A Brother's Honor (19 page)

Shana bit her bottom lip, thinking time was winding down. If she planned to walk away, she needed to have other crisis management companies that she could recommend to Granger Aeronautics. But a part of her didn’t want to do that. Granger was a puzzle that she wanted to figure out. Why did Jace have to be difficult? Why couldn’t he just promise to keep his hands and mouth to himself and make sure what had happened Friday night didn’t happen again?

Moving to the living room, she grabbed the remote off the table and was about to settle down on the sofa when she heard the doorbell. Thinking it was Gloria, she moved to the door. She stopped dead in her tracks when she looked through the decorative glass in her front door and saw it wasn’t Gloria.

It was Jace Granger.

What was he doing here? She wasn’t aware he had her home address. Gritting her teeth, she opened the door, ignoring the afternoon sunlight spilling on him that made him look even sexier in his jeans and shirt. “Jace, what are you doing here?”

He placed his hands in his pockets. “I’d like to talk to you. I’m hoping you can spare me a few minutes.”

She was about to tell him that no, she didn’t have a few minutes to spare, when she thought better of it. Maybe they should talk today when they were both in control and she wasn’t glowing from the aftereffects of the best sex she’d ever had in her life.

“All right, come in.”

She backed up and he followed, closing the door behind him.

Chapter Nineteen

S
he led him through the foyer and into her living room. He quickly glanced around, admiring her decor. The bright, bold colors would have clashed in any other woman’s place, but they suited her. The room was spacious and lived-in. Not untidy, but it felt like somewhere you could get comfortable without being told to get your feet off the table or not to slouch on the couch. The huge rug in front of her fireplace would be perfect to lie down on and chill.

He really liked her sofa. It was big and fluffy-looking and had huge pillows you could get lost in. It faced a big-screen television, around sixty-inches he guessed, and he could imagine watching the Super Bowl on it with a beer in his hand. And then there was a brick fireplace, bigger than most, and he could see it emitting enough heat to warm the entire home.

His gaze traveled to the huge portrait hanging on one of her walls. It was one of her, another female and an older man. It wasn’t hard to guess it was a family portrait of her, her sister and her father. The three resembled each other, particularly around the nose and mouth.

He turned to her, saw her brooding expression and decided to ignore it for the time being. “Nice place, Shana.”

“Thanks,” she said, settling into one of the deep cushions on her sofa. “But thanks to you, I’ve broken another rule. Clients are not invited to my home.”

“I wasn’t invited.” Nor had she offered him a seat, so he continued to stand.

She stared up at him. “No, you weren’t invited, so why are you here? And how did you know where I live?”

He returned her stare and wished he didn’t have flashes of how she’d looked spread out on her desk—eyes dilated, cheeks flushed, lips damp and a womanly scent that had the ability to bring a man to his knees. That image had burned itself into his brain and wouldn’t go away.

Even now, she looked damn good in denim shorts that complemented the curvaceous swell of her hips and a tank top that fit perfectly over firm breasts. This was the first time he had seen her wearing anything other than a business suit, and she looked just as beautiful. She also looked good wearing nothing at all, which is how his mind was fixed on remembering her. At that moment, although he wished otherwise, physical desire was shooting through him from all angles.

Shana suddenly broke eye contact with him, and he knew why. There was no denying the sexual chemistry blatantly stirring the air between them.

“Look, Jace,” she said, easing to her feet. “I really don’t care how you found out where I live, but I think you should leave.”

He drew in a deep breath and took a step back. He should leave as she suggested, but first he had to make his case. “Are you going to let this attraction between us stop you from doing the right thing with Granger, Shana?”

“Are you?” she fired back.

Jace swore under his breath, and for the next few moments said nothing. Then when he was sure he had himself together, he said with staid calm, “That day I met you at Vannon’s, you were with me all the way, and you understood what needed to be done at Granger. And I know you’ve come across things in those reports that you’re questioning, because I sure am. Now is not the time for you to walk away because we can’t put a lid on this sexual chemistry between us, Shana.”

“For all you know, I could already be involved with someone,” she snapped.

A muscle ticked in his jaw. “Are you?”

Shana thought she could easily lie to him but decided to be evasive instead. “What do you think?”

