Excerpt
Jake welcomed the meditation and the solitude as she drove along the winding coastal road toward Santa Barbara’s wine country. The scenery was breathtaking — a panoramic view of the Pacific Oceanon one side, and the rugged coastal mountains on the other, but she kept seeing Cara and the brunette. Determined to push the thoughts of Cara from her mind, Jake tried to concentrate on her surroundings. The more time and distance I can put between myself and Cara, the better.

After she turned off the coast road, Jake could see the never-ending green rolling hills covered with row upon row of grapevines. The sun was just beginning to set as she passed through the iron gates of Cipriano and started down the oak-lined road to the villa. As she exited the car and approached the carved mahogany doors, she had an odd sense of déjà vu.

Jake was escorted through the villa, then under an archway into a serene ramada where a natural rock waterfall flowed into a sparkling, azure pool. From there she was shown into the Cipriano study, where — framed by the faint light coming in from the window — a person stood looking out at the fading colors of the sun. And that would be the vineyard owner, C. V. Cipriano. Jake had presumed the vintner to be a man, but before her was the curved silhouette of what obviously was a woman.

“Ms. Cipriano?” The vintner did not turn around, and when Jake didn’t get a response, she cleared her throat and introduced herself. “I’m Jacquelyn Biscayne, the temporary replacement for your injured foreman.” Her hostess remained silent. The odd feeling Jake had experienced since arriving at the vineyard was being replaced by an irritation at being treated so rudely, and her anger began to surface. She tried to keep the impatience from her voice. “Look, I was under the impression that you had requested...some help. That would be me. If this is an inconvenient time for you, we can discuss...the details of my employment tomorrow. But for now, it’s been a long day. Could you please have someone show me where I’ll be staying?”

When there was still no response, Jake turned toward the door, muttering, “The audacity... Damn it, who does she think she is? According to the SAC, I’m here at her request, and all she does is bloody well ignore me.” Just as she reached for the handle of the door, she heard a heart-stopping, all-too-familiar voice.

“Jake...please wait.”

The voice sliced at Jake’s heart. She clenched her fists, thankful she hadn’t had time to eat lunch. Forcing her body to turn, she found herself face to face with Cara. They stood looking at one another, neither speaking. Poignant memories washed over them — of the all-too-brief time they’d spent loving each other.

Jake’s eyes filled with tears, and that made her even angrier with Cara and with herself for the schizophrenic emotions she was feeling. Emotions spurred by months of not knowing what had happened and whether Cara was all right, or even alive. Anger surged through her, compounded by her exhaustion and the previous day’s encounter at the hotel. When she was close to Cara, feelings surfaced that she had suppressed for a year, and they terrified her.

Jake reeled from the struggle with her conflicted emotions. Part of her wanted to lash out and hurt Cara by telling her that she no longer wanted her, no longer cared. That she had never really loved her. Another part of her wanted to throw herself into Cara’s strong embrace and feel her soft lips against her temple as she inhaled Cara’s earthy scent.

Paralyzed into immobility, all Jake could do was stare until the emotion overwhelmed her and her chin began to quiver. She could feel the tears building, threatening to spill. She turned and started toward the door, then stopped to regain her composure before wheeling back around. Her anger won out and she let fly her indignation, along with a year’s worth of frustration and rage over Cara’s exit from her life.

“Just who in the hell do you think you are? You...you egotistical, self-absorbed...” Incensed, Jake stepped closer to Cara with each ensuing insult and hurtful word she hurled. By the time she finished and ran out of breath, she was nose to nose with Cara. “Fuck ’em and leave ’em, is that it?”

Unable to take her eyes off the woman, her heart pounding, Cara paled but remained silent until Jake’s tirade was finished. “Jake, please you don’t understand. This is making it harder than—”

“Oh, it is? For who, Cara? You? Because it sure as hell isn’t making it any harder for me. Let me share something with you, Counselor. This will make your day. Since you left me, there has not been a day I haven’t missed you or worried about you. I drove myself crazy wondering where you were and if you were all right. I thought I knew hard until I saw you yesterday with your woman friend!” Jake’s jealousy fueled her vengeful words. “She’s very beautiful, Cara. And you share a child... Fast worker!”

The nearness of Jake’s body and that familiar fire that she loved in Jake, and missed so much, spurred Cara’s desire. Jake was standing, breathing the same air, and Cara couldn’t fight the need she felt for the woman who dominated her every thought. Cara’s arm found its way around Jake’s waist and her other hand caught Jake’s in midair. She pulled Jake to her and hungrily covered her mouth with her own.

At first Jake attempted to push her away, then Jake’s desire erupted and the scorching heat of her tongue accepted Cara’s, sending fire raging through Cara’s body. She heard a moan as her lips left Jake’s to find the pulse point on her neck. Cara was well beyond rational thought as her passion exploded and she ravaged the soft skin she found. Jake’s hands moved to her hips, pulling them closer together, fueling the madness. Cara could hear her voice repeating Jake’s name over and over.