“Well, I’m already where I want to be, so I can afford to be careful.”

Still holding the fish, she gave him a bland stare. “Hard head, indeed.”

“And that’s the way I like it as well. No, don’t trouble yourself there, I’ll do it.” He shoved the entire pan aside, and got out another to heat fresh oil. “Ask Aidan to serve the hikers another pint on me, with apologies for the delay in the meal, would you, darling?”

“All right.” She started out, then turned back. This family business was still so new. “Shawn, maybe you do like where you are, maybe it’s the right spot for you. But there are times when you have to make certain. Take a step forward or take one back. You’re not being fair to Brenna or to yourself by running in place.”

“Is that the psychologist talking?” He glanced back in time to see her wince, then lower her eyes. “I didn’t mean that in a hard way, Jude. And you’re right. I just haven’t figured which direction to take.” Brooding over it, he coated the fish. “The fact is, she gave me a push. I don’t care to be pushed. It makes me want to dig in my heels.”

“I can understand that, just as I can understand Brenna’s the type who needs to move things along. One way or the other.”

“Aye.” Scowling, he touched fingers cautiously to the bump on his head. “One way or the other.”

“If you can stand one more piece of advice, make yourself busy in the storeroom when you hear Brenna coming back down the steps.”

“You’re a wise woman.”

“It’s going well, isn’t it?” Darcy powdered her nose in the ladies’ room of the restaurant and slid her gaze to Brenna’s in the mirror.

“The food’s very good.”

“Well, that, yes, but I mean the whole of it. It’s so nice to be out with a man of some sophistication for a change. Matthew lived in Paris for an entire year,” Darcy went on, speaking of her date. “He speaks the language like a native. I think I’ll have him come up with the idea of taking me there for a weekend before much longer.”

Despite herself, Brenna had to laugh. “Oh, you’ll let him think he thought of it.”

“Naturally. Men prefer it that way. And Daniel’s very taken with you.”

“He’s pleasant enough.” Knowing Darcy would be ages yet before she deemed herself freshened up enough to go back to the table, Brenna took out her lipstick. Well, Mary Kate’s lipstick, copped from the bathroom, if the truth be known.

“He’s marvelous-looking and wealthy as sin. Why don’t we let them take us both to Paris?”

“I don’t have the time to go off to France, nor the inclination to pay for the journey in the way a man would expect.”

“We’ve nothing but time.” Darcy fluffed at her hair. “And a clever woman doesn’t pay, in any form, unless she wants to. I’m not after sleeping with Matthew.”