Unbroken (Fighting for Gisele #3) by Emily Jane Trent

was convinced that there wasn’t anything she’d held back. It was certainly an odd conversation, with Alek baiting her, and Gisele attempting to lie her way through it.
    Before the tumultuous breakfast, Gisele had clung to a shred of faith that Alek’s brotherly love had been for real. She grappled with the truth, forced to admit he didn’t care about her, and that realization hurt.
    But the annoying encounter wasn’t over yet.
    “Anyway, you have a lot of nerve to demean my father, and make less of how he provided for me,” Gisele said. “I think breakfast is over. I just hope you aren’t going to be pissy the rest of the day, not if you expect me to work my shift later.”
    Gisele figured it was best not to act intimidated. Her feisty response was one that Alek would expect, so she gave him what he sought.
    “I wasn’t trying to upset you,” Alek said. “If this is your last day living here, then let’s at least be civil.”
    Gisele didn’t relax, expecting some barb in his offer of kindness.
    “Besides, you haven’t even opened your birthday gifts yet,” Alek said. “I had them brought here from the villa.”
    Gisele glanced at the adjoining sitting room, where her presents were piled up on a table, still wrapped. “I’ve been distracted,” she said. “I’ll get to them.”
    “Now is a good time,” Alek said. “I’ll join you.”
    Since she didn’t want to appear ungrateful, Gisele followed him to the other room. It occurred to her that she could flatly refuse, and would be justified in doing so. But a wiser side of her thought better of that. If Alek was going to continue in his brotherly role, she wouldn’t fight him. The best thing would be to leave on good terms, with him thinking that she was innocent.
    Keeping her cool, Gisele sat on one of the sofas and allowed Alek to hand her the gifts, one at a time. She didn’t dwell on what his purpose was, but knew it wasn’t to witness her joy in receiving gifts. It was more likely that he was prolonging their time together, hoping she’d confess or he’d come up with a way to make her do so.
    It was awkward to open birthday gifts with Alek glowering at her. His attitude lessened any pleasure she might have gotten from the event. “If you can’t smile, I’ll open these later…alone,” Gisele said.
    Alek’s lips thinned into what could hardly be called a smile.
    “Hand me the first gift,” Gisele said, shoving her hands toward him.
    The present was a diamond tennis bracelet that Alek had picked out for her. “You know I like jewelry,” Gisele said, wishing her brother would lighten up.
    “I’m glad you like it.”
    Next was a silk scarf from Abby, one that Gisele had fawned over on one of their shopping sprees. She put it over one shoulder and fingered the material. “She cheated,” Gisele said. “Abby knew I nearly bought this myself when I saw it.”
    “Good color,” Alek said, looking at the bright blue scarf.
    Her brother handed over a small package from Luke, and Gisele ripped away the multicolored paper. Inside was a Foo Fighters CD that she wanted but hadn’t gotten around to buying. “He has a good source of information…Abby.” Despite herself, Gisele smiled. It was nice of Luke to make the effort to get something she’d like.
    Gisele opened more gifts, and Alek began to chill out. He even seemed interested in what she received, and appeared more relaxed. There were presents from some people she didn’t know all that well, but that Alek had invited to her party.
    After digging through the bulk of the presents, Alek handed her one from Vik, and she tore open the paper. Gisele kept from making a sour face, and just opened the gift. It was an expensive bottle of perfume. She opened the top then lifted it to her nose, smelling the floral scent. “Nice,” she said, then set it aside.
    There was a gift from Micah, and although Gisele would have preferred to open it privately, that wasn’t how the morning was going.