Reclaiming His Bride (DiCarlo Brides book 3) (The DiCarlo Brides) Read online

  “Right.” Delphi folded up the glasses and set them on the stack of papers, then shut down the computer. “My brain is fried. Was the pizza any good?”

  “Yeah, it was great. It ended up just being the happy couple, me and Jeremy, though. Everyone else bailed. You should have come.” Maybe then Blake would have let her finish dinner.

  Delphi shook her head. “Too much going on. If Jeremy was there, all the more reason for me to stay away.”

  It was too bad Jeremy had started things off on the wrong foot with Delphi—they actually had quite a lot in common. Lana poked into the cupboards, but wasn’t hungry, so she finally grabbed a bottled water out of the fridge instead and headed for the stairs. “I guess I might as well get some sleep. I have a few more things to take care of before our morning meeting.”

  “You’re such a work-a-holic,” Delphi said as she cleared away her things.

  “And a work-a-holic like yourself would know.” She shared a grin with her half-sister before heading up the open stairway to her room.

  The house had really begun to feel like home since all of George DiCarlo’s daughters—two by his wife, and four others by four other women—had come to live there a few months earlier. Becoming the youngest general manager in history for the DiCarlo hotel chain had been Lana’s goal since she was still in elementary school, and she had worked toward it with single-minded determination since she was a teenager. Getting the shocking news after her father’s death that she had four half-sisters in addition to the one she’d grown up with, had put all of their worlds in a tailspin. She still wasn’t sure how she felt about the new siblings.

  Figuring out her feelings about the revelation and her father were far easier. Lana still thought her father could have found a nicer way to break the news to his daughters than leaving it for the reading of his will. And she couldn’t get over her fury with the way he’d played fast and loose with his marriage to her mom.

  Lana walked past Cami’s door—she was probably staying over at Vince’s tonight—and smiled when she heard the recording of rain sticks that Sage loved so much as she passed that room as well. Finally, she arrived at her own room, all done up in shades of blue with a huge picture of the ocean hanging on one wall.

  Her father had picked it out for her, chosen the color schemes and linens, selected furniture, decorations and the music that each of his daughters loved when he set up their rooms in Colorado. She supposed it was intended as an apology for everything he thrust upon them. Very few of the sisters had been happy when he virtually forced them to open up the newest hotel in the DiCarlo chain, and to cohabit ‘unless they were living with their husbands’ a phrase that had been placed there specifically for her, though the others didn’t know it.

  She was the only one with a husband—at least at the moment, though Cami’s wedding date had been set and things between Joel and Sage were getting interesting.

  After lining up her shoes in the bottom of the closet beside the others, she changed from her day clothes to a pair of pajamas and settled into bed.

  Tonight, after her run in with Blake, she wished she could speak to her dad and ask him what he was thinking. Instead, she pulled out the first letter he left for her.

  Dear Lantana,

  I know this must all be a major shock for you, though unlike Cami, you at least knew about my less-admirable tendencies. I know you’ll be an amazing general manager, and that you’re ready for it. You’ve been walking in my footsteps for all of your life in so many ways. You should be proud of your accomplishments—I certainly am.

  None of your half-sisters knew about the others. You’re all going to have a lot of adjusting to do as you get to know one another, but I know that if you can pull together, the six of you will accomplish something amazing. Sage will accept things, because fate is a real, living, breathing entity for her, but the rest of them are going to struggle with this news as much as you will, maybe more. They’re going to need a sure hand to guide them and bind them as a group. That’s you—just so you know. You’re the key to making everything work.

  But hey, no pressure.

  If you’re reading this, you’ve already heard the terms of the will, which means you know that I’m aware of your marriage to Blake. He’s a good man, sweetheart, devoted to you. I’m not telling you how to live, but don’t let your anger toward me stop you from finding happiness and a home of your own.

  Never doubt that I loved your mother, whatever else happened in my life. It wasn’t the kind of all-consuming love you read about in novels, but it was sweet and comfortable. It worked for us, but it wouldn’t work for you—if Blake gives you the fire and warmth that you crave, don’t let him get away. And if you find upon reflection that what you have really is only warm and comfortable, have the strength to let him go. If he’ll let you.

  I love you with everything I have.

  Dad

  It wasn’t long enough to say everything she wished to know—didn’t explain how he could love her mother so much, but constantly step out on her with other women. It didn’t explain how he could juggle his job, wife and six daughters sprinkled across the continent, and still find time for more affairs—but she knew from experience that he managed it.

  Had her mother always known about the other women and looked the other way? Remembering the grateful way she’d treated George as he doted on her in the months before her death, Lana couldn’t believe her mother hadn’t known.

  He was such a hateful jerk, and though she longed to rip up the letter and throw it away, to give his headstone a good, hard kick, and to damn him for not deserving her erstwhile hero worship, she folded the note and put it away instead.

  She missed him every day.

  She flipped off the light and slid down under the covers. Throwing a tantrum wouldn’t solve anything. And tomorrow was sure to be a long day.

  The executive meeting was about to wrap up when Harrison, the director of HR, spoke up. “Housekeeping has requested we put in an ad for a couple more people. Two of their maids quit yesterday.”

