A Brother's Honor (Grangers) - By Brenda Jackson Page 0,114

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