My younger brother, Rob Porter, is raising his children there today with his wife, Andrea Callen, a fifth-generation San Franciscan.

This book, and the entire Brennan Sisters series, was inspired in large part by Andrea’s father, Tom Callen, a brawny (and handsome!) firefighter, who is also a devoted family man and fourth-generation San Franciscan. I have long been fascinated by Tom’s stories, his passion for his family, his commitment to his city, and his dedication as a fireman. From the first time I met Tom, I knew I had to write a story that would try to capture his courage, his loyalty, and his character—humility with just the right amount of swagger. Tom’s a true man’s man and every woman’s hero. If I’ve gotten facts wrong, or if my research in some way failed me, it’s my fault entirely. And to the firemen of San Francisco (indeed, all firefighters everywhere)—I’m a fan. Thank you.

There are others I must thank, starting with my agent, Karen Solem, for standing by me during change and finding me a home at Berkley Books with the brilliant, gifted editor Cindy Hwang, who shares my passion for great fiction. Thank you, Cindy, for having confidence that I can grow and do new things. You have taken the Brennan Sisters concept and made it so much more.

Thank you to my husband (!!), Ty Gurney, for juggling the kids and our houses and our careers and our lives and making it seem sexy and cool instead of horrifyingly stressful and borderline freaky. I do love you!

Thank you to my author friends—Megan Crane, you’re extraordinary. To Lilian Darcy, who should not live in Australia but much, much closer to me. To Barb Dunlop and CJ Carmichael, who have been in the trenches with me from the very beginning, and to Elizabeth Boyle and Liza Palmer, who’ve always got my back.

Thank you to my “real life” friends Lisa Johnson and Lorrie Hambling for including me on holidays, propping me up when I’m tired, and hugging me when I’m cranky.

Thank you to the amazing women who work with me—Leena Hyat of Author Sound Relations, an angel, and an author’s best friend; Jamette Windham, personal assistant, Mac’s beloved nanny, and my friend; Kari Andersen, for savvy help with social media and reading drafts of my manuscripts; Farrell Kaufman-Hogenauer, for being a whiz with book tours and publicity; Alaia Davies, for always stepping in when there’s a need and being so wonderful you feel like family.

And lastly, thank you to my readers. You inspire me every single day.

Table of Contents

One

Two

Three

Four

Five

Six

Seven

Eight

Nine

Ten

Eleven

Twelve

Thirteen

Fourteen

Fifteen

Sixteen

Seventeen

Eighteen

The Good Daughter

One

One

He was good.

Meg Roberts stood in the open doors of the Dark Horse Winery’s tasting room and watched her boss, Chad Hallahan, co-owner of the Napa winery and VP of sales and marketing, work his magic on the women clustered around him. There were quite a few clustered around, too. But when weren’t there?

Women loved Chad. They always had. He had charisma. Sex appeal. Warmth. It was the warmth that melted women into puddles of want.

The corner of her mouth lifted slightly as she saw the woman on Chad’s right put her hand on his arm and lean toward him. Women always leaned close, too.

She’d worked at the winery for four years now, and in those four years she’d been both amused and intrigued by his effect on women. Initially she’d thought it was his good looks that sent women tumbling to his feet. But over time she’d come to realize it wasn’t how he looked to them as much as what he did.

He paid attention to women. And he listened to them. Really listened. And then at some point while listening, he’d smile that slow sexy smile that made even sweet little old ladies’ hearts race a bit.

He’d smiled that way at Meg in the beginning—with his eyes and his mouth, a smile that had heat and power—until she let him know she was happily married and the mother of three.

She’d been relieved that he got the message and he’d never flirted with her again. Meg was glad. She was. She didn’t want to be tempted in any way, by any man who wasn’t her husband. And Chad was tempting.