Page 101 of Bottle Shock
I wave back as Gavin grabs our bags from the back.
Maggie meets me halfway down the porch steps and pulls me into a warm, unexpected hug that smells like cinnamon and lavender. “We’re so glad you two could make it.”
Gavin and Carl shake hands and together we all go in inside.
The view from the floor to ceiling windows is the first thing I notice. I walk up to get a closer look, drawn in by its beauty. It really is a stunning view, the lake shimmering under the bright sun. If you stand just right, it feels like you’re floating—land gone, just the sky above and lake below.
Carl is trying to take one of the bags, Maggie is pointing down the hall explaining which room is ours, and I turn to follow them—and walk directly into something solid.
It’s potent smelling.
Like overpriced cologne mixed with strong whiskey.
“Oh—sorry,” a smooth voice says.
I look up to find a man I don’t recognize. He’s tall, but still a little shorter than Gavin. Dressed in a suit tailored within an inch of its life, his hair slicked back. He hits me with an aw-shucks smile, all charm and teeth—one I might actually believe if it reached his eyes. Maybe he’s the new listing agent.
“Whoops—apologies,” Maggie says quickly. “This is our son, Andy. He surprised us with a visit.”
He sticks out his hand. “Andrew,” he corrects.
I shake his hand on instinct. Soft skin. No calluses. No sign of any real work. His thumb lingers on my wrist—quick enough to look accidental, slow enough to mean he wanted me to notice.
Before I can recoil, an arm slides around my shoulder, pulling me close. It’s Gavin. And I feel instantly relieved with him by my side.
“Gavin,” he says evenly, shaking Andrew’s hand with his free one. “And this is my wife, Scottie.”
The way he emphasized wife sends a little spark down my spine. It almost sounded possessive and it’s embarrassing how much I like it.
Andrew’s eyes linger on my ring for a beat before he smiles, that same too-smooth curve of his mouth, and steps back like nothing happened.
Maggie claps her hands together lightly, breaking the moment. “Well! Let’s get you two settled. Lunch will be ready in about an hour. No rush—just decompress from the drive.”
We follow them down the hall, past family photographs and painted landscapes, the house creaking in that comforting, old-bones kind of way. Carl directs Gavin to set the bags just inside the doorway while Maggie pushes open the door to our room with a littleflourish.
It’s simple and cozy—wood beams, two wide windows looking over the water, and a quilt that looks handmade.
“This was our mother-in-law suite, so it’s nice and roomy. And there’s a full en suite, so you’ll have your privacy. If you need a thing, just holler,” Maggie says, patting my arm. “We’ll leave you two to settle in.”
She and Carl head back down the hall, their voices fading toward the kitchen.
The second their footsteps disappear, Gavin shuts the door.
His jaw is tight. His shoulders are tense. Then his hands find my waist, like he can’t stand one more second without touching me.
“I don’t like the way that guy was looking at you,” he says quietly.
His tone is hard and rough, and so unlike the Gavin I’m used to.
I blink up at him. “What do you mean?”
I’m playing dumb, I know what he means, but up until now I thought it was in my head. And seeing this side of Gavin is ridiculously hot. I shouldn’t encourage it. I really shouldn’t.
His eyes flick toward the door, as if Andrew’s presence is still lingering in the air. “He was checking you out. In front of me.”
A warmth starts to curl low in my stomach. Why is this so hot?
Out of all his siblings, he’s the even-keeled one, the level-headed one, the one who never lets his emotions get the best of him. But right now he looks like none of those things—and it’s wildly attractive that he’s losing control because of me.
