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Marley were bonded by more than blood. They needed each other.
    â€œThere’s something more?” Marley finally prompted, leaning back in her chair.
    Relieved she was going to take this seriously, Gil nodded. “Something I’m not sure I’ll ever get Sheila to talk about, and if I want to be with her—which I definitely do—then I need to find out what it is.”
    â€œShe’s a confident woman. I can’t imagine why she’d care about how differently you were raised.”
    â€œOr what anybody thought about us dating. That was the thing that made me realize she was holding back.”
    â€œYou’re not a woman. She does care about what people think in one crucial way—she doesn’t want to be compared to your colorful past.”
    â€œWhat colorful past?”
    His sister grinned. “The blondes, brunettes and redheads.”
    He clenched his fist. “She wouldn’t go out with me. What was I supposed to do?”
    â€œPine away in your lonely mansion writing sonnets to her beauty.”
    Sighing, Gil leaned back in his chair. “Women are too damn much trouble.”
    â€œOh, I imagine you can think of some benefits to having contact with us.”
    He pointed at her. “Don’t even think about bringing sex into this.”
    â€œI love how the male mind works.” Marley shook her head. “I didn’t. But since you brought it up, are you sure your invitation to Texas was low-key?”
    â€œI assured her we’d have separate hotel rooms. I offered a rental car at her disposal. I told her I’d have to work a lot, but she was free to hang around or do herown thing. I promised intimate dinners and anything else she dang well wanted.”
    â€œWell, then I’m forced to repeat myself and say nice touch.”
    What inane part of his brain had locked on the idea of asking advice from his little sister? Her teenage infatuation with driver Linc Shepherd caused her to set his race car on fire. Now he was frustrated, confused and his head hurt. “Have I mentioned you’re lousy at romance?”
    â€œI have a boyfriend. One you could have been a bit more helpful with, by the way…” She must have noticed the contrition on his face then, because she waved her hands. “Okay, okay. I’ll give you my best advice.”
    â€œToday?” he asked when she fell silent.
    â€œKeep at it.”
    â€œKeep at it? Oh, well. That’s brilliant. Should we use that as a new marketing slogan? I can see it in lights now—Getting Your Butt Kicked in Life or on the Track? No Big Deal. Just Keep at It.”
    Marley rose, leaning over the desk. “Yep, that’s what you need to do all right. You’re here all pitiful and sending flowers, being complacent and whining, and I’m telling you not to give up. You want Sheila, then go after her. You’ve flitted from girl to girl for quite a while—when you weren’t obsessing about your precious business deals and how I run my life, that is. She’s got issues beyond wondering how loyal you can actually be, so you’ve got to overcome them. Show her you’re a man to be trusted. Show her how much you care. Don’t pick up the phone, call a florist and spend a bunch of money. Go to her with one flower and a lot of understanding.”
    Okay, so maybe that was good advice.
    Still, he scowled. “You couldn’t have said that ten minutes ago?”
    Marley turned and headed for the door. “I did. Love isn’t all roses and daffodils, you know.”
    Finally, all she’d said clicked into place. “I can’t expect her to fall into my arms with just compliments and invitations. If I want to win her over, I’ve got to prove she’s the one I want.”
    In the doorway, Marley flashed him a wide smile. “And the lightbulb finally goes on.”
    â€œHang on.” Gil rose. “What if that doesn’t