He tried to read Parker, but failed. The guy looked relaxed enough. Jordan stared into his drink. “Should I be wary of some kind of poison?”
A calculating grin split his adversary’s face. “Maybe three weeks ago, but you’re safe now. Unless, of course, you hurt Brooke.”
“Your sister is tougher than you give her credit for. I’m pretty sure it’s me who’s the injured party this go-round.” Jordan winced as he remembered Brooke’s scowl when she’d caught the bride’s bouquet just before Brittany and Emilio left to start their honeymoon in Greece. “All the same, I owe you an apology for the McKay incident.”
Parker stuck out his hand. “Apology accepted.”
Jordan stared at the hand suspiciously before shaking it slowly. “You’re okay with things that easily?”
“Oh, I’m pissed.” Parker grinned in contradiction to his words. “But I don’t blame you. I’d have done the same in your shoes. It’s business.” His grin faded. “However, when it comes to family matters, I’m not nearly as forgiving. If you mess around on my sister, the next fist fight won’t end well for you.”
“Brooke is the only woman in my life, now and forever, if she’ll have me.” He stared through the crowd, searching for Brooke on the veranda, just to reassure himself she was still okay, but no sign of her. Just a few minglers, and Adam slow dancing on the beach with his wife Lauryn.
Jordan looked away from the happy couple wrapped up in a world of their own. He needed to clear the air with Brooke’s brother, and to do that, he needed to be totally up-front. “Sheila McKay did come to me this week and offer more insider secrets in hopes of resuming our relationship.”
“Since you’re here telling me this, I guess that means you turned her down on the sex.” Parker powered on, “So why haven’t you talked to Brooke? You can convince her. Hell, I’ve witnessed your persuasive powers in the boardroom.”
“Maybe … Except I can’t help but think either she trusts me or she doesn’t.”
“She has a lot of reason not to trust people. Mother has wreaked hell on her over the years. For that matter, finding out Dad hadn’t been honest with us about much of anything didn’t help, either.”
Jordan remembered the first night he’d spent with Brooke had been partly instigated by a swell of emotion she’d experienced after hearing her father’s will. No doubt her ability to trust had been raked over serious coals that day.
He stared through the open French doors to where Bonita sat on a small settee looking suitably subdued as she spoke with a guest. Maybe there was still hope for some healing between Brooke and her mom at least. “I’m glad the intervention seems to have taken for your mom.”
“Time will tell.” Parker scooped his glass back for a long swig. “Okay, so I’m not saying you’re the first man I would have chosen for my sister, but on second look, you’re not all bad. You can hold your own in a fight.”
Jordan certainly hadn’t expected that. “Thank you.”
“And I’ve been ticked off at you often enough to say with authority that you’re a helluva businessman.”
“Thanks, again.” The guy was making a genuine effort and deserved something in return, for Brooke, for the baby and because he sensed that Parker could make an astute ally if they committed to working the same side of the fence. “Same to you on both accounts.”
And damn, he meant it.
Glass in hand, Parker rattled the ice from side to side. “Seems as if this family linkup is a foregone conclusion, given Brittany’s marriage and your baby.”
“Apparently so.” A year ago, he couldn’t have imagined sharing such a civil conversation with Garrison. But a year ago, he’d also been too caught up in the thrill of the rat race to see the deceit in Sheila McKay.
“I’ve been doing some life review stuff lately, thanks to all those family support meetings we’re having to go to with Mom’s treatment.” The ice clinking stopped. “I think it’s time you and I laid down the arms and joined forces.”
Holy crap. Garrison was actually suggesting … “A merger between Jefferies Brothers and Garrison, Incorporated.”
Could it ever work? Hell, maybe there could be some benefits. Benefits cagey Parker was already seeing.
“It would take negotiating, but yes, basically.”
Jordan let his brain wrap around the notion of blending the two corporations, abandoning the competition that had consumed them both for so many years.
A competition that had led him to keep his distance from Brooke in spite of his attraction to her the first time she’d glided through his radar.