Jace snorted. “Instead of friends, maybe the two of you should have remained employee and employer.”
Dalton smiled. “Oh, like you and Shana? And please don’t tell me your situation with Shana was different, because it wasn’t. Especially not when she’s starting to walk around with a big stomach.”
He knew his statement had been a stark reminder to his oldest brother of just what he and his now-wife had been doing months ago, probably during working hours in addition to those nighttime hours. Sounded like the teapot was calling the kettle black.
“Never mind him, Jace,” Caden piped up. “Just tell him about the key.”
Following Caden’s advice, Jace said, “The key Brandy used to get into your office was Mom’s.”
Dalton lifted a brow. “Mom’s key?”
“Yes.”
“How did she get Mom’s key?”
Caden sighed deeply. “That’s a good question, one that we’re trying to figure out.”
At the sound of the buzzer on Jace’s desk, he pushed the button and said, “Yes, Christine?”
“Mrs. Shiloh Granger is here to see Mr. Caden Granger. Should I have her wait in his office?”
Dalton watched a huge smile spread across Caden’s face. “No, you can send her in here,” Caden answered for Jace. Then to Dalton and Jace he said, “We have a lunch date. She’s early.”
“Then she should wait it out in your office,” Dalton said, deciding to rib his brother. He’d pissed Jace off, so he might as well get Caden, too.
“Go to hell, Dalton,” Caden said.
Dalton couldn’t help but laugh. His brothers were so effing protective of their women. He was glad he wasn’t involved like that. His mind drifted to Jules. He would admit he’d been possessive of her, which was so unlike him. That had been proven last week, especially on those days when they had gone out on the beach and she’d worn probably the skimpiest bikini she could find. Men stared, and the women gave her hateful looks for grabbing their men’s attention. He’d been giving the men brooding looks for even glancing at Jules, but what man in his right mind would not have? However, that was then. He was back on familiar ground, and the only thought he was having of Jules was just how good she’d been in the bedroom. Now that she was out of his system, it was out of sight, out of mind. He was over his obsession with her.
He and his brothers stood when the door opened and Shiloh Timmons Granger walked in. Dalton would admit she was a beautiful woman. But Caden had fallen for the woman when the two of them were kids, wearing braces, climbing trees and doing all those things kids do on Sutton Hills. Both families had known the two were destined to get together when they were older, and it had been okay with everyone until Sheppard was sent to prison for killing Sylvia Granger. Then the Timmonses had forbidden Shiloh and her older brother, Sedrick—who had been Jace’s best friend at the time—to have anything to do with the Granger children. They hadn’t wanted Shiloh and Sedrick to associate with the offspring of a criminal. That hadn’t bothered Dalton one iota, but it had bothered Caden and Jace because they’d lost their best friends. Shiloh’s bastard of a father, Samuel Timmons, had been a holy terror, threatening her over the years with what would happen if she and Caden ever reconnected. And he probably made the same threats to Sedrick. Their mother, Sandra Timmons, had been a weakling, just like her children, doing anything Samuel had said. But Dalton would at least give Shiloh credit for taking a stand against her father and seeking Caden out when they got older.
“Sorry I’m early. I didn’t mean to disturb the meeting,” Shiloh said, smiling brightly.
“No problem, baby, we were through, anyway.”