Page 11 of Kisses Sweeter than Wine

“We have an entire brood, but her boys are from a previous marriage and I have a daughter from a past relationship.” Brad smiled. “But we make it work.”

“Do you have children?” Lyra asked.

If she lied and Claudia mentioned her son, it would make her look like an asshole. But with Merlot heading to the house, the last thing she wanted to do was get into a long discussion about raising children, or the fact her son was an adult and she’d been a teenager when she’d had him.

Ding-dong.

She was literally saved by the bell.

“That must be Merlot and the twins.” Brad turned and sauntered toward the door.

“So, you met Weezer. Have you met any of her kids?” Lyra asked, thankfully forgetting all about her previous question.

“I believe it was Merlot who dumped my drink on me yesterday at the coffee place in town.”

“Oh, he’s so handsome. And single. Are you married? Have a partner?”

“Neither,” Talbot admitted. “But I’m not looking.”

“I wasn’t either when Brad came into my life.” Lyra waved her hand. “Is there anything in this house that you really want to keep?”

“I’m not staying long, so I’m honestly not sure why you’re going to so much trouble.”

Lyra shrugged. “Paying it forward.”

“That’s real kind of you.” When Talbot first moved away from Candlewood Falls, the thing she missed the most was the kindness and generosity of the people. While she’d made many new friends, the city itself didn’t have the same small-town feel. It had been overwhelming, especially after her mother had died. If it hadn’t been for Claudia, Talbot would have been lost. Becoming a mom at eighteen had been hard enough, but to do it without support would have been impossible.

“After they move the furniture out, I’ll start cleaning.”

“I insist on helping,” Talbot said.

“I won’t say no to that.” Lyra glanced over her shoulder. “Here they come.”

Talbot pressed her hand over her chest, mentally preparing herself to see Merlot again.

It was going to be a long afternoon.

Merlot

Merlot said goodbye to his brothers and Brad and Lyra. He had no good reason to give for staying behind, other than there was still one room left to be deep cleaned, and he intended on seeing this project through.

Not because he enjoyed cleaning. He hated it. That’s why he borrowed his brother’s housekeeper twice a month. His family teased the crap out of him, considering he lived in the cottage at the winery, and it was only at best nine hundred square feet.

“Here you go.” Talbot handed him a beer.

“Thanks.” He took a seat on the front porch. “I’ll finish this and then help you with the guest room.”

“You don’t have to. You and your friends have done more than enough. I can handle the rest of this on my own.” She eased down on the step, stretching out her legs and crossing her ankles.

All day he’d been unable to keep his eyes off Talbot. She had a sweetness to her that called to his heart. But there was also an edge to her personality that told him she’d been through some things.

He also found himself looking at Talbot’s physical details.

It was crazy. This person wasn’t Daisy. Yet, he wanted to find that one thing that would prove what his heart so desperately needed to believe.

“I’ve got nothing else going on today.” Slowly, he sipped his beer, savoring every drop because as soon as it was gone, he had no excuse for being a slacker.

“Don’t you have a job?”

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