Intrigue and a Bottle of Merlot

by Bria Marche

  INTRIGUE and a BOTTLE of MERLOT

  LIKE SISTERS, BOOK FOUR

  BRIA MARCHE

  Copyright © 2015

  All Rights Reserved

  AUTHOR’S NOTE

  This book is a work of fiction by Bria Marche. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used solely for entertainment. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the Internet or any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.

  Bria Marche

  http://briamarche.com

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  Intrigue and a Bottle of Merlot: Like Sisters Series, Book 4

  If Karen was good at anything, it was writing men off.

  She was happily unattached until Mia introduced her to Mario one summer at lunch. Mario was six years younger than Karen and far from her type. Yet the long-haired, sexy stranger left her intrigued.

  Having a man again could be a good thing, now that her single girlfriends were dropping off faster than flies bombed with insect repellent.

  Karen was eventually hired to help run Mario's business, and that was when the flirting began.

  The intrigue remained, but that invisible line had never been crossed. Maybe it was time to step up her game.

  A business trip with Mario turned Karen's fantasy into nail-biting chaos, showing her that their age difference wouldn't be the only obstacle on her road to relationship bliss.

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  Table of Contents

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  Chapter One

  J. J. chattered nonstop on the ride back from the Riverview Inn. The distance was short, only twelve miles, but the questions he shot at Josh and Sasha could take an hour to answer. The news was out: Sasha was pregnant. Everyone was in good spirits, especially J. J. Knowing he would soon have a baby brother or sister excited him beyond belief.

  “Dad, are we moving into the Victorian now? Will you and Sasha get married? What will the baby’s name be?”

  Josh glanced at Sasha and smiled. The low light from the dashboard was just enough to illuminate her face. She was so beautiful. He reached across the console and held her left hand. One day soon, he would put a ring on that hand.

  “Well, son, I’m pretty sure Sasha and I will get married, but that’s something grown-ups talk about. We won’t decide what to name the baby until we know if it’s a boy or a girl.”

  “How do you find that out?” J. J. was only nine years old but very curious. He lay across the leather back seat of his dad’s Infinity. With his arms folded behind his head, he looked thoughtful and happy. His life had certainly changed a lot over the last few months.

  “I love you, Sasha. I’m really happy you’re preggers,” he said.

  She burst out laughing and turned to look at him. He was lying on the seat behind her. “I think you’ve been hanging out with Vic too much. I’m pretty sure she has a thing for you, young man.”

  “I like Vic. She’s cool. I like everybody but mostly Vic.”

  “Well, once your dad and I get married, it will be like Vic, Mia, Karen, and Tina are your aunts. We’re almost like sisters, you know. How would you like that?”

  “I’d like that a lot.”

  ***

  Sasha rested her arm on the seat back and stroked Josh’s neck. His wavy blond hair was the perfect length for weaving her fingers through. She loved this man and this new life. The car’s butter-soft leather seats reminded her of the hot summer days when she would jump into Mia’s car, scorching the back of her legs. She would scream and curse the seats, then they would laugh. Life was different then—easy in a way. There were no responsibilities to worry about, no future to plan. That was before her life included Josh, J. J., and the little innocent growing in her womb. Looking back, it seemed like ages ago, yet only eight months had passed. Sasha chuckled.

  “What’s going on in that beautiful head of yours?” Josh asked.

  “Oh, nothing really, just fond memories.”

  Josh and J. J. would be staying overnight at the Victorian. Sasha and Josh had private talking to do and plans to formulate. She busied herself in the kitchen. Hot cocoa before bed would make J. J. cozy and warm enough to fall asleep. She stirred cocoa powder and milk into the stainless-steel saucepan with a wooden spoon.

  The bucket of kindling sat next to the fireplace in the dining room. J. J. handed scrunched-up newspaper and sticks to his dad, who was preparing the fire.

  “Pretty soon, I’ll be old enough to build the fire all by myself, right, Dad?”

  “That’s right, son. Are you paying attention to the way I’m doing it?”

  “Yep… newspaper first, then sticks, then logs. Once in a while you turn the logs with that poker thing.”

  Josh laughed and hugged his son. “Good eye, J. J. You’re catching on.”

  “Who’s ready for cocoa?” Sasha carried a tray into the dining room. She placed three mugs of foamy cocoa—along with saucers, spoons, and the bowl of miniature marshmallows—on the table. “The fire feels wonderful. You guys did a great job.”

  “Can we play checkers?” J. J. asked.

  “One game, then it’s off to bed with you, mister. Your dad and I have some grown up things to discuss.”

  “You’re funny, Sasha.”

  “So are you, with that marshmallow mustache. Here’s a napkin. Wipe your mouth.” Sasha made sure J. J. won at checkers, then it was time for bed. “Let’s go, dude. Do you want Kismet to sleep in your room tonight?”

  “Can she?”

  “Sure. Go ahead and carry her upstairs. I’ll get her cushion.”

