British Black Sheep - Lauren Smith Page 0,30

happy to.” Morgan offered Brie his arm and then led her around the back of the tree to show her the specially designed tree stand and ropes.

The scene created a pit in Alec’s stomach. He had to nip this whole matchmaking thing of his mum’s in the bud before Brie got hurt by Morgan’s infectious charm.

Alec turned to his mother once Morgan and Brie were out of earshot. “Mum, what are you doing?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean Morgan…” Alec waved a hand toward his brother. “You know how much of a flirt he is. Just because you want him to find a serious relationship doesn’t mean he’s going to oblige. Don’t do that to Brie.”

His mother’s eyes narrowed slightly. “I believe they could be good together. Why not give them a chance?”

“Mum, she doesn’t want a relationship, all right?”

“You know this how?” Julia arched brow.

“Just trust me. No matchmaking.”

“Very well, if you don’t want Morgan around her, then I’ll need your help with showing Brie around the house.”

“If I must…” Alec wanted to fist pump the air in victory, but he acted as if her request was barely tolerable. If his mother wanted him to spend time with Brie, he would. And he would keep his dangerously charming brother far away from her.

7

Brie and Morgan stood by the Christmas tree, but she could see Alec talking with his mother through the decorated branches. It was amazing how similar the two brothers looked now that she was searching for familial resemblances. Both were incredibly sexy, but Morgan had a charming, playful side that was nice to be around. There was something about Alec’s reserve mixed with bursts of intensity that drew her in deep, almost drowning her with fascination. Yet, when he let his guard down and teased her with his playful barbs, she couldn’t help but respond in kind; it was exciting and fun. But his mercurial nature also confused her. She wasn’t quite sure where she stood with him.

Maybe it’s because we’re both broken. Me with Preston, Alec with his grandfather.

She’d read somewhere that broken people tended to find each other. Seek one another out, often unconsciously. Not that she identified herself as broken, but she still felt the damage after her marriage fell apart. She’d put back all the pieces, like super-gluing a broken vase back together, she knew one good fall might easily fracture it all over again.

The strange thing was that for the longest time she hadn’t even known she’d been broken. That first day she’d realized she hadn’t missed Preston had been a warning that came far too late. There had been no affairs, no fighting, nothing except a fading away of the life that she’d once believed in so strongly.

And that was how she’d finally understood the depth of her situation. She’d been too weak to fight for anything anymore, too weak to fight for love. Perhaps she wasn’t capable of it, or it didn’t exist. She honestly didn’t know.

“So, what else can I show you?” Morgan asked.

“Actually, it’s my turn. I’m taking her to see the Christmas cards.” Alec stepped between her and Morgan with an overly polite smile to his brother.

He led her down a wide corridor lined with portraits and busts of solemn looking ancestors made of white marble. A few of the busts had holly wreaths sitting at jaunty angles on their brows. Alec rolled his eyes.

“Morgan’s idea.”

“He seems like a pranking kind of guy.”

Alec suddenly smiled. “You have no idea. He was a nightmare to grow up with.”

“Oh yeah? How so?”

“Oh, the usual sibling stuff, I suppose.” Alec paused in front of a stern looking Romanesque bust and adjusted the holly wreath, so it sat more evenly upon the statue’s head.

“I wouldn’t know. I’m an only child.” She twirled her pen between her fingers and looked at the bust, rather than at him. In some ways it was easier to talk to the stone face before her. “My dad was quite a few years older than my mom. It was a second marriage for him but a first for her. They had a hard time getting pregnant, so I was the only one they ever had.”

Alec put a hand on her shoulder. “I’m sorry,” he said. His hazel eyes were full of compassion. It surprised her, but she was relieved as well. She’d wanted to see this side of him. It was something she hadn’t seen that often with Preston. Her first husband wasn’t lacking in compassion, but he’d