A Brit on the Side (Castle Calder Book 1) by Brenda St John Brown Page A

him. To the rest of us, he’s mildly difficult.” I shrug and blame the sudden flush stealing across my face on the heat. I’m still mad at Jasper, so why am I defending him again?
    “Maybe.” Scarlett studies me and I think for a minute she’s going to call me on my discomfort, but then she shakes her head. “But no. I can’t see it. We need to go out. That’s the only solution.”
    If ever there was an opportunity to tell Scarlett about hooking up with her brother, this is it. On a silver platter. But he and I haven’t even spoken since his brush off in the library and the thought of hooking up with him again feels distant and unlikely. Hell, the thought of having a multi-syllable conversation with him feels distant and unlikely. So I nod, twirl my tennis racquet, and say, “Sounds like a plan.”
    “Okay. I’ll check the bookings and get Mum to schedule us a Saturday night off. You, Claire, and me out on the town in Windermere. It’s a long way from Atlanta, but it’s the best we’ve got around here.”
    “It sounds fun.” And it does. Girls’ night out is a cure for a thousand ills. A night out with Scarlett and Claire will do me a world of good.
    “No going home early,” Scarlett warns. “And no wine spritzers to save calories either.”
    “You don’t even have to think about your weight,” I start.
    Scarlett doesn’t let me finish. “You don’t either. You’re gorgeous and you don’t even appreciate it. Do you know what I’d give to have your boobs?”
    I roll my eyes. Scarlett is flat chested, but it’s nothing a Wonderbra can’t fix. “Do you know what I’d give to have your ass?”
    Scarlett laughs. “Your ass is lovelier than you give yourself credit for.”
    “My ass is passable until I stop running for two weeks. Then it morphs into granny ass.” I look over my shoulder. “In fact, I need to get on it. Do you know I’ve only run once since we’ve been here?”
    “You run your ass off every day around the house. And you may have noticed we just played tennis?” Scarlett taps her racquet against her knee. “Of all the reasons I’m glad you’re done with Theo, this tops it. He did a number on you with his diet and exercise regime.”
    “He was trying to help,” I say, but it sounds weak.
    “He was trying to turn you into his...” Scarlett holds her hand up. “Forget it. We could fight about this forever and forever disagree. You deserve a guy who adores you. Period.”
    The weird thing is, Theo did adore me in his way, but I know better than to say that to Scarlett. I doubt she’d see his concern as anything other than controlling. I sigh. “I’ll make that a prerequisite for whoever I date next. Are you employed? Any STDs I need to know about? And, oh, are you prepared to adore me?”
    “Bloody well right. Set your standards high, darling. No one will set them for you.” Scarlett laughs. “And if you can’t, send them my way. I’ll screen them for you.”
    It’s my turn to laugh. “You’d reject Prince Harry on my behalf.”
    “Only because I want him for myself. He’s the naughty one, after all.” Scarlett winks, then turns serious. “When we go out, I’m dedicating myself to your cause so you see it’s possible.”
    My stomach roils and I taste the annoyance on the back of my tongue. “I’m not undateable, for God’s sake.”
    Scarlett studies me and when she speaks her voice is gentle. “I know you’re not. I’m just saying, you sell yourself short. You can have any guy in the room, but not until you believe it yourself.”
    Right. Because wishing makes it so.
    “Maybe.” That’s as far as I’m willing to go.
    “Definitely. Let’s go sort a night on the town and you’ll see.” Scarlett grins and raises her voice. “Watch out, Windermere. Bea Gillespie is coming to town.”
    I muster up a smile and follow Scarlett back towards the castle. Suddenly girls’ night feels more like a chore than a chance to cut loose. I see it like it’s