Page 26 of Kisses Sweeter than Wine

When Corbin had been a baby it was easy.

Young men avoided her. Who in their right mind wanted to take on that responsibility in their early twenties?

But as Corbin aged, men didn’t seem to be bothered by her being a single mother. However, her son became her excuse, although it had been her reality. All she wanted to do was be a good mom, and bringing a boyfriend into the mix didn’t seem responsible.

The last ten years, she’d tried dating, but she always ended up thinking about Merlot. Even if she found a man she cared for, she felt like she was cheating on the only one she loved.

She’d never been able to forget Merlot. Staring at him now, she understood why. She still loved him, but now maybe she’d have her chance at a last goodbye.

“I promise you, it’s not that, but I can’t get involved with anyone right now and you just caught me off guard.”

“It was a really nice kiss.”

Her mouth defied her and she smiled. “I won’t deny that. However, I recently broke up with someone and I’m not ready to date. Besides, I’ll be leaving soon. It seems counterproductive to get involved with you or anyone.”

“Are you always this practical?”

Her son teased her for being so pragmatic. Before he left for his last deployment, he begged her to be more spontaneous. To let her hair down and live a little.

She’d spent her entire life being guarded. First as Daisy, the daughter of a monster. And then as Talbot, an adult who lived a secret identity who was always worried someone would figure out who she really was and go running back to daddy.

Her first few years working under Claudia, anytime a bigwig in politics came through the hotel, Talbot would try to hide and blend into the fabric of her surroundings. Claudia found her shyness endearing.

Little did she know Talbot wasn’t shy. It was a trait born out of necessity.

“It’s not so much that I’m being practical, but the man I was involved with I loved very much. I’m not over him. I wasn’t ready for it to end.” She drew on her memories of the Merlot she left behind to tell this tall tale. As if she were telling Merlot about himself. Her heart thumped in the center of her throat. It wasn’t a total lie. She wasn’t over Merlot. She still loved him, but that didn’t change how shitty she felt at the moment.

He took a big gulp of his beverage and leaned back. “Getting over someone you love isn’t easy,” he said. “I’ve been there myself, only she passed away.”

“You mentioned that,” she whispered. “I’m so very sorry.”

“This is probably an inappropriate question, but will you still attend the event at the winery with me?” He held up his hand. “Strictly as friends. I will totally respect your situation and I won’t kiss you again.”

“I would really love to attend.”

“Great.” He stood. “I won’t keep you any longer. I’m just glad we got to talk.”

“Me too.” She walked him to the front of the house. “Thanks for returning my hat.”

He stood in her front doorway, gripping the handle, staring.

God, she wanted to taste his sweet lips. Feel his arms around her, holding her tight. She’d never forgotten what it was like to be loved by him and she wanted so desperately to experience it again.

“You’re not making it easy for me to keep my promise,” he murmured. “Especially when you look at me like that.” He ran his thumb over her cheek. “Tell me you’re not attracted to me and I’ll walk right out this door.”

“Attraction means nothing.”

“And yet it means everything.” He inched closer.

She pressed her hand on his chest. She needed to be strong. Allowing her lips to touch his was playing with fire.

“This man, does he still love you? Does he want to be with you?”

“It’s complicated,” she said.

“How so?”

She opened her mouth, but no words came out. She could say she and this man shared a child, but that would open a fresh can of hell she didn’t want to get into, especially with the actual father of her son.

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