The #1 Bestsellers Collection 2011(178)

Thank God Adam quickly grabbed and pinned both of Parker’s wrists behind his back before her oldest brother could make a furtive move to take advantage of Jordan’s distraction.

Anna rushed past a toppled chair to stand beside Brooke, sliding an arm around her shoulders. “Parker, put a lid on it. You’re upsetting your sister and that can’t be good for her in her condition.” She rested a hand on her own slight baby bump. “Or my condition, either, for that matter. Can’t you see Brooke’s swaying on her feet?”

Brooke winced. She hated sounding like a wimp, but it did seem to take the wind out of the sails for both men. Parker eyed Jordan warily while Jordan strode back to her side.

“Do you feel all right?”

Not really, but the last thing she wanted was to launch another argument of people blaming each other for upsetting the pregnant women.

Brooke chose her words carefully. “I’m upset. Who wouldn’t be? I didn’t expect that everyone would do a happy dance, but I expected civility.”

Anna stared down her husband.

Parker grimaced. “Damn. Sorry, Brooke. The last thing I want is to do anything that would harm you or your baby. You’re my sister, kid, I just …” He shook his head as if to clear away the fog of rage. “I just didn’t think.”

She noticed he hadn’t apologized to Jordan, but she figured it was best to leave that one alone for now. At least they weren’t hitting each other anymore.

“Lissette,” Anna, the ever-efficient, called, taking charge, “the dinner table is out of commission for tonight. So I believe we’ll all have a light supper out on the veranda. It’s a lovely temperate evening. Have the cook bring us something simple, whatever she can put together quickly.”

Brooke could hear the implied part of quick, meaning they wouldn’t have to endure this horrible gathering much longer.

Anna hooked her arm through Brooke’s and ushered her toward the door. “Let’s find a lounger where you can put those feet up.”

“That obvious they’re swollen, huh?”

Bonita joined alongside them with an unsteady gait. “You should quit trying to squeeze your feet into those heels. When I was carrying you and Brittany, my ankles swelled up like balloons. You girls caused me trouble from the first trimester and haven’t stopped since.” She tossed back the last of her drink, extending it for someone to refill.

Brooke wondered if she could borrow some armor to wear around her mother. Or earplugs. How come everyone else seemed able to ignore the comments except her?

Luckily, Lissette was otherwise occupied which sent a frowning Bonita off hunting for her own damn refill. Hopefully, the decanters would be empty.

Brooke swung wide the double doors to the veranda. A gust of fresh night air caressed over her with a much-needed cleansing freshness. She turned to speak to Jordan—only to find he’d stayed behind with Parker.

They weren’t throwing punches, but their intense expressions showed their words were equally as powerful. Just her luck, the high ceilings bounced echoes around like racquetballs. Every word of their exchange pummeled her.

Parker stuffed his hands in his pockets. “I always knew you were ruthless, but I never suspected you would sink so low as to deliberately knock up my sister to secure a piece of the Garrison pie.”

She heard Jordan deny it. Heard him tell Parker what an ass he was and how Emilio already owned a piece of Garrison Incorporated. Besides, Jefferies Enterprises could take on Garrison just fine on its own.

Brooke heard it all. Yet still, after a lifetime of growing up in a family that didn’t know the meaning of enough power, she couldn’t help but wonder if Parker was right.





Four


Standing behind Brooke outside her condo door after the family dinner from hell, Jordan worked his jaw side to side. Parker Garrison packed a mean right hook. Not that Jordan planned on admitting it.

At least he’d given as good as he’d taken. And he had to confess, after so many years of contention between them, it had felt damn great to let loose on the guy.

Except then he’d looked up and seen Brooke’s pale face.

Jordan hadn’t realized until then how emotional the cool beauty could be. The family’s disapproval really had her worried. He would have taken them all on if he hadn’t seen how fast they backed off once they, too, noticed how the confrontation upset her.

Well, everyone except their sloshed mother.

He hadn’t been predicting a red carpet reception, but he’d expected basic courtesy, more like what they’d settled into afterward during the cool—brief—dinner on the veranda.

Jordan reached to touch Brooke’s shoulder just as she opened the door and stepped into her condo. Closing the door behind him, he sealed them both in the sleek silver and pink luxury of her home. What a strange time to realize that while he’d viewed every inch of her luscious naked body, he’d never seen where she lived. Now he realized she had been keeping a part of herself from him by insisting they always meet at his place.