A Taste of Romance Read online

  Table of Contents

  Cover

  Table of Contents

  Look for these titles from Rhonda Laurel

  Title Page

  Copyright Warning

  Dedication

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  About the Author

  Also by Rhonda Laurel

  Look for these titles from Rhonda Laurel

  Now Available

  The All or Nothing Series

  Hard Target (Book One)

  Second Chance at Love (Book Two)

  Family Matters (Book Three)

  Love at Last (Book Four)

  Covert Affairs (Book Five)

  Restless Heart (Book Six)

  Hot Pursuit (Book Seven)

  A Taste of Romance (Book Eight)

  The Blake Boys Series

  For the Love of the Game (Book One)

  MVP (Book Two)

  The Blake Legacy (Book Three)

  Texas Heat (Book Four)

  Love Notes and Football (Book Five)

  The Perfect Storm (Book Six)

  Slow Burn (Book Seven)

  Cowboy’s Heart (Book Eight)

  Tempting Fate (Book Nine)

  Executive Desires (Book Ten)

  Meet the Blakes (Book Eleven)

  The Final Play (Book Twelve)

  Stranded in Paradise (Book Thirteen)

  Slap Shot (Book Fourteen)

  Off Season (Book Fifteen)

  Worth the Wait (Book Sixteen)

  Leap of Faith (Book Seventeen)

  Begin Again (Book Eighteen)

  Playing for Keeps (Book Nineteen)

  The Hollywood Heat Series

  Star Crossed (Book One)

  Hollywood Rush (Book Two)

  Double Exposure (Book Three)

  Ebb Tide

  Shutter

  A Taste of Romance

  All or Nothing Series Book Eight

  Rhonda Laurel

  Etopia Press

  Copyright Warning

  EBooks are not transferable. They cannot be sold, shared, or given away. The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is a crime punishable by law. No part of this book may be scanned, uploaded to or downloaded from file sharing sites, or distributed in any other way via the Internet or any other means, electronic or print, without the publisher’s permission. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000 (http://www.fbi.gov/ipr/).

  This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are fictitious or have been used fictitiously, and are not to be construed as real in any way. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales, or organizations is entirely coincidental.

  Published By

  Etopia Press

  1643 Warwick Ave., #124

  Warwick, RI 02889

  http://www.etopiapress.com

  A Taste of Romance

  Copyright © 2018 by Rhonda Laurel

  ISBN: 978-1-947135-88-8

  All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

  First Etopia Press electronic publication: June 2018

  ~ Dedication ~

  To Marco and Trina, thanks for finding love in the fun, sun, and the brilliance of the wine country.

  CHAPTER ONE

  Trina Reed stopped packing her clothes, plopped onto the huge, king-size bed, and rubbed her temples. She needed to get out of Hollywood. The sooner, the better.

  It had been a chaotic week doing publicity for her upcoming album and today was no exception. She was finally realizing her dream of being a world-famous singer, but the reality of show business was more intimidating and relentless than she’d anticipated. Nowadays, when a microphone wasn’t being shoved in front of her face, she was posing for photo ops. It’s not that she didn’t appreciate the media frenzy. Her record label Atlantis Blue was rolling out the red carpet. She just hoped she wouldn’t trip on it.

  Her life had been a whirlwind lately. She’d been fawned over and had mingled with celebrities. The record label had paired her with their pop sensation Lana McNeal to show her the ropes. She’d caught the eye of Godfrey—the hot music producer who worked with music megastars—on the set of Lana’s music video shoot. They’d flirted for a bit, and she’d ended up accepting a dinner invitation from him. They’d been photographed leaving the restaurant. Now the rumor mill was buzzing about them being involved romantically. Which was ridiculous because they barely knew each other. Trina had to admit it was cool hanging out with the stars. The fast and furious Hollywood lifestyle was all rather seductive as they got into the best restaurants, were granted private access to trendy shops, and had paparazzi chasing after them. But reality had come crashing down on her tonight.

  She’d made a fool of herself.

  The entertainment news show Entertainment Now was interviewing Lana at the rehearsal soundstage where she was preparing for her world tour. During the interview, she’d been spontaneously given a chance to showcase her upcoming talent, and she froze like a deer in headlights.

  As soon as the microphone was thrust into her hands, the camera was aimed at her, and the band began to play the song which would be her debut, and the moment became all too real. She wasn’t in Philly singing in intimate venues like the Slap Shot. She was being broadcast to millions of people.

  Then she went to a party at Lana’s house that evening and tried her best to keep her mind off the incident. She’d run into Godfrey again at the party. He was so charming and funny, she’d resolved to forget about freezing up earlier. But that was easier said than done. She couldn’t help but worry about what was going on. She’d never done that before. But she wasn’t in her hometown in a small venue either. She was in the big leagues now, and it was scary. Godfrey had managed to cheer her up, and after a few drinks, he suggested a walk on the beach. Things were going great until he put the moves on her. She put him in check and left Lana’s house in such a hurry that she’d forgotten Lana wanted to make a toast to and her album debut and announce that Trina would her opening act for the first four dates of her latest concert tour.

