Page 19 of Bottle Shock
She’s cute when she’s embarrassed. She’s cute most of the time—beautiful, actually. And this isn’t some newfound realization. I can pinpoint the exact moment I stopped seeing Scottie as just my little sister’s best friend and started seeing her as…well, something else. An incredibly stunning woman.
A millisecond later, I slammed that door shut. It would’ve been a disaster to go there. And even though I know I made the right call, every now and then that memory pushes its way back in—usually when I see her, and those same feelings start to stir in my chest.
That’s why I keep my distance. You can’t want someone you never see. At least, that’s what I tell myself. But now that she’s the one helping me find a vacation home, avoiding her is about to get a hell of a lot harder.
I clear my throat, drag my focus back to the desk, and claim a seat—leaving at least a chair’s distance between us. “So. You said you found some listings?”
Her expression falters. “About that…”
That tone never means good news.
“There’s not much out there,” she admits, pulling up a tabon her laptop. “Actually, there’s just one property available right now.”
“Only one?”
She winces. “Yep. Uno. Singular. One. But the good news is they’re hosting an open house this Saturday and won’t be accepting offers until after.”
Crossing my arms, I shift in my seat. “Let me guess—everyone in the market is already circling it like vultures.”
“Pretty much,” she admits. “It’s a beautiful place. Lakefront, great view, big kitchen, and from the photos, it looks move-in ready. I think it’s worth seeing.”
“Well, show me some pictures before we go to the trouble of driving all the way over there.”
She angles the screen my way.
“Here we go.” She clicks through a few tabs, chewing her plump bottom lip in concentration. “Okay, so, it’s technically listed as a three-bedroom, but there’s a loft that could be a fourth. The living room has these massive windows overlooking the water.”
The first image pops up, and I can practically smell the lake through the screen. The house is a pale gray with white trim, perched just above a narrow dock that juts into the water. It looks peaceful, secluded. The kind of place you can actually breathe in.I’m reminded again why Allison was so fond of the area, only confirming how perfect it’ll be for Lily.
“It’s got this cabin-meets-modern aesthetic,” she says, leaning close enough that a strand of her hair brushes my arm despite my attempt not to get too close.“Not too fancy, but not a fixer-upper either. I definitely think it’s your vibe.”
I steal a glance at her, my lips twitching upward. “And what exactly is my vibe?”
She shrugs, eyes still on the laptop, but there’s the ghost of a smile playing on her lips. “You know. Like…earthy.” She laughs, and there’s a nervous tinge to it. “You’re like one of those outdoorsy, one-with-nature types.”
I’d argue, but she’s not exactly wrong. The way she says it—like she’s a little embarrassed to admit that that’s how she sees me—makes my chest bloom with warmth.
“Do you not like it?” she asks hesitantly. “Because I can expand the search outside city limits. I pulled some listings about five miles away in the next town.”
“No, I actually think it’s great. I know you said it’s the only home for sale, but I would still like it even if there were other options.”
She looks relieved. “Oh, good. Because I only found one other listing in the next town over, and it was trash.”
I bark out a laugh. “What about you?” I ask before I can stop myself. “Do you like it?”
Scottie sighs under her breath. “Me? Oh, gosh, what’s not to like? I’d take a shack by the lake, and this is by no means a shack. When I get back to Chicago, I’ll be lucky if I have a window that doesn’t look out into an alley.”
I’m not sure why, but I didn’t think she was going back. Elyse made it sound like she might be staying permanently. “You’re not planning to stay in Red Mountain? I just assumed…”
Her smile falters for half a second. “It’s temporary,” she says lightly, though there’s a shadow behind it. “Anyway.” She clicks to the next picture—an open kitchen with rustic beams and polished countertops.“I think we should absolutely see it in person. With the town restricting new construction and most people seeming more interested in keeping homes in the family than putting them on the market, it could be a while before something else becomes available.”
“Sounds like a plan,” I say, though I’m still hung up on the way she brushed off my question—and the way hereyes lost a bit of their shine, like her thoughts drifted somewhere she didn’t want me to follow.
She glances up, grinning. “That was easy. I don’t know why I was so worried.”
“I wasn’t worried at all. You’ve always been incredibly capable.”
Her cheeks redden as her eyes dart to the floor, as if she isn’t sure what to say. “Thank you,” she says finally, tucking her hair behind her ear. “I’ll call the listing agent and make sure we’re good for Saturday. If we leave here by ten, we’ll get there around noon. Does that work?”
