Page 83 of Bottle Shock
Which is ironic, considering this entire mess started because I refused to.
It never ends, but I think it would break something in me if Gavin ever believed those things about me were true.
“If you heard the part about me—about—just know what?—”
Gavin steps closer, slow and deliberate, until I can feel the warmth of him. “Hey,” he says, voice low. “I don’t believe a word of that and I never have. I know who you are. Kathleen’s still stuck in her own glory days, and you—” He reaches up, tucking a piece of hair behind my ear. “You’re out there living a life she can’t even imagine. Of course she’s jealous. You shine, starlet. Some people can’t handle that.”
The lump in my throat softens—just a little.
“Besides,” he continues, “I heard how she spoke about Lily. And I’ll be handling that. No one should be speaking about a child that way—especially not mine. I’ll deal with her, but that’s for another day. Right now I’m more worried about you.”
I let out a shaky breath. “I’m fine. She just reminded me why I sometimes hate this town.”
He nods, and there’s a beat where neither of us moves. The air feels heavy with everything. Gavin reaches past me and gently takes the spray bottle from my hand. His fingers brush mine—barely there, but enough that my pulsejumps like an idiot.
“Don’t let these narrow-minded people get to you, okay? They just want you to be as miserable as they are.”
He sets the bottle aside. For a moment, we just stand there—close but not touching—like we’re both trying to find our footing in whatever this is.
I exhale and rub my thumb along the crumpled bow in my hand. “You’re right,” I murmur.
The silence settles into something gentler. More breathable.
And then I remember the email from Sandy.
“Oh—before I forget.” I look up at him. “The listing agent contacted me.”
His brows lift. “Yeah?”
“The sellers invited us to spend the weekend with them. Kind of a ‘get to know you’ thing. She wanted to know if we’re free even though it’s short notice.”
A slow smile tugs at his mouth. “I’m in, it’s a date.”
My heart does that annoying fluttery thing again. “Don’t forget, we’re going to have to act like a married couple, like we’re obsessed with each other.”
His eyes hold mine—and there’s that spark again. The one I really need to get better at ignoring. “Shouldn’t be too hard.”
“Okay, then,” I say overly bright.
I start to step away, escaping before I do something stupid like kiss him, but his voice stops me.
“Would you like to stay for dinner?”
CHAPTER 24
Gavin
MOON RIVER
Ihope I don’t sound as desperate as I feel for her company.
Even though I am pathetically desperate.
When she hesitates, I throw in one last attempt to keep her from leaving.
“Please? The house is so quiet without Lily. You’d really be doing me a favor.”
A smile ghosts across her mouth, and I know I’ve got her. “I guess I could eat.”
