Grafted Vines: Intertwined Hearts, #4

By Kimi Flores

It's often said, when one door closes another opens. But what if, in the end, you're left standing alone in its threshold?

 

At fifteen, Dani Valdez lost the most important man in her life—her father. After years of therapy, she's continued to make one bad choice after another, desperate to soothe the emptiness his death left behind. Even with a fulfilling career as an in-home nurse and caregiver, her personal life is less than stellar. Now in her early thirties, not only is Dani the oldest and curviest girl in her group of friends, but she's also the last childless, single female. It's time for her to take a new path, so she's pushing past her self-doubts and taking control of her destiny. And with her close friend, Zachary, there to support her, she's confident in her decision. That is, if she can get over the fact that Zachary is the love she's not meant to have.

 

Zachary will never forget what it felt like to be hungry and abandoned by his mother in their rundown, dirty apartment. He still couldn't believe he'd been given a second chance as a teen when Joel Evanwood not only adopted him, but also taught him how to run his vineyard. After an impulsive one-night stand with Dani, his best friend, Zachary decides to shut everything out and throw himself into work. He can't take a risk on a relationship with her, even if he wants to. But when a devastating diagnosis alters his world, he will reach for the only steady thing in his life—her.

 

It doesn't take long before their relationship heads down an uncomfortable road, reminding him of why he can't give her everything she wants. To stand by her, he'll have to deal with old memories he'd rather leave buried.

 

But is Zachary strong enough to let Dani in to see the painful burden he's carried from his past? Or will his stubbornness kill any chance they will ever have?

 

*** Grafted Vines is a heartfelt contemporary romance with many laugh-out-loud moments and has a small-town feel. The characters have sizzling chemistry and don't shy away from sharing their pasts or their attraction to each other, but intimate scenes are not explicit ***

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kimi Flores
• Release date: May 19, 2016
• ISBN: 9781533245984

Book preview

Grafted Vines

Book 4 in the Intertwined Hearts Series*

By Kimi Flores

*Can be read as a standalone or part of the series

BLURB:

It’s often said, when one door closes another opens. But what if, in the end, you’re left standing alone in its threshold?

At fifteen, Dani Valdez lost the most important man in her life—her father. After years of therapy, she’s continued to make one bad choice after another, desperate to soothe the emptiness his death left behind. Even with a fulfilling career as an in-home nurse and caregiver, her personal life is less than stellar. Now in her early thirties, not only is Dani the oldest and curviest girl in her group of friends, but she’s also the last childless, single female. It’s time for her to take a new path, so she’s pushing past her self-doubts and taking control of her destiny. And with her close friend, Zachary, there to support her, she’s confident in her decision. That is, if she can get over the fact that Zachary is the love she’s not meant to have.

Zachary will never forget what it felt like to be hungry and abandoned by his mother in their rundown, dirty apartment. He still couldn’t believe he’d been given a second chance as a teen when Joel Evanwood not only adopted him, but also taught him how to run his vineyard. After an impulsive one-night stand with Dani, his best friend, Zachary decides to shut everything out and throw himself into work. He can’t take a risk on a relationship with her, even if he wants to. But when a devastating diagnosis alters his world, he will reach for the only steady thing in his life—her.

It doesn’t take long before their relationship heads down an uncomfortable road, reminding him of why he can’t give her everything she wants. To stand by her, he’ll have to deal with old memories he’d rather leave buried.

But is Zachary strong enough to let Dani in to see the painful burden he’s carried from his past? Or will his stubbornness kill any chance they will ever have?

✰✰✰ Grafted Vines is a heartfelt contemporary romance with many laugh-out-loud moments and has a small-town feel. The characters have sizzling chemistry and don't shy away from sharing their pasts or their attraction to each other, but intimate scenes are not explicit ✰✰✰

Originally published in 2016

2nd edition © 2017 Kimi Flores

Cover Design by

Dark Water Covers

Editing by

Megan Hand at Story Girl Editing

Critiquing by

It’s Your Story Content Editing

All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the author or publisher.

