are a lot of attractive men down there.”
“Anyone in particular catch your fancy?”
Diamond shrugged. “Not really.” Liar, liar, pants on fire. “I was given a partial tour by the supervisor while Taylor handled a call.”
“And…”
“And nothing, Kat. Jeez! He’s tall, but then so are several of the men. Plus, he was wearing a T-shirt.” Much to her chagrin. “I don’t remember a tattoo.”
“The one I’m talking about stands a head and shoulder above the rest. He’s a hunk of burning love,” Kathleen said dreamily. “I don’t see him every day, but the few times I have, he’s left quite an impression. Oh, to be young and single again. I bet his legs aren’t the only things that are long and strong about him.”
“Kathleen!”
“Oh, come now,” Kathleen said, her eyes still twinkling. “You don’t think I became a mother of five by singing ‘Yankee Doodle,’ do you?”
“Ha! I guess not. The man who showed me around is really tall.”
“Handsome?”
“He looks all right. His name is Jackson.”
“Dear, you’re trying really hard not to sound impressed, which means he must have knocked your socks off.” Kathleen leaned forward. “So when are you guys going out?”
“Out?”
Kathleen clucked. “Out…as in on a date? Really, Diamond, sometimes I wonder if you’re twenty-nine or only nine.”
“We’re not going out,” Diamond responded, ignoring the older woman’s jab. “I don’t date men from the workplace.”
“He’s hardly that,” Kathleen insisted. “He doesn’t work for Drake Wines, and he’s not in these offices. I think you should go out with him,” she went on, despite Diamond’s scowl. “If nothing else, it will rid you of the persnickety mood you’ve had of late. You know I love you, Diamond, but in the past few months, you haven’t been your charming, gracious self.”
“Careful, Kat,” Diamond drily replied, turning on her computer and reaching for the mouse. “You’re talking to the woman who signs your paychecks.”
“Technically, my paychecks are signed by your father and the CFO. But you’re the boss, so I’ll button my lip and head back to my desk.” Kathleen reached the door and turned. “But I still think you should go out with him. Who knows what that might lead to?” Her tinkling laughter followed her out of the room.
Diamond couldn’t help smiling as she clicked on her task bar and checked out what was left on the day’s agenda. Kathleen was Diamond’s assistant, but having worked in various capacities at the vineyard for twenty years, she was family, too. She’s right, Diamond acknowledged, as she scrolled down the page. I haven’t been too charming lately.
And Diamond knew why. It was the lack of testosterone in her life and, more specifically, in her bed—a problem she didn’t see being resolved anytime soon. Even as she shifted from her task bar to her calendar and the evening’s obligation—a fundraiser for at-risk youth sponsored by the San Diego Arts Association—she pondered her predicament and Kathleen’s earlier comment. How long was she going to let Benjamin Carter, the ex-fiancé who’d strung her along before breaking her heart, ruin her life?
Abruptly cutting off her computer, Diamond reached for her purse and strode toward the door. Kathleen was right. Benjamin’s refusal to marry her after their long engagement had affected her more than she dared admit. She had buried herself in work and put her life on hold because of it. She’d gone on only a couple dates in almost a year and was probably setting herself up to be an old maid. But no more! “It’s time to get back in the game!” she hissed. Maybe she’d meet someone tonight to play with.
Moments later, Diamond had lowered the top of her convertible and was zooming down the tree-lined roads of Drake Vineyard, soon to be known as Drake Wines Resort & Spa. As she neared the construction site, Jackson’s handsome face and knowing smile drifted into her mind. She remembered the feel of his hand on her waist, and her body reacted, muscles in certain nether regions clenching at the mere possibility of surrounding someone else’s, well, muscle. In spite of her determination not to do so, she eased off the gas, slowing down as her eyes scanned the sweaty bodies still hard at work under the dimming sun. She didn’t see him. She told herself that was a good thing and realized that lying to oneself was not cute.
Diamond reached for her phone and called her hair stylist, who was located in San Diego. “Lecia, it’s Diamond.”
“And let me guess,” Lecia said, as she sewed a track of hair into the head of her current client. “You need to see me ASAP, and I’m supposed to fit you in.”
Diamond laughed. “Something like that. But it’s an emergency. I need a makeover.”
“Oh, Lord. Sounds serious. What time can you be here?”
“In about an hour, hour and a half?”
“You’d better be glad I consider you a friend.”
“Plus I tip well.”
“Ha! That, too. Which I appreciate, since some of these fools hand me an extra dollar and call it a day.”
“You hook me up, and I’ll make it worth your while. See you soon.” Diamond ended the call and was soon speeding down the boulevard to the estate where the entire Drake family still lived. Initially, she’d not been looking forward to a night of gowns and tuxes and rich men trying to impress her with their portfolios. But a certain assistant had suggested change, and a certain well-built construction worker had whetted her appetite. Before the night was over, she decided, she’d find someone to get back in the game with, and try to forget about the man with whom she’d really like to score.
Chapter 6
Jackson pulled up to the valet and exited his latest toy. Next to women, cars were one of his favorite things to collect, and the newly purchased top-of-the-line Maserati GranTurismo fit him to a T. Like him, it was sleek, powerful and stood out in a crowd. He unfolded his tuxedo-clad six-foot-five-inch frame from the sports car, cutting a distinctive swath across the five-star hotel’s well-appointed lobby. Envious glances and flirty stares followed him as he walked to the meticulously landscaped garden, where gloved waiters carried trays of bubbly and hors d’oeuvres. Taking a flute from a passing waiter, he surveyed the grounds quickly filling up with the beautiful people: silk, diamonds, cloying perfume and smiles abounding. For a fleeting second the boy he used to be—poor, insecure, troubled—rose up within him. He wondered how these people would react if they knew where he’d grown up, the things he’d done to survive that childhood and where his mother now resided. A beautiful woman coming toward him distracted him from these uncomfortable thoughts. By the time she arrived at his side, the bravado Jackson had often called upon to mask his fears was firmly back in place.
“Jackson, thanks for accepting my invitation.” Her sparkling blue eyes drank him in much faster than he sipped his champagne. “You look delicious. I’m so glad you came.” She reached up and planted a soft kiss on his chin. “And unaccompanied no less,” she whispered seductively. “A virile man such as yourself shouldn’t
