Shelter Mountain (Virgin River #2)(104)

It had been more than six months since Brad had walked out on her. Soon she would be ready for a little attention from a man. But she would be more careful this time. She wasn’t going to get hooked up to another man who lacked the power of commitment. Brie knew all about Mike—he’d been around Jack a long time and he was a consummate flirt. He probably fancied himself the great Latin lover; she had heard he’d been though two wives and a hundred girlfriends. Small wonder. He was handsome and sexy. They probably fell at his feet. She would enjoy the music and the fantasy; the man was clearly poison.

Brie was having a wonderful visit. With baby in tow, she and Mel drove around the redwoods, went to GraceValley to see their friends, shopped in the coastal towns, visited with the locals. Mel handled the baby with such ease, wearing him in a sling around her body. And when she felt like a break, she would lengthen the straps on that baby carrier so that they fit Jack just right and pass his son to him. People in Virgin River were getting accustomed to being served a drink by a man with a baby slung around him.

On a typical dinner hour at the bar, Mel left Brie and Mike at the table and handed off her son to her husband so she could visit the powder room. Every time she passed David to Jack, his eyes would grow soft and warm, filled with love and pride as he took the baby. And then as he watched his wife walk away from him, another expression would creep into his features. The angle of his gaze lowered to her butt, and there was tension in his jaw.

“My brother,” Brie said to Mike one day as they sat companionably together in the bar. “I never thought I’d see him like this, with a wife and son. He seems beyond happy. Though every once in a while I think I see a worried look on his face. Maybe he’s just overwhelmed by responsibility.”

“I’m not sure that’s what you’re seeing,” Mike said, having just watched Jack’s face. “I have four married brothers. Men talk.”

“What do they talk about?” she asked.

Instead of answering, he asked, “How old is David now?”

“Almost six weeks. Why?”

He smiled and covered Brie’s hand. “Why don’t you come fishing with me tomorrow? You can borrow Mel’s gear and her waders. We could stay out on the river for hours.”

She pulled her hand out from under his. “Oh, thanks, but Mel and I were going to—”

“You could tell Mel and Jack that you’re going to be out on the river for hours,” he said. “Hours.”

“But—”

He rolled his eyes. “Brie, you’d have a good time. I guarantee it.”

She leaned closer. “Listen, Mike—understand something. I’m here to see Mel and Jack and the baby, not to—”

He glanced at the bar and saw that Mel was back, retrieving the baby. “We should get away from them for a few hours. Believe me, I wasn’t thinking about us. I was thinking about them.”

She glanced over her shoulder at her brother and sister-in-law. They kissed just briefly over the baby’s head. She glanced back at Mike. “You think?”

“I’ve seen that look before. If you go fishing with me tomorrow, you’re not going to see that look on your brother’s face after you get back. Most of those tense lines will be gone. I’m pretty sure of this.”

“What if I don’t much like fishing?” she said.

“Just say you’re going fishing. We’ll think of something else to do. Something that takes hours.”

She leaned close to him. “Will you bring the guitar?” she whispered. She was answered by a look of shocked surprise.

When Mel came back to the table, Brie said, “Mel, would you be terribly disappointed if I went fishing with Mike tomorrow? If I borrowed your gear?”

“No,” she said, shaking her head. “That’s okay. Gee, I didn’t know you liked to fish.”

“Well, I’m going to get a free lesson,” she said. “If you don’t mind, we’ll be gone most of the day.”

“That’s okay,” she said. “You about ready to head home?”

“Sure,” Brie said. “What time, Mike?”

“How about ten? I’ll get Preacher to pack us a lunch.”

When the women left, Mike wandered up to the bar. “How about a coffee?” he asked Jack.

“You got it,” he said, pouring a mug.

Preacher brought a crate of glasses out of the kitchen and slipped them under the bar. “Hey, Preach, can I get a favor?” Mike asked.

“What do you need, buddy?”

“I’m going to take Brie out to the river tomorrow. A little fishing. Can I get you to pack us a lunch? Something nice—so she thinks I’m debonaire? Maybe put a bottle of good wine in the basket?”

“Sure,” Preacher said, grinning.

Jack picked up a glass and used a dish towel to wipe out any water spots. “You thinking of messing with my little sister?” he asked. “Because she’s been through a tough time and doesn’t need—”

“No, Jack.” He laughed. “I’m not messing with anyone, trust me. But I figured if I kept her busy for a few hours, maybe you could mess with the baby’s mother.”

Jack’s eyes narrowed.

Mike sipped from his mug. “I’ll keep her out there through nap time,” he said. “Maybe a couple of nap times.”