A Brother's Honor (29 page)

Chapter Thirty

J
ace pressed the intercom button.

“Yes, Mr. Granger?”

“Ms. Booker, I just tried calling Ms. Bradford’s office, and she didn’t answer.”

“She left for lunch a while ago.”

“Lunch?” Jace’s brow furrowed. Shana never left the office for lunch.

“Yes, sir. She mentioned something about meeting with her sister for lunch.”

“Oh. All right.”

He was a little disappointed, because he’d wanted to see her, talk to her, so he could tell her about his conversation with his father. And then he wanted to kiss her, hold her and make plans with her for later tonight. He couldn’t help smiling each time he thought about what they’d done in his father’s office. Shana was simply amazing. She trusted him. She listened to him. And he felt that she understood him.

And there was so much about her that he admired. She had worked for Granger well over a month, and he was witness to her strong work ethic. Already, he could see improvements in several of his departments based on her recommendations. And because of her and the people she employed, he knew that three of his employees had meant the company no good. And there could be more. Jace was convinced she would expose them, as well.

And that same woman could be the most sensuous female on legs. She could turn a man’s bedroom into a pleasurable haven. At the moment, he was feeling thoroughly satisfied.

Then he remembered his ex-wife.

The last person he had expected to see today was Eve. But by the time he had gotten her out of his hair, he had attended two meetings and hadn’t seen Shana. And that was the crux of his problem. He wanted to see her. Badly.

There was a knock on his door, and he glanced up, hoping it was Shana returning from lunch. “Come in.”

When Caden appeared in the doorway, he said in a disappointed tone, “Oh, it’s you.”

Caden chuckled. “Yes, it’s me. I hope you weren’t hoping it was Eve returning.”

Jace frowned. “Funny. I’m still trying to get over the fact that she’ll be in town for a week.”

“A week?”

“Yes.” He then conveyed to Caden the same ridiculous story Eve had given him.

“Well, at least she’s not setting foot on Sutton Hills,” Caden said, sliding into the chair across from Jace’s desk. “Your ex-wife doesn’t know the meaning of being gracious, and I don’t want Hannah upset about anything.”

“Neither do I.”

“And while I’m on a roll with complaints, why did you put Dalton in charge of Security? Now he thinks he’s James Bond. I guess he talked you into putting that damn tracker on your phone.”

Jace chuckled. “Yes, but it only works if I turn it on. It’s on during the day just in case he randomly checks it, but when I leave here, I disable it.”

He leaned back in his chair. “The only reason I placed him over the Security Department was I knew it would challenge his mind. Make him feel useful. And I needed someone to have another pair of ears and eyes focused on what’s going on.”

“Okay,” Caden said, understanding now that it had been explained.

Jace studied his brother. “So, how are things going since you’ve been back, Caden?”

“Okay, I guess. I’m still reeling about what that FBI agent told us yesterday. Got any updates?”

“Not since late yesterday,” Jace said. “Last report is that Melissa is holding out for a plea deal and Arrington still isn’t talking. And I have no word yet on Freeman’s whereabouts.”

Jace didn’t say anything else for a few minutes, and he could tell his brother had gotten lost in his thoughts since he was sitting there and studying the floor. “I understand you had a visitor last night, Caden.”

Caden raised his head and met Jace’s gaze. There was no need to wonder how Jace knew. Hannah. She’d always liked Shiloh. “Yes. Shiloh dropped by.”

Jace nodded. “Is there something going on that I don’t know about? And if it’s none of my business, just say so.”

“Like you’ve all but told me what’s going on with you and Shana is none of mine,” Caden couldn’t help countering. Then he chuckled and said, “Don’t get uptight, Jace. I don’t have a problem answering your question. There isn’t anything going on with Shiloh and me. At least not now.”

“But there had been?” Jace asked quietly.

“Yes. We ran into each other again a few years ago. Four to be exact. She showed up one night at one of my concerts. I was glad to see her. It had been years since I’d seen her. We got together after the concert, and it was as if we’d never parted. It was so easy to pick up our friendship. She came to several more concerts after that, and then I realized how much I loved her...and that I’d always loved her. She claimed she felt the same way and wanted to be with me.”

