He must have thought she was about to quibble about something else, because he held up his hand to stop her. “By the way, he told me before the accident that you weren’t exactly thrilled about him buying the old building instead of renting it.”

Mary Beth ignored the reference to her. She didn’t love the idea that Bobby Joe discussed what she said and did with his brother. “Don’t tell me the offer was accepted.”

To her surprise, he nodded. “I let the buyers know that I would guarantee his bid and the down payment on the loan.”

“Really.” Evidently Parr was getting things done behind the scenes. “Where do you find the time to do deals on top of everything else?”

“Helps to have help.” At her questioning look, he explained. “My guys don’t need me breathing down their necks to finish projects. And I can rely on Gail to run things for me in my absence. I’ve never been away from Memphis for this long, but so far, everything up there’s going smoothly.”

“I see.” Mary Beth hadn’t liked his assistant all that much, but it was a good thing that Parr was able to be here.

“Okay. Getting back to Bobby Joe’s ill-advised business venture—”

“I didn’t say it was ill-advised.”

“No, but you’re thinking it.” His shrewd gaze made her uneasy. He’d damn well better not be able to read her mind all the time.

Parr continued. “The space will be finished exactly the way he wanted it. I hired a carpenter and a plasterer for interior finishing. They’re real craftsmen and they work fast. If and when he’s able to take over, it’ll be ready.”

“Great. Sounds like you have everything all figured out.”

“This stuff, yeah. But then there’s you.” His voice was so low she could barely hear it. No one else in the cafeteria did. He wasn’t making a scene, but she dreaded what he might say next. “Care to fill me in on whether you plan to stay engaged to my brother?”

She was astonished. But at least he’d gotten around to what was really on his mind. “I can’t answer that.”

“Don’t marry him out of pity, Mary Beth. He won’t be grateful.”

His dark eyes held her gaze, but she still saw no clue as to his feelings in the black depths. “Did I ask you for advice on the subject?”

“No.”

“Then don’t give it,” she snapped.

“I’m doing everything I can for him,” Parr continued. “I’m grateful every day that I don’t have to see his name on a wreath by the side of the highway. I’m sure you are too.”

She stiffened. That almost sounded like a dig. But he didn’t dwell on it.