Unmasking Juliet Read online

  Ever since she was a little girl learning to make decadent truffles in her family’s chocolate shop, Juliet Arabella has been aware of the bitter feud between the Arabellas and the Mezzanottes. With their rival chocolate boutiques on the same street in Napa Valley, these families never mix. Until one night, when Juliet anonymously attends the annual masquerade ball. In a moonlit vineyard, she finds herself falling for a gorgeous stranger, a man who reminds her what passion is like outside of the kitchen. But her bliss is short-lived when she discovers her masked prince is actually Leo Mezzanotte, newly returned from Paris and the heir to her archenemy’s confection dynasty.

  With her mind in a whirl, Juliet leaves for Italy to represent the Arabellas in a prestigious chocolate competition. The prize money will help her family’s struggling business, and Juliet figures it’s a perfect opportunity to forget Leo…only to find him already there and gunning for victory. As they compete head-to-head, Leo and Juliet’s fervent attraction boils over. But Juliet’s not sure whether to trust her adversary, or give up on the sweetest love she’s ever tasted….

  Praise for Teri Wilson

  “Unleashing Mr. Darcy is a wonderful modern-day fairy tale that especially appeals to dog lovers. Readers unfamiliar with dog shows will find the premise interesting without being overwhelming. The interactions between the main characters are delightful and the secondary characters add greatly to the reader’s enjoyment.”

  —RT Book Reviews, Top Pick, 4½ stars

  “Wilson wisely avoids repeating Austen’s plot or attempting to emulate her sharp satire, but she manages to get in more than a few bits of homage.… Devoted Austen fans will find much to enjoy in this fun contemporary rendition.”

  —Publishers Weekly

  “Dog lovers and readers who love Austen pastiches will savor this latest showing of the famous couple.”

  —Booklist

  “Unleashing Mr. Darcy is a delightful story full of charm, wit and heart. I didn’t want to see it end…. A truly romantic tale.”

  —USA TODAY bestselling author RaeAnne Thayne

  Also available from Teri Wilson and Harlequin HQN

  Unleashing Mr. Darcy

  And be sure to look for Teri’s third modern classic, Unschooling the Professor, a retelling of My Fair Lady, coming in January 2015 from Harlequin HQN!

  UNMASKING JULIET

  Teri Wilson

  Dear Reader,

  Thank you for reading Unmasking Juliet, the second in my series of retellings of classic romances for Harlequin HQN. Of all the stories I could have chosen for inspiration, why Romeo and Juliet? I really wanted the chance to give these star-crossed lovers the happy ending they deserve. I’m a romantic at heart, so of course I’ve always longed for a different conclusion to Shakespeare’s tale of ill-fated love.

  Would you like to hear a secret? In college, I made all A’s and B’s, with just two exceptions. The first was a C in calculus. I’m actually quite proud of that C. Hello, it was calculus. I’m still not even sure what the word calculus means, other than it is some sort of torturous math. The other exception was also a C, but this one was in Shakespeare. Gasp! Please don’t tell my editor.

  I adore Shakespeare. I always have. It was my very last semester in college, and I think I was simply burned out. Alas, now I’ve had the chance to redeem myself. While working on this book, I’ve absolutely fallen in love with the Bard. More so than ever before. I could probably recite Romeo and Juliet backwards and forwards now. So there, Professor Clark.

  It is my hope that you, too, will fall in love with this timeless story. Sure, I’ve given it some fun, new twists. There are two adorable dogs, wine and more chocolate than anyone could ever want. But the spirit of the original tale remains true, and for the Shakespeare aficionado, there are plenty of hidden treats. I had a wonderful time incorporating as much of the Bard’s original language as possible in a modern story. It’s like an Elizabethan Easter egg hunt!

  If you enjoy Unmasking Juliet, be sure to look for the third book in this series, Unschooling the Professor, a retelling of My Fair Lady, early next year. And if you missed Unleashing Mr. Darcy, my debut book for HQN, it’s still available. Take a peek at it, too.

  Happy reading!

  Teri Wilson

  For the Bard, the Poet

  With everlasting gratitude for his beauty and inspiration

  “In winter with warm tears I’ll melt the snow

  And keep eternal spring-time on thy face.”

  —Titus Andronicus; Act 3, Scene 1

  Contents

  Epigraph

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Epilogue

  Acknowledgments

  “Love is a smoke made with the fume of sighs.”

  —William Shakespeare

  Romeo & Juliet, Act I, Scene 1

  1

  Thus with a kiss, she lived...

  Midway through the Tenth Annual Mezzanotte Masquerade Ball, Juliet Arabella had the irrepressible urge to flee. The more she thought about what had transpired during the limo ride to the party, the more difficult it became to breathe. What was she even doing here? She didn’t belong in this room, with these people.

  Most of the guests who milled about the grand ballroom with their faces hidden behind Venetian-style masks would be flabbergasted to discover she was even in attendance. She’d thought she would feel secure at George’s side, but she’d been woefully mistaken. She doubted she’d ever feel comfortable accompanying him anywhere again. And she hadn’t forgotten for a moment about the diamond in her evening bag.

