Page 24

Preston, however, does the opposite.

He says a quiet fuck and steps in front of me, his hand on my hip to move me gently behind him.

The door swings open, and Gavin comes to a stop with only one foot over the threshold.

Silence fills my living room as my brother looks between Preston and me.

I can see in his eyes the way he processes the view in front of him.

Me in an oversized T-shirt that covers my shorts, giving the illusion I’m not wearing bottoms.

Preston shirtless in only a pair of shorts that hang low on his slim waistline.

Me, now letting my gaze roam freely over the half-naked body of a man I’ve tried for years not to look at.

Shit, when did he get so hot?

“Oh, thank fuck,” Gavin finally says on a breath. He pulls his key from my door and steps in, closing it behind him. “I was about to have a full-blown panic attack that someone hacked your account in an attempt to screw the lodge over, but it seems your post is true.”

Gavin gestures to me and Preston, who have yet to say a word. “Clothes would be cool and all.”

Wait. Someone hacked his account. Shit. That could have been option three.

Preston grabs his shirt off the edge of the couch and pulls it over his head, then I bunch my top so my shorts are visible.

“Jesus, you couldn’t even leave it in the bedroom.”

I let out a noise that resembles a growl.

“Did you need something else?” I ask.

“Yes,” my brother says. “I need a full explanation of what’s going on. Last I knew, you couldn’t stand him, and now your social media account has announced your engagement.”

Preston has the gall to smirk.

Freaking smirk.

“Yeah.” He rubs his chin and then wraps an arm around my shoulders to pull me closer. “This wasn’t exactly how we planned to tell everyone.”

Gavin nods. “I bet not.”

My brother’s gaze flickers between us again.

“So, what happened? How long has this been going on? Why didn’t either of you say anything? I mean”—he chuckles—“we all know Preston has been obsessed with you for years, but this is a shocking change of events for you, sis.”

“I haven’t been obsessed with her,” Preston defends himself.

Me? I play it off, because why not?

“Lies,” I say and smile up at him. “You’re totally the one who made the first move. It was like you couldn’t keep your hands to yourself.”

“Okay, I don’t need details.” Gavin holds his hands up. “I just wanted to be sure someone wasn’t trying to sabotage us, you know. That would fucking suck.”

Gavin lets out a breath, and I find myself absorbing that worry.

I wasn’t going to tell him the truth—Preston made a good point—but look how much stress this secret could cause my brother. Yet another reason I’ll never confide in him.

“Um, can we finish this talk in a bit?” I ask. “I want to shower and get ready. I’m sure the rest of the family will have questions for us, and I’d rather not be in sleepwear for it.”