A Brother's Honor (Grangers) - By Brenda Jackson Page 0,31
you’ve realized it’s your destiny.”
He didn’t say anything because he was thinking about how long he hadn’t wanted to claim his legacy and how adamantly he’d been against it. Yet here he was, ready to jump in with both feet and not look back.
“Now that we’ve gotten all of that taken care of, I do have a request, although my common sense dictates otherwise, Mr. Granger.”
“Before you say anything, I think since we’ll be working together it would be appropriate for you to call me Jace if you don’t mind my calling you Shana.” At her nod, he then asked, “So what request do you have?”
She smiled over at him. “That I order dessert. I have a weakness for chocolate.”
Chapter Nine
“So, how did it go?”
“How does she look?”
Jace wasn’t surprised his brothers were in his office waiting on him when he returned from his meeting with Shana. Tugging off his jacket, he glanced over at Caden to address his question. “The meeting went well, and she’s agreed to help. She’ll have a place here in the office just to be visible. Hopefully, that will put employees at ease.”
Then, answering Dalton’s question, he said, “She’s a beautiful woman who has a pleasant personality, but at the same time pulls no punches. She’s sharp and highly intelligent.”
Dalton grinned. “Boy, aren’t we full of compliments?”
“And she deserves every one. I think she’s going to get us through this.”
“Hell, I hope so. I’m missing Europe already,” Dalton said, smiling all over himself.
Jace sat on the edge of the desk and studied his younger brother for a second before saying, “I’m sure you are, Cocoa Puff.”
Surprise lit Dalton’s eyes. He then grinned sheepishly and said, “Hey, what can I say? When you got it, you got it. I guess your girl-wonder checked me out.”
Jace smiled. “Yes, she did.”
Caden laughed. “Cocoa Puff?”
Dalton frowned. “Well, I bet she can’t tell you where my tattoo is.”
“I wouldn’t be too sure of that. Like I said, she’s good.”
“And I bet you checked her out real good,” Dalton said.
The smile left Jace’s face as he moved around to sit behind his desk. “This is business, Dalton. I don’t see every female with a nice pair of legs as a sex object.”
Dalton rubbed his chin as his smile widened in approval. “So she has a nice pair of legs?”
Jace refused to be baited, so he changed the subject, asking, “Anything interesting happen while I was gone?”
Caden shook his head. “It’s been quiet. Almost too quiet. I think everyone thinks Caden and I are spying on them. When will your wonder-woman start working?”
“Tomorrow. So we need to make sure she has an office ready.”
“I’ll be happy to help her move in,” Dalton volunteered.
Jace gave that some thought. His brother was such a bullshitter, and Shana Bradford was just the woman to give Dalton a firm kick in the ass. But he didn’t want Shana to have to deal with drama on her first day. “There’s no need, Dalton. I’m sure she can manage just fine on her own.”
He didn’t say anything for a minute then added, “Warning, Dalton. We need Shana Bradford, so don’t make a pest of yourself.”
* * *
“Okay, Shana, you’ve been blowing up my phone. What’s going on?” Jules Bradford asked her sister as she tossed her backpack on the hotel bed. Today had been extra long. She was investigating a kidnapping that happened over two years ago. During a custody battle, the father had kidnapped his son and faked their deaths. The mother never believed her husband and son were dead and had hired Jules to prove otherwise. Her search had led her here to a small town in Mexico. She had spent an entire day trying to get information from some of the locals, and no one was talking.
“It’s about Dad.”
Jules stopped in her tracks and held the phone tight in her hand. “What about Dad?”
“He’s thinking about remarrying.”
I must have heard wrong, Jules thought, dropping down on the bed near her backpack. “What are you talking about, Shana? Dad isn’t even seeing anyone.”
“I know.” Then Shana gave her sister the details. The same ones her father had given her.
Moments later, Jules said, “Umm, probably a phase he’s going through. I’m sure most men his age have gone through it. Dad’s been a widower for over thirteen years with no serious involvements that we know of. He probably saw this woman a few times, thought she was hot, talked to her, decided he liked her and that