This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real locales are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, or incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to the actual events, locales, and persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owner.

To each amazing reader who has supported my writing journey. Zachary & Dani’s story would not have been written without your encouragement.

Thank you!

Acknowledgments

Each person listed below played a pivotal role in getting Grafted Vines published. This section is unedited so please forgive grammatical errors.

Tbird London— Thank you for your incredible friendship and all the hours your spend critiquing my work. I go through withdrawals if we don’t have our daily chats and couldn’t imagine my life without my sista-friend <3

Megan Hand— I am so blessed to have you on my team. I adore you my sweet friend!

Tracie Douglas—Thank you for the gorgeous covers you designed and for putting up with my nit picking.

Nikki Boligitz and Christina Teel — Professionally, my beta readers and table assistants at most signings. Personally — lovely, no drama-mama birches who are constantly encouraging me when I doubt myself.

Last but definitely not least, thank you to my family who often get stuck with cold meals, no clean clothes, and a messy house in order for me to write and publish my books. 

My husband and sons are my happily ever after.

About the Author

––––––––

Kimi lives in Southern California with her husband (who happened to be her prom date back in 19..), their two sons, a rambunctious fur child as well as two bearded dragon grandbabies.

When she's not reading, writing, or hanging out with family and friends, Kimi spends her time at the beach, trail hiking, or in the kitchen trying to come up with plant-based meals that don't taste like, well, tofu.

Kimi's written works include heartfelt contemporary (fade-to-black/closed-door) romance novels. Currently, she is working on several laugh-out-loud, sweet romantic comedies.

Volunteering is extremely important to her, and she and her family work closely with several local non-profit organizations, including Saving Innocence and Young Life. A portion of her sales will always go to charity.

You can contact Kimi at:

[e-mail]

INSTAGRAM

https://direct.me/authorkimiflores

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Epilogue

Intertwined Hearts Series Epilogue

Prologue

Dani

Stars dotted the clear night sky like an endless ocean of twinkling lights, each bright, each beautiful. I leaned my head back to take it all in as Zachary and I strolled down the steep driveway and through the tall iron gates.

What a gorgeous night. I sighed, wrapping my arms around my body, unable to wipe the smile off my face.

I’d grown up in a brightly lit city where streetlights drowned out the beautiful, glowing night canvas. Out here, in Santa Ynez’s wine country, every star and galaxy was fighting to take center stage.

Using my hands to lift the hair off my neck, I took in the scenery and enjoyed the fresh air as it kissed my skin. A long white picket fence defined the property to the left, and grass covered the ground until it ended at the asphalt. Huge trees stood proudly on the other side of the street, leaving no other place to walk other than the road. But this time of night, the street was empty.

My skin prickled with goosebumps as I felt Zachary’s eyes on me, just like they’d been this whole evening. I smiled when I’d actually caught him this time. We’d been doing a back and forth flirting tango all night that had almost felt like an invitation to hope for so much more. I was sure the wine we’d drank played a role in this sultry dance.  

Clearing his throat, he removed his suit jacket. You must be freezing. Before I had a chance to shiver from the chilly air, he placed his jacket over my shoulders and slipped his arm between my lower back and the coat. Here, I’ll keep you warm.

If he knew how his touch affected me, he wouldn’t have held me so tight.

The light smell of cologne, mixed with his familiar earthy scent, drifted off his jacket and made my mind swim with thoughts of his caresses from when we’d danced earlier.  The mere fact that his jacket encased my body had me wanting things he’d never allowed in the past. My mind was racing with images of us doing a real tango, this time naked between his sheets.

It was more than just his contact that had me fired up. From the first moment, years ago, when my eyes had drank him in, I’d thought he was gorgeous and completely unattainable for a girl like me. A curvy girl my size, that is. I wasn’t putting myself down with that thought, just being realistic.

