops up. I need someone I trust to handle the operations here, including the marketing.”

  “You want me to handle the marketing?” she asked, not sure she understood him.

  “Yes, the marketing and the operations here. Events, restaurant, tours, everything. My mother, the restaurant and kitchen managers, they will all report to you. I know it’s a lot, but I’ll be here too. I just can’t handle it all by myself. I need you, Courtney, to be my partner in this.”

  So, he was offering her a job, a great job, but what impact would that have on their relationship. After their very public argument earlier, their relationship was now out in the open, how would the other employees look at her.

  “I’m not sure that would work so well,” she admitted.

  Aiden stood from his chair and came around to where Courtney had been standing at ease like she was still in the air force, talking with the non-commissioned officer in charge, or even a commanding officer.

  “Courtney, I don’t just need you here, I need you in my life. I love you, and I want you to be a part of everything I do.”

  “Aiden,” she whispered, searching for the words to tell him how she felt. She hadn’t been expecting this after the fight they’d had.

  “Don’t say anything, just, please, think about it.”

  Aiden had done it, poured his heart out, and while he’d been hoping Courtney would open her heart too, he feared all he’d done was scare her off.

  They’d been taking it slow, but after the other day in his office, and then today when he thought for sure he’d lost her, he needed to put it all out there.

  “You should go home,” he said. It was almost midnight and tomorrow was going to be another long day. The adrenaline still pumped through is veins, but he knew once he got home, he’d pass out like the dead.

  “I’m not going home,” Courtney said, stepping up to him. “Not unless you are coming home with me.”

  “Wha-at?” he stammered.

  “I love you, too, Aiden. I’ve been trying to figure out how to tell you, but you beat me to it. I, I don’t want to take things slow anymore. I want you, I want everything you offered tonight, I want to stop being afraid of my past.”

  “I’m not your past,” he promised. “I’m your future, Courtney. I know I’m going to screw things up along the way, but if you’ll just give me a chance, I promise to do everything I can to make you happy.”

  “You do make me happy,” she said. “I want to be with you, but I don’t want either one of us to make any hasty decisions about my employment here. I think we need to sleep on it.”

  He liked the sound of that. “Together. We sleep on it together.”

  She nodded. “Yes, together. Your place or mine, it doesn’t matter to me.”

  “Is sleep the only thing you had in mind?” he asked.

  Courtney laughed, the sweet sound echoing in his chest as it always did. “Well, no, I was hoping you could talk dirty to me and make me cry your name. Then maybe we can sleep.”

  “I like the sound of that. We better go to my place then. I wouldn’t want to scar Cyn for life with all the crying out I plan to make you do.”

  Epilogue

  Courtney stood next to her husband and business partner, under the archway of apple trees they’d discovered while snow shoeing through the orchard on New Year’s Day. It was the place where he’d proposed, where he insisted they get married, and that their wedding be the first at the new and improved Black Vines Winery and Orchard.

  “Today was a perfect day,” she sighed, ignoring the photographer who kept demanding that they stop kissing so she could snap some non-kissing photos.

  “It was more than perfect. I still can’t believe you agreed to marry me. I can be an ass sometimes.”

  “Well, I didn’t think anyone else would have you,” she laughed. “Plus, you’re a really good kisser.”

  “Is that all I’m good at?” Aiden asked, dipping her.

  Humphrey ran over as if it was an invitation to lick her face. Less than a month after he’d been adopted, the couple returned him to the rescue. They didn’t mind the humping, but the woman had started a new job and since Humphrey didn’t like to be alone, he had destroyed every piece of furniture they owned. They weren’t willing to put him in a crate, so the only option was to return him so he could find a new home.

  Before Courtney had a chance to claim him, Aiden adopted him, citing Humphrey the official Black Vines Winery mascot. He also used it as an excuse to coax Courtney into moving in with him. She didn’t put up an argument.

  “Humphrey’s a good kisser too,” she laughed as Aiden lifted her up.

  “That’s not what I asked,” he said, groping her ass.

  “You know what you’re good at. If you make me say it, you know we’re going to make the photographer blush and she might charge us double.”

  “It’s nothing I haven’t heard before,” Skye Everhart, Pete’s photographer friend, said, “but the sooner we finish this shoot, the sooner you two can get to the honeymoon.”

