Page 77 of Bottle Shock
He shakes his head, a faint smile tugging at his mouth. “Yeah, I did. It’s my job to carry the heavy stuff. I was raised right.”
I lift an imaginary handkerchief to my chest and give a slow, dramatic sigh. “Well, aren’t you the perfect gentleman.”
He laughs, shaking his head as he leans a shoulder against the wall. His gaze roams the length of me—a slow drag that lingers for a beat on the V of my shirt—making my skin flush hot under his attention. When his eyes find mine again, he winks. “Most of the time.”
I arch a brow, pretending my pulse isn’t doing weird things. “Careful, Ledger. Keep talking like that, and I might get the wrong idea.”
His shoulders lift as he tucks his hands in his pockets. “Not sure what you mean.”
I make the mistake of glancing at him again, and the grin that flashes across his face tells me he knows exactlywhat he’s doing.
All these years, and I’ve never really seen this side of him. From afar, I always knew he was charming, flirty—the guy everyone tripped over themselves trying to get noticed by. He always had a girlfriend, girls I secretly hated every time I was over at the Ledgers’. Not that he ever noticed twelve-year-old me hovering around the kitchen, pretending I wasn’t spying.
And then Lily came along. Everyone’s favorite hometown hottie turned into everyone’s favorite single dad, and somehow that made it worse. He changed after that—more private, more careful. According to Elyse, women still try, but they never get far.
This—whatever this is—is dangerous. Innocent, maybe, but still dangerous. Because I don’t want to stop it. I want more of it. I wantallof it. I want to break every rule I’ve ever made and cross every line that exists. Kissing him already ruined me; anything more would leave me with nothing left.
Before I can think of something to say back, he clears his throat and pushes off the wall. “Oh—before I forget.” He reaches into the back pocket of his jeans and pulls out a small stack of cards, holding them between his fingers.
“These are for you.”
My brows knit. “For me?”
He steps closer and holds them out. “Debit and credit for our joint account—and your insurance card.”
I take the last one automatically, careful not to touch the others. The insurance card is the only one I want—the only one that makes sense. The rest? Not so much.
“Joint account?” My laugh comes out sharper than I mean it to. “I thought we already agreed to keep our money separate.”
“We talked about it,” he says evenly, “but I didn’t agree.”
“Gavin, I can’t take those.” I shake my head, backing up a step. “That feels…weird. I have my own money. In fact, I’m showing a house tomorrow, so I really don’t need your help. I can take care of myself.”
“I know you can.” His tone isn’t pushy, but it leaves no room for argument. “Married couples share things. The insurance should all work now—doctor’s visits, prescriptions, everything. The cards are just for day-to-day stuff. Groceries, gas, whatever you need.”
“This is too much,” I say quietly, crossing my arms.
He doesn’t argue. Just crosses the room, closing the space between us, and sets the cards on the counter beside my keys. “If it helps, think of it as logistical.”
“It doesn’t,” I mutter.
He smirks, a flicker of amusement tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Didn’t think so.”
“Thanks,” I say finally, knowing he won’t take them back.
He nods once. “I’ll let you get unpacked. Get settled.”
“Please don’t tell me you’re calling because they changed their minds.”
Russell’s raspy smoker’s laugh comes through. “Relax, they loved you Scott. I’m just letting you know Off Script sent over the contract this morning.”
I breathe out a relieved sigh. I didn’t think they would take back the offer since the meeting went well, but given that my old director still has plenty of reach to destroy this, I wouldn’t be surprised.
What did surprise me was the Off Script director.
And the fact that she’s a woman.
As soon as our meeting began she looked me straight in the eye and said she’d heard the rumors. That she believed me.That she’d been waiting for someone to finally bring light to his antics.
