A Brother's Honor (9 page)

Jace frowned, wondering how in the hell she knew that. She wouldn’t have been able to find that out in twenty minutes. But from the self-confident look in her eyes, he had a feeling she had. She must have some damn good contacts.

He took a sip of his drink, because at the moment he couldn’t answer her. All he knew was that he was staying put, but he had a feeling his saying that would not be good enough for her. “Just what do you expect of me, Ms. Bradford?”

“Maybe you ought to be asking yourself what those employees of Granger Aeronautics expect of you, Mr. Granger. I would think they’d want someone who plans to do right by them and not leave them out in the cold. They worked hard for your grandfather, and most were loyal. They expect a leader who would remember that.”

And he had remembered that. He knew then what his answer to her question would be. “I can only speak for myself, but I’m staying.”

At that moment, the waiter interrupted by bringing out their food.

* * *

Over lunch, Shana asked Jace several questions that she felt he answered truthfully. He even told her about the other promise they’d made regarding her father. She definitely felt he had a lot on his plate but was confident he knew how to handle his business.

He asked her more questions, specifically how she would go about evaluating the company if she accepted the job. She made sure he knew she hadn’t decided whether she would work for him or not before she went into explaining her company’s in-depth evaluation process. Although, in the end, he didn’t have to implement all her recommendations, but the success ratio would increase if he did so. She could almost guarantee it.

She appreciated that he was honest enough to admit that in some areas he felt like a fish out of water, but over the years his grandfather had kept him abreast of some things, so he was familiar with the day-to-day operations.

“If you take the job, I think having you work on the premises would be a plus,” he said, pushing his plate away.

She glanced over at him. “I’m surprised you would want your employees to know the company is in a dire enough situation that I had to be called in.”

He shrugged. “They know anyway, and I have an idea how they found out.”

Shana considered his words and said, “I know Freeman would be the logical culprit, but I’ve discovered the logical one is not always the guilty party. You would be surprised what’s tucked away in closets that I usually expose. People you thought you could trust can prove otherwise. I would suggest you watch your back, not just with Freeman but with others. Some might think you don’t know what the hell you’re doing and try to take advantage.”

“Thanks for the advice.”

The waiter came to remove their plates. Wineglasses were replaced with coffee cups, and they continued talking. She was being evasive about whether she would take on Granger Aeronautics, and with good reason. She had just come off a big, lengthy assignment and had looked forward to taking a month off to do practically nothing. She had considered accompanying Jules on one of her easier assignments, just to have girl time with her sister, since both of them were usually busy. If Shana took on this job, she would be back to working from sunup to sundown. Her weekends would be filled with endless time spent at her computer. Besides Joyce, she had two other assistants, but like her, they were looking for a break between cases. They would still get theirs, she would see to it. They needed it. That meant she would have to work even harder.

And then there was the issue with her father. She might need to spend time with him as well if he was thinking about remarrying and the likely candidate was a woman he’d only gotten to know in the grocery store. She could understand any man wanting female companionship at any age, but getting married was a whole different topic. She couldn’t wait to discuss it with Jules.

She noticed there was a lull in the conversation and she glanced across the table to see Jace staring at her. She didn’t have to ask him why. He was still checking her out. She understood it was a man thing, but he was working overtime. Too bad it was an interest that wouldn’t go anywhere.

She sipped her coffee and for the moment appreciated the quiet time that allowed her to think. And the one thing she couldn’t help but admit was that she liked him. She liked that he had loved his grandfather so much that he was willing to make sacrifices. Finding his way around Granger Aeronautics wouldn’t be easy, and like she’d told him, he would be a target. It took no time at all to tell that he was highly intelligent and had those same leadership qualities he’d praised his father and grandfather for having. For some reason, she wanted him to succeed, and she knew there was a possibility he would do the latter without her company’s help.

“I’ve decided to handle your case, Mr. Granger.”

He held her gaze for a moment and then said, “I appreciate that. For a moment there, I was thinking that you wouldn’t.”

She’d figured as much from the surprised look in his eyes. “I considered walking away but only because you hadn’t completely leveled with me at first. Now you have. You made a promise, and what I admire and respect is that it’s a promise you intend to keep. Your job as an attorney didn’t motivate you. You did it, and you did it well, but there was no challenge. You need a challenge, Mr. Granger. One that you know will pay off not only for your employees but for your grandfather and father, as well. You will be dedicated. Turning your company around won’t be easy, but you intend to make it work. And you’ll succeed because you’re willing to make changes, even sacrifices, to reach your goal. And most important, you have waylaid my fears that you’re not in it for the short-term. I believe you’re in it for the long haul.”

