The Heart of the Game
by Pamela Aares
Publication Date: March 13, 2015
Also in this series: Thrown by Love, Fielder's Choice, Love on the Line, Aim For Love, Game for Romance
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Sports
From USA Today bestselling author Pamela Aares comes THE HEART OF THE GAME, the sixth book in the Tavonesi family series featuring passion, mystery, and well-won love!
Cody’s determined not to screw up his career with relationships, especially when Zoe and the loving, tight-knit, aristocratic Tavonesis remind him of everything his dysfunctional American family isn’t. But while he may be a master of control on the baseball field, Cody’s iron will can’t shield him from the desire Zoe awakens.
Zoe wants nothing to do with her family's new home and vineyard in the California wine country. Every day spent in exile from the world she loves in Rome feels like an eternity. Her heart's set on returning to Italy and opening the art gallery her late mother always wanted. But the passion Cody fires has her second-guessing her plan and her dreams.
Just as they open to love, Zoe's family is caught up in a dangerous web of Mafia crime. To protect her, Cody must swallow his pride and turn to an ex-CIA operative for help—his estranged father—even as he suspects that Zoe's family is involved in foul play.
But will Zoe’s stubborn determination, Cody's inability to trust, and the criminals threatening the Tavonesi family kill any chance for the world-altering love they’ve discovered?
Excerpt:
The music shifted in tone and pace, and Cody turned once again to the
back of the courtyard.
His throat went tight.
There, dressed in a pale green flowing dress with a crown of flowers
on her head, stood Zoe. A shaft of late afternoon sunlight poured in from a
high window in the castle walls and lit her face.
Radiant.
Zoe had been lovely in his dreams, in his memories and fantasies, but
nothing had prepared him for her to look like a goddess. Or for the dizzying
buzz in his head, in his chest—hell, in his whole damned body.
He put a hand to the back of the chair and felt it wobble. Using the
practiced focus that allowed him to drown out unwanted noise when he stood at
the plate, he swallowed in a long, slow breath.
It didn’t help.
As if following some sort of cue, Zoe started down the aisle. She
walked with a killer combination of athletic strength and floating grace. The
tremble in the hands gripping a bouquet of flowers was barely noticeable. But
it made him want to rush into the aisle, scoop her into his arms and carry her
away somewhere. Anywhere.
Scotty nudged him. “You’ve got it bad, my man.”
He shifted and found Scotty staring at him. Whatever “it” was, Cody
wished his emotions weren’t so damned easy to read. But pitchers and catchers
spent long hours learning to read each other, sending signals beyond the
obvious calls for pitches and strategies. Cody shrugged and watched as Zoe
walked to the end of the aisle. And tried to pretend that the sway of her hips
didn’t have him reliving one of his raciest dreams.
When she reached the left of the archway, she turned to face the
crowd. A gentle smile curved her mouth, a smile that reminded him of women in
Renaissance paintings. A smile that hid as much as it conveyed. The bouquet in
her hands still trembled. Only very slightly, but his heart did a little flip
for her. He knew what it felt like to stand in front of lots of people and have
emotions you couldn’t hide be on full display.
She scanned the crowd, and for an instant her gaze found his. In that
brief moment, he felt held. Captured. Hell, maybe even owned. It was a weird
feeling, one he hadn’t expected and didn’t know how to classify or gauge. Her
smile didn’t alter as she flicked her gaze to the aisle, and he shook off the
odd sensation. The music swelled and the crowd turned their focus once again to
the back of the courtyard. Reluctantly, Cody pivoted with them.
About the Author:
Pamela Aares is an award-winning, internationally bestselling author of contemporary and historical romance novels and also writes about fictional romance in sports with her new Tavonesi Series. Get ready for Alpha male All-Stars and the strong women they come to love!
Her popularity as a romance writer continues to grow with each new book release, so much so, that the Bay area author has drawn comparisons by readers and reviewers to Nora Roberts.
Pamela Aares writes romance books that she loves reading, particularly those that entertain, transport and inspire dreams while captivating and tugging at the heart. She takes her readers on a journey with complex characters in both contemporary and historical settings who are thrown in situations that tempt love, adventure and self-discovery.
Before becoming a romance author, Aares wrote and produced award-winning films including Your Water, Your Life, featuring actress Susan Sarandon and NPR series New Voices, The Powers of the Universe and The Earth’s Imagination. She holds a Master’s degree from Harvard and currently resides in the wine country of Northern California with her husband, a former MLB All-Star and two curious cats.
If not behind her computer, you can probably find her reading a romance novel, hiking the beach or savoring life with friends. You can visit Pamela on the web at http://www.PamelaAares.com
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