Page 231 of While You Were Trending

“Make the bottle classy,” she reads.

She lifts her brows at him, crosses her arms, and waits.

“I got a job. It paid well. I wanted to fucking help you, okay?” Ten says. “Be a fucking big brother for once. Don’t make a big deal of it.”

“What. Job?”

“Project got shelved. Doesn’t matter.”

“You’re acting?”

“Didn’t say that.”

“Declan, give him a wedgie,” Ginny says.

Ten looks at me while I debate doing what Ginny’s asked.

Of course I will—I’ll do anything Ginny asks me to do—but I’ll give him a brief moment to convince me not to.

“You gonna be good to my sister?” he asks.

“Not gonna lie to her about where I got the money to leave thirty grand sitting around her winery with cryptic notes, if that’s what you’re asking.” It’s probably wrong how much I’m enjoying this.

Thisbeing watching Ginny’s brother squirm.

I have a feeling we’ll have a fun relationship.

Eventually.

If Ginny wants me to have a relationship with her brother.

If Mabel doesn’t murder him in a way that makes it look like an accident.

Zero doubt, she could do it.

It’s not escaping my notice that weshouldbe grateful.

But I’m well aware that the women here will expect strings if it’s coming from Ten.

For him to hold it over their heads for the rest of their natural lives.

“I’mhelping,” Ten says. “Like you should, Mr. Money Bags.”

“I’m buying the winery next door and asking to be partners with the ladies here,” I tell him.

Ginny looks up at me, eyes going round. “Seriously?”

“For you? Absolutely. I’ll talk to Winona tomorrow. See how we can make it work so she and her dad can stay at the house as long as they want and we double production for your wines.”

“Oh my stars, just when I think I can’t love you any more.” She throws herself at me and peppers my face with kisses.

Mabel stalks back into the barn. “Get out,” she says to Ten.

“Just take the fucking money, Mabel.”

“If this came from a robbery?—”

“I wouldn’t fucking do that to Ginny, and I don’t rob banks.”