Avia's Secret

By Shady Grace

Follow her heart, or make her family proud . . . ?

Avia Rockwell—heiress to Melina’s Vineyard—must find a suitable husband. But one forbidden kiss from Cade Kildare, a childhood friend and rakehell foreman, makes all of her promises fall to pieces. When her father insists on a match with a respectable gentleman caller, Avia is forced to follow duty over her heart.

She is far beyond his reach, yet Cade cannot help himself from tormenting Avia at every turn. She’s willful and wild, and everything he desires in a woman. No man will ever be good enough, and as Cade uncovers secrets that could rip her world apart, he will do anything—even give up his life—to save hers.

From Northern California’s wine country to the earthquake that shattered San Francisco, two lovers battle each other and the evil forces bent on tearing them apart.

READER ADVISORY: This book contains scenes of argumentative behavior between a stubborn hero and fiery heroine, hot sex, wicked adventure, and a little twist.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Luminosity Publishing LLP
• Release date: Apr 20, 2018
• ISBN: 9781370735785

Shady Grace

Shady Grace makes Northern Ontario her home, where the bush is so thick you can’t see two feet past the tree line.Perhaps the mystery of the woods was what initially sparked her need to write. She adores strong alpha males who fall for fiery, independent women, in settings with humorous dialogue and action-filled plots.Shady believes love and sex should be exciting and unforgettable. Being able to write about it is better than cheesecake.Shady Grace is the new pen name to mutli-published erotic author, BL Bonita, who received a starred review from Publishers Weekly for her Interracial Western, Dark Sun Rising.

Book preview

AVIA’S SECRET

SHADY GRACE

Follow her heart, or make her family proud . . . ?

Avia Rockwell—heiress to Melina’s Vineyard—must find a suitable husband. But one forbidden kiss from Cade Kildare, a childhood friend and rakehell foreman, makes all of her promises fall to pieces. When her father insists on a match with a respectable gentleman caller, Avia is forced to follow duty over her heart.

She is far beyond his reach, yet Cade cannot help himself from tormenting Avia at every turn. She’s willful and wild, and everything he desires in a woman. No man will ever be good enough, and as Cade uncovers secrets that could rip her world apart, he will do anything—even give up his life—to save hers.

From Northern California’s wine country to the earthquake that shattered San Francisco, two lovers battle each other and the evil forces bent on tearing them apart.

READER ADVISORY: This book contains scenes of argumentative behavior between a stubborn hero and fiery heroine, hot sex, wicked adventure, and a little twist.

AVIA’S SECRET

SHADY GRACE

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LUMINOSITY PUBLISHING LLP

AVIA’S SECRET

Copyright © April 2018 SHADY GRACE

Cover Art by Poppy Designs

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

No part of this literary work may be reproduced in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without the written permission of the publisher.

This is a work of fiction. All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is purely coincidental.

CHAPTER ONE

California, 1904

A loud crash followed by a curse resounded from the main floor.

Avia bolted up in bed and yanked the coverlet up to her chin. The dying flicker from the hearth cast an eerie glow across her chamber floor. It must be well past the midnight hour, and everyone in the house had already turned in hours before.

Perhaps her father had gotten into the wine again.

Fuck . . .

Her eyes widened. Even while intoxicated her father never used foul language, and although Avia knew she should wait for a servant to check the house, her curious nature and desire for adventure were too strong to resist. The fate of the household rested on her shoulders. Besides, sleep was out of the question now.

Whipping the coverlet back, she flung her legs over the bed and retrieved the fire poker from beside the hearth. Clad in her nightshift and slippers, she exited her bedchamber on the second floor and slipped soundlessly down the corridor.

Heart pounding, she crept toward the railing at the second-floor landing and surveyed the foyer. Nothing but moonlight shifted below.

Another loud bang disrupted the eerie quiet. Every nerve bolted to life.

Gripping the poker tight, she took the stairs carefully, inching her way down until she reached the cold tile on the main floor. Something slammed in the kitchen again followed by more indecent language. She raised the poker up with deadly intent and headed straight for the swinging door.

Her father said she was too curious for her own good and always found trouble. But Avia couldn’t lie there in bed like a frightened child when someone had broken into her home.

Now standing just outside the swinging door, she took a deep, reassuring breath, and shoved with her forearm, swinging the fire poker high in the air.

Hold it! she shouted, and found . . .  an empty kitchen.

She lowered the fire poker and frowned. Sitting on the opposite counter was a half-eaten sandwich and a full glass of milk. Nothing to cause alarm—

I’m afraid you’ve caught me.

Avia spun around in horror, her mouth agape, throat tight. Behind the swinging door stood Cade, her childhood nemesis, and the vineyard foreman.

She fixed him with a deadly glare. What are you doing here?

Cade pushed away from the wall, unsteady on his feet, his lazy smile too handsome for his own good, even while intoxicated. His arrogance never failed to grate her nerves. I had a craving for pork.

You’re drunk, she accused, keeping her distance. She’d known Cade since she was a young girl, and judging by the hooded look in his eyes, he was about to say or do something indecent.

She lifted her chin and scowled at the teasing expression on his face, as well as the stench of whiskey and cheap perfume wafting from his person. It was obvious, once again, the blowhard had spent an exciting evening in San Rafael between a bottle and a woman’s skirt.

You need a bath. She forced herself to ignore the way his gray gaze swept over her as though he didn’t want to eat that pork sandwich after all.

Is that how you welcome your guests? he murmured, arching a dark brow.

"You are not a guest, and you are not welcome."

Cade staggered closer. Her heart threatened to skip out of her chest. That’s close enough, she warned, raising the fire poker. I don’t want to have to poke you.

His dark eyes glinted with amusement and something else. Something scandalous. She immediately realized the mistake of her words.

