“This must be strange for you,” he says, his gaze direct and assessing as he takes in my pale-blue eyes and fair complexion, my soft blonde curls cascading past my shoulders. “I take it your father didn’t tell you about me.” I chew on my tongue, considering my words carefully. “He may have mentioned you once or twice,” I say. “I would have preferred he hadn’t.” His mouth tips into a humorless smile. “Your father and I were stepbrothers, but that didn’t make us family. I don’t expect you to call me Uncle.”
