“It’s an old language, similar to what was written on the ogham stones in ancient Ireland. It means courage. And now that you’re wearing my courage, I’ll give you my advice. Sleep. Let him wrestle with his feelings while you examine your own. When you go to him—and as much as he loves you he won’t come back to you—be clear in your mind what it is you want, and what you’re willing to do for it.”

“You’re being an asshole, Zack.”

“Okay. Now will you shut up?”

Ripley considered never shutting up a sister’s privilege. “Listen, I know she screwed up. But don’t you want to know why?” She slapped her hands on his desk, leaning down so she could get in his face in a satisfactory manner. “Don’t you want to push, dig, maneuver until she tells you why she’s still married?”

“She had plenty of time to tell me if she wanted to.” Zack concentrated on his computer. His business on the mainland hadn’t just been buying a ring; he had also testified in a court case. Now that it was done, he could update his file.

Ripley made a sound somewhere between a groan and a scream. “You make me crazy. I don’t know how you don’t make yourself crazy. You’re in love with a married woman.”

He spared her a withering glance. “That fact is very clear in my mind right about now. Go do your patrol.”

“Look, it’s obvious she doesn’t want the other guy. She ditched him. Also obvious is that she’s moony about you and vice versa. Nell’s been here, what, five months? And from all appearances she’s digging in for the duration. Whatever came before is over.”

“She’s legally married. That doesn’t spell over for me.”

“Yeah, yeah, Dudley Do-Right.” The fact that she admired his code of honor didn’t mean it couldn’t exasperate her. “So let it ride for a while. Just let things go as they’ve been going. Why the hell do you have to marry her, anyway? Oh, wait, I forgot who I’m talking to. But if you want my advice—”

“I don’t. I really don’t.”

“Fine. Stew in your own juice, then.” She grabbed her jacket, then immediately tossed it down again. “I’m sorry. I can’t stand to see you hurting.”

Because he knew that, he gave up on pretending to update files, rubbed his hands over his face. “I can’t make a life with someone who has another life that she hasn’t finished. I can’t take a woman to bed who’s legally married to another man. And I can’t love someone the way I love Nell and not want, not expect, marriage, home, and children. I can’t do those things, Rip.”