Page 61 of My Brother's Best Friends

“I have a piece of land that was left to me by our parents,” Makayla answers. “I’ve decided to turn it into a winery, but I’mjust at the very beginning stages. There’s so much research I have to do before even getting started.”

“From what I can tell, you’ve got the winemaking knowledge down.”

“Most of it, yes. There are some logistical aspects I want to cover, but I’m more concerned with the legal and fiscal side of things.”

“Let me know if you need any legal advice,” Melanie responds. “I could give it to you pro bono, because you’re practically family.”

“I appreciate that,” Makayla says, smiling sweetly.

Crisis averted. When the waitress returns with the dessert menu, we each place our orders. To ease every craving around the table, my brothers and I order a pastry platter that covers more than two thirds of the dessert menu, albeit in miniature form, while Makayla opts for a chocolate cake whose name makes her crack up.

“No disrespect to the Swedish language,” she mumbles, tearing up from all the laughter that she’s been holding in, “no disrespect, I swear, the language barrier is so real but… come on, Kladdkaka? How can I pronounce that with a straight face?”

I can’t help but smile. “It’s why the waitress pronounced it for you. To spare you.”

“I can’t wait to try my dessert,” Callie says. “I was in the mood for something light and berrylicious, anyway.”

“Berrylicious,” Bryan chuckles, then leans in to kiss her pink cheek.

“This is shaping up to be quite the holiday,” I say, refilling my whiskey tumbler with a double shot of one of Japan’s finest. “It’ll hurt to resume work when we do get back.”

Kellan raises an eyebrow. “Oh, I don’t know, we did manage to wrap up a couple of client meetings. Jan agreed to reschedule. We’ve got two of our account execs taking over the next onboarding phase while we’re out here.”

“Oh, boys!” Callie declares. “No talking shop at dinner.”

“I’m more interested in your personal lives,” Melanie says. “How have you been, gentlemen?”

“I’m sorry,” I reply, feeling directly attacked. “Are you talking to us?”

“Who else?” Her smile sickens me. She definitely has an agenda, but I’ll be damned if I’ll let her ruin anything else.

“How is the corporate law treating you, Melanie?” Alex asks, saving us all.

Melanie’s original buckshot falls flat as she is suddenly at the center of our focus. Something tells me she came here with her guns swinging but forgot who she was dealing with. “Good, actually. A junior partner’s responsibilities are no joke.”

“Junior partner, right. You got a promotion,” Alex replies. “I’m surprised. It’s got to be cool, though, right? All these settlements you have to draft. All the legal aspects that need nitpicking. But then again, you’re quite versed in the art of settlements, aren’t you?”

“I have my share of experience, yes,” she says. “Corporate law is a bit different, though. White collar crime is the boogieman in my field. Manageable.”

“Whereas criminal law is far more complex, isn’t that so?”

“That is correct.”

Alex leans forward. “You know, I’ve got a settlement worth looking over, if you don’t mind? It could use a pair of fresh eyes.”

“What settlement?” Bryan asks, understandably confused.

“Nothing to worry about,” Kellan tells him. “It’s a personal issue.”

“They say settlements are reached when the accused party is guilty but the accusing party doesn’t have proof beyond a reasonable doubt,” Melanie says.

I give her a curious look. “Would you agree?”

“Yes.”

“What about situations where the accused party doesn’t have enough to prove that the accusing party is lying through their teeth?” I shoot back.

“See, that’s what I wanted to go over,” Alex adds with a wry smile. “There are some chapters in this settlement I mentioned that are worth looking over. I could really use your help, Melanie.”

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