Free Autumn Getaway (Seasons of Love) by Jennifer Gracen Page B

Again, that’s what big brothers are for,” Alec proclaimed with a jaunty grin.
    Lydia couldn’t help but chortle. “You’re younger than me.”
    “I am?” Sam asked, his eyes widening a drop. “By how much?”
    “I’ll be thirty-seven in December,” she said.
    “You’re my age, then,” Alec said, watching John bring over three glasses of golden whisky. “Yeah, makes sense, you’re Melanie’s college roommate, she’s the same age as Ryan and me.”
    “I thought Melanie was a bit younger than Ryan for some reason,” Sam said.
    “Probably because she looks so fantastic,” Lydia said earnestly.
    “Hey, so do you, Lydia!” Alec said. He turned to look at her more closely, not bothering to hide his inspection. “You’re a very attractive woman. I’m not hitting on you, of course, I can say this safely because I’m very married and very much in love with my very beautiful wife.”
    “I think you can say it because you’ve been enjoying very many beverages,” Lydia said, laughing. “I wasn't fishing for compliments—”
    “But it’s the truth,” Alec continued, undeterred. He openly stared at her, scrutinizing. “You have beautiful skin. Not a line on your face—you must stay out of the sun, smart. Truly gorgeous eyes, gotta say. And your hair! That color is striking. So, hey—it’s not just the bride, you look fantastic too. You don’t look your age, that’s for sure. I would've taken you for thirty, thirty-one tops.”
    Lydia blushed and laughed softly, caught off guard and slightly uncomfortable with the unexpected assessment. “Well, thank you very much.”
    “I mean it! All of it! Don’t you agree with me, Sam?” Alec said, turning to his brother.
    “I agree with every word,” Sam said quietly, his eyes intent on Lydia’s face. “Unequivocally. Now, Alec?” He turned to look at his brother. His voice was even, but the intent unmistakable as he said, “Why don’t you be a good best man and bring Ryan that drink?”
    “Ah! Yes, a good idea.” Alec picked up a glass of Scotch in each hand, and nodded in deference to Lydia. “An absolute pleasure to meet you, Lydia.”
    “Likewise.” She smiled.
    “Happy birthday, brother,” Alec said, and, realizing he didn’t have a free hand, leaned in quickly and gave Sam a loud smack of a kiss on his forehead. Sam wiped his forehead and laughed as Alec sauntered off.
    “He’s a character,” Lydia noted with a smile.
    “Always has been,” Sam said.
    “And quite drunk, yes?”
    “Oh yeah, he’ll be hurting tomorrow,” Sam agreed.
    “I bet.” Lydia lifted her wine glass to her lips.
    “But he was right.” Sam said it so quietly that she almost didn’t hear him.
    “Excuse me?” she asked.
    “About your being strikingly beautiful,” he said, looking directly into her eyes. “You are. I sure think you are.”
    She took a long sip of her wine, raised her eyebrows, and pressed her lips together to squelch a bashful smile.
    “I should’ve been the one to tell you that first,” he said. He grinned, but his voice was still quiet and his gaze intense. “He beat me to it, what can I say?”
    She felt her stomach do the teenager-like flip again and ignored it. A slow flush crept into her cheeks.
    His grin became slightly repentant. “I’m not trying to make you uncomfortable. I’m sorry if I am.”
    “You’re apologizing for paying me a lovely compliment? Don’t,” she said, regaining herself. “What I should have said was ‘thank you’.”
    The song changed on the jukebox; “Mercy Mercy Me” by Marvin Gaye came streaming out of the speakers.
    “Ah, your second selection!” Sam said, grateful for the timing. “Marvin was a master. Good choice.”
    “Glad you approve,” Lydia said, equally glad for the distraction.
    “That’s two for two so far,” Sam said. “So far, so good, Ms. Powell.”
    She grinned. “You really love music, huh?”
    “I sure do. I kind of live on it.” Sam said. “When I’m