  There was no way she was keeping it. No matter what George or her parents had to say about it. She was a twenty-eight-year-old woman. She could decide for herself whom she would marry. As much as she loved her family’s chocolate boutique, loved bringing smiles to their customers with her special confections, loved the comforting predictability of knowing she could pour heavy cream over hot melted chocolate and end up with a perfect, glossy ganache, she couldn’t sacrifice everything for it. Wouldn’t. George was not the man for her. And after tonight, he never would be.

  It was as easy as turning on the glittery heel of her stiletto and bolting for the door. George was deep in conversation with someone she didn’t recognize, but she still didn’t waste any time getting out of the ballroom before he could catch a glimpse of her escape. She held her breath and didn’t release it until she’d pushed open one of the heavy oak doors that led to the outdoor terrace. To freedom, however temporary.

  There was a chill in the night air, and a crisp breeze nipped at her bare shoulders. She remembered reading somewhere that the cold nights in Napa Valley were what made the area perfect for growing grapes. Her gaze drifted beyond the stone terrace, to the rows and rows of grapevines that followed the hillside in perfect symmetry. Their leaves fluttered in the wind above heavy clusters of red-and-purple fruit.

 
It was so serene, so quiet. Such a stark contrast to the dancing and busy hum of conversation inside. The pounding of Juliet’s heart slowed. Her head began to clear, and she found she could breathe again. She took in a lungful of air, perfumed with the sweet scent of ripe grapes.

  Behind her, the door to the ballroom opened, and a wave of music and laughter drifted out onto the terrace. She wasn’t ready to go back. Not yet. And she certainly didn’t want to get stuck making idle conversation with any of the other partygoers. So she tiptoed across the smooth tile floor and followed a wide stone staircase that spiraled downward, away from the house.

  The steps fanned out and grew wider until they leveled out onto another smaller patio. Juliet got the distinct feeling she’d ventured somewhere she wasn’t really supposed to be. The terrace had an intimate feeling to it, perhaps because it held nothing but two small chairs and a single café table, upon which rested two half-empty glasses of red wine.

  She should leave. Whoever that wine belonged to would probably be coming back for it and would be less than happy to find her here. If they recognized her, they’d probably accuse her of spying. Or worse. Not that she’d blame them.

  She turned around, fully intending to head back to the party, which now seemed like the lesser of two evils. But the sight of what lay beyond the terrace gave her pause. The sunflowers she’d only gotten a glimpse of when the limo pulled up to the vineyard were right there, close enough for her to touch. She took a tentative step forward, reached out and stroked a thick green stem with the tips of her fingers. It was soft to the touch, covered with a faint white fuzz that reminded her of the velvety smoothness of her dog Cocoa’s ear. Up close, the flowers were even more spectacular than she’d imagined. The fat gold blooms loomed high above her head, and for an insane moment, Juliet had the urge to kick off her shoes and disappear among them.

  Why not? George would never think to look for her here.

  She slid her feet out of her stilettos and stepped off the tile floor onto the cool, damp earth. A chill coursed through her, but she didn’t consider turning back. Not for a moment. She wrapped her arms around her waist and took another step. It was crazy, but wading barefoot through the dirt in a ball gown made her feel better somehow. The numbness that had come over her during the awful limo ride began to slip away. She felt alive again. Almost.

  She pushed a leaf as big as the palm of her hand aside and stepped through the row of sunflowers. Her toes sank deeper in the soil, and she found herself among the intricate rows of grapevines. The vines were heavy with fruit. Thick bunches of grapes hung about waist high, such a deep purple that they appeared almost black in the twilight. And they smelled divine. She closed her eyes and took a deep, intoxicating breath.

  “An escapee from the party, I take it?”

  Juliet’s eyes flew open. In that first, panicked moment she thought she was hallucinating. Could heartbreak actually make a person crazy? Because there was a masked man standing among the grapevines.

  Then she remembered—it was a masquerade ball.

  “Something like that.” Her voice trembled slightly from the shock of being discovered. She took another deep breath, this time to steady herself. Why was she so nervous? She couldn’t see his face, but he couldn’t see hers, either. She blinked up at the stranger from behind her mask. “And you?”

  He echoed her words. “Something like that.”

  Heavy lidded eyes gazed at her from beyond the silver satin of his mask. They were blue. Startlingly so. She lowered her gaze and took in his dinner jacket, his crisp white shirt unbuttoned at the neck. And his tie, seductively loosened, the exact same shade of blue as his eyes.

  “Are you a regular at this annual shindig?” His voice carried a hint of disdain, as though he weren’t any happier than she was to be in attendance.

  Who is he?

  “Not exactly. You?”

  “God, no.” The corner of his mouth lifted in a sardonic grin.

  Juliet’s mood lightened ever so slightly. The mystery man wasn’t a Mezzanotte. He couldn’t be. This masquerade ball had been an annual thing for a decade. “I suppose I look crazy, wandering around out here in the dark. I just had to get out of there.”

