“We already knew that, but what happened after the kiss?”
“We went inside to talk to Hope’s client. The one who owns the boardinghouse.”
“And then?”
“Then you called to tell me about Janice Estes. It was on the way to Carrington that I lost it.”
“Did she text you last night?”
“No.” Luke could hear the petulance in his voice. He sounded like a whiny teenager.
“Did you text her?”
“No. It’s her move.”
“In what universe?”
“I blew it. I said I was sorry. She’s icing me.”
“She has every reason to.” Zane had a knack for stating the obvious.
“Then why would I—”
“Leave her thinking you’re as big of a jerk as you were yesterday? You may be right. She’s not worth fighting for. Not worth a little humiliation.” Zane struck a thoughtful pose—one hand on his chin, a lofty air to his tone. “When she figures out who’s trying to kill us, she’ll go back to her FBI world and you’ll go back to your Secret Service world and you won’t ever think about her again. Or get twitchy when you have to work together on the JTTF. Or punch a hole in a wall when she shows up one day with a diamond on her finger. Or, even better, when she doesn’t show up at all because she’s been promoted and she’s in New York.”
The picture Zane painted was the most depressing scene Luke had never wanted to imagine. “What am I supposed to do?”
“Begging would be a good place to start. It would require you to acknowledge your feelings. Own them. Risk having her stomp on your heart and crush you. Might not be worth it.”
“I can’t change my family.”
“Why are you worried about whether she’ll get along with your mom?”
“How do I offer my heart for crushing when it’s not like she’d be getting a happily ever after. I’d be inviting her into a life where my extended family is opposed to her presence from day one.”
“First, you don’t know that. You’re projecting your own FBI issues onto everyone else. Second, Faith won you over. Why would you think she can’t win your family over? Your mom will love anyone who saves your life, so when Faith finally solves this case, you’ll be able to introduce her as the woman who kept your heart beating. Your mom and sister will love her.”
Why hadn’t Luke thought of that?
“Lastly, when it comes to the happily ever after, no one in the real world gets that. That’s not what marriage is. God designed marriage for a lot of reasons, but if you keep looking for someonewho will never argue with you or you’ll never disagree with, then you are on a true mission impossible.”
“Wow. You’re a real champion for marriage, aren’t you?”
Zane ignored him. “Don’t you remember Thad telling us how much trouble he had getting Rose to date him? The CIA and FBI get along about as well as the Secret Service and the FBI, and that’s without a family tragedy in the mix. They made it work. Why can’t you?”
“Why are you so gung ho about Faith? You barely know her.”
“But I know you. You like her. You like being around her. I think she might be the one. Thad thought so too.” He held up a hand as Luke tried to speak. “I’m not telling you that you can repair the damage, but how will you know if you don’t try?” Zane stood. “Counseling session over. I’m getting a banana. Then I want you to fill me in on the case.”
Tessa tapped on the adjoining door. Her eyes were bloodshot, and she looked like she’d had a rough night. She already had a coffee in her hand, but by the looks of her, she would need several to get through this day.
“You okay?”
“Headache.” She took the seat Zane had vacated.
When Zane returned, he frowned at Tessa but took a spot on the edge of the bed. “Let’s hear it.”
“Wait!” Tessa ran into her room and returned with her phone.