His short, wavy sandy-blonde hair and blue eyes that held so much compassion, often reminded me that he was a man I could only dream of having. Add to that, his body had the perfect balance of muscles from doing manual labor on his vineyard.  He was much taller than my five foot, seven-inch frame and made me feel petite. A big girl like me rarely felt tiny next to a man.

Just like every other time he was close, I felt a sense of ease. That was something that had been lacking in my life, everywhere but in his arms. Thank you. I tugged on the lapels, bringing the jacket closer, trying to cage his arm around me.

Blinking, I tried to clear my head. I was getting carried away and needed to concentrate on something other than the nearness of our bodies. My smile widened when I took a quick glance back at the beautiful ranch we’d just left. It belonged to my best friend, Bri, and her new husband, Josh. They’d just gotten married tonight under the huge oak trees that lined their front yard. Each monstrous tree had been decorated with white twinkling lights, adding to the romance of the intimate affair.

I still can’t believe we pulled off planning that wedding and reception in just five days. My heels made a scuffing noise on the asphalt as we strolled down the street, heading toward Zachary’s vineyard home.

I can. You girls make a great team. Besides me, he was referring to my sister, Leah—who happened to be the florist in our little clan—and her best friend, Abby. They’d both gotten married recently and still had the wedding decorating bug. Seeing how I wasn’t married, though I longed for it, I’d only followed their lead.

Leaning in, he inhaled deeply and spoke near my ear. I don’t believe there’s much you can’t do.  

I was sure he meant the three of us, but I let myself dream that he was only referring to me.

Zachary and I had known each other for a few years, and there wasn’t a day that went by when I hadn’t secretly dreamed of the possibility of him and I. We definitely had chemistry, but neither of us had taken a chance to see where this could go, if anywhere. On top of the fact that I’d never had the opportunity to be with someone as amazing as Zachary, we both seemed protective of our close friendship.  

There had been a few times here and there when he’d leaned in a little too close, and I’d thought he was going to kiss me.  But moments later, he’d pull away which led me to believe it had all been in my head.

I waited for him to withdraw his affection once again tonight, but his hand was still firmly against my lower back.

There was another barrier between us that I’d often wondered about. He hadn’t given me the whole story, but one night over a few glasses of wine, he’d told me that he was divorced. The look of soul crushing pain in his eyes had been heart wrenching, but when I’d touched his arm and asked what happened, he’d shut me out, adamant that he wanted to forget all about it.

I was all too familiar with not wanting to discuss past emotions. What do you do with an ache that just won’t go away? One that could never be soothed. That, along with knowing nothing would develop romantically between us, made it easy to let go.

Until tonight.

Maybe it was just the intimacy of the night, but I felt something shifting. The air between us was intensifying as he walked me back to my truck that was parked at his vineyard. These new feelings both excited and scared me.

I don’t think you should drive home tonight. You can stay in the guest room. He said as we walked past the winery’s tasting room and down the long, dirt-covered driveway that led to his home.

Guest room?

Like a bucket of cold water being thrown on my heated skin, I realized that was the end of our flirting for the night.

That’s what I get for hoping for something that will never happen.

Knowing I’d have a forty-five-minute drive down a windy road, I’d made sure to measure how much I drank. It was just enough to celebrate my best friend's marital bliss and also numb my own sadness of being alone, but not enough to restrict my driving ability. I only had a few glasses of wine, and it’s been several hours since I finished the last one. I’ll be fine. Casually, I tried to pull away, but he gripped me tighter.

Even in the darkness, I could see the large Tuscan-style home as we approached. My eyes made their way up to the balcony above that led to Zachary’s bedroom. What I wouldn’t give to wake up next to him in that room.

I really need to stop thinking like that.