  “No explanation needed. As hiding places go, this is a rather nice one.” His smile grew more genuine.

  He had a nice mouth—full lips, perfectly balanced by a strong, chiseled jaw lined with just a hint of stubble. Not that Juliet was particularly prone to evaluating such things. But with the mask covering the rest of his face, it was hard not to notice.

  Maybe it was the moonlight. Maybe it was the sense of mystery evoked by their Venetian masks. Or maybe she was simply at loose ends after all that had transpired, but this secret conversation had an oddly intimate quality. She wondered if he felt it, too.

  “For the record, you don’t look the least bit crazy.” Yes, he did feel it. She could tell.

  She wiggled her bare toes and glanced down at her dress. The rhinestones scattered among the folds of deep blue tulle glittered in the starlight. “I don’t?”

  His gaze swept her up and down. “Far from it. In fact, you look quite lovely.”

  Butterfly wings fluttered in her belly. Why did a compliment from this total stranger carry so much weight? “Thank you.”

  “You’re quite welcome.” Behind his mask, he gave her a devilish wink. Then he plucked a grape from the closest vine and popped it in his mouth.

  Nervous laughter bubbled up her throat. “Did you really just do that?”

  “What?” He shrugged.

  He had a muscular build. Juliet could see that much, even through the tuxedo jacket. “Steal a grape and eat it, right off the vine?”

  “Surely they won’t miss just one.” He plucked another grape from the cluster. “Care for a taste? You don’t know what you’re missing.”

  His voice was low, rich and emphatically masculine. Had he purposely added that note of innuendo, or was she simply hearing things?

  And why did she get the feeling that he was right, and that up until now she’d been completely clueless as to how much she’d been missing for a long, long time?

  “I dare you.” He took a step closer, holding the grape between his index finger and his thumb. In his eyes, Juliet saw an unmistakable challenge.

  Before she could stop herself, she closed her eyes, tipped her face toward him and slowly opened her mouth.

  What am I doing? This isn’t me, flirting with a complete and total stranger, at the Mezzanottes’ party, of all places.

  But that’s exactly what she was doing. And it felt good.

  “Here, taste.” His thumb brushed across her bottom lip in a feather-light touch.

  Then the grape dropped into her mouth. She bit down, and an explosion of flavor burst on her tongue. Sweet, tangy and forbidden. It was the best thing she’d ever tasted. At the moment, even better than chocolate. She felt the last vestiges of her numbness slip away. In its place was a kaleidoscope of sensation—the taste of sun-ripened fruit, the sound of her full tulle skirt rustling in the night wind, the perfume of sunflower blossoms and the feel of the cold, damp earth between her toes.

  “Well?” he asked, his voice barely a murmur in the darkness.

  He must have come closer. She could sense his warmth on her face, across her bare shoulders. She leaned into it and felt as though she were soaking in the heat of the sun after an unbearably long winter. “Delicious doesn’t even begin to describe it.”

  She opened her eyes.

  He stood a whisper away. His proximity sent a ripple of awareness dancing across her skin. She bit her lip and took in the sudden seriousness of his expression, the distinct look in his eyes she was surprised she could even recognize.

  Desire.

  It positively smoldered in his blue eyes. George had never come clo
se to looking at her like that. No one had. Not with this kind of intensity. To think she’d spent her entire life on this earth without a man ever looking at her like he wanted to devour her was almost inconceivable. And sad. Maybe she needed to start spending less time in the kitchen making chocolate and more time with people. Specifically, people without the last name Arabella.

  Now, however, was not the proper moment to reexamine her priorities. He was right there, his predatory gaze sliding over her, as though he was aware of her on some unparalleled level.

  How could this be happening? She was a mess. A barefoot, lost mess. And he was a total stranger.

  She swallowed. He might be a stranger, but right now he was looking at her as though he knew exactly who she was. And that look made her...

  Breathless.

  This was it. This was what had been missing for so long. Maybe she’d even been running from it. Was it possible that her passion for her work had become tangled up with her sense of duty to her family’s chocolate boutique to the exclusion of everything else? Had she really come that close to losing herself?

  He took a step nearer. He didn’t make a move to touch her, but somehow Juliet knew exactly what his hands would feel like on her waist, her shoulders, sliding through her hair. Exquisite.

  The way she saw it, she had two choices—she could either go back to the party and be the dutiful Arabella daughter, or she could stay right here and, even if only for a moment, finally know what it felt like to be wanted by someone with no ulterior motive, who didn’t even know her last name. Someone who just wanted her.

  Her heart thundered beneath the sparkling bodice of her ball gown. And suddenly, walking away was no longer an option.

  Before she could change her mind, she lifted her hand, wrapped her fingers firmly around his tie and yanked. Then she kissed him. Hard. With the confidence of a woman who acted this way all the time.

  It was a beautiful thing, that kiss. The thrill of it sparked a memory from long ago of the very first time a boy’s lips had touched hers.