Page 64 of Kisses Sweeter than Wine

“You asked.” Merlot laughed.

“I guess I did, but I at least I know you tried to be responsible.”

“That time. There were two times we didn’t, so it’s possible that four nights before that we made you.”

“Jesus.” Corbin covered his ears. “The fact you remember this shit is disturbing as hell.”

“I remember every detail about your mother.”

“Dad, please just stop.”

Merlot dropped the pancake batter. It landed on the floor, covering his bare feet.

“Was that too weird?” Corbin blinked. “I mean, it just came out. I didn’t even think about it. But I’ve fantasized about this kind of thing my entire life. I used to wait in the hotel lobby and see businessmen waltz in and picture them scooping my mother up and telling her that they wished they’d never left her and how much they wanted me.”

Tears burned Merlot’s eyes. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you when you were growing up.” He walked around the island, dripping batter from his feet.

“You didn’t know.”

“There is nothing I can do about the last twenty-one years. I can’t bring those back. However, I do want you. You’re my son. And no matter what happened, I loved you the second I learned about you. That’s never going to change.”

Corbin pushed his chair back and rose, his eyes filled with his own tears. “This is honestly better than anything I could have ever imagined.” He wrapped his arms around Merlot. “Just don’t get used to cheesy man hugs. They aren’t my thing.”

“Well, they’re mine.” Merlot hugged his son tight and he had no desire to let go.

“Mom’s going to kill you. She’s a shitty cook, but she hates a messy kitchen.”

Merlot chuckled. Leave it to his kid to know when a little humor could do the soul some good. He found the paper towels and dealt with his feet. “Here. You clean up the floor. I’ll make more batter.” He took the sausage and bacon out of the pans, and flipped the pancakes that were already on the griddle, grateful they weren’t burned.

A phone dinged.

“That’s Grandpa. Again.” Corbin tossed the towels in the trash before lifting his phone. “He’s been texting since three this morning.”

“About what?” Merlot quickly mixed another batch.

“First to thank me for my buddy showing up. Then to check on when the rest of my friends were coming.” Corbin sat down and lifted his gaze. “The last of them roll in around ten this morning. Grandpa said once he knows my men are in place, he’ll have his guy in DC send the intel about Mom to Richard, and then it’s game on. We both figure that should be around three, since he said Richard is an impatient fuck.”

Merlot shoved a plate in front of his son. “Why are you just telling me this now? You should have either woken me up with this news, or at the very least started the conversation with it.”

“Am I about to get my very firstDadlecture?” Corbin cut into his pancake and dunked it in his coffee.

That was another thing Merlot did and everyone thought it was odd.

It was not so strange when he saw someone else do it, but it was weird that his son had picked up so many traits from him and he hadn’t raised Corbin.

“I really want to saydon’t get fresh with me, but I think we’re way past that.” Merlot took his plate and eased onto the seat next to Corbin. “Just don’t do that again. Our family is at stake and I won’t lose you again.”

Corbin’s phone dinged once more. “My buddy said there’s a dark sedan rolling into the driveway.”

“That could be half a dozen people.” Merlot snagged his weapon and holstered it in his jeans. “Stay put.”

“I’ll check the back.” Corbin grabbed his rifle. “We have a blind spot there until the rest of my friends get here. That’s why I stayed up all night doing recon every fifteen to thirty minutes.”

Merlot peeked out the front window. Fucking Andy. That could only mean bad news. He pulled open the door and stepped outside. “Hey, Andy. What brings you by?”

“I’m here to see my tenant. Her rental agreement is up tomorrow and I’ve got a lead on someone else to stay here.”

Bullshit. Talbot had signed another two-week rental three days ago. Merlot knew this because he’d paid the bill.

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