was Bekki, but Bekki was model thin, had a short, trendy haircut and dominated any conversation she’d ever been in. The woman was tenacious, and her investigative reporting was getting better and better. Even though she still called when she wanted to know where to find information, her calls were growing less and less. Two very successful sisters, both passionate, both good looking, and both single. Thank God Brock had gotten married. The rest of them should get some kind of reprieve after that.
"Let me guess, you already have the logistics worked out on how to get the meals to the shelter."
"I do. Takeout containers for this purpose are tax deductible. There is a restaurant up the street, La Casita. They have a catering truck, and they will deliver the meals as long as Tara has someone to receive them. Of course, they'd be delivered at one or two in the morning, but she has staff in the shelter round the clock. They could open the kitchen. We stuff them into the walk-in coolers, and the next night, presto, a full meal. There is no downside to this."
Brody cocked his head. "Except, it is illegal."
"Yeah, except that. They said they'd take it into consideration and get a legal review." Her shoulders lowered as if the fight had left her. "I know what that means. They aren't going to change the ordinance."
Brody tapped the tabletop with his fingers. "You could ask Bekki to run an exposé on the amount of food wasted and the plight of the homeless in Hope City. Get her to ramp up the pressure by showcasing your innovative idea, and let everyone know the city council is the stopping point at this time. I mean, it doesn't cost anyone anything for this support, and Hope City has enough budget woes."
Brianna's eyes got big, and she blinked before a knowing smile spread across her face. "You are my favorite brother."
Brody laughed. "You told Brock the exact same thing last weekend at his wedding."
Brianna straightened her shoulders and flicked her wrist in an indignant flop. "That was then. This is now."
"Fickle."
"True." They both laughed at the running joke. "So, seriously, how are things going? It's good to see you out and about, even if it's a friendly date." She made air quotes around friendly and rolled her eyes.
"Deb is helping me with some paperwork for the section, and we hadn't talked in... wow, six months, I think. She agreed to help but wanted to get together to talk. We drove in separate cars, and she left after we ate. Nothing but friends."
"Can I be snoopy?" Brianna cupped her chin in her hand and stared across the table at him.
"When have you ever asked?" Brody laughed at her when she scrunched her nose up and rolled her eyes.
"Seriously, why didn't it work between you and Deb. You really seemed to like each other."
He shook his head. "Liking isn't loving."
"She still haunts you, doesn't she?"
He didn't need to ask who 'she' was. "If you only knew." He drew a deep breath. "She's working with me. She's been assigned to my team. She's the new DEA agent we were waiting for."
Brianna blinked. She picked up her wine glass and drank the remainder of the chardonnay before motioning Mark over. "Another please."
"Right away, ma'am." The waiter placed the wine glass on his tray and hurried away.
Brianna slowly turned back to him. "Tell me it's a lie. I'm going to punch you if it is, but damn it, tell me it's not true."
"She started the day Brock got married."
"Holy Hell. What are you going to do?"
"Well, we talked—"
"No, no, no, no, no." Brianna held up a finger. "Do not let the woman back into your life. She almost killed you last time."
"She didn't cause the accident."
"Who's talking about the accident?" She hissed and turned to smile tightly at Mark as he handed her another glass of wine. The man had the good sense to beat feet and get the hell away from the table. Brie was seething under her thin veneer of professionalism.
"She wasn't responsible, Brie."
"She tore out your heart. It changed you."
He couldn't argue the point. "Life changes everyone."
"She didn't come see you at the hospital, or after for that matter!"
"She did come to see me."
"When?"
"When I was in a coma, and then she tried again about two months after the accident. She went to Mom and Dad's looking for me. She asked if she could talk to me."
Brianna's mouth dropped open. "What