His burning eyes kept locked to hers. “I don’t think you would have done what you did with me if you were involved with someone else. I have no reason to question your character.”

She was glad to hear that. “No, I’m not involved with anyone and haven’t been seriously for about two years now.” She paused a moment and then asked, “So what do you suggest we do about this attraction? Pretend it doesn’t exist? We tried it, and that didn’t work, Jace.” She drew in a frustrated breath. “I let you take me on a desk, damn it.”

Shana’s saying it made more images flash through Jace’s mind, and from the look in her eyes, those same images had flashed through hers, as well. “Can I ask you something?”

“What?” Shana was trying not to be angry at him, because what had happened Friday was just as much her fault as it was his. He hadn’t forced her into doing what she did.

“If things were different and we’d met under normal circumstances, would you be fighting this thing between us?”

She weighed his question and gave him an honest answer. “No.”

“Then why are you doing so now?”

A frown settled on her features. “Because you are my client and my rule is not to—”

“I know your rule,” he interrupted to say. “And I respect it. But considering everything, I think you need to reconsider and make us an exception.”

“Why?”

“Because I want you, and I believe that you want me. And there’s no reason not to explore what’s there.”

Shana shook her head. He’d said it like that should settle it and there shouldn’t be any discussion on the matter. Now was her chance to deny what he’d said, but she couldn’t. “You had me, Jace, and I had you,” she said in frustration.

“Yes, and if you thought what we did in your office would be the end of it, then we wouldn’t be having this discussion. But we both know it’s not. If anything, I want you more than ever.”

And heaven help her, she wanted him just as much. What was there about Jace Granger that had her juices flowing? And why did she constantly think of making love to him again...and again? The attraction between them was too amazing and way too downright powerful. She’d never come across anything like this before in her life. She’d been attracted to Jonathan from the first, but nothing like this. It had been months before he’d gotten as close to her as Jace had in four weeks, and nothing had been as spontaneous as her ripping her clothes off and making out in a professional setting.

Shana eased back down on the sofa, feeling as if her back was against the wall. “You could end this by promising to—”

“I told you I can’t, Shana. I would be giving you my word with no intention of keeping it.”

She held his gaze for a moment and then asked stubbornly, “Would it be so hard, Jace?”

“It would be impossible, Shana.”

Silence settled between them for a long moment, and then Shana broke it by saying, “So, I’ll ask again. Other than my ending my contract and walking away, what do you suggest? I assume you’re here because you have an idea that you want me to consider.”

He was glad they were moving from avoidance to acceptance and could now work on a solution. “You might not like my suggestion, Shana, but I think it will work.”

“What is it?”

“I suggest we become involved.”

He was right...she didn’t like it. “Are you out of your mind?”

Jace shrugged his massive shoulders. “That’s the only alternative we have.”

“No,” she said in a firmer tone. “My professional role at Granger would be jeopardized and no longer effective, especially if your employees get wind of it. I can just hear all the whispering behind our backs. We need to retain our business relationship in front of everyone.”

“I agree, which is why I propose to keep the involvement between us. No one has to know, since there’s no reason to flaunt it. What we do during our off time is our business. While in the office, we’ll concentrate on the business at hand. Granger Aeronautics. But after hours, we can do just what we please.”

Her eyes shot up in surprise. “You want to engage in a secret affair?”

“No, that’s not what I want. But because of your rule, which you refuse to break, if we want to be together, we don’t have a choice.”

No, they didn’t...if they wanted to be together. He was speaking as if it was a foregone conclusion that they did. He didn’t know her, not really, yet he had the ability to read her so well, and she wasn’t sure just how she felt about that. She and Jonathan had been together for almost eight months before she found out the truth about him. She wished she’d read his motives in pursuing her. It would have saved her a lot of heartache.

She stood and began pacing, considering what Jace had suggested. It would be so unlike her to consider doing such a thing, engaging in a secret affair with a man. Definitely a novelty. But already she’d done the far-fetched with him. Something that was so unlike her. And what was most surprising was that she had totally enjoyed it. Didn’t have an ounce of remorse in any bone in her body when God knows she probably should.