  Her cell phone rang. She glanced at the screen to see it was her cousin Charisma. She hadn’t kept in constant contact with her family like she normally had since she’d arrived in Los Angeles. She didn’t want to answer, but she knew her family. If she didn’t, half of them would be on a plane headed to California.

  She sighed. “Hey, Charisma.”

  “What’s going on? No calls for the last three days?”

  “I texted updates.”

  “You know that’s not the same with us,” Charisma continued. “I like talking to you on the phone.”

  “I’ve missed you too. But I’ve been crazy traveling around with Lana and her entourage. The only quiet moments come is when my head is hitting the pillow to get enough sleep for the next day’s activities.”

  “I saw the segment on Entertainment Now this evening. What happened?”

  “I’d rather not talk about it. I’m still in the throes of humiliation.”

  And she definitely didn’t want to talk about what happened with Godfrey tonight.

  “I know it sucked, but don’t let it get you down.” Charis
ma’s curious tone softened. “It would have been the perfect time to give people a taste of what’s to come in a few weeks when you make your big debut. Was that microphone sabotaged?”

  What was her cousin talking about?

  “Excuse me?”

  “Lana posted on social media that there was a technical malfunction. Her fans are angry you didn’t get a second chance. Then it kind of turned into a storm of speculation, like someone was jealous and did something to the equipment so you couldn’t sing.”

  So that’s how they were spinning it. It made sense. It would be a bad look if word got out she had a fear of singing in front of a large crowd.

  “It’s not necessary. People like to turn just about anything into a conspiracy theory these days. It was just a random mistake.” She bit her lip.

  “I knew I should have come with you. Someone in the family needs to watch your back,” Charisma lamented.

  “As fun as it would’ve been to hang out with you, you have two kids to look after and that big design project you’re working on. You don’t have time to babysit me.”

  “Derek and I would have made it work.”

  “There’s no need for anyone in the family to quit their jobs and follow me around. I have a manager, remember?”

  “Yeah. I love the lady, but she’s small potatoes. I wouldn’t be surprised if she weren’t out there trying to make deals for herself instead of you.”

  She didn’t want to tell Charisma that was true. Her manager and her team were sweet, but since they’d arrived in Los Angeles, they’d spent a lot of time schmoozing at parties and less time focusing on Trina’s agenda.

  “Did you tell Kate what happened?”

  “No. I’m not calling the head of Atlantis Blue over something trivial. The woman is a powerhouse in the industry who also owns a movie studio. I hardly think she has time for me.”

  She took a deep breath, but still felt like she couldn’t get enough air. This was all becoming too much. She wanted to head back to Philly after the bizarre peek behind the curtain of celebrity coupled with her homesickness. “This isn’t working out. To be honest, I want to come home.”

  “Don’t leave,” Charisma said. “And don’t give up. Kate’s having that party for you. Not to mention your other commitments.”

  “Going to Lana’s music video shoot is hardly a commitment. It was just for me to see the inner workings and get some more press time with Lana, which I hate. She’s a bit much. Always barking demands, and she treats her staff like crap. But when the cameras are on, she transforms into her syrupy-sweet, pop-star persona. It’s weird.”

  “Relax. Go shopping.”

  “I’m not staying in Los Angeles.”

  “Hmm. Maybe what you need is a little time away. You have family in the state. Why don’t you take some time off and go to Harper’s Grove to see Alex, Peyton, and the kids?”

  “I couldn’t impose on them like that.”

  “It’s no imposition. They’re family.”

  “I don’t know…”

  “You need this. Go de-stress. Have a glass of wine. Take a bubble bath. I’ll call Alex and get the ball rolling and give you a call back.”

  What did she have to lose? Maybe it would help with her homesickness and get some of her moxie back. It also delayed turning tail and running back to Philly. “OK. But don’t pressure him or make me sound like I’m going to jump off my hotel balcony.”

  Charisma laughed. “Don’t worry, I won’t. Listen, things are going to be fine. You watch.”

  Trina hung up the phone feeling a little better. She didn’t want to impose on Alex and Peyton, but it was nice to know they were there. She’d hated that she’d missed their wedding due to a singing gig her manager had gotten for her. If they were busy, she’d find something else to do before she made her decision whether or not to give up her dreams and leave permanently.

  Within a matter of minutes, Charisma called her back.

  “Bad news. Alex and Peyton have a hectic schedule right now. They’d love for you to visit, but Alex has patients, and Peyton is doing some field trip thing with the kids. They wouldn’t be able to come and get you. But you could take a plane to Harper’s Grove.”

  “Or.” Trina trailed off.

  “Or what?”

