A Brother's Honor
Page 27
Walking over toward the woman, Shana extended her hand. “I’m Shana Bradford. And you are?”
Before answering, the woman moved her gaze up and down Shana once more, and without accepting Shana’s hand, she lifted her chin, looked Shana in the eye with a smirk on her face and said, “I’m Eve Granger. Jace’s wife.”
Shana suddenly felt dizzy and thought she would fall flat on her face when a sharp, loud voice behind her reeled her in and kept her standing.
“Ex-wife!”
Shana recognized Jace’s voice and turned to see the three Granger brothers, standing tall, each looking incredibly handsome with their feet braced apart, standing side by side with fierce expressions on their faces.
“Jace, I just had to come.” The woman rushed over to Jace and threw her arms around him in a display of dramatics that Shana found astounding.
Shana watched Jace stiffen, refusing to return the embrace. In fact, his arms remained stiffly by his side. Dalton rolled his eyes, and Caden remained expressionless.
Jace pried the woman’s arms from around him and stepped back. “What are you doing here, Eve?” And from his biting tone, it was obvious he wasn’t glad to see her.
“Oh, Jace, I told you. I just had to come. I couldn’t let you go through this alone.”
“What are we? Chopped liver? Last we looked, he wasn’t alone,” Dalton snapped.
Ignoring Dalton, Eve tilted her head up to gaze into Jace’s face. “The media is reporting about those horrid people who tried to ruin your company and betray you.”
“Betrayal is something you know a lot about, isn’t it?” Jace said with a hard tone.
“Oh, Jace,” the woman moaned as tears appeared in her eyes. “How can you be so unforgiving?”
Dalton chuckled, clapped his hands together and said, “Will someone please give this woman an Oscar?”
Just as quickly as the fake tears had started, they dried up when Eve snapped her head around and glared at Dalton. Jace threw his brother a warning glance before turning his attention back to Eve. “We’ll talk privately in my office.” Taking her arm, he ushered her inside his office and slammed the door shut behind him.
“Evil Eve strikes again,” Dalton said, shaking his head. He laughed all the way to his office and closed the door behind him.
Caden walked over to Shana. “My ex-sister-in-law can be quite a character at times.”
Shana glanced at the closed door. “Apparently.”
“I wouldn’t worry about her if I were you,” he said softly.
Shana raised a brow. “And why should I worry about her?”
Caden shrugged. “No reason, I guess.” He then walked off.
Shana glanced over at Brandy, who pretended to look busy. Drawing in a deep breath, Shana walked away to grab those crackers from the vending machine, and a part of her wished for once she could be a fly on the wall in Jace’s office.
* * *
“Please, Jace, be reasonable,” Eve implored.
Jace frowned from behind his desk. “The fact that I’m allowing you any of my time shows what a reasonable man I can be. There’s no way in hell you can stay at Sutton Hills for a week.”
“But I need a place to stay. I told you that I had to leave Los Angeles for a while.”
“Because some woman thinks you’re involved with her husband and hired a couple of goons to teach you a lesson.”
“Yes. Someone tried running me off the road a few days ago, my tires were slashed and my front door was egged.”
Jace had never heard anything so ridiculous. In fact, it was too ridiculous for even her to have made up. “Why didn’t you report it to the police?”
“I did, but they didn’t have enough proof to link it to that jealous bitch.”
“And what good will being here one week do?”
She nervously wrung her hands together. “It will give Maurice time to convince his wife that nothing is going on between us and that we’re just business associates.”
“Why not go to your parents, Eve?”
“I can’t do that. I’m not on good terms with them.”
He wondered what the reason for their tiff was this time. “Fine, stay a week, but not at Sutton Hills.” He could just imagine Hannah’s reaction if she did. Eve had worn out her welcome with Hannah the last time when Eve complained they treated Hannah more like a family member than the servant she was.
“I’ll put you up at a hotel. Long Meadows. And I want you gone in a week,” Jace said, standing to put on his jacket. He figured that Long Meadows would be to her liking since it was five-star.
“I will give the hotel permission to kick you out on your behind if you’re not checked out by Tuesday morning. And just so you don’t get any crazy ideas, I’m just paying for your hotel room. You are to cover your own incidentals.” He could just see her ordering a diamond tennis bracelet from one of the hotel’s jewelry stores and adding it to the hotel bill.
“I can’t believe you don’t trust me.”
“Believe it. I’ll call Long Meadows and make the arrangements.” Jace shoved his hands into his pockets, hoping he wasn’t making a mistake. He had a feeling there was more to her story than she claimed, but he had too many more important issues to worry about...like Freeman’s whereabouts for instance. He’d meant what he told Eve. After Tuesday she was on her own and her best bet would be on a plane back to California.
“Thanks, Jace. If there’s any way I can repay you, then—”
“There’s not, and you can’t,” he broke in to say. “However, what you can do is stop telling people you’re my wife, because you’re not.”
She frowned. “You’re replacing me already? I saw the way Ms. Bradford was looking at you.”
Jace rolled his eyes. She hadn’t seen a thing but was merely fishing. “First of all, you don’t have a place in my life to be replaced, Eve, and Ms. Bradford doesn’t concern you. In fact, nothing about me or this business concerns you.”
