the ass, Dalton.”
“Okay. Then let’s agree on something. You stay out of my business, and I’ll stay out of yours.” Dalton stood and extended his hand to his brother. “Deal?”
Dalton didn’t miss the scalding look in his brother’s eyes when he reluctantly shook his hand. “Deal.” Jace glowered at him for a minute and then turned and walked out of the office.
Dalton couldn’t help the smile that touched his lips. He’d never been certain just what kind of hold, if any, Jace’s ex had on him after the divorce. But he had a feeling his brother was finally shaking free of the woman Dalton had long ago nicknamed Evil Eve.
Even if the woman Jace was being elusive about was wonder-woman, Dalton was damn glad about it.
* * *
A few moments later, Jace stood at the window with his hands in his pockets as he looked out. Frustrated. Disgusted. Dalton was too damn smart for his own good. His brother had pretty much figured things out before he and Shana could get through day one. Although Jace had not admitted to anything, Dalton pretty much thought he was onto something. Hopefully, their handshake would keep Dalton’s mouth shut and his assumptions to himself.
And Jace would have to admit his own fault in day one getting off to a suspicious start. He hadn’t intended to spend the night with Shana, but one lovemaking session had led to another and another and then another. By the time they’d gotten out of bed, it was past midnight and they were starving. He had driven her to a fast-food place that stayed open twenty-four hours. They had gone through the drive-through for burgers, fries and shakes and had taken them back to her place. After they had consumed their food, Shana had walked him to the door. But it had been the hot and heavy good-night kiss that had driven him to sweep her off her feet, into his arms and back up the stairs to her bedroom.
After a night of marathon sex, they had overslept. He hadn’t left her house until after seven, rushing to Sutton Hills, dashing past Hannah with an apologetic look on his face in an attempt to shower, get dressed and out the door in an hour. He would have made it had Caden not called for an update. That conversation had cost him a good twenty minutes. He’d arrived at the office a half hour behind Shana. No one had noticed...except for Dalton.
Jace turned when the intercom on his desk went off. Moving away from the window, he pushed the button. “Yes, Melissa?”
“This is Brandy. Melissa had a dentist appointment.”
Jace rolled his eyes. “Okay, Brandy, you buzzed me.”
“Yes, sir. Your wife is on line two.”
A muscle in Jace’s jaw began to tick. “I don’t have a wife.”
“That’s what I thought, but the lady says differently.”
Jace settled in the chair behind his desk. “Put the lady on.”
He drew in a deep breath, wondering what the hell his vain and shallow ex wanted this time.
“Jace?”
“What do you want, Eve?”
“I need money.”
Jace leaned back in his chair. “And your point in calling me?”
“For a loan, and I promise to pay you back.”
He chuckled. He knew any money he gave her wouldn’t be paid back. “And what happens if I don’t give you a loan? You’ll have to get a job, right?”
“Surely you don’t expect me to do that. I’m a Granger.”
“In name only, and I wish you’d ditch it. We’ve been divorced three years now. You’re free to marry again.”
“But I won’t remarry. You have my true heart.”
“Whatever.” Because he’d had such a fantastic night and the aftereffects still had him in a good mood, he asked, “How much do you need?”
There was a pause. She was probably picking her jaw up off the floor. “You’re going to loan it to me?”
“How much, Eve?” He could visualize dollar signs clanking like slot machines in her head.
“Ten thousand.”
She was pushing it now. Taking advantage of his kindness. “I’ll give you five.”
“Give? I don’t have to pay it back?”
He rolled his eyes. “Can you?”
“No.”
“Then why did you ask for a loan?”
She didn’t say anything, and he preferred that she didn’t anyway. She needed to stop while she was ahead. “You’ll have the money in forty-eight hours. What’s your bank?”
He jotted down the information as quickly as she rattled it off. He figured she wanted to hurry up and get him off the phone before he changed his mind.
“Why?”
He raised a brow. “Why what?”
“Why are