Close up she was even more beautiful. Alec took her small, smooth hand in his. “It’s good to meet you, Serena.” And it was good, although surprising, to actually get to meet a girlfriend of Caspar’s. They rarely lasted longer than a week. Caspar was a fashion photographer with a penchant for dating the girls he photographed. None of them seemed to hold his interest for long.

“You too.” Her grip was strong and sure, and she met his gaze with a smile that would probably make any straight man’s knees go weak. “Caspar’s told me a lot about you.”

“He has?” Alec raised an eyebrow. “All good, I hope.”

“Absolutely. I’m a law student, you see, so I was interested to hear about what you do. Tell me, how do you find it working in M&A? I want to work in corporate law eventually… if everything works out.” A shadow passed over her beautiful face. “How did you get into it?”

Pleasantly surprised at the turn the conversation had taken, Alec talked about his job and answered Serena’s avid questions. She clearly knew her stuff.

Caspar grinned at Alec when there was a gap in the conversation. “I finally found one with brains as well as beauty—ouch!” He yelped as Serena nudged him hard in the ribs. “That was supposed to be a compliment.”

“Not to any of your exes, it wasn’t, and it makes you sound like a sexist pig.”

“I am a sexist pig.”

“If you really were, we wouldn’t be together. So stop acting like one.”

Alec laughed. “Nice to see someone’s seen through him at last.”

Chastised, Caspar shook his head, smiling ruefully. “Old habits die hard.”

“So, when do you qualify?” Alec asked Serena. “If you’re thinking about applying to Baker Wells, let me know. I can put in a good word for you.”

“Oh, not for ages yet. I’m only in my first year.”

“Oh.” Alec shot a glance at Caspar, who flushed. Well, at least she was legal, Alec supposed, even if she was probably still a teenager. She certainly gave the impression of being more mature than most first-year law students were.

“Sorry.” Serena winced and put a hand on Caspar’s arm. “I’m talking too much.”

“Alec’s the least of our worries. We’ve got my parents to deal with,” Caspar replied. “But let’s save the drama for later.”

Alec frowned. Lowering his voice, he leaned closer to Caspar to ask, “What’s going on?”

“Long story,” Caspar muttered. “You’ll find out once the rest of the guests have gone.”

The plan was to go back to their parents’ house later for a quiet family dinner. Alec had agreed to stay over, and he presumed Caspar had too.

After that little exchange, Alec watched Serena and Caspar carefully during the rest of the meal. Their affection seemed genuine. He’d never seen his brother look so smitten before. He also treated Serena with a respect that was new. His previous girlfriends had been trophies rather than partners, but this was real. Serena seemed happy too. She was warm and genuine but didn’t take any shit from Caspar, and Alec admired her all the more for that.

However, despite their obvious love for each other, there was tension there too. Caspar kept glancing nervously at their parents and squeezing Serena’s hand reassuringly. Alec wondered what the drama Caspar had promised would consist of exactly.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

They drove back to the family home in two cars. Caspar had been drinking, but Serena had stuck to mineral water, so she slipped in behind the wheel of Caspar’s flashy Porsche with his keys in her hand and a smile on her face.

Alec’s parents had got a taxi to the restaurant, so Alec offered to drive them. His back seat was wider and more comfortable than Caspar’s.

“See you back at the house,” Alec said to Caspar.

“Alec, wait.” Caspar came close and spoke quietly. “I could use your backup when we get home. I don’t have time to explain now. I should have told you before, but—” He looked over Alec’s shoulder to where their father was helping their mother into Alec’s car. “—the last few weeks have been a little crazy.”

Alec frowned. “You’re not giving me much of a clue here, Caspar.”

“Yeah, I know I’m being cryptic. It’s nothing bad, quite the opposite in fact. I’m just not sure how Mum and Dad will take it.”

“What’s the worst they could do?” That was a question Alec had often asked himself when he considered coming out to them.

“Cut me out of their will?” Caspar grinned. “I earn enough that it wouldn’t be the end of the world. I hate pissing them off, though. You know how it is.”

Alec knew exactly how it was. “I’ve got your back,” he said. Although he and Caspar weren’t particularly close as adults, they’d always covered for each other when they were younger.

“Okay, thanks. See you at the house.”

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