He looked at his watch. “I have a meeting, and you’re not welcome to stay in my office. I’ll call a car to take you over to the hotel. I suggest you go downstairs to the lobby and wait for it.”
He straightened his tie. “Come on and I’ll walk you down.” And while he was down there he planned to give security firm orders not to let her back in the building again.
* * *
“I like her.”
Shana glanced up from her toast and looked at her sister. “Who?” The two of them were enjoying lunch at a restaurant inside Long Meadows Hotel. They were known to have a wonderful lunch menu.
“Dad’s Mona. I met her Sunday morning. After spending a day on the beach with her on Saturday, he invited her to join us for breakfast at the Pancake House. He picked her up, and I met them there. I swear if I didn’t know she was blind, I could have been fooled. She is so independent. Once Dad told her where everything in front of her was located, she was on her own.”
Jules took a sip of her iced tea and then continued, “At first, I was nervous, thinking she was going to knock something over, but she didn’t. And then we got into a discussion of politics, and can you believe we have the same views about a lot of things?”
“That’s scary.”
“Oh, hush,” Jules said, chuckling. “And why are you eating just a piece of toast and drinking water?” She grinned. “If you’re tight on money, I could loan you a few dollars.”
Shana rolled her eyes. “I woke up this morning not feeling well. I ate a few crackers earlier, and I’m feeling better, but I don’t want to risk feeling nauseated again. So tell me, did you find that guy last weekend?”
Jules smiled. “Yes! You should have seen his expression when I handcuffed him to the hotel bed. He thought I was about to get kinky with him. Imagine his surprise when the police showed up and arrested his naked ass and hauled him off to jail.”
“If he was taking the women to a hotel, how was he able to pull things off?” Shana asked, biting into her toast.
“Umm, sounds like you had a productive weekend.”
“I did.” A smile ruffled her lips when she said, “I also met this real cute guy at one of the clubs, but since I was working undercover, I couldn’t give him the time of day.” She then told Shana what happened Saturday night at that club and the mission she’d given the stranger.
“So he’s supposed to find you?” Shana asked.
“If he wants to see me again,” Jules replied, grinning. “If he does find me, it means he was truly interested. If not, it means he just wanted another notch on his bedpost. But I hope he finds me. He was such a hottie with the most gorgeous pair of brown eyes.”
Jules took another sip of her iced tea. “So how was your weekend with Jace Granger?”
Shana drew in a deep breath as memories washed over her. “It was absolutely fantastic.” She paused a moment and said softly, truthfully, “I think I’ve fallen in love with him, Jules. In fact, I know I have.”
Jules stared at her. “Goodness! Well, I hope he’s worth your love, Shana.”
Shana thought about the scene that had unfolded that morning in the office when his ex-wife had shown up. It was obvious that Jace had been upset about it, and she detected some animosity between the ex and his brothers. But still...Eve Granger was a beautiful woman, too beautiful for her own good. Shana could see a man doubting the wisdom of letting such a woman go.
“I believe he’s worth it,” Shana said easily.
Before leaving the office, she had checked in with Brandy to let her know she was leaving for lunch. Brandy mentioned Jace was in a meeting and his ex-wife had left, escorted out of the office by Jace himself. Shana hoped he would meet with her at some point to tell her about the conversation he’d had with his father.
Her brow furrowed when she recalled that Shelton Fields, the guy who’d been second-in-command under Arrington, had been at Brandy’s desk. As soon as she’d approached, he’d walked off rather quickly. She wondered what that was about. When she got back to the office, she would go back over Kent’s report on the man.
Jules didn’t say anything but continued to look at Shana and the toast she was nibbling on. She remembered a friend of hers having similar symptoms last year. She wondered. “You know there could be another reason why you woke up nauseated this morning.”
Shana glanced over at Jules as she took another sip of her water. “What reason is that?”
“You could be pregnant.”
Shana choked on her water and began coughing, causing a number of people to look over at their table. “Don’t say that,” Shana warned, leaning over the table and whispering in a snappish tone. “There’s no way I can be pregnant, because I’m on the pill.”
“Yes, but you were on antibiotics recently. Did you make sure you were doubly protected?”
It was probably quite evident from the “oops” look on Shana’s face that she hadn’t.
Jules lifted a brow. “Umm, looks like Dad has fallen in love and will find out he’s getting a grandchild in the same year.”
“Don’t say that! You’re wrong!”
“Am I? There’s a quick way to find out. The gift shop. I bet they sell pregnancy kits. We can find out the truth in no time.”
Shana lifted a brow. “We?”
“Yes,” Jules said, grinning from ear to ear. “If I’m going to be an aunt, I want to know about it. I can’t wait to see the look on Dad’s face when we tell him.”
Shana rolled her eyes. “I’m sure he would appreciate hearing about a wedding first, Jules.”
Jules continued grinning. “Not my problem. It’s yours and Jace Granger’s. So hurry up and finish eating. We have a pregnancy kit to buy.”
Chapter Thirty
Jace 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. “I
s 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.”