  She could drive herself to Harper’s Grove. It would be a blast to get out on the open road and see California in one those romantic road trips she’d read about in magazines. Taking in the iconic scenic sights, the wind in her hair, and the sun caressing her skin. It was just what she needed after the hectic week she’d had. It would help put the nightmare of a day in her rear view.

  “I could drive to Harper’s Grove.”

  “Drive?” Charisma said. “I think Harper’s Grove is quite a way from Los Angeles. Alex complained about the time they’d driven on vacation. And you were always the biggest complainer in the family when we took long trips as kids. I’m pretty sure you invented ‘are we there yet?’”

  True. She was the first to get cranky on the family trips, but she liked to believe she’d grown some from being an impatient teenager. “How far are we talking?”

  “Let me check. I have my laptop right here.” Charisma began tapping away. “It’s far.”

  “Well, I can take breaks and pace myself. I’m sure there will be interesting things to see along the way.”

  “Yes, but you can’t just stop anywhere. You have to be careful traveling alone. Hey. You could stop over in Napa.”

  “Napa?”

  “You know, the wine country.” Charisma laughed. “You could visit the Paloma Vineyards. Marco’s a friend of the family. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind. You could grab a bite to eat, walk the beautiful grounds and decompress before you get back on the road. I wouldn’t worry about you if I knew you were with Marco.”

  “It sounds like a nice plan, but it relies heavily on a lot of people going out of their way. Now this Marco guy is involved.”

  “Don’t be silly.” Charisma said. “Derek will call Alex back with your travel plans. They’ll reach out to Marco.”

  “Wait! What?”

  “Do it. You can get your mind off what happened today. Although, I do want to talk later. You don’t sound like yourself. My cousin Trina is a fighter. You sound like you want to come home and give up on your dream and you’re so close. Take a break, and you’ll feel refreshed for your album release party. Wait one sec.” Charisma put her on hold again then came back a minute later. “They’re working out the details, but it’s all good. You’re on your way to Paloma Vineyards. I’ll call back with the final details.”

  It was so nice that everyone was coming together so quickly for her. How could she say no? “It’s worth a shot. Thanks, Charisma.”

  She opened the Internet app on her phone and did a name search to see what the latest gossip was on her gaffe during the interview. She found that salacious tidbit had been replaced with another headline. Apparently, she and Godfrey were now a couple and had a fight at Lana’s party. Someone must have seen them on the beach and misconstrued what they’d seen. She let out a deep sigh and closed the webpage. The situation was getting worse by the second.

  She needed to get what she’d just read out of her head, so she put in a search for the Paloma Vineyard. The website popped up and she was instantly in love with the rolling hills of grapevines. It all looked so scenic and romantic. Who wouldn’t want to drink wine while gazing out at a lush, picturesque landscape? They also had tasting tours and a small café where she could get something to eat. The menu made everything sound delectable. She scrolled over to the bio of the owner, Marco. There was no picture, but he spoke so passionately about the art of winemaking.

  A day at a cozy vineyard sounded fun. She headed for the bathroom. Charisma was right. A hot bubble bath would help wash off today’s drama. She’d send her manager a text that she was leaving town for a while.

  She’d head out in the morning for Napa. Maybe then she could get the chaos her lif
e had become under some kind of control again…

  * * *

  Marco smiled as the best man held up his glass for a toast. Paloma Vineyards had hosted plenty of special events, but this one was especially close to his heart. It wasn’t every day his friends Wesley and Rianne, who also worked for him, tied the knot at the place where they met. It had been love at first sight for tasting room manager Wesley the day Rianne started as the winery’s accountant. He fondly remembered the instant attraction between the two as Wesley insisted on giving Rianne a tour of the facility. The rest was history. Marco had gained a great employee in his intimate, tight-knit group, and Wesley had found the love of his life. The couple would be honeymooning in the Caribbean for the next two weeks, which meant he’d be doing double duty around the vineyard until they returned.

  The clapping of the guests brought him out of his thoughts. The best man had finished his toast, and everyone went back to chatting and dancing. He could see Kendall, one of the bridesmaids, in his peripheral vision. He’d successfully dodged Rianne’s friend since she’d started visiting the winery to help plan with the wedding. Kendall had flirted shamelessly, and he’d reciprocated out of reflex, but he’d instantly regretted it once she’d been even more clear about what she wanted after downing glasses of champagne at the reception. Sure, she was a pretty woman, and having read the signals she was sending him, it would have been easy to do something stupid like sleep with her.

  He’d become a diehard playboy after two failed marriages left him feeling commitment wasn’t for him. Temporary relationships suited him just fine. He kept things light and didn’t encourage any relationship talk. The vineyard was his first love, and he didn’t put much stock in temporary passions.

  But he’d ignore his friend Grayson’s advice to let loose and have some fun. He knew Grayson meant well, but Marco wasn’t interested in a temporary hook-up solution to the lack of romance in his life. He’d recently given up his playboy ways because he wanted more, something deeper, fulfilling, and that required discernment…no matter how tempting one night of passion might be.