LITMIR.BIZ

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was her father.

      “So, you ready to meet her?” Gavin asked. Trevor snorted a laugh. “You don’t have to make it sound like we’re going to a hanging.”

      His brother sighed. “And you don’t have to turn it into a social event.”

      “It is a social event, man. We’re going to meet our long-lost sister and unless you’re trying to scare her off, you might want to paste a smile on your face.”

      “You smile enough for both of us.”

      “You’re hopeless, you know that, right?” Trevor asked and then, more seriously, said, “She’s probably more upset by all this than we are, Gavin. Maybe you could cut her a little slack?”

      “Fine. Slack for the newcomer. No slack for you.”

      Trevor laughed.

      Grumbling, Gavin fell into step alongside his brother and swung past the hotel’s business center. They walked on to Christian’s office. The man didn’t have a secretary guarding his gate. Instead, he used the employees of the business center to take care of whatever tasks he needed done. Which made dropping in on him even easier.

      After a brisk knock, Gavin opened the door and stepped inside, with Trevor just a pace behind him.

      Looking up from his paperwork, Christian smiled. “She’s not here yet.”

      “Late, huh?” Gavin pointed out.

      “No,” Trevor corrected with a sigh and shake of his head. “We’re early.” Then he walked into the room and dropped into one of the available chairs. Looking at Christian he asked, “So what’s the newest Jarrod like?”

      Christian leaned back in his chair and studied the two men. Gavin was standing off to one side, his arms folded across his chest. Trevor, on the other hand, looked the picture of relaxation. The two of them had offered to come in to meet Erica together and Christian had agreed, hoping Trevor’s presence would be enough to mitigate Gavin’s penchant for aloofness.

      “What’s she like?” he mused, and instantly his mind filled with images of Erica. Her eyes, her mouth, her delicate, but curvy figure and just how much he wanted her. But an instant later, he shut those thoughts down as quickly as he could. Not exactly the description he could give Erica’s brothers.

      “She’s smart. Funny. Strong.” His gaze shifted from Gavin to Trevor and back again. “She’s nervous, as anyone would be, but she’s determined to make this a success.”

      “Why is this so important to her?” Gavin asked. “Hate to admit it, but good question,” Trevor agreed.

      Frowning, Christian said, “You know what your relationship with Don was like. Well, that’s what she had with the man who raised her. From what I can gather, she was cut out of their family business and now that she’s been brought into this one, she’s focused on making it work.”

      “Focused.”

      Christian looked at Gavin. “She knows that you guys aren’t exactly ready to throw her a welcome-to-the-family party. And from what I can gather, she’s used to that kind of behavior from her older brothers.”

      “Well, that’s telling us,” Trevor muttered. “So we can play nice or we can be the bastard brothers she’s accustomed to.”

      “Exactly,” Christian said with a nod. It was important to him that they understand. That they give Erica the chance she deserved. He wasn’t willing to explore why it was important to him, though. Point was, “She’s innocent in this, you know. If you’re pissed that your father had an affair with her mother, be pissed at him.”

      Gavin shifted position uneasily as if he were feeling the stirrings of guilt and didn’t like it a damn bit. “I didn’t say I blamed her for any of this. It’s just a difficult situation. For everyone.”

      “It is,” Erica said softly.

      Christian’s gaze snapped to the doorway and the woman who stood poised, alone, watching them. He stood up and said, “Erica.”

      She spared him a quick smile, but it was gone too soon in Christian’s opinion. What was it about this woman that grabbed at him? Why was he having so much trouble reminding himself that as an employee of Jarrod Ridge, the Jarrod family was off-limits to him?

      Trevor came lazily to his feet and Gavin turned to face their younger sister.

      “I didn’t mean to interrupt,” she was saying as she walked into the room, with her chin tilted defiantly. “But I couldn’t help overhearing. Since I was the topic of conversation anyway, I thought it was as good a time as any to introduce myself.”

      Christian spared brief glances at both of the Jarrod men and he saw Gavin trying to think back and figure out if he’d said anything he should apologize for. While, at the same time, Trevor’s mouth was quirked in an approving smile.

      “Erica,” Christian said, coming around his desk to align himself at her side—both physically and figuratively. “These are your brothers, Gavin and Trevor.”

      She returned Trevor’s smile, then looked at Gavin. They stared at each other for a long minute and Christian could actually feel the tension building in the room. And then suddenly, it was gone as Gavin stepped forward, held out his hand to her and said, “Welcome, Erica.”

      She only hesitated an instant before shaking his hand. “Thank you. I heard you say this was difficult and you’re not wrong. This whole situation has been just as hard on me as it has been on all of you.”

      “You’re right,” Trevor said as he came up to join them. “And whatever you heard before you came in, pay no attention. Everybody’s a little on edge, being back at the Ridge, and that’s bleeding over into everything else.”

      “I appreciate that,” she told him.

      Christian felt that stir of admiration for her again for how well she stood up to brothers who clearly weren’t eager to have her in the family. Whether she was wanted to be here or not, she had a place at the Ridge. Through birth. Through blood. Because Don Jarrod had wanted to bring all of his children home.

      “Once you’re settled in, come and see me,” Trevor was saying. “We’ve got the food and wine gala right around the corner now. Most of the marketing and publicity is already lined up and in play. But there are a few things we can still do to give it that final push.”

      Erica nodded. “I’ve heard about the gala for years, though I’ve never attended. I’m looking forward to being a part of it this year. Last night, Melissa showed me some of what you’d been doing and it’s really fabulous.”

      He grinned, apparently satisfied.

      “But,” she added, “I’ve got a few ideas we might want to try.”

      His eyes narrowed on her thoughtfully, then after a moment, he gave her a grin. “I like confidence, so yeah, I’d like to hear your ideas. Tomorrow work for you?”

      “Tomorrow’s great.”

      Gavin interrupted them. “I know this isn’t easy on you, being here. Being thrown into the middle of something you didn’t even know existed a week ago.”

      “No,” she said, “it’s not.”

      He nodded. “I came in here prepared to not like you,” he admitted and smiled when she stiffened. “But I’ve got a lot of respect for anybody who’s not afraid to stand up for him—or herself.”

      “And I respect anyone who’s trying to protect his family,” Erica told him. “As for standing up for myself, I’ve been doing that my whole life.”

      “I’m getting that,” Gavin said with an approving nod. “I think you just might make a place for yourself here … little sister.”

      Erica gave him a careful smile, pleased but

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