Page 65 of Scotch & Shortbread

“Maybe I’m not the one for Alex, but if he keeps himself and his heart locked in a fortress…” She shook her head feeling tears sting her eyes, but she swallowed them away. “He has so much to give. I saw it, he’s… he’s…”

Lachlan reached across the table, putting his hands reassuringly on hers as he looked at her helplessly like he didn’t know what to do. “He’s a damn stubborn arse is what he is.”

Quinn laughed despite herself.

He patted her hands. “Ye’re right lass. We all huv seen it, and we all huv tried to talk to him to tell him. It was like he couldn’t hear what we were saying. But ye got through to him, Quinn.”

Quinn shook her head sadly. “I don’t think so, Lachlan.” She was well aware that Alex was the most incredible man she’d ever met, but none of that mattered if he would throw up his walls any time he allowed himself to feel.

Quinn looked up at Lachlan’s kind eyes, so like Alex’s but a deeper shade of blue. Not the stormy blue piercing eyes of Sergeant Mackenzie. The ones that could reach right into her soul. The ones that didn’t even bother to look at her as she slipped out his front door for the last time. She pulled her hand out from under Lachlan’s and tucked her hair behind her ears.

“I didn’t get through to him,” she said pointedly. “Believe me, Lachlan, Alex’s walls are up and fortified. I may have cracked a window, but he abruptly closed it and pulled down the shade,” she snapped and gulped back the rest of her whisky.

Lachlan had a gentle smile on his face as he listened.

“Honestly, even if he did leave the window open, it’s not enough,” she said, feeling fired up now. She wasn’t going to settle for little scraps from Alex.

“I understand, lass, and ye are right. He’s either invested or he’s not.”

“Exactly,” she quipped.

“I hope ye will give him another chance though,” he said quietly, giving her an imploring look that she suspected was very effective at getting what he wanted.

“Ha! It’s not like he’s given any indication he even wants one,” Quinn bit out not taking the bait.

Lachlan looked at her as if he wanted to say something but seemed reluctant.

“Here’s the thing, Quinn. I huvnae even been here for a full day yet, and I huv seen the walls. I know what ye are talkin’ about, but I’ve also seen the brother I’ve always known.”

“Well, I’m glad for that. Truly, I am.” She shifted in her seat.

“Since I’ve arrived, I’ve also seen a side of Alex I’ve never seen before. I dinnae ken everything that happened between ye, but I do ken my brother is different. Somethinghaschanged, Quinn.”

Quinn didn’t know what to make of what Lachlan was saying. She knew Alex hadn’t seen his family since moving to Canada. Of course, he would be different. Or did Lachlan mean something more?

“Let’s leave it at that, lass. I dinnae want to speak fer him, but I hope that ye will hear him out.”

“It’s not like he’s here asking to be heard,” she muttered.

Lachlan chuckled. “Aye, well, he may be a bit tied up at the moment. He came here to see ye, Quinn, but work pulled him away.”

Quinn sniffed as if she still wasn’t convinced. “Hmph.”

“Right then, how about some scran?” he said, picking up the menu. “I’m starved.”

“Scran?” she asked reluctantly.

“Grub,” he said without even looking up.

“Food,” she clarified as Lachlan studied his menu. Her mouth quirked in a smile, and she picked up her own menu.

They ordered a charcuterie board and spent the afternoon chatting or “blethering” as Lachlan had called it. Quinn found she quite enjoyed herself, and it somehow took her mind off her sadness despite the fact much of the conversation centred around Alex. Talking with Lachlan was like getting an unbidden view into Alex’s life.

Lachlan told Quinn about his wife and boys and spoke about them with such love and adoration that Quinn couldn’t help but feel a twinge of envy. They sounded like such a loving family. Lachlan also talked about growing up with Alex. Quinn found herself so immersed that she’d all but forgotten her heartache.

The sky began to darken outside the window. Lachlan looked down at his phone. No word from Alex.

“Haven’t heard from him?” Quinn assumed so from Lachlan’s expression.

---