Page 15 of Kisses Sweeter than Wine

“You wouldn’t be. Consider yourself personally invited. I’ll text you the details. I’m not going to take no for an answer.” He brought the back of her hand to his lips. “I’ll be in touch.”

“I can’t commit to anything. My boss will probably have me doing stuff at her aunt’s place.”

“I’m sure she’ll give you a few hours and I can extend an invite to her as well.” He turned, jogging down the steps. Excitement bubbled in his veins. This was exactly what he needed.

3

TALBOT

Talbot wrapped her arms around Claudia. “What is so important that it couldn’t wait until tomorrow?”

“I have some bad news.” Claudia sighed. She took a step back. Her high heels clicked on the hardwood.

“Regarding your meeting with the lawyer?”

“I just got back from his office and it’s not good.” Claudia took Talbot by the hand and guided her through the old mansion. Talk about a place that needed remodeling. “I’ve got some lemonade and cookies waiting for us outside by the garden.”

Talbot stepped outside into the New Jersey summer heat. It wasn’t much different than the weather in Chicago and Talbot loved it. She had always enjoyed the change in seasons. When she and her mother boarded that bus all those years ago, one of her biggest fears was that she’d end up in some southern state where all she’d have was sunshine.

“Who’s the hottie working in the gardens?” Talbot took a seat across from her friend. The man looked familiar, but she couldn’t tell from this distance.

“That’s Silas Wilde. He’s part of my news.” Claudia crossed her legs, wiggling her foot with her colorful pump. “I’m not used to that big hat of yours.”

Silas. Shit. One more person who might recognize her and she didn’t need that. “Oh, I’m working on a new look.” Talbot had never considered her life a lie, not even when her son asked about his father. She’d done what she had to in order to survive. However, being back in Candlewood Falls, everything felt different, including the things she had to keep from the one person who had been by her side through some of the most challenging times. “Don’t you like it?”

“I’ve just never seen you wear hats before, but it looks good on you.” Claudia lifted her drink and took a long chug. “I never did ask. How has this town been treating you?”

“The people are nice.” That was a true statement and not because she had a long history with the people of Candlewood Falls. She based her answer solely on her recent experience. “My immediate neighbors came over, helped me clean up, and even brought over some new furniture.”

“Why would they do that?”

“Turns out they have a lot of experience with the owner,” Talbot said. “Who is a bit of an asshole, but that’s all been taken care of and it’s just a place to rest my head. I’ll be spending all my days over here helping you.”

“Unfortunately, that won’t be the case.” Claudia glanced over her shoulder. “That lawyer I met with this morning, Carter River, he informed me that my aunt put me on a timeline to renovate and I have to do it myself.”

“What? That sounds ridiculous.” Talbot picked at her fingernails.

“I know. But it’s made worse because Silas over there has to plan some garden party. It’s all some competitive thing.”

“What the hell does that mean?”

“My aunt decided that in order for me to get the money and the house, I have to do everything myself. You might be able to advise me, but you can’t lift a finger.” Claudia shook her head. “If I fail, I lose everything and Silas is awarded the mansion. I’m not going to let that happen.”

“You can’t do this alone. It sounds like you got the raw end of that deal.”

“I can hire a construction crew, but Carter made it clear, I can’t bring in anyone else and that includes you.”

Talbot wished she could give her friend insight into everyone in the town. She knew who to avoid, and who would be the better companies to hire. Or at the very least, the right contacts to seek out. But if she did that, she’d have to explain to Claudia how she possessed that knowledge. No way could Talbot risk her identity. She’d seen on the news that her father, the senator, was considering making a run for governor. She couldn’t afford for her dad to find out she was still alive.

Or that he had a grandson.

Corbin still had so many questions about his heritage. Telling her son that his father had not wanted him had been the most brutal lie and the guilt she carried weighed heavily on her heart. Corbin had begged her so many times for a name and she refused her son. That had caused a rift in their relationship for a long time.

She had explained to Claudia that Corbin’s father was young, like her, and had parents who didn’t like Talbot. They had done everything in their power to make sure they tore them apart. When she found out she was pregnant, the father had made it clear his parents had won and he wanted nothing to do with her or the baby.

Eventually, Corbin accepted her answers, but it came up every year around his birthday.

“This sucks.” Talbot leaned back and sighed. “What the hell am I supposed to do now?”

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