Page 64 of Scotch & Shortbread

“I didn’t realize Alex was expecting any of his family to visit over the holidays,” she said, taking a sip of her whisky vaguely aware that she’d somehow grown accustomed to the taste and could almost say she liked it.

“He wasnae. My wife Violet surprised me on Christmas day with a ticket to come over here. I had no idea. It's been a long time, though, and I think she is hopin’ I’d bring him back home.”

“For good?” Quinn asked, feeling a pit form in her stomach. The thought of Alex leaving Canada was a heavy one. They weren’t together, but if he wasn’t here…it would mean the door would be closed forever. It seemed so final. And yet, wasn’t the door already slammed shut?

“Naw, just for a visit. I dinnae think he’s ready to come home for good. I’m not sure he ever will be.”

“Oh right.” Quinn felt oddly relieved. The restaurant was fairly quiet as it was mid-afternoon, and silence stretched between them. She fiddled with her white paper napkin on the dark wood table.

Lachlan studied her. “Ye huv a similar look in yer eyes as my brother did last night.”

Quinn almost scoffed. “The look of exhaustion?”

“I meant the look of sadness,” he said gently, and Quinn’s glance flicked up at him. “Lass, I cannae speak fer Alex, but believe me when I say he cares fer ye.”

“He has an odd way of showing it,” she muttered, anxiously tearing off little shreds of a napkin.

Lachlan sat across the table from her, sipping his whisky, looking relaxed. He was so like Alex but also completely different. Lachlan seemed kind and gentle. She had to admit he was also very easy on the eyes. All those lovely traits, but it was cold, moody Alex that her heart ached for. The truth was she’d glimpsed a big heart somewhere under Alex's gruff facade. Lachlan and Alex may be identical, but they were very different. Not once did she find Lachlan to be lethally sexy like his brother, and he certainly didn't make her pant with need the way Alex did every time he set his stormy blue eyes on her. She squeezed her eyes closed trying to push out those thoughts.

Christmas music filled the otherwise quiet atmosphere of the inn restaurant. For the first time, Quinn realized that Christmas music might forever be ruined because of her heartbreak over Alex. Normally, she loved hearing Michael Bublé croon about jingle bells and white Christmas', but currently, she’d prefer utter stone-cold silence paired with her heartache over the cheery blare of festive music.

When she opened her eyes, Lachlan’s lips were quirked in an almost smile, and he had a knowing expression on his face. “I hope my numpty brother has no’ wrecked yer Christmas. He can be a stubborn arse, I ken.”

Quinn saw the twinkle of mischief in Lachlan’s eyes, and she almost smiled. “He can be an arse all right.”

Lachlan chuckled.

“It’s like he’s determined to keep a wall up—keep people out. Or at least keep me out,” she said, taking another sip of her whisky and feeling its heat roll down her throat.

“I dinnae think it is ye. I think it is all women,” Lachlan said sadly. “He went through some very hard times in his life, and I think he was trying to protect himself somehow. I believe my brother has sworn off women like they’re the plague.”

“Great,” Quinn scoffed.

“That is until ye came along,” he clarified.

Quinn eyed Lachlan, gauging whether or not she believed him. “I’m pretty sure he’s put me in the plague category and sworn me off too,” she said, quietly fiddling at the shreds of napkin on the table.

“Never,” he quipped confidently.

Quinn shook her head, not convinced.

“I dinnae ken what to say, lass. 'Tis no' my place to speak fer my brother. I will say this, though; Alex has always been fearless in his life. Nothing shakes the man.”

Quinn snorted. “I’ve noticed.”

“Aye, well I think ye may have cracked that a wee bit,” Lachlan said, rolling the whisky in his glass.

“You think he’s afraid of me?" Quinn scoffed. She couldn’t fathom lethal Cold Mean Cop Alex being afraid of anything.

“I think he's in uncharted waters,” Lachlan amended.

Quinn didn’t know what to make of that. She wanted to ask more, but she also suspected Lachlan was not prepared to say too much on his brothers behalf. Quinn sighed heavily, leaning back from the table. “Honestly, Lachlan, I understand, in a way, why Alex has built impenetrable walls.”

“Not impenetrable, lass,” Lachlan interrupted her.

Quinn regarded him, not allowing herself to think on those words. “It kills me to think what Alex endured. The fact that Alex has found peace in his life and moved on is more than I think most people could do.” She paused. “But it also kills me to think about what he will miss out on because he still keeps himself so guarded.”

Lachlan eyed her like he wanted to say something, but held back.

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