Page 98 of Shelter from the Storm

Edith chuckled. “Just for you.”

Theo placed a hand over his heart. “You are an angel sent straight from heaven.”

“And you’re as big a charmer as your father.” Edith patted his arm. “Well, come on then, Manny. Shake a leg, boy. Don’t stand there gawking. I promised Claire I’d help with the cooking.”

Manny released a sigh, trying—and failing—to sound annoyed. If anything, the man looked more than ready to pitch in with kitchen duty as well. Of course, in Manny’s case, that meant he would serve as the official taste tester.

Once they entered the house, Theo turned his attention to Gretchen and Shaw.

“Theo, this is my brother, Shaw Parker. Shaw, this is Theo Storm. I believe the two of you have spoken before,” she said to Theo, her eyes sparkling with mirth.

Theo shook Shaw’s hand, amused by the slightly too-hard grip the man used. Clearly, Shaw intended to test him.

“Nice to meet you, Shaw. I’m glad you could join us for dinner.”

“I appreciate the offer.” Shaw wrapped his arm around his sister’s shoulders, tucking her close. “Gretchen said she’s been working for you and your family since September.”

Theo nodded, then gestured in the general direction of the brewhouse. “We have some time before dinner is served. Why don’t I introduce you to the rest of the family and then, if you’d like, Gretchen and I can give you a tour of the farm, show you the brewery, winery, and brewhouse.”

“I can show you my office,” Gretchen chimed in excitedly. “It’s huge and the view is unbelievable.”

“I’d like that,” Shaw said.

Before they could enter the house, they heard a litany of curses coming from the path between his parents’ house and the one his cousins shared.

“Fucking goddamn, son of a cock-sucking—” Remi stopped midstream as she lifted her gaze and saw them standing on the porch.

“Hellraiser,” Shaw said, the man’s nickname for his cousin catching Theo off guard.

Remi offered a weak grin. “Hotshot.”

“Did I miss something?” Theo asked Gretchen quietly.

“Tell you later,” she murmured.

Theo turned his attention back to Remi. “You’re in a chipper mood this morning,” he joked.

“Just tripped on the way over here and tore my favorite pair of overalls.” Remi reached down, revealing a tear in the denim near the left pocket. Then she rubbed her hands on her thighs, leaving streaks of dirt and?—

“Are you bleeding?” Shaw noticed the same thing Theo had.

Remi held up a dirty hand. “Scraped my palm on a stone. It’s fine.”

Shaw frowned. “You should wash that. Clean out the dirt or it’ll get infected.”

“Thanks for the suggestion, Dr. Hotshot. That never would have occurred to me,” she retorted sarcastically. She must have heard the rudeness in her tone, because she immediately apologized. “Sorry. I woke up late—and slightly hungover.”

Gretchen giggled. “Only slightly?”

Remi narrowed her eyes, but the grumpiness was gone. “Why did you let me order that margarita?”

“As I recall,” Shaw argued, “everyone at the table said it would be a bad idea.”

Gretchen glanced at Theo. “Shaw hung out with us at girls’ night for a little bit, while we waited for his take-out order. Then we went to Edith’s. He spent the night there in one of the other guest rooms. We talked until three a.m.” She smiled fondly at her brother. It appeared all the bridges between them hadn’t just been mended but reinforced.

“Sounds like it was a big night. Sorry I missed it.” Theo was sorry. He would have loved to have seen Gretchen’s face when Shaw arrived.

“You don’t know the half of it.” Gretchen took his hand. “And I wish you’d been there too. More than I can say. I missed you.”

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