A Brother's Honor (Grangers) - By Brenda Jackson Page 0,93
her sister had said. Was Jace worthy? She knew the answer without thinking too hard about the question. Yes, he was. If she’d had any doubt, it was removed from her mind the night he held her in his arms and hummed her to sleep after settling on a kiss and nothing more. Any other man would have had her blindfolded and handcuffed to the bed for a night of fun without caring how exhausted she was. But not Jace.
“You know this is a bummer, don’t you?” Jules asked.
“What?”
“My first weekend back and both you and Dad are deserting me.”
Shana gave her sister a pity look. “If you’re trying to make me feel bad, don’t waste your time. If the shoe was on the other foot—”
“I’d wear it proudly, keep stepping high and not give you a backward glance.”
“I figured as much.” Shana chuckled. She loved her sister and would do anything for her, and she knew it was the same for Jules. When their mother died, all they had was each other...and their dad. He had been their rock, their tower of strength. Their hero.
“Speaking of shoes, you know what I think I’m going to do this weekend, Shana?”
“I’m almost afraid to ask.”
Jules gave her that mischievous grin that had gotten them in trouble more than once during their lifetimes. “Pull out my favorite pair of stilettos, find my shortest dress and go barhopping.”
“Will you be looking for anyone in particular?” Shana asked.
“Yes, it’s a new case I’m working on. Some lowlife who’s turning one-night stands into movie night on the internet.”
“You’re kidding!”
“Wish I was. He uses a different alias with each woman and takes them to a different hotel each time. Unfortunately, they aren’t aware the entire thing is being filmed until the DVD shows up somewhere and they are recognized.”
“What an asshole,” Shana said angrily.
“Yes, those are my feelings. Four women joined forces to become my clients after the police claimed lack of manpower due to budget cuts as the reason they haven’t brought him in. He’s known to hang out at different bars looking for his next easy conquest. I got a good description of him. He’s drop-dead gorgeous and uses his looks to get women to drop their panties and their guard.”
“Sounds interesting. I hope you catch him, and please take care of yourself.”
Jules gave Shana a cheeky grin. “Don’t I always?”
Chapter Twenty-Five
“I want to see through your eyes, Ben. Tell me what you see.”
Ben glanced across the blanket at Mona. They had arrived at the beach around ten, early enough to claim a section of the beach before the lunchtime crowd arrived. The spot was perfect and shaded by the shadows of endless hotels, restaurants and cafés spread out along the oceanfront.
He reached out and captured her hand in his. “It will be my pleasure.” For the next ten minutes, he spoke, letting her see through his eyes. He saw how her smile widened when he told her about the teens playing volleyball in the sand not far away, about the colorful Jet Skis and the beautiful clouds overhead.
“And last but not least,” he said, tightening his hand on hers, “I see this beautiful woman who is wearing a beautiful yellow sundress that goes perfectly with her golden-brown eyes. Then there’s her hair that frames such a gorgeous face that can light up my whole world with her smile. And a pair of lips that I’ve been tempted to taste from the first, because she has to be the most beautiful woman I know.”
“Oh, Ben,” Mona said, wiping at the tears forming in her eyes. “You shouldn’t say such things,” she whispered brokenly.
“I should, and I will, Mona, because I plan to pursue you the way a man pursues a woman he wants in his life.” And he wanted her in his life. He felt he’d gotten to know her over the past months. He had watched her when she hadn’t known he’d been doing so. He’d talked to her, held pleasant conversations with her. He admired her.
He loved her.
“But you don’t know me, and what you do know is what you can see. You’re a wonderful man who needs a woman—”
“Like you,” he finished. “Like you,” he repeated. He leaned over and kissed her trembling lips.
“I want my eyesight back, Ben. I don’t want you to be a blur in my eyes. I want to see the man who’s cared enough to reach out and accept me as I am. I want to