  J. J. kissed his dad good night and went upstairs with Sasha. Kismet’s cushion was at the foot of his bed. Sasha had painted the room, a few months earlier, just how J. J. wanted it—blue with white trim. The two of them had agreed on the twin-sized iron bed. An antique, chalk-painted, distressed dresser held all the new clothes Josh had purchased for him. Spiderman action figures sat on the shelf near the door, and fleece-lined slippers waited next to the bed to warm J. J.’s feet in the morning. Sasha tucked him in, covering him to his chin with the thick patchwork quilt.

  “Good night, Sasha.” J. J. reached up and put his arms around Sasha, hugging her tightly.

  “Good night, sweetheart. Is th
ere anything special you want for breakfast?”

  “Can we have pancakes?”

  “Yes, pancakes it is. See you in the morning, honey.”

  Sasha pulled the door closed but left a slight opening so J. J. could see the hallway light. The Victorian was old and large. She wanted him to feel safe and comfortable there, even in the middle of the night.

  When Sasha entered the living room, Josh stood and held out his hand. With the fire going, a warm ambiance filled the room. Two crystal wine glasses waited on the antique table next to him. One held wine and the other milk. He smiled.

  “What have we here?” she asked, chuckling, as he handed her the goblet filled with milk.

  “You take my breath away, Sasha. You have such a glow. I need to take care of my family, starting with a goblet of milk for my beautiful lady. Sit down. Let’s talk. Pregnancy definitely agrees with you.”

  Sasha followed Josh’s lead and sat next to him on the couch. The fire crackled, and the scent of burning wood was heavenly. He held her close.

  “It’s hard to describe what I’m feeling right now,” he said. I’ve never been in love before—I know that for sure. Until you came into my life, I didn’t think I could ever be this happy. I know the pregnancy wasn’t planned, and it’s taken us both by surprise, but what a gift. J. J. just entered our lives, and now a baby? We’re so blessed, sweetheart. I love you more than I can even imagine.” He gently wiped away the tears of joy streaming down her cheeks. “We’re going to have some life changes to discuss, but right now, I just want to hold you and love you. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

  She snuggled closer to Josh on the couch. They wrapped their arms around each other. A million thoughts filled her mind, yet she was completely content. Life was turning out exactly as it should.

  ***

  Sasha went upstairs to dress after their pancake breakfast. The balcony beckoned her to come out and smell the fresh, morning air. She slipped on her shearling-lined Ugg boots and tightened the belt on her thick white chenille robe. A hot cup of decaf warmed her hands as she opened the French doors and stepped out. The crisp morning air filled her lungs, making her shudder. Azure skies dotted with popcorn clouds occupied the vast space above her head, and a blanket of lingering snow lay beneath her. The endless view was glorious.

  I’m so happy I decided on this balcony. I just love it.

  Voices sounded below in the direction of the vacant lot. Sasha peered around the railing to see Josh, J. J., and Kismet roaming the area below. Josh carried a shovel in his hand.

  “What are you bums doing down there?” she called out.

  “Hi, Sasha, Dad’s checking to see if the ground has thawed yet.”

  “What’s the verdict?”

  “We’ve got another few weeks before the frost is completely gone,” Josh said. “It’s getting close though. As soon as the snow is off the cement slab, we can lay the bricks in the wedding garden. We’ll get the arbors in place and build the pergola soon, too. I think by the beginning of May we’ll be okay to start the grape ivy. That will give it six weeks before Mia’s wedding to take hold.”

  “That sounds wonderful. Come inside. It’s chilly out here. I’ll make some hot cider.” Sasha watched as J. J. and Kismet ran for the house. Josh put the shovel back in the shed.

  It was J. J.’s job to dry Kismet’s snow-covered feet. The pup ran off to find a sunny spot for sleeping while they sat around the table, drinking their apple cider.

  “When do you think I should ask my parents to visit?” Sasha asked.

  “You want your dad here to help plant, right?”

  “Yes. I absolutely want his expertise.”

  “Okay, then I think they should come sometime early in May. That means we better order the grape stock soon. Why don’t you give your parents a call, honey? They need to hear the good news anyway. J. J., you want to meet your future grandparents on Sasha’s side, too, don’t you? They live in France.”

  “Wow, that’s so cool. Sasha, do you think they’ll teach me some French words?”

  “Oui, of course they will.”

  Chapter Two

  “Hey, hot mama, and I do mean mama,” Mia said, giggling into the phone. “You really blindsided us last night, girl. Nice work. I seriously can’t wait to be a faux auntie. Anyway, we need to start planning my wedding. It’s less than three months from now, so we need to get busy. Do you want to go shopping Tuesday? I’m thinking we can find everything we need in White Plains. We’ll dress shop for all of us and order a cake. As far as accessories go, we can make a lot of things ourselves. We’ll browse through the craft stores for ideas. There’s something to be said for having Martha Destiny as one of my best friends. Everything she comes up with looks great.”

  Sasha laughed. “As long as we don’t go first thing in the morning. I’m usually okay after breakfast, if I can keep it down. Definitely by lunchtime, I’m good to go. Tuesday sounds perfect. Everyone is going, right?”

