Trova il tuo prossimo book preferito
Abbonati oggi e leggi gratis per 30 giorniInizia la tua prova gratuita di 30 giorniInformazioni sul libro
Daring Destiny
Azioni libro
Inizia a leggere- Editore:
- DLP Books
- Pubblicato:
- Mar 15, 2016
- Formato:
- Libro
Descrizione
Clara has waited the appropriate length of time since Shannon’s death to tell her widow, Desi, that she loves her. Desi doesn’t feel ready to move on, and Clara is determined to help change her mind.
Desi lives for work, more so since the love of her life met an untimely death. She owes so much to Clara and her amazing winemaking skills for keeping Dare's Destiny one of the top wineries in Virginia. When she suspects Clara wants to move on, she must decide if it's worth parting with a share of her business to keep her.
Their shared love of wine brought them together, but is it enough for Clara to stay?
Note: This story was first published in FIRST LADYLOVE.
Informazioni sul libro
Daring Destiny
Descrizione
Clara has waited the appropriate length of time since Shannon’s death to tell her widow, Desi, that she loves her. Desi doesn’t feel ready to move on, and Clara is determined to help change her mind.
Desi lives for work, more so since the love of her life met an untimely death. She owes so much to Clara and her amazing winemaking skills for keeping Dare's Destiny one of the top wineries in Virginia. When she suspects Clara wants to move on, she must decide if it's worth parting with a share of her business to keep her.
Their shared love of wine brought them together, but is it enough for Clara to stay?
Note: This story was first published in FIRST LADYLOVE.
- Editore:
- DLP Books
- Pubblicato:
- Mar 15, 2016
- Formato:
- Libro
Informazioni sull'autore
Correlati a Daring Destiny
Anteprima del libro
Daring Destiny - Leigh Ellwood
Daring Destiny © 2015-2016 Leigh Ellwood
All rights reserved under the International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, organizations, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
DLP Books
Virginia Beach, VA 23451
Cover art photo via Unsplash
Titling by Leigh Ellwood
First DLP eBooks Edition - 2016
Printed in the United States of America
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Warning: the unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
Author’s Note
Dearest friends of Dareville,
In 2004, I published my first book in a time when heavily sensual romances in digital-first format were just finding an audience. While Truth or Dare, as it was known then, came out from a debut author it sold quite well in the pre-K-word age. At the time I had intended for the book to stand alone, but I realized I enjoyed this world so much I wanted to continue it. Novels, novellas, and short stories followed.
Now, we see a new age in digital publishing, and I have the rights back to most of my stories in the newly rechristened Home To Dareville series. What I own I will release in hopes of finding a broader audience. Truth or Dare is now Daring Him, Dare Me is now Daring Her, and Daring Young Man is now Daring To Love.
Daring Destiny originally appeared in an anthology of lesbian romance in 2015. I have revised and re-released it for new readers to enjoy. If you’re now joining me on this adventure I hope you have fun.
Stay daring,
Leigh Ellwood – March, 2016
Chapter One
You are familiar with, I presume, the five S’s of wine tasting?
Brady Garriston answered Destiny with a crooked grin. You didn’t tell me there was going to be a quiz,
he said with mock surprise. Do I get to drink even if I’m wrong?
From across the table, Brady’s wife Ellie slapped his shoulder—thankfully not the one connected to the hand holding his wineglass aloft. Destiny Lynn McNeille, Desi to her friends and family, had to laugh at the endearing display of affection, even as the sight brought a slight pang to her heart. Funny how such gestures, commonplace to some, stirred in her mind happier memories of her life with Shannon.
Years ago, she might have expressed annoyance had Shannon done that to her. What she wouldn’t give now to feel Shannon’s hands on her body, regardless of the context.
Let’s just consider this a brief tutorial,
she said. I won’t grade you...this time.
She winked as Brady let out an exaggerated breath.
Desi held up her own glass, filled partway with the pride of this year’s harvest, the Dare’s Destiny Merlot. She smiled, inspecting the smooth, dark-red liquid listing in all its flawless glory within the wide crystal balloon.
"First, we see." Desi tilted her glass to the right and watched the wine slant fluidly. Not a speck of imperfection or sediment; Clara had selected a perfect bottle for this occasion. Not that she had expected any less of her chief winemaker.
Brady and Ellie mimicked her, their gazes locked on their respective glasses. Are we looking for something in particular?
Ellie asked.
Is that a fingernail?
joked Brady. That earned a second, harder slap. Desi burst out laughing. She took the clowning in stride, seeing as how the Garristons were regular customers, buying cases at a time for parties and corporate gifts. No doubt his playful behavior served to rile his wife and inspire some aggressive sexual play later.
Don’t think about it, she thought, and pressed her free hand against her heart to ward off the coming sadness.
"If you’re lucky, when you inspect a good red you’ll see only the richness of color untinged by sediment. Now that we’ve crested that hill, we move on to step two: swirl."
Desi set her glass on the table, and, with her fingers, pressed down on the wide base of the stem, moved the glass in short but rapid clockwise circles. Her guests followed suit.
When we do this, we’re releasing the different scents held in the wine,
she said. It’s amazing what some of the varietals we’ll plant will give off after the fermenting process. This particular Merlot has hints of dark currants, while last year’s vintage was earthier. Really, sometimes you won’t know what to expect.
I think I still have a bottle of that in our stash,
said Ellie. We’ll have to compare them one night.
Desi nodded. "If you do, you might want to do the next S first. Sniff. Everyone held their glasses to their noses. Ellie and Brady paused for a long, silent inhale while Desi continued with the lesson.
With the wine swirled and the aroma released, you can truly experience the bouquet. If you had smelled the wine beforehand, you’d realize it smells different."
Brady held his glass away and murmured that he could detect the currants. His wife thought different.
No, I’m getting something sharper, like black pepper.
You’re both right, actually. I don’t think you can guess incorrectly when it comes to wine. No two palates are the same, and speaking of, now comes the best part.
Sip?
Ellie sounded confident, despite the questioning tone.
Slug?
Brady countered.
"Next time, Brady. For now, hold the taste on your tongue, and you’ll right into the final step: savor."
The room fell silent as the three enjoyed the Merlot. Though Desi wanted to study her guests’ reactions—she’d made it a hobby over the years, and she and Shannon had often speculated what flavors drinkers detected on the finish—she closed her eyes. The bold explosion of dark fruit with a hint of tobacco sent her senses reeling. In her mind’s eye, she watched the progress of Dare’s Destiny flicker like grainy film footage. From the first shovelful of dirt
Recensioni
Recensioni
Cosa pensano gli utenti di Daring Destiny
00 valutazioni / 0 recensioni