But what if I want a poke? He waggled his brows.

The man was a menace and a scoundrel. If my father knew you spoke to me in such a way he’d fire you, and then have you drawn and quartered.

You are such a duck—he hiccoughed—I feel sorry for the man who weds you.

Avia glared at him. He would fare much better than the poor woman who gets shackled to a scoundrel like you. It wouldn’t surprise me one bit to learn you have several bastards out there. She swung her hand out in sweeping emphasis.

Cade halted in his tracks. Avia caught the hurtful look in his eyes before he corrected himself, conveying an unsettling grin. Oh, no worries, my duck. I take special precautions in that regard.

Avia blushed, unable to stop the vivid picture of how exactly he accomplished that feat, and in a flash, he was standing right in front of her, his hard body too close for safety. Too hot for a young, innocent woman.

Would you like to find out how I do it?

The slap echoed through the room like a slamming screen door.

Cade touched his cheek and grinned. Nothing is more rewarding than a feisty woman.

Avia pulled her arm back to give him another one for good measure, but his hand caught hers before it connected, and at that crucial moment, the kitchen door burst open.

What the devil?

Their attention snapped to the door and the two sets of eyes staring at them in utter shock.

Just what in creation are you two doing? Avia’s father pierced Cade with a look of murderous intent before glancing down at Avia’s nightshift. His eyes widened in disbelief before they narrowed in disgust.

Oh, God. She looked down, realizing in horror that her attire was highly inappropriate for an unmarried woman.

I was just trying to get a bite, Cade replied, flashing a grin to both of her parents. Only her mother smiled in return, and even that was shaky at best. Then she attacked me.

And I was awakened by what I thought was an intruder, Avia retorted. "If I would’ve known it was this . . . this . . . idiot, I would’ve stayed in bed."

Avia glared at him, suddenly realizing he still held her wrist. She yanked her arm away and moved to stand by her mother. Melina had no qualms about finding her only child alone with her favorite young man. After all, she loved Cade dearly and constantly reminded Avia of how handsome and unmarried he was. Still, catching them alone, in the middle of the night, highly displeased her father.

Bradley Rockwell turned to his wife. Take your daughter to her room and lock the door. I have something to say to Cade. Alone.

"Our daughter, marido, and don’t be too hard on that boy," Melina replied, and ushered Avia out the door. Before it swung shut behind them, Avia caught Cade’s crooked grin before her father let into him.

He was full of himself, but he still managed to shake her to the very core of her being. It wasn’t right, and it sure wasn’t fair.

Even in the dim light, she had seen his dimple when he smiled. It killed her every time she saw that little dent in his cheek. But most of all those seductive, magnetic eyes that flickered like moonlight over water, as if licking her skin when he glanced her way, made her yearn for so much more. She was a bad, bad girl for even thinking about him.

Avia?

Lately, there was tension lurking between them she didn’t quite understand. A tension that had her wondering what was going on in the brooding depths of his eyes when he gazed at her across a room. They reflected mischief and something else, something deep.

Avia, are you listening to me?

She turned to her mother with a jerk, realizing they were already at her room and her mother was staring at her, waiting for an answer. What were you saying?

Melina chuckled. Maybe I’m just an old woman hoping for too much, but it seems to me that you and Cade are getting quite close, no?

Avia shook her head, refusing to acknowledge that. Of course not. He’s just being arrogant, as usual.

They entered the room, and when Avia crawled under the covers, Melina sat on the edge, a wondrous look in her eyes. When your father was courting me, he looked at me much the same way.

Avia shuddered. She did not want to know the details of her parents’ love life, yet at the same time, the look on her mother’s lovely face filled her with warmth. They had the kind of love that was true and passionate, and hadn’t faded at all over the years.

As if reading her mind, Melina sighed. Your father and I were lucky that even though the marriage was arranged, we loved each other very much.

Avia rolled her eyes. You speak as though Cade has offered marriage. I beg you not to continue with that kind of thinking. He is a scoundrel, a dog, and a womanizer, not to mention he has no morals. Besides, he’s worked for the family for too many years to have that sort of feeling for me.

A grin that was much too mischievous for comfort spread across her mother’s face. Childhood companionship often leads to the best kind of love. You may not know it yet, but you and Cade would be good for each other.

Avia couldn’t hold back her laughter. You must be kidding me. I don’t even want to think about it.

Melina kissed Avia’s forehead before she stood up and headed for the door. A man who teases a woman such as Cade does you can only mean one thing.

Her mother stood in the doorway, looking so beautiful and elegant with her long, wavy hair as black as night, surrounding her like a halo.

Melina Salvador was considered a great Spanish beauty and many men were jealous of what the Englishman, Bradley Rockwell had stolen from them.

And what would that be?

Love, my daughter. And she closed the door behind her, leaving Avia to wonder when her mother had lost her mind. There was no way on this green earth the wild and untamable Cade Kildare could ever love her. A man like him probably didn’t know the meaning of the word.

More like lust, she whispered.

* * * *

The bright yellow curtains flanking the breakfast room windows were a sore sight to take in after a restless sleep. Avia entered the small yet cozy room and scowled as Cade looked up from his seat next to her father, his sharp gaze taking her in before the corner of his mouth tipped up in a much too teasing grin.

How could a man who was drunk the night before get up this early and look refreshed? Good morning, father, she mumbled, then turned her back to them to add toast and eggs to her plate, all-the-while, quietly fuming as the men discussed business as if she wasn’t even there.

The harvest is nearly complete. I want you to switch places with Gavin and go with the shipment to San Francisco. Considering the situation we had last night, I think it only appropriate that you work where your attention isn’t divided.

Hearing those words in her father’s clipped tone made her stiffen. Her hand holding the buttered knife paused mid-lift as she