Besides, his suggestion wasn’t far from what she had questioned Gloria about last night. Eric and Gloria had resolved that if that was the only way they could be together, then they were willing to meet in secret. It had been almost two years now, and their hidden affair didn’t seem to bother either of them. And Shana would be lying to herself if she didn’t admit that such an idea had crossed her own mind.

She stopped and turned to Jace. He was watching her, and a part of her resented that he’d had the courage to suggest such a thing to her when she would never have done so with him.

“It’s not my fault that you’re such a beautiful woman, Shana,” he said.

She didn’t want his compliment, but that didn’t stop her breath from catching in her throat. “It’s not about you and me, Jace. It’s about Granger Aeronautics and figuring out just who’s trying to destroy it.”

While she was saying those words, she knew it went beyond that. She was asking him to control emotions when she doubted she could control herself. And it was hard, almost too difficult, not to consider what he was suggesting when he was standing in front of her looking so breathtakingly handsome. Jace Granger had that air about him, one that could set any female’s sensual side rocketing and her pulse leaping.

Even now, her heart was beating hard and her nipples were throbbing. And when he lowered his gaze from her eyes to the front of her shirt, she knew he was well aware that her breasts were taut and aroused. She could feel their fullness and a tingling sensation in the engorged tips.

“I’ll let you know my decision in a week,” she said, moving around him toward the door to let him out. She needed to get him out of there. They were like a ticking time bomb, about to explode from all the sexual chemistry in the air.

Jace reached out and snagged Shana’s hand. As far as he was concerned, she could make her decision right here and now. He doubted he could endure another sleepless night. He’d expected her to snatch her hand back, but she didn’t. Instead, she met his gaze. “Why are you doing this to me?” she asked in a frustrated tone.

“And why are you doing this to me?” he countered. “Do you think I was looking for this? Or that I wanted it? Your mind isn’t the only one that should be focused.”

“Then maybe it will be best if I end our business association,” she said in annoyance.

“No, it wouldn’t be best, because I still wouldn’t be able to focus even if you weren’t there. I would still be able to breathe in your scent, and sensual visions of you would still play around in my head. I’ve never been unable to resist a woman, Shana, but you’re a temptation I can’t seem to shake. I’ve never wanted a woman as deeply as I want you.”

Oh, God. Why would he say something like that? And why did hearing him say it give her so much pleasure? Arouse her even more? And his hand on hers was causing an onslaught of sensations to erupt within her which were magnified by the intense look in his eyes.

And then silently, softly, his hand began moving, slowly up and down her arm, feathering her flesh and causing shivers to discharge within her. Suddenly, her breaths began coming in shallow gasps while an intense need settled deep between her legs.

She’d never been shy when it came to going after what she wanted, so why was she hesitating now? He had made it clear that he wanted her, and maybe it was time she made it clear she did want him, as well. They could work out specifics about how they intended to handle their unorthodox, intense attraction later.

“Okay, I’ll give you my decision now,” she said, easing closer to him.

“What is it?” he asked as his breath rushed from his lungs.

“What do you think?” she responded, lifting the hand that held hers to her lips and pressing a kiss in his palm. And then she began kissing her way up his arm. Jace drew in a deep breath when he felt her damp tongue make a circular motion near his shoulder. Blood began pumping through his body at an alarming rate of speed.

“Shana?” he murmured, barely able to get her name past his lips.

She tilted her head to look up at him while her fingers stroked his upper arm in a sensual motion. “Yes?”

“Give me your answer.”

He watched as a thoughtful smile eased onto her lips. And then she leaned up and kissed him lightly on the cheek. Her breath was hot and close to his neck. “My answer is whatever you want it to be. I feel easy today. How do you feel?”

His mouth broke into a sensuous smile. He couldn’t help it. She had just opened the door to many opportunities, and he was ready for them all. “I feel like touching you all over, kissing you, stroking you and tasting every single spot on your body,” he said huskily, moving closer to her.

Shana’s reaction to his words was instantaneous. A tremulous smile spread across her lips at the feel of her body responding to primitive desire. She slowly began backing up to the stairs. When she reached the first step, she stopped and said, “I know what you can do with me spread out on a desk. Now let me see what you can do with me in a bed.”

She turned and moved up the stairs, taking her time with her hips swaying with every step.