Page 50 of Kisses Sweeter than Wine

“You wanted a big family, kiddo; well, you got one,” Talbot said.

“Maybe we should go save him.” Merlot laced his fingers through hers and tugged her toward the family room.

“He’ll be fine. He’s actually been looking forward to this all day and I wanted a moment alone with you.”

“Really?” Merlot smiled.

“To talk.” She pursed her lips. “He still has a lot of questions, but mostly about us and why we can’t be together.”

“And what did you tell him?”

“The truth.”

“Good.” Merlot nodded.

“But it got me thinking.” She plopped back on the sofa.

He sat down. “About?”

“We can’t be together as a family in Candlewood Falls. That would be insanity. But we could almost anywhere else.”

He palmed her cheek. “No, Talbot. We can’t.”

“Why not?”

“It would be too risky and we’d be constantly looking over our shoulders. But you’re asking me to leave my family and never to see them again, because the only way that would work is if I do what you did.”

She leaned her head against his. “I know. It’s a dumb idea.”

“It’s not dumb, just crazy.” He chuckled. “I have to admit, I thought about it too.”

She jerked her head. “Don’t mess with me, Merlot. I can’t handle that.”

“If there were a safe way for us to be together without either of us losing anything, I’d do it. I want to be with you. With Corbin. I care more about the two of you than I do anything else.”

“But you care about your family too.”

“I can’t leave and you know that.” He brushed his lips over her mouth, slipping his tongue inside, swirling it around in a wild dance. In this moment, he knew he’d never love another woman. She was it. The one. The only one. “Kisses sweeter than wine.”

“Don’t make me cry.”

He cupped her chin. “My dad is hopeful about what the Department of Justice is doing regarding Richard. Maybe for once in our lives, we’ll get lucky.”

Merlot

Merlot leaned against the tree trunk and watched his son toss a football back and forth with TJ as a couple of the toddlers and Riesling’s daughter ran around his legs.

Corbin laughed as he tried to shake them off.

“That’s a sight.” His father handed him a beer.

Merlot swiped at his eyes before taking the cold one. “I became a father to a man who has an inch on me.”

“He’s almost as tall as me,” his dad said with an exuberant pride. “Your mother might have told him one too many stories about you, so be prepared.”

“After everything that has happened in these last few weeks, I think I can handle almost anything.”

“Why don’t I go grab all the little ones and you and Corbin can have some time alone before dinner.” His father took two steps.

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