Any Way You Want It (Brand Clan #2)(32)

After he departed, Zandra draped her linen napkin across her lap and smiled at Lena. “So when did you find out you were pregnant?”

Lena grinned. “I just got the results yesterday, but I’ve suspected for the past two weeks now. It was so hard for me not to tell Roderick during our honeymoon, but I wanted to wait until I knew for sure. You should have seen how ecstatic he was. He picked me up and swung me around, and he actually got teary-eyed. Can you believe it?”

Zandra smiled. “I can believe it. Beneath their tough-as-nails exteriors, the Brand brothers are big ol’ softies, every last one of them. So have you and Rod told the family yet?”

“Not everyone. I’ve only told you and my sister, and of course Roderick had to call Remy and tell him.”

Zandra nodded, sipping her water. Remy had traveled to Abu Dhabi to provide security services to a group of Emirati businessmen who’d specifically requested his presence. He’d be gone until Saturday, which should give Zandra enough time to come up with a rational excuse for not setting him up with one of her escorts.

Lena continued, “Roderick wants to share the good news with everyone else at the same time, so we’re taking the family out to dinner this evening. I can’t wait to see their faces, especially my Poppa, Roderick’s mom and Grandma Eleanor.”

Zandra grinned broadly. “They won’t be able to contain themselves.”

“I know,” Lena said with a chuckle. “Every time they mentioned our future children while we were in St. Lucia, I just smiled to myself and kept quiet.” She sighed, gazing out the window at the glistening skyscrapers that bracketed the downtown skyline. “I’m so happy, Zandra. So ridiculously happy. It seems surreal considering the way Roderick and I came together. I know some people would have called me crazy for agreeing to his indecent proposal. Hell, some might have even called me a whore—”

“Stop right there.” Zandra reached across the table, covering Lena’s hand with her own. “I don’t like that word, and I have no tolerance for anyone who uses it to denigrate others. Especially when the name-calling is done by women. You and Roderick are absolutely perfect for each other. Anyone who’d have a problem with your relationship can go f*ck themselves—which they’d probably be too uptight to do anyway.”

Lena laughed, shaking her head at Zandra. “You are a mess.”

“Just sayin’.”

Lena smiled, gently squeezing her hand. “I owe you everything for introducing me to Roderick. If you hadn’t set me up on a date with him, we never would have met. How can I ever repay you?”

“Well,” Zandra said, drawing out the word, “since you were one of my top escorts, you can help me find someone just as great to replace you.”

They both laughed.

Moments later the waiter returned with their meals. He set the plates on the table with an elegant flourish, topped off their sparkling water and asked them if they needed anything else before he glided away.

As they dug into their salads, Lena asked casually, “So what’s going on between you and Remy?”

Heat washed over Zandra’s face. She speared a cherry tomato with her fork, then took her time chewing and swallowing it. “What do you mean?”

Lena gave her an amused look. “I think you know what I mean. Something happened between you two in St. Lucia.”

“What makes you say that?”

“Oh, come on, Zandra. It was so obvious from the way you and Remy were dirty dancing on the beach—which, by the way, was totally hot. The next morning you guys were the last to arrive for breakfast, and then you went out of your way to pretend he didn’t exist for the rest of the trip.” Lena’s eyes glimmered. “Did you think no one noticed? We all did, and we all speculated about it.”

Zandra flushed uncomfortably.

“So what happened?” Lena persisted. “Did you and Remy sleep together?”

Zandra hesitated another moment, then heaved a resigned breath and mumbled, “Let’s just say we did everything but sleep.”

Lena laughed. “I knew it!”

Zandra’s cheeks burned hotter at the memory of Remy’s stamina-defying lovemaking in St. Lucia and at her apartment. “It wasn’t supposed to happen.”

“Says who?”

“Says me.”

“Why?”

Zandra shook her head. “Even if I were interested in a relationship—which I’m not—Remy is the last man I’d choose to become involved with. I know him too well, yet I don’t know him at all, if that makes any sense.”

“Hmm.” Lena pursed her lips. “Could you elaborate?”

Zandra sighed, picking at her salad. “Ever since he was discharged from the navy, he’s been different. Secretive. Don’t get me wrong. I’m no Pollyanna who’s naive about the realities of war. Remy was a SEAL, so I know he must have seen and done things over the years that’d give most people nightmares. But I can only speculate, because he’s never told me very much.”

“For what it’s worth,” Lena said quietly, “I think Roderick is the only one who knows the full story behind Remy’s discharge.”

“I know, and I’m not saying that I expect Remy to confide in me. But that part of him that he keeps locked away...” Zandra trailed off, grimly reflecting on her own demons and the emotional battle scars she bore. “He’s too intense and unpredictable. We’d consume each other if we ever became involved.”