She paused a moment and then added, “However, I’m not sure about your brothers. I intend to speak with them soon, because even though you’re your own man, you’re also their brother, and the oldest. And you want them to want this as much as you do. Call it a brother’s honor, but you want their support. You want it, even though you don’t necessarily need it. You’re going to do whatever you feel needs to be done anyway. But I admire that you care for their feelings, and I can understand that. I have a younger sister, and I can see putting her well-being and interest before my own.”

Jace didn’t say anything for a moment as he sipped his coffee. She was right. He was in it for the long haul. He hadn’t accepted that until now. He wasn’t sure about his brothers, but he could safely say he was in. And he wanted his brothers in with him, but would understand if down the line they wanted out. They had their own interests and careers. It was an individual thing. Working in a corporation wasn’t for everybody.

“You want to know what I think?” she asked.

He glanced over at her, met the darkness of her eyes, felt the stirring in the pit of his gut and willed it away. “Yes, I want to know what you think.”

“Granger Aeronautics has always been your legacy. But I think that today 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

“S
o, 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 was it.”

Shana, who was sitting in her office, having taken a break from doing more research on Granger Aeronautics, rolled her eyes. “That’s not it. You were not there when he was telling me about this Mona. I saw that sparkle in his eyes. It might be more than a phase, Jules.”

“Then we’ll stop it. Work up a plan, and we’ll implement it when I get back.”

“Just listen to what you said. Our father is happy, and you want to jeopardize it? Would it be so bad if he truly likes this woman and wants to marry her?”

“For crying out loud, Shana, just listen to yourself! What cloud are you floating on? Dad barely knows the woman, and he’s thinking marriage? And there is a big difference between happy and hot. I’m still going with the idea of him being in the hot prime of his life.”

It was times like this when Shana knew she needed to end the conversation with her sister. “You must have had a bad day,” she said.

Jules stood and began stripping. “Why do you say that?”

“Because you sound like you could chew a couple of people up and spit them out.”

Jules smiled. Her sister knew her well. “And I would begin with a number of the people I interviewed today. They were lying through their teeth about not recognizing a picture of Marcos Rodrigo. The man is hiding out here someplace with his son. I can feel it.”

“Then I’m sure you’ll find them,” Shana said, closing one document on her computer and opening another. “Look I’m in the middle of research and I—”

“Whoa! Wait! Research? I thought you were taking a month-long break!”

Shana wished she hadn’t been reminded. “I was, but I got a client who needs me.”

“Don’t they all, Ms. Fixer-Upper? What makes this one so special you’re giving up a month of fun and sun?”

Shana’s hands stopped stroking the keys, and she paused before entering a name in Google. “I didn’t say he was special.”

“
He?
Sounds interesting. I hadn’t said anything about a ‘he.’
I think you just told on yourself.”

Shana frowned. Leave it to her sister to grasp any little thing and run with it. “Mistake on my part that wasn’t intentional, but understandable since Jace Granger is now the CEO of Granger Aeronautics. I met with him earlier today and agreed to help bring his company around.”

“So, again, I ask, what’s so special about him that made you give up your time off?”

Shana thought long and hard about her sister’s question before saying, “A number of things, but most of all his integrity. It was a deathbed promise he intends to keep. You know how I am about those sorts of things.”

If anyone would know, it would be Jules. They had both promised their mother while she lay dying of cancer that they would be good girls and not cause their father any problems after she was gone. It was a promise they had both kept. Graduating from high school with honors, they had both finished college in three years instead of four, going practically year-round.

“Yes, I know. Is he good-looking?” Jules asked, picking her clothes up off the floor. Whether her sister knew it or not, her defensive tone was telling on her.

“Yes, he is good-looking. I’ll give him that.”

Jules laughed out loud. “And that’s about all you’ll give him. Jonathan ruined you for any other man.”

Shana frowned at the mention of her ex-boyfriend. “He did not ruin me.”

“Then why haven’t you dated anyone seriously since then? Makes me think you’re pining away for him.”

“You’re wrong. I want to focus on my business. Men aren’t a necessity for me like they are for some women. And I don’t recall the last time you went out on a date.”

“I went out with James last month, remember?”

“I mean a serious date and not one of your stakeouts, Jules. You were trying to bust a cheating husband.” Shana glanced up and waved as Joyce headed for the door. At least she made sure her workers went home at a decent time.

“And it was successful, I might add,” Jules said, grinning, sounding proud of herself. “And that’s probably one reason I don’t take men seriously. Most of my cases are about cheating husbands, which in my book makes a statement. Unless his name is Ben Bradford, no man is to be trusted.”

Jules headed for the bathroom with discarded clothes tucked under her arm. “I need to shower now. Don’t expect me back in Virginia for another two weeks. In the meantime, keep an eye on Dad and the veggie lady.”

* * *

Jace glanced at his watch, noticing it was nine o’clock already. He pushed the documents he’d been reading aside and stood to stretch his body. The office had closed hours ago, yet he was still here, reading as much information as he could. This was sort of like cramming for one of his law exams.