We stepped through the archway of the front door, and as usual, my attention was drawn to the beautiful chandelier attached to the vaulted ceiling. The faint lighting that glowed from the kitchen, filtered through random dangling crystals, making them sparkle. It was a piece of art all on its own. From what I’d heard, it had been handmade by a woman Zachary’s adoptive father, Joel had dated in his younger years. I’d always wondered if there was more to the story, but Zachary didn’t know any other details. And besides the admiration in his eyes when he told me about it, Joel never talked about her.

I instantly missed Zachary’s arm as it disappeared from my back. Taking my hand in his, he leaned forward, stealing my breath when he admitted, I’m sure you’re capable of making it home safe, but you aren’t going anywhere yet. I thought we’d already moved on from that, but with a sexy wink, he started to walk away. Let me check on Dad really quick.

I only nodded. Please tell him I said goodnight. I had grown fond of his elderly father, Joel and admired how much Zachary cared for him. As close as they are, you’d never guess they didn’t actually share DNA and hadn’t even met until Zachary was a teen. Joel was a perfect father, blood-related or not.

My body was on fire as I stood in the living room, staring at Zachary’s fine backside as he walked away. I could feel my pulse beating from the top of my head clear down to my freshly painted toes. He’d never demanded anything from me like that before. Every nerve in my body was doing the tango, the salsa, and the cha-cha all at once.

Shaking my head to myself, I draped his jacket on the back of the couch and dropped my purse on the side table. I was probably just jumping to conclusions and needed to calm down. Hoping it would help cool my hormones, I began to look for my little puppy. Stella, where are you, baby? I’d brought my six-month-old French bulldog over since she and Zachary’s wheaten terrier, Buddy, loved to keep each other company. Zachary had helped me pick her out of the litter, and it was pretty common for her to come along whenever I visited.

I called for her again, but neither she nor Buddy were in their usual spot, cuddling in his raggedy doggie bed by the fireplace. I walked through the enormous entryway into the dimly lit kitchen and scanned the floor, coming up empty. I had a pretty good idea of where they were, but I hadn’t wanted to presume it was okay for me to head in that direction.

Tracing my fingertips along the grains of the wood dining table, I was just about to step back into the living room when Zachary appeared in front of me, wielding a seductive smile that said he was glad I’d stayed. They’re probably upstairs in my room.

I crinkled my nose, still unsure if I was reading his signals right. That’s what I was just thinking.

His eyes were unreadable, but I was sure I’d seen lust somewhere in the background, along with his own uncertainty. I was hoping our night might not be over.

Placing the palm of his hand on my lower back, he led us up the curved stairway. My fingers ran along the smooth, cold surface of the wrought iron banister as we went.

The bedroom was dark and smelled like cologne, shampoo, and manly body wash. I imagined what he’d looked like standing in front of his dresser, just showered, with wet hair and a towel wrapped around his waist as he got ready for the wedding earlier.

Now that was a sight I wouldn’t mind seeing.

Zachary flicked the light on, and I spotted both dogs snuggling together on a fluffy blanket in the corner of the room.

A few weeks ago, my little girl had figured out how to get her pudgy body up the stairs.  It was hysterical watching Buddy nudge her with his nose until she got to the top. Since then, they tended to gravitate to Zachary’s room. I couldn’t say I blamed them.

Stella yawned as big as she could, blinking and trying to focus in the soft glow of the bedside lamp. Lowering down to my knees, I picked her up and made loud kissing noises on the furry spot between her eyes. There you are sweetheart. I rustled the top of Buddy’s head as he lazily looked up. Did you take care of my baby girl while we were gone?

As I nuzzled my face into hers, I felt Zachary step closer, towering above me.

Of course he did. Sounding confident, he squatted down, took Stella from my hands, and placed her back on the blanket with Buddy, patting both dogs’ heads. We take care of the things and people we cherish.

I swallowed hard as Stella reclaimed her special spot cuddled next to Buddy.  He raised his head to acknowledge that she was where she belonged, then they both drifted back off into peaceful sleep.   

