The Accidental Mrs. Mackenzie by Bonnie K. Winn Page B

stomach clenched as she realized he hadn’t bought the story.
    As the women crowded around her, Brynn took temporary refuge in the shield they provided. She guessed that by morning, she had better come up with some answers he would believe.

Chapter Six
    H aving learned Brynn’s habits, Matt staked out the patio. It was late afternoon and as he’d expected, she and her pets strolled outside.
    “Give us a kiss,” Bossy ordered as the nearly sightless Snookems bumped into the high-handed bird.
    Lancelot barked, but it was hard to tell whether in agreement or contradiction.
    What a menagerie, he thought. He had learned the history of the odd trio from his younger siblings. He watched as Brynn paused at the table, seeing her eyes widen first at the assortment of pastries, finger sandwiches, and a pot of fragrant, newly brewed tea. Then they nearly doubled in size when she spotted the wedding album.
    Her hand reached out to touch the cover, as though not certain whether to trust her eyes. “Have you heard news about Gregory?” Trepidation colored her tone, she wondered if this was his way of cushioning a blow.
    But Matt shook his head. “Nothing like that. I called about an hour ago. Still nothing.”
    She gestured to the elaborate spread. “What’s all this?”
    “I thought we could go through the album,” Matt announced from the corner of the patio, seeing her head jerk upward in surprise. “Too many women around earlier for me to get a good look.”
    She pulled her hand back as though the pictures might burn. “I’m sure you’ve seen them before.”
    “I got a glance. But not with the narration.”
    “There’s not that much to tell,” she evaded.
    “From what I heard, there was plenty.”
    well I...”
    He gestured toward the spread on the table. “And with your Irish background, I thought you might like afternoon tea.”
    Brynn looked at him, not certain whether he was being thoughtful or simply mocking her story. Nor was she certain whether it was Stephanie’s fire or her own she felt rekindling. “Actually, I love tea. And the animals would love a snack.”
    Matt felt the quick prick of her subtle needling. Snacks fit not for her, but for her own little zoo. He didn’t let the aim of her well-placed barb show. Instead, he shrugged. “Everyone... and everything. . . gets hungry.”
    Nervously she glanced around as though looking for an escape route. But he didn’t plan to let that happen. He knew his brother, and the tale she’d just told about their wedding defied everything Gregory embodied.
    Matt pulled out one of the two chairs at the table.
    Brynn didn’t look pleased, but she sat down.
    Taking the other chair, Matt sat close enough to see the album clearly.
    Brynn reached for the teapot. “Tea?”
    “It probably won’t kill me,” he acknowledged. When her brows lifted, he shrugged sweater-clad shoulders. “Nothing like a hot drink to take away the late-afternoon chill.”
    She poured the tea, taking an inordinately long time to fill the two cups.
    “Sugar?” she asked.
    “No, thanks.” He saw her pick up the lemon. “No lemon either.”
    She passed the tiered plate. “Sandwich?”
    At this rate, they’d get to the album in about eight hours. He picked out a few of the sissy, bite-size sandwiches and before she could retrieve the server, he took some pastries as well, hoping to shorten her drawn-out, stalling actions.
    As she replaced the server, he opened the album. The first picture was benign enough. Simple individual portraits.
    Then he turned to the photo of the country church. “Ireland, huh?”
    “Yes,” she answered shortly.
    “I can’t believe Gregory would agree to such a remote area.”
    “It a beautiful spot,” she insisted.
    “I can see that.” Glancing more closely at the photo he could see it was true. “It’s just not Gregory’s sort of place.”
    “It’s mine,” she retorted.
    “Uh-huh.” And when had Gregory ever bent to another person’s wishes