Caden paused for a minute and then continued, “We made plans. She had graduated from college and was no longer under her father’s thumb, or so she claimed. So we set a date to marry in Vegas. We hadn’t planned to tell anyone about it until after the deed was done.”

“What happened?” Jace asked, hearing the pain in his brother’s voice.

“She never showed up. I stayed in that hotel room for three days waiting on her. I didn’t get a phone call or any message from her. I tried calling her cell phone and discovered the number had been changed. I called her parents’ house, and the old man blasted me out for calling and said Shiloh was on vacation somewhere. I didn’t believe him, and the next day I got a special delivery package. Inside was a newspaper clipping of Shiloh on the beach with another man. From what the article said, the guy was a business client of her father’s. I never heard from her or saw her again until Granddad’s funeral.”

Jace drew in a deep breath. “I’m sorry.”

“I’m not. I found out the truth about her. She came by last night saying she needed to explain what happened four years ago, but I didn’t want to hear it. It was four years too late.”

Jace leaned back in his chair. What his brother said explained a lot of things. Now he knew...and understood. He checked his watch. He hadn’t had lunch yet because he was hoping to get a chance to talk to Shana. “Have you eaten lunch yet?”

“No. Dalton and I were leaving to grab something at McQueen’s. We’ve both agreed there has been too much action for us these last two days. Yesterday it was the FBI, and today it was Eve. I don’t want any shockers tomorrow.”

Jace stood and reached for his jacket. “Neither do I. And I think I’ll join you guys for lunch.”

* * *

Eve came down the escalator, smiling as she glanced around. Jace knew her taste and had put her in a gorgeous hotel for a week. And her suite was simply to die for. She knew he was paying a lot for her comfort and wouldn’t be doing so if he didn’t still care about her well-being. He hadn’t been happy to see her, but she planned on changing that.

When it came to men, she knew how to work them. And she intended to work Jace. No doubt he would put up some resistance, but once she got him in bed and showed him what he was missing, he would come around. And if a baby was what he wanted, she would give him one. The thought of gaining a few pounds didn’t bother her like it once did. Besides, she would have Sutton Hills, and he would get the kid he’d always wanted. And the first thing she would do was fire that heifer Hannah. That old hag would never take care of a baby of hers.

Her thoughts shifted back to Jace. He had looked good sitting behind that desk, which is where she’d always wanted him to be. Of course, he would be upset with her when she didn’t leave in a week, but Jace was a man of honor and would not kick her out of this hotel like he threatened to do. Besides, Jace had been a free man for close to three years now. If he’d wanted to replace her, he would have done so, which meant he still loved her, whether he admitted it or not. She hadn’t been the first woman ever to get an abortion, and she wouldn’t be the last. So he needed to get over it.

She frowned when she saw two women walking toward the gift shop. She recognized one immediately. Shana Bradford. Regardless of what Jace had said, Eve had picked up on vibes. More from the woman than from Jace, who’d been too busy frowning at her. Maybe it was time she and Ms. Bradford had a private talk just in case she had any crazy thoughts of getting her hands on Jace.

Moving across the hotel lobby, she watched as the women entered the gift shop and moved toward the section of the store that sold toiletries. Eve followed, deciding it was time for that talk.

* * *

“Here we are,” Jules said, smiling. “Take your pick.”

Shana studied all the packages. There were so many different brands. At first, she’d thought Jules was out of her mind at the thought that she could be pregnant. But then it hit her that she was a week late. So much had been happening that it had slipped her mind.

“Any one will do,” she said, snatching one off the shelf.

“When will you find out?” Jules asked excitedly.

Shana frowned. She wished Jules wouldn’t be so giddy at the possibility. “I don’t know. Sometime today.”

“Call me when you find out, no matter which way it goes. And if you are pregnant, will you tell Jace?”

Shana swallowed. She didn’t want to think that far ahead. “Just let me find out one way or another, Jules. I’m probably just coming down with a cold or something.”

