“Hmm,” Jace agreed, licking his lips. “Now, this is a great sandwich. I didn’t know there was a sandwich shop around here.” He had walked into his brother’s office during the lunch hour to find Dalton sitting at his desk with a spread in front of him. Dalton had invited him to pull up a chair and offered him half his sandwich. It was simply delicious.
“There’s not a sandwich shop around here,” Dalton said, wiping his mouth and then grabbing a bag of chips.
Jace lifted a brow. “Then where did you get all this?”
“From Hannah.”
Jace stared at his brother for a long moment and then he asked, “You have Hannah preparing your lunch?”
“She offered.”
“Yeah, I bet,” Jace said, rolling his eyes.
“Honest. I called to thank her for the leftovers that I brought in yesterday, and she offered to prepare lunch for me this week. I didn’t want to hurt her feelings by declining.”
“Sure. Turning her down would have killed you.”
Dalton smiled over at his brother. “You’re jealous. Admit it, you’re jealous.”
Jace frowned. “I’m not jealous.”
“Yes, you are. You were the firstborn, and Hannah just doted on you right and left. You were her favorite. Now you’re sharing the spot, and that’s eating at you,” Dalton accused.
“It’s not!”
“You’re a liar. It is.”
“Boys. Boys. Do I have to take a strap to you guys? I can’t leave you alone for a week before you’re acting like uncivilized heathens.”
Dalton and Jace jerked their heads around to find Caden leaning lazily in the doorway. Jace was out of his chair, and Dalton followed suit. “What are you doing here? We weren’t looking for you to get back until next week.”
“I know,” Caden said, smiling and taking a good look at his brothers to see if there were any scars he needed to check out. “But I had a couple of free days and decided I was tired of living out of a hotel room.”
“Why bitch about it now when you’ve been doing it for years?” Dalton countered.
Instead of answering, Caden glanced over at Jace. “Hold me back before I smash his face in.”
“Stand in line. Wait your turn,” Jace said, fighting back a smile. “You want to smash his face, and I prefer kicking his ass.”
“Need I remind the both of you that I’m younger and more physically fit?” Dalton asked. “If anyone is about to get whipped, it’s not going to be me.”
Caden chuckled. “I choose to differ. I suggest we go to the place on the corner, have a few drinks and the both of you can bring me up to date on what’s going on.”
“Sounds like a good plan to me,” Dalton said, moving to grab his jacket.
“Same here,” Jace said, about to leave Dalton’s office to go to his own to grab his jacket.
“Oh, and I forgot to correct you guys on something,” Caden said.
“What?” Dalton asked as he paused, straightening his tie.
Caden smiled and then said, “Neither of you is Hannah’s favorite, because I am. Always have been and always will be.”
* * *
“Working late tonight, I see.”
Shana’s heart skipped at the sound of the deep, throaty voice. She glanced to her side and saw Jace standing in the doorway that connected her office to his. She’d noticed the door a number of times and used to get distracted wondering what he was doing on the other side of it. Until now, neither had opened it.
She had seen him earlier today in a departmental meeting, and she had sat across a table from him trying not to remember how he’d held her in his arms the night before and hummed her to sleep. But every time he would glance over at her, she could actually feel the heat from his eyes.
“But not for too much longer. I thought you had left for today.”
“Caden flew home for a couple of days, and Dalton and I left to spend time with him at McQueen’s. They decided to leave there and go play a game of tennis to prove who is the fittest.”
She leaned back in her chair. “And you decided to come back here?”
“Yes, I decided to come back here. Told them I’d hook up with them later.” He came inside her office and closed the connecting door behind him. “What are you reading?”
“The last report I gave you. Marcel just called. He didn’t provide any details but wants to meet with us Monday, around eleven. Will you be available then? And I think he wants to include your brothers in this meeting.” Even from across the room, the whiff of his cologne had the ability to stir her.
Jace nodded. “Shouldn’t be a problem. Caden will be leaving day after tomorrow, but he’ll be back Sunday night, and I’ll make sure Dalton is here.”
He paused by her side and said in a low, husky tone, “I hope you slept well last night.”
She couldn’t help smiling up at him. “I did, and I have you to thank.”
He nodded as he held her gaze and then said in an even lower voice, “You can thank me by going away with me this weekend.”
