Page 95 of Bottle Shock
Her shoulders lift. “It’s low-carb.”
Why would he make a low-carb wine?
Some silly little corner of my heart hopes it’s for me, but the more rational part of me knows better. Still, there’s that seed of hope, letting me think it’s true. That he was thinking of me. That maybe it means more than just some bottle.
Marisa’s gaze connects with mine, winking at me before standing up and declaring it’s time to dance.
By the time everyone is on their second round of drinks, I’ve finished my glass and made it back to water. As I’m settling into the booth, a smattering of goosebumps spreads across my skin, and it’s like I feel him before I see him.
I look up toward the front door, and Gavin is walking in with Ethan, Dominic, Shane, and Cole Benton.
Gavin spots me immediately. His gaze locks on mine like he’d been looking for me before he even came inside.
“Oh, God. He’s here,” Ariana mutters under her breath beside me.
“Who’s here?” I ask, though I don’t take my eyes off Gavin.
“Cole,” she whispers.
My curiosity is piqued. Why would Ariana care if Cole is here? I didn’t realize they even really knew each other.
Interesting.
Cole Benton is the head winemaker and CEO of Benton Winery, Ledger’s biggest competitor. The families are friendly in public, but when it comes to business, they’re ruthless with each other.
My attention flashes to Cole, who’s looking directly at Ariana.
Meanwhile, she’s pretending to be veryinterested in the coaster in front of her.
No one else seems to notice the quiet meltdown Ariana is having or the way Cole is basically undressing her with his eyes. I decide to keep it to myself, filing it away for later.
Because if the Ledger brothers—anyof them—found out their baby sister, the purest soul among them, was tangled up with Cole? A man ten years older than her with a reputation that precedes him?
There would be bloodshed.
An uprising.
A riot.
Possibly a war.
And I’m here for it.
Maybe Ariana isn’t as innocent as she’s led us all to believe.
Dominic makes a beeline straight for Elyse and kisses her like a soldier returning from war. You’d think the two haven’t seen each other in years, when it’s only been a little over an hour. Ethan sits beside Marisa, who immediately cuddles up around him.
Layla drags Ariana out onto the dance floor, leaving me with the couples.
That is, until Gavin approaches, sliding in next to me—but not so close that we’re touching. It’s respectable. It’s friendly. It definitely doesn’t say we’ve almost kind of sort of had sex and are secretly married, and he knows what I taste like. It doesn’t say that at all.
“Hey,” he says quietly, smiling at me.
My stomach dips, butterflies fluttering to life.
“Hi,” I say, suddenly feeling shy.
He leans in just slightly—enough that it looks like nothing, but feels like everything. “You look pretty,” he murmurs.