  “Oh yeah, we have to decide on bridesmaid dresses for all of you. You guys can pick whatever you want as long as Vic doesn’t go for the bubblegum-pink-spandex look. We’ll get the shopping done and go out to eat—my treat. Gotta go, I have a photo shoot to do in an hour by the river.”

  ***

  Everyone piled into Karen’s Lexus sedan on Tuesday after breakfast. They shot questions at Sasha nonstop. “Do you want a boy or a girl? Have you thought of names? Did you tell your parents yet, and what does Josh think of this?”

  “Oh my God, you guys. You’re making me dizzy. Okay, I’m less than two months pregnant. I just found out a few weeks ago. I’m still trying to get used to the whole idea. Josh and I barely had a minute to absorb this ourselves, and yes, I called my parents on Sunday to talk about their visit and tell them about the pregnancy, too. They were kind of shocked.”

  “Well, no shit, Sherlock. We were kind of shocked, and we’re your best buds. I mean, we see you all the time, but who would have thunk?” Vic searched the radio stations, stopping when she got to something lively.

  They joked about how they couldn’t call Sasha the “innocent” anymore. Becoming pregnant was far from an innocent act—and with Josh, no less. Over time, he’d grown on the close-knit group of friends, but he had been the butt of everyone’s jokes for years prior to falling head over heels in love with Sasha.

  “At least your parents don’t know anything about Josh. They can meet him without an image of some horndog sex troll in their heads,” Tina said.

  “Jeez, guys, I thought you liked Josh now.”

  Mia laughed at all the cracks they’d made at Josh’s expense over the years. “We do, but the jokes are going to stay. They’re priceless.” The four passengers chuckled and snorted as Karen drove down the highway toward White Plains.

  Luckily, the day was calm and sunny. The girls knew they would be doing a lot of walking, so dressing appropriately was important. They had the entire day to enjoy themselves on Mamaroneck Avenue. There were dozens of boutiques and restaurants near Filia’s Bridal Salon, where Mia had an appointment set up for eleven o’clock.

  White Plains was a beautiful town with just the right eclectic mix of old and new. High-rise buildings popped up regularly throughout the city, oftentimes nestled right between two-hundred-year-old structures. Fountains and parks were abundant in the downtown corridor. It was a wonderful area for strolling and window-shopping. The girls intended to spend the entire day there. They had just enough time to relax at Starbucks across the street from Filia’s and grab a latte. Mia blocked off two hours to spend at the bridal shop. In that amount of time, she was sure they would find exactly what they wanted.

  Starbucks was crowded, but they were lucky enough to snag a cozy alcove near the fireplace. They warmed their hands and bodies with the welcoming heat.

  “So, we need to get rocking on the library and finish it up. What’s left to do, Sasha?” Mia sipped her latte, waiting with everyone else for an answer.


  On the other side of the street, the oversized window displays of Filia’s were filled with mannequins adorned in wedding dresses. This was the time of year when everyone shopped in preparation for June weddings. The girls saw the familiar bottom lip begin to quiver as Sasha stared out the window at the displays.

  Mia looked at each of them, her eyebrows raised in a questioning gesture. “Sasha, what’s wrong, honey?”

  “I’ll never wear a beautiful wedding dress like those in the window. I’ll be a Fatty Patty until next Thanksgiving for sure. That means Josh and I can’t get married until then, at the earliest, and what idiot ever plans a wedding between Thanksgiving and Christmas? I’ll tell you: nobody. I might as well put a scarlet letter across my chest. I’m a harlot and a shitty role model for a child. I can’t even get married in my own wedding garden until the following summer when the weather is nice.”

  Her bottom lip was now fully extended in the pout mode, nearly touching her chin. Tears pooled in her eyes. Karen grabbed a handful of napkins off the counter and handed them to Sasha.

  Mia knew she had to divert the topic, or their shopping day would be a bust once they walked into the bridal shop. “I have the best idea in the whole friggin’ world right now!”

  All heads spun toward Mia and stared. The girls slurped coffee and sat anxiously on the edges of their oversized, corduroy-covered chairs. Sasha began to salivate while she rubbed her hands together so fast they almost ignited.

  “Well, tell us, damn it!” She blew her nose into a napkin.

  “Let’s have a double wedding. Sure, you’ll be five months preggers, but that isn’t the end of the world. You won’t seem like a slut to anyone if you get married sooner rather than later. Nobody would even have time to start rumors that Josh doesn’t want to marry you. By the time you’re showing, you’ll already be getting married. If you waited another year, you’d be hearing shit all over town. J. J. can save face at school, and the baby will have Redmond as its last name. We can look at empire-waist wedding dresses today for you! It would be a blast to have a double wedding. Why shouldn’t your marriage be the first one in your wedding garden, too? And I’ll make sure to take your wedding photos. You can easily cover your baby bump with the bouquet. I think it’s a great idea. What do you say?”