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away.”
    â€œWhy did you choose to go into your family’s business?”
    â€œThe garage?” He shrugged. “I just grew up there. Whenever I was around, I gravitated to keeping the books, ordering supplies, running the business end. Melanie’s creative, so she found her niche with the antique cars. And Jack has the need for speed and glamour, so it was natural that he fell into all things racing.”
    â€œBut you weren’t expected to go into the business?”
    He shook his head. “Dad never pushed the garage on any of us. He was happy that I went for my MBA. And when I was doing really well at my brokerage firm, he knew I didn’t plan on returning to Hawk’s Lake.” He took a sip of coffee. “What about you? Did you feel like you had a duty to go into Sherwood Enterprises?”
    She thought for a while. “Not exactly. Ever since I was a kid, I couldn’t wait to work there. It was a way to be near my parents. They were always sofocused on the business, I felt like if I was part of that they’d have to focus on me, too.”
    What on earth was she doing? She’d never admitted that to anyone, and here she was baring her soul.
    â€œAnd now?”
    His beautiful eyes were completely focused on her. He seemed truly interested and tuned in, so she continued.
    â€œAnd now…I don’t know what to do. I just know I need a break from the place.”
    Brian whistled. “I don’t think I wanted or needed a vacation in the five years I worked on Wall Street. I loved the hustle. It was a rush.”
    â€œSo why didn’t you go back? I mean, you said that your family needed you, but why are you still here?”
    â€œFirst, there was an IRS audit. Then there were two additions to the garage that I wanted to supervise—Dad’s not good at that kind of thing. In between everything, Melanie became pregnant, and, as you know, her husband died and I helped out with her son, Kyle. And on it went.”
    â€œWhoa…did you say that you wanted to supervise the two additions to the garage?”
    â€œDid I say that?” he asked, eyes wide. “I should have said that I had to supervise.”
    â€œMaybe you like being the go-to guy.”
    Brian looked at her with eyebrows raised.
    â€œOr maybe it’s just family responsibility,” Mari said, giving him a way out, but remembering to table this topic for later. “I told my parents that I needed a two-month vacation, but there’s more to it than that.”
    â€œI’m listening.”
    â€œWe’re going to divide the company. My parents are going to be joint CEOs of new acquisitions and licensing. I’d get all the rest and become CEO. But I need to figure out if I want the job or not.”
    â€œIt’s a wonderful opportunity for you.”
    â€œI’m not sure that I want to do it. It’s a ton of work. I take work home. I work on the weekends. I never have time for a personal life. Even the men that I’ve dated were those that worked at Sherwood. Our dates were more like meetings than dates.”
    She tried to laugh at her joke, but it came out more like a grunt.
    â€œDo you like the work?”
    â€œI used to. I still should. I guess it’s just too much now, too big.” She sighed. “But I have to work there. It’s my family’s company.”
    â€œThat doesn’t really answer my question.”
    â€œI guess not.” She met his gaze and saw concernin his eyes and in the lines creasing his forehead. “To be honest, at this point, Brian, I don’t really know if I like it anymore.”
    Â 
    What he wouldn’t give for a job like the one being offered to her, thought Brian. CEO of Sherwood Enterprises.
    Right now things were calm, and he could go for it if he really wanted. Melanie was deliriously happy with her new husband, busy with her children and the restoration business. Jack had cut back