“We’ll see.” Her sister then glanced at her watch. “Come on. I’ll drop you back off at Granger. I have a two o’clock appointment, and I don’t want to be late.”

Jules grabbed Shana’s arm and dragged her to the cash register, where Shana paid for her purchase. Then they hurriedly left the gift shop. Neither saw the woman who’d been standing in the next aisle deliberately eavesdropping.

Eve drew in a deep breath as she came out of her moment of shock. There was a chance that Shana Bradford could be pregnant with Jace’s child! Anger filled every part of her body. If the woman thought she would get her clutches on Jace, then she had another thought coming.

Eve put her hand to her forehead as she felt a tension headache coming on. She needed to keep her cool. She needed to think.

“May I help you, miss?”

She glanced up at the store clerk, a matronly older woman who was eyeing her as if she thought Eve was a shoplifter or something.

The thought pissed Eve off. “No, you can’t help me, so get out of my damn face.”

Eve left the gift shop and headed for the bank of elevators. She needed to go back up to her hotel room and come up with a plan.

* * *

“Is Jace out of his meeting?” Shana asked Brandy when she returned from lunch.

“Yes, but he left for lunch with his brothers a half hour ago. He indicated he would be returning in an hour since he has a three o’clock meeting.”

Shana glanced at her watch. “Okay.” She headed to her office. Once inside, she pulled the bag with the pregnancy kit out of her purse. Rubbing her hand over her stomach as she sat down behind her desk, she wondered whether Jules could be right. Was she pregnant?

And if so, would she tell Jace?

Of course you’ll tell him,
her mind argued.
He has a right to know.
But the one thing she would not do is allow him to feel obligated in any way. She was financially able to raise a child on her own without depending on any man. However, that didn’t mean she wouldn’t expect him to do right by his child.

But then,
the other side of her mind reasoned,
it’s a child he didn’t ask for and you don’t know if he even wants a family. He asked, and you assured him you were on the pill and therefore protected. He might think it was entrapment.

The thought of him believing such a thing sent chills down her body.

She stood and began pacing. She was probably getting worked up over nothing. Chances were she was fine and that there was a reason she was late and felt nauseated this morning. She would clear things up when she got home and took that test. When it showed it was a false scare, she would drink a glass of wine, shower and go to bed.

She smiled, thinking that sounded like a good plan.

Shana turned at the brisk knock on her door. Before she could call out for the person to come in, Jace opened the door and closed it behind him and locked it. He then braced against the door and stared at her. “I wanted to see you earlier, but I had a meeting.”

“I know,” she said softly, knowing at that moment how much she loved him. “You’re seeing me now.”

A smile fanned across his face. “I am, aren’t I?”

He strode across the room, and when he reached her, he pulled her into his arms and captured her mouth in his. And it was a kiss that had her feeling weak in the knees from how expertly his tongue was mating with hers, long and greedily.

Her body slid effortlessly closer to his, and he tightened his hold while deepening the kiss. The heat from his body was burning up her senses, stoking her hunger for him and surging her into a mist of desire so thick she couldn’t think logically.

So she didn’t.

All she wanted to think about and concentrate on were the sensations this kiss was making her feel and how easily her body was responding. Her hands couldn’t stay still, and she reached up and caressed the side of his face where their mouths were joined and stroked his warm, smooth skin. She loved him. God, she loved him, and whether or not he loved her back, she never wanted to lose this. Being the woman he wanted.

Moments later, he broke off the kiss and whispered against her moist lips, “I needed that.” He refused to release her from his arms.

She smiled up at him. “So did I. What about your father? Did you get a chance to talk to him?”

He nodded. “Yes.” He then told her what was said.

She didn’t say anything for a minute and then asked, “What do you think your dad meant by saying your mother could have been involved in something?”

“I don’t know, baby, but I intend to find out.”

Baby.
She wondered if it was a slip of the tongue and whether he even realized he’d said it.

He glanced at his watch. “I have a three o’clock meeting, so I need to go. What are you doing later tonight? Around seven?”

She thought of the pregnancy kit and pushed it out of her mind. “Nothing.”