Caden and Dalton had moved into their offices down the hall and at six had quickly headed out for the bar and grill down the street. They had invited Jace to join them, but he had declined. He had received an email from Shana, asking that specific documents be available for her to review tomorrow, and he figured he needed to go over those documents, as well.

He glanced around the office that had once belonged to his grandfather. He’d decided not to change a thing for now, although the green drapes with the matching carpeting didn’t do anything for him. Jace smiled, recalling that green had always been Richard Granger’s favorite color, in all shades.

They would be visiting their father next weekend, and Jace was looking forward to it. Caden would leave to wrap up a few events he’d scheduled and would return in two weeks. Jace was grateful Dalton hadn’t made some excuse to fly to London and wondered if that receptionist downstairs had anything to do with it.

Jace was about to head back over to his desk and read the last of the documents when his phone rang. It was a number he didn’t recognize. “Hello?”

“You could have at least called to let me know your grandfather had passed.”

Jace drew in a deep breath. It was his ex-wife, Eve. “Why would I have bothered? It’s not like the two of you were close. And if you’re calling to see whether you were left in his will, you weren’t.”

“That’s cold, Jace.”

“Goes with the territory, since I recall your calling me a cold bastard the day you were served with divorce papers.”

As if she hadn’t heard his words, she said, “I hear you’re in charge of the place now that he’s gone. I’m happy, since that’s all I wanted for you.”

“That’s what you wanted for yourself, Eve. Let’s get that straight. You were never satisfied with the money I was making as an attorney when you figured I could be making millions working alongside my grandfather. That’s the truth, and you know it.” He dropped down in his chair and added, “And then there was the issue of your not getting your hands on my trust fund. That really teed you off.”

He couldn’t help but smile. She figured she had it all worked out just how much of his trust she would milk out of him. But thanks to his grandfather, things hadn’t worked out that way for her, which is why she couldn’t stand the old man.

“Why do you keep trying to paint me as a gold digger, Jace? When we married, I had just as much money as you.”

“The underlying word is
had.
By the time we divorced, you didn’t have a penny. You had spent all of yours and were trying to run through mine, as well.”

“I like nice things.”

“No, you like expensive things and then choose not to work to pay for them.”

“I was the wife of a Granger. There was no reason for me to work. Had I given in and stayed pregnant like you wanted, then everything would have been fine. Why can’t you understand that although you wanted a baby, I didn’t? I wasn’t ready, Jace. I was still—”

“Having too good a time to settle down and become a mother, I know,” he interrupted. “But was that any reason to have an abortion behind my back?” he asked in anger. It pained him every time he thought about it. And the sad thing about it was that she never planned to tell him. All the arrangements had been made while he was out of town. When he had returned unexpectedly, he had found out the truth.

“Eve, let’s end this call while we can remain civil. Goodbye, and do me a favor and delete my number.”

She clicked off the phone. It wouldn’t be the first time she’d hung up on him, but if she did what he’d said and deleted his number, then it would definitely be the last.

He had picked up another report when his cell phone rang again. He thought it was Eve calling his bluff by calling him back when he noted the call was from Shana Bradford. “Yes, Shana?”

Shana took a deep breath, thinking there was that sexy voice again. She hated admitting it, but she liked the sound of her name on his lips. “I figured you would still be at the office. Chocolate is known to boost your energy level, and I noticed that your slice of cake at lunch was a lot bigger than mine.”

She heard his rich, masculine laugh and thought it was sexy, too.

“You noticed, huh?”

“Yes.” She smiled, recalling how he’d devoured the entire slice. “I won’t keep you, but I was wondering if I need to bring my own computer or if you’ve got one there for me?”

Jace lifted a brow. “Some companies actually make you bring your own computer?”

“Yes, and it’s no big deal if that’s the case. I just like knowing beforehand.”

Jace leaned back in his chair, suddenly feeling calm and relaxed. Both feelings were much appreciated after his phone call with Eve. “Well, that’s not the case. In fact, I took charge of things myself.”

And he had. He had decided to give her the office next to his, the one that had a connecting door to his grandfather’s and his father’s offices. Since it was in the middle of both offices, it had served as a private meeting room for the two men. It was roomy and large enough for Shana’s temporary office and had a beautiful view of the Blue Ridge Mountains outside the window.

The maintenance department had already removed the huge conference table and replaced it with a desk, a couple of file cabinets, a bookcase and other accessories. His grandfather’s secretary, who was officially now Jace’s secretary, had gotten the office organized with supplies, including the latest computer. The receptionist from downstairs had assisted his secretary, which had probably made Dalton’s day. Fortunately, it was a task that hadn’t taken long to complete.

“I appreciate it and intend to be there first thing in the morning—around eight.”