  Courtney giggled when Aiden nuzzled her neck. “Tell me what I want to hear,” he insisted.

  “Okay, you’re amazing,” she said.

  “Not that, the part about how much you love me.” />
  “Oh, that, well, isn’t it obvious?”

  Aiden shook his head. “Just like when you cry out, honey, I’ll never get tired of hearing you say you love me.”

  Courtney kissed her husband, the only man patient enough to stay by her side. The past eight months hadn’t been all bubbles and roses, but one good thing about fighting was making up and boy did they know how to make up.

  “I love you, Aiden Black, more than I did yesterday, but not as much as I will tomorrow.”

  “I love you, Courtney Black, more than I did yesterday, but not as much as I will tomorrow,” he repeated.

  They’d written their vows together, choosing the words they said to each other every day as a way to pledge their lives to each other.

  She could stand there in the orchard all day, letting him kiss and grope her, but their guests awaited them on the patio outside the winery, overlooking the vineyard. With his mouth covering hers, his tongue making naughty promises she couldn’t wait for him to keep, she started giggling with the telltale vibration of Humphrey doing his thing on Aiden’s leg.

  “It’s a good thing he’s not going on the honeymoon with us,” Aiden said, shaking his head as he nuzzled Courtney’s neck.

  “Just think how happy he’ll be when we come home. He’ll be humping your leg for a week.”

  “Yeah, well, with any luck Cyn will land herself a boyfriend while we’re gone so Humphrey has someone else to harass for a while. Shall we return to the party, Mrs. Black?” he asked holding out his arm.

  “We shall, Mr. Black.”

  They took a slow stroll through the orchard, the photographer shooting her heart out. It was going to take a lifetime to go through all the pictures when they returned from Alaska.

  As they approached the patio, Pete took up the microphone, calling attention to the crowd. “Ladies and gentleman, here they are, Mr. and Mrs. Black, Aiden and Courtney, the perfect pairing.”

  About the Author

  Big dreamer and certifiable overachiever Susan Ann Wall embraces life at full speed and volume. She’s a beer and tea snob, can be bribed with dark chocolate, and the #1 thing on her bucket list is to be the center of a Bon Jovi flash mob.

  Susan is a multi-genre author of racy, rule-breaking romance, women’s fiction, and erotic fiction (her erotic titles are published as Ann Victor). Her bragging rights include over a dozen books in six different series, three perfect children, two amazing rescue dogs, and a happily ever after that started while serving in the U.S. Army and has spanned two decades (which is crazy since she’s not a day over 29).

  In her next life, Susan plans to be a 5 foot 10, size 8 rock star married to a chiropractor and will not be terrified of large bridges, spiders, or quiet people (shiver).

  You can find Susan online at:

  www.authorsusanannwall.com

  Facebook: Author Susan Ann Wall

  Books by Susan Ann Wall

  Puget Sound ~ Alive With Love Series

  The Sound of Consequence (April 2013)

  The Sound of Betrayal (August 2013)

  The Sound of Suspicion (January 2014)

  The Sound of Deception (June 2014)

  The Sound of Circumstance (December 2015)

  The Sound of Reluctance (Coming Soon)

  Fighting Back for Love Series

  Relay For Love (May 2011)

  A Flame Burns Inside (January 2012)

  Worth the Fight (Coming Soon)

  Superstitious Brides Series

  Marrying for Love (January 2016)

  For the Love of Chocolate (February 2016)

  3rd Trip to the Altar (August 2016)

  The Perfect Pairing (September 2016)

  Devon Taggart Suspense Series

  Broken Strings (April 2016)

  Sunset Valley Women’s Fiction Series

  Whisper to a Scream (May 2016)

  Too Many Daughters (Coming Soon)

  Multi-Author Anthologies

  Book Boyfriends Cafe Summer Lovin’ (May 2015) 14 summer romances from USA Today and National Bestselling authors (includes Relay For Love)

  Book Boyfriends Cafe Tall, Dark, & Loaded (January 2016)

  6 billionaire romances from USA Today and National Bestselling authors (includes Marrying for Love)

  Love Notes Country Music-Themed Collection (April 2016)

  8 country-music themed novels and novellas from USA Today and National Bestselling authors (includes Broken Strings)

  Summer Solstice: When Friends Become Lovers (June 2016)

  9 friends to lovers romances from USA Today and National Bestselling authors (includes The Sound of Deception)

  Romancing the Wine (September 2016)

  10 wine-themed romances from USA Today and National Bestselling authors (includes The Perfect Pairing)

  Let it Breathe

  Sydney Aaliyah Michelle

  Copyright © 2016 by:

  Sydney Aaliyah Michelle

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the Publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.

