Book: Whispering Rock
Quotes of Book: Whispering Rock
He chuckled and, leaning over to pull off his boots, said, "You'll get a good night's sleep now. I'm staying the night." "Oh," she said nervously. "I don't think that's such a good idea…." "Relax, mija. Don't I know everything you're going through trying to get your life back? You can't honestly think I'd do one thing to make you feel threatened." "Well…" "Don't insult me," he said. "I've done a lot of unforgivable things, it's true, but I've never been unkind to a woman. I am a gentleman. And you need sleep." She thought about it for less than a second. "I know if you go, I'll crack up. For God's sake, when does it end?" "I'm not sure, but I know it does. It turns out this is just a little too soon for you. There's no need for you to feel self-conscious about this. We just won't mention it. No one watches my comings and goings. No one watches this cabin to see whose car is parked outside." She gave a sigh and leaned back into the couch cushions. "I hate what this has done to me. I thought I was tougher." "Jesus, don't do that to yourself," he said. "It's bad enough what's been done to you without adding that. It's not a small thing to get over, Brie." She book-quotedidn't plan this," Jack said. "But since it's you and me-tell me about Brie." "Tell you what, Jack?" "When she was leaving… It looked like there was something…." "Spit it out." "You and Brie?" "What?" Jack took a breath, not happily. "Are you with my sister?" Mike had a swallow of his whiskey. "I'm taking a day off tomorrow-taking her down the Pacific Coast Highway through Mendocino to look for whales, see the galleries, maybe have a little lunch." "Why?" "She said she'd like to do that while she's here." "All right, but you know what I'm getting at-" "I think you'd better tell me, so I don't misunderstand." "I'd like to know what your intentions are toward my sister." "You really think you have the right to do that? To ask that question?" Mike asked him. "Just tell me what was going on between the two of you while I was gone." "Jack, you'd better loosen your grip a little. Brie's a grown woman. From where I stand, we're good friends. If you want to know how she sees it, I think she's the one you have to ask. But I don't recommend it-she might be offended. Despite everything, she tends to think of herself as a grown-up." "It's no secret to you-she's had a real bad year." "It's no secret," Mike agreed. "You're making this really tough, man…" "No, I think you are. You spent some time with her tonight. Did it look to you like anything is wrong? Like she's upset or anything? Because I think everything is fine and you worry too much." "I worry, yeah. I worry that maybe she'll look to you for some comfort. For something to help her get through. And that you'll take advantage of that." "And…?" Mike prompted, lifting his glass but not drinking. "And maybe work a little of your Latin magic on her and walk away." Jack drank his whiskey. "I don't want you to do that to her." Mike put down his glass on the bar without emptying it. "I would never hurt Brie. And it has nothing to do with whose sister she is. Good night, Jack. book-quoteHe's starting to get on my nerves when he does that thing about the women," he said, taking her elbow and steering her toward the bluffs. "We've been all over that. He can give it a rest anytime. He had a million women before Mel. Two million." She laughed at him. "You never mentioned to him that we spent a lot of time together over the summer," she said. "I told you-it wasn't because you're Jack's sister. I met you because of Jack-I care about you because of you." "Did you tell him you spent the nights he was away in his bed?" Mike laughed. "Would I be walking around today if I had? You know that would put him in a black mood." "You could have explained-I asked you to come, to stay." "This would be Jack Sheridan's little sister. He would've expected me to sit guard out on the porch." "You didn't tell him I got scared?" He slipped an arm loosely, cautiously, around her waist. "You would have told him if you had wanted him to know." "Which one of us are you protecting?" she asked with a laugh. He was conscious that she didn't pull away from him. "You and me, our privacy. What goes on with us just isn't his business. If you want to know-he asked. I don't know how he picked up the scent, since apparently no one clued him in. I must be losing my touch-I've become obvious. I used to be slicker than that. But he wanted to know if there was something going on between us." "And you said…?" "I said that I would never do anything to hurt you and if he wanted to know anything, he should ask you. I suggested he be very careful about that because you consider yourself a grown-up." That made her laugh rather happily. "Oh, I bet you really pissed him off." "He'll get over it. He pissed me off." They book-quote
