Page 35 of The Reality of Us
If Teddy wasn’t wearing pale blue scrubs, Owen would’ve pushed him sideways into the garden bed filled with agapanthus.
“Shut up,” he growled, regretting it immediately when his brothers grinned. Anyone with siblings knew reacting was the worst thing he could’ve done.
“So, uh, where do you think you guys will get married?” Nate’s lips twitched.
Owen breathed in deeply.
“Somewhere traditional, definitely,” Raff added, a tinge of uncertainty in his tone like he’d forgotten how to tell a joke.
“He could wear a kilt!” Teddy slapped Owen on the back. “You’ve got the legs for it.”
Nate laughed. “But we’re not Scottish.”
“Minor detail,” Raff teased, his voice lighter. If Owen wasn’t the target, he’d have been happy to hear his brother behaving like he used to.
“How’s he going to pick a best man out of the three of us?” Teddy wanted to know.
“There’ll be a pros and cons list. Or a roster. D’uh.” As Nate exaggerated the last word, the barn came into view. “Excel will be involved.”
Owen tossed his hands in the air and then straightened his tie again, even though it was already perfectly straight. “You can all shut up. The hot water system at my place is dying. And work is closer to the trails.”
“And he thinks Alice is super-hot,” Teddy stage-whispered as they approached the barn.
“I don’t think she’s hot. She’s not my type at all.” Owen stared straight ahead, refusing to make eye contact with any of his brothers as he stepped through the open door. “Alice’s my client. Nothing else.”
“That’s good to know,” someone said from behind him.
Fuck. He’d know her voice anywhere.
At least Owen had the good grace to face her when he turned around. He was clean-shaven and in her favourite navy suit. Since when do I have a favourite suit of his? His maroon tie matched his pocket square, which matched the embarrassment on his face.
“Alice.” Owen stuffed his hands in his pockets, but one immediately snaked towards his neck, pulling at his tie. “Hello.”
She bit the inside of her cheek. Fine. If she was just a client, then he was just a lawyer. She could play this game. She tried to wave her hand, remembering too late it was full of dog leads. A handle whipped up, missing her face. Smooth.
“Here,” Nate said, stepping forward, breaking the bubble of awkwardness they were trapped in. “Let me help.”
Murphy, a gorgeous puppy with paws the size of dinner plates, rubbed his nose against her yoga pant-clad leg, leaving behind a smear of dog snot and slobber. But it was impossible to stay mad at the pup with his chocolate eyes and sweet disposition.
“That’d be great, thanks.” The shrillness of her voice bounced off the big beams in the barn, echoing in the cavernous space. Damn Owen for making her so off balance with his words.
“Awesome, everyone’s here. You guys look fantastic,” Eloise said.
Alice waited patiently while Eloise got all the brothers situated. Once they were ready, Alice tried to pass a border collie to Rafferty, but Owen leapt forward, claiming the dog for himself. The chatter in the barn dipped for a second before everyone kept talking, pretending it wasn’t weird at all. Wattle Junction was starting to feel like home, but moments like this reminded Alice she was still an outsider.
“Here,” she said, leading Murphy over to Rafferty. “You can have this love sponge instead.”
“Perfect,” Eloise said, and Alice hurried out of the shot. Murphy whined. He’d been stuck to her side ever since she’d arrived early to help—Lulu’s suggestion so she could check out the old kitchen in the shearing shed. The ‘kitchen’—and she used that word loosely—was nothing more than an old electric oven and cooktop paired with an equally decrepit fridge, but the space itself was so much bigger than what she had access to at home. Most importantly, everything worked. She’d be able to store all her supplies and the bags of clothes she still hadn’t found time to sort through and sell in there. Once Owen was finished, she would ask him to draw up a lease for the space. She brushed at the clumps of dog hair stuck to her olive leggings, watching him from below her lashes.
“That boy over there can’t stop looking at you,” Eloise murmured, adjusting the dials on the top of her camera. “Maybe you should take him home with you.”
Alice tore her gaze away from Owen and smiled at Murphy. The black and caramel fluff ball grinned back at her. “I’m not ready for a dog. I can barely look after myself.”
“I’m not talking about Murphy.” Eloise winked at Alice.
She twisted her ponytail around her hand. “Who? Rafferty? No, no, no.” He looked a lot more like Owen in his suit, dark curls neatly brushed, face focused.
“Not talking about him either.”