  This book was built at IndieWrites.com. Visit us on Facebook.

  160805.212413

  Chapter 1

  Donovan

  "Donovan."

  The seductive voice woke me from my dream. I reached out and pulled her close to me, but she felt all wrong.

  In my dream, she had curves, and her body was smooth and soft.

  I ran my hand up her side. Instead of taking a voyage over a curvy landscape, my hand slid straight up.

  She giggled as I palmed her breast.

  Breasts are supposed to move, right?

  I opened one eye and peeked at her mounds. They sat high and hard like two softballs on her chest. No, I could palm a softball or even a football; these were more like basketballs.

  After countless research and in my expert opinon, I concluded, breast should not look like basketballs, especially not on her size zero frame.

  I rolled away from her and sat on the edge of my bed. My brain bounced around in my skull. Last night's activities flooded into my brain. It came back all at once, and I groaned. A strip club called Coral or Carriage flashed in neon signs behind my eyes. I forced my eyes open despite the harsh sunlight assaulting my brain.

  What time is it?

  She crawled up behind me. I arched away as her breast poked me in the back.

  Or maybe her name was Coral? Yeah, that was it. Coral was her stripper name. That was how she introduced herself to me.

  Last night, she had slinked up to me and whispered in my ear, "Hi, Donovan, my stripper name is Coral, but if you fuck me, you can all me anything you want."

  I shook the image out of my head.

  I used some of those moves I was famous for and slipped out of her grasp. I didn't even look back as I escaped into the bathroom.

  I'm hiding from this woman in my own home?

  I grabbed two aspirin from the medicine cabinet and downed it with water from the faucet. I turned on the shower and let the hot water steam up the huge shower stall. It could fit six people or twelve naked women.

  "Donovan, you want me to join you?"

  I locked the door with some force.

  When I stepped into the shower, I grunted and moaned as the hot spray washed over my bald head. It hurt like hell, but I needed to sweat and wash last night out of my system.

  I didn't often party like a rookie, but last night was out of control. It started innocent enough. Dinner with Calvin and a couple of teammates before they headed back home for the off-season. One of my childhood buddies had been passing through town and joined us. It never failed, as soon as one of them suggested a strip club, I knew the night would be forgettable, and I'd end up with a Crystal or a Tammy or, as it turned out, a Coral.

  I squeezed my eyes shut but had to hold the side of the shower as a bout of nausea hit me. I used to party like this all the time, but as I get older, it gets harder
to recover.

  It wasn't fun anymore. Last night was a continuation of my personal pity party. A few days ago, we lost a close game—twenty-eight to thirty-one in overtime. It was my first playoff game, and I scored the tying touchdown, but our defense couldn't hold them. We were heavily favored in the game. Losing in the first round was not supposed to happen, but as the saying goes, I guess that's why they play the game.

  Coral banged on the bathroom door. Couldn't she take a hint?

  I turned off the shower, and the banging grew louder.

  "Donovan," she yelled.

  "I'll be out in a minute." I wrapped a towel around my waist.

  "Someone’s in your apartment."

  I swung the door open, and she yelped and jumped back out of the way. My 3,000 count Egyptian sheets wrapped around her body pissed me off.

  "Donovan." A gruff voice echoed through my apartment.

  I turned toward the voice on the other side of my door and grinned.

  "Who is that?" Coral asked.

  I shrugged and headed to the door.

  "Well, don't open it. He might be an intruder."

  Never mind. I lived on the twenty-sixth floor of a building so secure; guests needed a passport to enter.

  "Let me check. You’d better get dress." I pointed toward her dress balled up on the floor.

  "Okay. Be careful." She dropped the sheet. I shook my head. Her ass offered no appeal. It was flat with no line of demarcation between her ass and her thighs. I prayed she didn't leave anything behind. Women did that to me all the time, like finding their nasty panties under my pillow would make me call them.