Page 6 of Bottle Shock
Lily looks deep in thought for a moment before dropping everything with a loud clatter to the table. “You’re right!” She tosses a braid over her shoulder. “I shouldn’t be doing any of this. I need to mingle with my guests. It’s not good hosting etiquette!”
She hops away, arms swinging as she strides over to her friends, who look like they’re about to attack the unicorn bounce house.
“You sure she’s not turning seventy? Where the hell did she even hear the word etiquette?” Ariana laughs, looking baffled.
“It’s her ballet teacher. She’s been teaching the kids ‘proper etiquette,’” I make air quotes before taking a bite.
I’d much rather Lily be out playing in dirt piles and running around in the yard. I’m trying to let her stay a free-spirited kid for as long as possible. But along with being an absolute wild child, she also loves to dance. And with RedMountain having limited options, I’m stuck dealing with the stuffy teacher.
Speaking of the stuffy teacher, she appears before me—as if I summoned her with nothing more than a thought.
“Gavin,” Kathleen starts, enunciating my name in an accent I still can’t place—sometimes vaguely British, sometimes Boston. Either way, I’m ninety percent sure it’s fake, given she’s from Red Mountain. “Do you need help with anything? I’m happy to lend a hand. I’m great with my hands.” She winks.
Ariana snorts while Iplaster on a grin, trying to not come off as rude.
Kathleen has always been very friendly. I can handle friendly. I prefer friendly. Unfortunately, friendly soon turned intooverlyfriendly, which turned into flirting. I don’t do flirting—especially not with someone who has a relationship with my daughter.
“We’ve got plenty of hands, but thank you.” I step back a half-pace to put air between us. “Please—enjoy the party.”
Her smile wavers slightly before she conjures it back up. “Alright then, but if you need anything, come find me.”
Instead of leaving immediately, like I hoped she would, she lingers—staring at me with an odd expression before lifting her pointy, manicured fingers to brush her hand over my chest.
“You have some crumbs.”
Somehow, I doubt that.
Resisting the instant recoil she caused, I clear my throat, stepping away another few inches. “I think I heard Lily calling me.”My voice pitches high and panicked, but I can’t find it in myself to care. “Be right back!”
I swear Ariana cackles as I dart away.
Usually, if I play dumb long enough, most women give up. But not Kathleen—it’s getting harder and harder to keep upthe oblivious act. I could be honest, but I don’t want to hurt her feelings. Or worse—hurt her feelings and have Lily pay the price.
This is exactly why I have a firm rule against dating or getting involved with local women. You never know what someone’s capable of—how low they’ll stoop to hurt you, even if it means using a child to do it.
So I do what I have to. Play the part. Be the nice guy. The reliable one. The responsible eldest son. Dutiful dad. The PTA room parent coordinator. Whatever protects the life I’ve built for Lily—even if it means putting my own needs last.
And right now, that means avoiding Kathleen before I say something I can’t take back. I bypass the bounce house where Lily is (and where she definitely didn’t just call out for me) and head for the deck, where my brothers are gathered and I can stay out of sight.
“What’s with you?” Shane asks, smirking like the little shit he is. My youngest brother—with his mess of hair and inked-up arms—is clearly enjoying that, for once, it’s not his disaster we’re dealing with.
“Kathleen.” No further explanation is required. Both Shane and Ethan are well aware of her.
Shane laughs. “Just fuck her already. She’s hot. I don’t get what the big deal is. Maybe if you don’t give her your A-game, she’ll move on.”
“Is that your current strategy? Leaving women unsatisfied?”
Shane scoffs looking almost offended as he swipes my flimsy plate of cake away for himself. I let it go without a fight, my appetite diminished.
“Fuck no. I’ve got a reputation to uphold.”
Ethan’s face scrunches, clearly disgusted by Shane. “Tell her you’re not interested. She’ll get over it.”
Ethan is very matter-of-fact—he’s pragmatic. It’s one ofthe reasons he’s the CEO of our family’s winery instead of me. Turning down the role I was essentially born to take on after our dad announced his sudden retirement is the first and only time I’ve ever pushed back against my family’s expectations. I didn’t like doing that—doing that to Ethan, who stepped up instead—but Lily is more important than any unspoken obligation. I knew I couldn’t be the dad she deserves with a demanding job. So I said no, and though I’m happy with my decision, the guilt still weighs on me.
Rather than answer either of them, I scrub a hand down my face and give a noncommittal shrug, dropping the subject.
“Where’s Marisa?” I ask Ethan, since the two are rarely seen apart these days.
