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Marc flicked a glance at the empty ring finger on the man’s left hand. “No spouses?”
“Not yet.”
“Marriage will alter the family dynamics.”
“We can always add a Musketeer or two, as long as they live by the code.”
“Naturally.”
Jack gave an approving dip of his chin and planted his fists on his hips. “So are you planning to ask my sister out?”
This was not a man who beat around the bush in the name of diplomacy. At least if people he loved were involved.
Also admirable.
But Marc wasn’t going to be railroaded into answering. When he decided to ask Bri out, she should be the first to know.
“She hasn’t given me much encouragement.”
“There are reasons for that.”
“I assumed as much.” Maybe her brother would offer a few insights if he provided an opening. “She mentioned a bad experience with a guy out West.”
Jack’s forehead bunched. “That didn’t help, but there’s a lot more to her story. If you stick around long enough, she may decide you’re worth trusting with it.” He pulled out his cell. Shifted his attention to the screen. “I have to run. But I’ll leave you with one thought. Nothing worth having comes easy.”
As Bri’s brother strode away, phone to his ear, Marc pulled on his gloves.
Was that parting remark a backhanded word of encouragement?
Possibly.
He crossed to the burned-out hulk of the restaurant, their conversation replaying in his mind. It was hard to dispute anything the man had said, especially the last comment.
But sometimes, no matter how hard you tried ... no matter how much blood, sweat, and tears you invested in a quest ... the goal was impossible to achieve.
Like his elusive search for resolution and peace of mind.
The folder on his computer desktop was a constant reminder of that.
He swallowed past the gritty taste of ash on his tongue and forced himself to shift gears. Lamenting the past was fruitless. He ought to focus on how to proceed with Bri rather than dredging up the unanswered questions from his childhood that continued to plague him.
Jack had implied that gaining Bri’s trust would be difficult, but Marc was no stranger to hard work.
One thing for certain.
However much perseverance and patience it took to chip away at the wall she’d erected around her heart, it was becoming clearer by the day that the treasure waiting inside would be worth the effort.
“BRI! OVER HERE!”
At Alison’s summons, Bri lifted a hand in acknowledgment, wove through the throng of patrons clustered near the ice-cream shop display cases, and slid onto a stool at the small, cocktail-height table her friend had claimed. “Have you been waiting long?”
“A few minutes. Mostly in line.” Alison slid a cardboard cup across the table.
Bri began to salivate. “Is that butter pecan?”
“Yep.”
“Oh, man. You know how to rack up brownie points with this girl. But I could have gotten my own.”
