Page 60 of Scotch & Shortbread

“I cannae believe yer so bloody dense,” Lachlan said. “This cold Canadian air must be numbing yer brain cells.”

Alex shot him a scowl. “Fuck off.”

Lachlan’s lips tipped into a lopsided grin, and he leaned in over the table. “Let me let ye in on a wee secret.”

Alex arched a dark brow as he sat back, folding his muscled arms across his chest.

“Ye, dear brother,” Lachlan said slowly as if ensuring Alex was listening, “are in love, like the real fuckin’ deal. Hook, line, and sinker. Brawly smitten.” Then Lachlan leaned back in his chair, and a pleased smile spread from ear to ear, like the cartoon Grinch, all satisfied with himself after he'd hatched his plan to keep Christmas from coming.

Alex stared at his brother’s twinkling blue eyes. “Christ Lachlan, ye huv lost yer bloody mind. Next, ye’ll be trying to convince me ye witnessed Santa squeezing his fat fucking arse down the chimney on Christmas Eve.”

Lachlan sighed in resignation, then smacked his hands down on the table and pushed back his chair, its feet scraping across the floor. “Ye daft sod. I’m knackered. I’m going to bed.” He nodded in the direction of the settee. “Now get out of my bedroom and leave me in peace.”

Alex lay in his bed feeling spent, although a nervous energy still buzzed through him. The last thing he’d ever have expected was for one of his siblings to show up here in Canada the day after Christmas. Especially not Lachlan given that he was married and had his boys and wife at home.

If Drew had shown up on his doorstep, Alex would have been less surprised since Drew was known for doing the unexpected. Even if his baby sister Orlagh had shown up, it would have been less of a shock since she’d always talked about wanting to get out of Scotland.

It wouldn’t surprise him if one day she made her way to this side of the pond. His thoughts turned to Helena, the sister they’d lost. Christmas time was always tinged with a combination of happy and sad. God, how he missed her. He knew that they all did.

Seeing Lachlan felt really good though. He’d missed having his family around. He loved the numpty despite his delirious blethering tonight. The man was jet lagged and too damn in love with his own wife. He was seeing the world with some kind of rosy glasses. Alex scoffed out loud.In love. How ridiculous. Christ.

37

Four Letter Word

“Mornin’,”LachlansaidasAlex strode into the kitchen and filled a glass of water from the tap.

“Mornin’, ye sleep all right?” he asked between gulps.

“Well, it’s not the most comfy of settees, but to be honest, I slept like the dead.” He was sitting up and stretching his head from side to side. “My neck is kinked up like a bloody cinnamon twist.”

“Maybe ye should go shove yer head in the snow?” Alex suggested brightly.

“Fuck off,” Lachlan replied, and Alex’s lips quirked in a smile. It was nice to have his brother around.

“How long are ye intending to stay?” he asked, refilling his water glass.

Lachlan cocked his head. “As soon as ye pull yer head out of yer arse, I can think about headin’ home.”

Alex bit back a laugh. “I cannae begin to imagine wha’ ye mean,” he said sardonically.

Lachlan strode into the kitchen. “Where’s the coffee?”

“I’ll make it. Go sit,” Alex muttered.

Lachlan brokered no argument. He pulled out the chair at the table and plopped down. A few minutes later, Alex brought two mugs of coffee to the table and sat down across from his brother. They sipped in companionable silence.

“So?” Lachlan eyed at Alex expectantly.

“So what?” Alex said, leaning back in his chair, feeling exhausted. Even his bones felt zapped of energy. He sipped his strong black coffee—mud, as Quinn had referred to the taste—silently willing it to take the edge off. He knew better, though. It was a miserable sort of tired plaguing him. He hadn't slept well. Again. It wasn't so much that he felt sleepy; it was more an epic dismal mood he couldn't manage to shake. If anything, it seemed worse by the hour.

“Did ye think about what I said?”

“What?” Alex looked dumbfounded.

“Love,” Lachlan responded as if it was obvious.

Alex glared at his brother, his head beginning to throb. “Ye cannae be serious.”

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