I meant what I said, Dani. I don’t want you leaving tonight. His sensual tone set my crazy hormones ablaze again.

Feeling sassy, I brought my chin to my shoulder and looked at him. Oh yeah? What would you rather I do, then?

Taking me by surprise, he grabbed my hand and pulled me up with him. Almost touching my mouth with his, he whispered, Dance with me.

Dance with him in his delicious-smelling room? Next to his nice, welcoming bed?  I hoped his definition of dance was the same as I was envisioning.

I licked my lips. Here?

With his eyes ablaze, he lifted an eyebrow and slowly nodded, sparking so many different thoughts in my head. His jaw locked in place and his throat made gentle movements as he swallowed.

There wasn’t a shy bone in my body, but I found myself answering bashfully anyway. Okay. My belly swirled in anticipation.

He pulled his cell phone from the back pocket of his suit pants, and I gazed at his face as he scanned through the music player. Once he found what he was looking for, he set the phone on his dresser, then strode toward me just as Tony Bennett’s version of The Way You Look Tonight began to croon.

I threw my head back with a giggle, amused that he and his father loved classic jazz musicians like Sinatra and Bennett. He reached for my hand and pulled on my fingertips until our chests were pressed together. When his arms wrapped around my waist, I wasn’t laughing anymore.

Gulping, I placed one hand on the back of his neck, feeling the tiny hairs prickling my fingers. My other hand pressed against his chest as we swayed. We’d danced several times at the wedding reception, but this was different. Maybe it was because our hips slowly rocked back and forth, matching each other’s rhythm. Either way, this was definitely more intimate.

I felt bolder with every move, pressing into him and enjoying the feel of our bodies molded together. Lifting my head, I got lost in his beautiful blue eyes and the sound of him humming the lyrics.

His hands came up and cupped my face as though he was holding something precious. Dani—

My heartbeat pounded in my throat. Yes?

You are such a beautiful temptation. So beautiful that my restraint is getting more difficult to hold on to. I don’t know if I can resist you tonight. His eyes were at war as he spoke those words.

I searched his face, praying he wouldn’t push me away. Then stop trying to.

He hesitated just a moment, before I finally felt the warmth of his lips on mine. They were so much softer than I’d imagined and after waiting so long to see what his kisses tasted like, I was instantly addicted.

It took everything I had to not take over as I clung to him. The last thing I wanted was to scare him away. A low groan rumbled in his throat as his lips became firmer and he devoured my mouth. His hands trailed up and down my back, turning me on even more. He seemed unsure how far to go, and I wasn’t having any of that. Pushing my hips into his, I felt how ready he was.

My entire body was throbbing with need when his hands finally cupped my behind. Now there was no doubt we were on the same page. A gasp escaped my mouth, and I whispered against his lips, What about the dogs?

Why did I just ask that? I wanted to slap myself for breaking our moment.

He snickered, Of course you would worry about them. Bending down, he turned the blanket around so they were facing the wall. They’re asleep. They won’t even know we’re here.

Backing me up until my behind touched the footboard of his bed, he spoke softly, Give me a second. Then he planted an open mouthed kiss to my neck, his eyes never leaving me as he strolled into his en-suite bathroom.

After he closed the door behind him, my head swirled. I was about to sit on the side of the bed when I felt a pinch from the slimming body shaper under my dress. Peeking at the closed door, I heard the water running and knew I was only moments away from being caught in what looked like a junior high wrestling team uniform. Talk about a mood killer.

Quickly stepping out of my heels, I yanked my dress off and fought with the unflattering, damp spandex, petrified that Zachary would be back too soon.  What man wanted to come into a room and find his soon-to-be lover’s body wrapped in a sausage casing?

Even though my bra and panties were several sizes larger than the mannequin they’d been displayed on, they were sexy, and I knew he’d love them. I just had to hurry and make sure that was all he saw.

Thankfully, I’d sprayed