Desire and a Bottle of Merlot: (Like Sisters Series Book 5) Chick Lit: A Romantic Comedy by Bria Marche Page B

stories down.
    “What’s with all the racket down there, for crap’s sake?”
    “Morning, Sasha. Sorry about the noise, but we want to beat the rain. We’ve got a couple of good days before the storm comes in, and we have to take advantage of it. You want this deck done in a few weeks, right?” He looked up, shielding his eyes, and grinned.
    “That’s the plan, dude. I’ll let you get to it. I’m going to make a pot of coffee. Do you need some?”
    “Yeah, it looks like we all do. Thanks.”
    Sasha zombie walked down the staircase to the kitchen. Josh had recently put a doggy door in the laundry room that led to a small pen in the side yard for Kismet. The pup had her daily walks, but having the ability to go outside whenever she wanted to, especially since the weather was warming up, was a big help. Sasha hit the on button of the coffee machine and sat in the dining room with her iPad to check her emails. She heard footsteps descending the staircase. It sounded like only one set—most likely her mother. It seemed as though women usually set the day in motion.
    “Hi, Mama,” Sasha said, standing to give her mother a kiss on each cheek. “Sorry about the noise.”
    “That’s okay, darling. Your father snores louder than the banging outside, so I’m used to it. He’s still sleeping like a baby.”
    “Do you want to go to Hair Brained with me today? I’m having my hair colored back to black. It’s time. I thought you might want to tag along and get a trim.”
    “Thank you, dear, but your father and I have plans already. Josh offered to loan us his car for the day, so we’re going shopping for wedding and baby gifts.”
    “Mom, you’re too sweet.”
    “We love you, darling, and we’re just so proud of the beautiful, mature woman you’ve become. Your dad can’t stop bragging when he’s on the telephone to his friends in France. It’s adorable.”
    The beep of the coffeemaker indicated the carafe was full. Sasha got up and headed to the kitchen. “Stay put, Mom. I’ll get the coffee.” She returned with the carafe and poured two cups. “I’ll be right back. I promised coffee to the guys outside.”
    Sasha disappeared down the porch steps and followed the paver sidewalk around to the back of the house . Man, I can’t wait until there’s sliders right off the kitchen to the deck. It will be wonderful. This is a nonstop workout.” She reached the guys, who were busy setting up the decorative railing around the first floor of the deck. The continuous sound of the nail gun hitting the wood confirmed their progress. Sasha stood back and admired the work so far. “You guys, it’s just so beautiful. I’m really excited, and I can’t wait until there are doors blown through the kitchen right to the deck. And when I have a staircase from the bedroom balcony to the deck, I’ll truly be in heaven. Here, have some coffee.” Sasha poured three cups and stood chatting with the men for a while. She talked privately with Dan when Bill and Jeff took a smoke break. “May I be candid with you?”
    “Well, sure… I think,” he said.
    “What’s your take on Tina? Have you thought of becoming involved with anyone, or isn’t that on your radar?”
    “Wow, you get to the point, don’t you?” he joked, a surprised expression crossing his face. Dan rubbed his forehead and frowned. “You know, it’s something I haven’t thought about for a while. I moved to Albany because of a woman. We were engaged for three years, but something about it never felt right to me. It seemed like because we were together that long I was expected to ask her to marry me. She and her family thought it was the natural progression, but I felt pressured. Eventually I called the engagement off. Call it a gut feeling, if you will, but I knew it was the right thing to do.” He picked up a twig and snapped it into four pieces. He let them drop back down to the ground. “Anyway, I stuck around Albany for a few years because my