She lifted a brow. “Away?”
“Yes. I know a place a few hours away from here. I’m going there this weekend and would love for you to come with me.”
She paused a moment and then asked, “It’s not the beach, is it?”
“No, it’s a cabin in the mountains near Shenandoah. Why?”
“My father is taking a friend to the beach, and I wouldn’t want to run into them.”
“You won’t. We’ll leave early Saturday morning and return late Sunday afternoon. So will you go with me?”
Shana didn’t say anything for a minute, and as she held his gaze, she was exposed to all the desire she saw there. And it was desire she couldn’t combat, because she knew it was a mirror of her own. There was no sense denying it or denying the pleasure she knew would await her this weekend if she went with him. “Yes, I’ll go away with you this weekend.”
* * *
Caden looked up at the sky. It was a beautiful June night, and he was glad to be home, even if it was for only a few days. He had needed to split from his band for a while. Rena had gotten into a near altercation with a fan, and it could have gotten ugly if he and Roscoe hadn’t been there to intervene. He had warned her for the last time, and it was time to make changes. He had already advised Grover, the group’s manager, that after this week, they needed to start looking for another guitarist.
“I wondered where you’d gone.”
He glanced around when Jace stepped out onto the porch. “Yes, I thought I’d breathe in Virginia’s air while I could.”
Jace came to stand beside his brother. “It’s a beautiful night.”
“Yes, it is, and it reminds me of why I’ve always loved Sutton Hills. It has the mountains, lakes, streams and plenty of land. I think it’s the most beautiful place on earth. But things were never the same after Mom died. And although Granddad did the best he could, he could never replace Dad. Someone turned our world upside down, Jace, and after fifteen years, they are still walking around free, while Dad is sitting in jail paying time for a crime he didn’t commit. And I don’t understand why he doesn’t want us to hire a private investigator to help set him free. Who is he protecting?”
Jace sighed deeply, grateful that he wasn’t the only one left with the feeling that their father was protecting someone. During their visit with him a few weeks back, the subject had come up of their grandfather’s other deathbed request. To prove their father’s innocence. Shep had been adamant about not reopening the case. Why?
Evidently feeling the need to change the subject, Caden then asked, “So what’s going on with you and wonder-woman?”
Jace jerked his head around and met Caden’s stare. “You can’t believe everything Dalton tells you.”
Caden chuckled as he leaned against a post. “That’s just it. Dalton isn’t telling me anything. Any other time, he’s known to have loose lips, but he’s keeping them sealed for some reason.”
About time, Jace thought. “If Dalton didn’t mention anything, why are you asking?”
“Because I’m not as dumb as you evidently think I am. Remember that incident with you beating on that vending machine while taking out all your sexual frustration? Trust me, I know the feeling, and I know who’s the reason.”
“Do you?”
“Yes.”
“What if I said you’re wrong?”
Caden smiled easily. “You have the prerogative to tell me anything you want. And I have that same prerogative to take what you say with a grain of salt if I choose to do so.”
“Then I plead the fifth.”
Caden threw his head back and laughed. It felt good to be home.
* * *
“And you’re really going out of town with him?”
Shana glanced over at Jules, who’d arrived in town that day. Shana was glad to see her sister, and after catching her up on what was going on with their father, she proceeded to come clean and let her in on what was going on with her, as well. By nature, Jules was curious, which was why she was perfect for what she did. She also had the ability to read a person like a book and knew immediately when someone was lying about something or trying to be evasive. That was one of the reasons Shana had decided not to waste her time doing either.
“Yes.”
For the next few seconds, Jules just stared at her. Finally, Shana had enough and asked what her problem was. Jules’s entire face spread into a smile when she said, “You like being in control. I’ve never known you to relinquish that control to a man.” She saw Shana about to refute what she’d said, so she threw up her hand to stop her.
“No, Shana. Listen to what I’m saying for a second before you get all pissed and flustered. Sometimes letting go of control is a good thing, as long as the man is worthy. Evidently, you think Jace Granger is. I wish I could find a man I thought was so worthy.”
“It’s purely a physical thing, Jules.”
Her sister chuckled. “Hey, I’d take that, too. Like I said, the man would have to be worthy on all accounts.”
Shana sipped her tea as she thought about what 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?”