  Lana held back a sigh. “What was it this time? Did they say why? I can’t believe the trouble we’re having keeping employees.” Considering the number they had working in the hotel, they were having to bring them in from farther and farther away.

  Harrison grimaced and feathered his dark hair back from his face. “Something about spooky sounds in room 228. They believed it was the ghost warning them away.”

  More ghostly visitors? Yeah, right. “The building is settling, I’m sure that’s all it is.”

  Sage spoke up, “I know none of you believe in ghosts, but did it occur to you that all of the problems are happening in the middle of that hallway? On different floors, yeah, but all of them directly above the area where Manuel was supposed to have died.”

  Lana bit her lip as she tried to come up with a tactful response. Sage was a sweetheart who had been through a nightmare over the past year, and the only believer in such mysterious happenings of the group. She looked at Harrison, Sage’s half-brother from their mother and noticed the frown on his face. She knew from talking to him earlier that he believed in her precognition, but he didn’t seem to buy into the ghost business more than anyone else in the group.

  Rosemary—always frank about her opinions—spoke first. “Come on, Sage. You can’t honestly expect us to believe there’s a ghost haunting that spot. It’s ridiculous. And it’s bad for business. I think engineering just needs to take a look at the room. There’s probably a squeak in the bathroom fan or something.”

  Sage’s mouth tightened, and Joel, her ever-present supporter—who didn’t believe in ghosts any more than the rest of them—gave her hand a squeeze. “I’ll talk to Dirk. We’ll take a look and see what we can figure out.” It was as tactful as any of them would manage.

  Lana just wanted it all to end so they could focus on the other problems—hopefully ones with less mystical causes. “Good. I’m sure you can find the problem if it’s of the u
sual variety. Anything else?”

  Blake got up from the meeting at corporate headquarters and headed for the refreshment table to get a soda before stepping into the hallway to stretch his legs. He looked at his watch and calculated the time difference. His mom should be home now. Pulling out his cell phone, he headed for a quiet corner out of the flow of traffic and dialed.

  “Hi, Mother,” he said when she picked up on the other end. “Happy birthday.”

  “Hello, Blake. Thank you for calling. I sure wish you were here.”

  “I know. I wish I could be, too. How are things going?” He pasted on a smile so his voice would sound chipper, even if he didn’t feel it. It had already been a long day of meetings and there were a couple more hours to go. Being so close to Lana and not being able to be with her only made things worse.

  “Fine, fine. Donald got here last night” she said of his younger brother, “so we’ve had the nicest time talking and laughing. It’s really too bad of you not to come earlier. You know how I count on everyone being here for my birthday.”

  “Yes, I’m sorry, Mother.” He’d explained about his meetings several times already and since his father often had similar meetings for his own company, it wasn’t like she didn’t understand. Or maybe she understood when it wasn’t him. “I couldn’t get out of this meeting. Corporate needed the report on how the first month went for the new resort. I’ll be in late tonight and spend the weekend though. Your big birthday bash is tomorrow, so I’ll be able to celebrate with you then.”

  Blake glanced over when Lana passed him, an empathetic expression on her face. She was well aware of the way his family twisted him up in knots.

  “Well, I know you say it’s important, but I just don’t understand how you couldn’t have gotten out of it, just this once.” Juliette let out a ladylike huff of air—because everything his Atlanta-belle mother did was ladylike—and continued on. “But at least your brother didn’t disappoint me. And I’ll see you tomorrow. Please travel safely. I just hate knowing any of you is in one of those terrible planes.”

  “Yes, I’ll be careful.” He felt the muscles in his back tightening as if someone had a crank and was twisting them more with every minute. It wasn’t as if she didn’t fly on a regular basis. “It’ll be late by the time my plane gets in and I reach the house. I promise to be quiet so you can sleep, but I’ll see you first thing in the morning.”

  “Well, that will be fine. I suppose. I’ll see you then, Trixie is calling.” She hung up to respond to her daughter-in-law.

  Blake slid his cell phone into his pocket and rubbed the back of his neck. He couldn’t win with his family. It didn’t seem to matter what he did.

  “Tough call?” Alex asked from behind him.

  “Yeah. My mother’s always had high expectations.” Blake smiled at the corporate attorney who had handled Lana’s father’s estate. “How are things going around here?”

  “Fine. A little nuts, as always. I’ll be back in Juniper Ridge in a couple of weeks to check on everything.” He glanced across to the door where Lana spoke with one of the other hotel managers. “How about your little problem? Any headway there?”

  Blake pressed his lips together to hold back a sigh. “I thought I’d made some inroads, but then... She’s not making little digs at me anymore, but we’re not really doing better either. I just don’t know what else to do.”

  “Be patient. George thought you could make things work. He seemed to know everything else about his daughters, so that shouldn’t be a huge mistake.” Alex looked at his cousin. “Lana is very stubborn and very hurt, and your relationship is not the only thing causing her emotional turmoil at the moment. If there’s any chance for the two of you to get together again, you’ll make it happen. You’re in the perfect position.”

  “To either make it work or tear it apart, you mean.” Blake grimaced. “It’s discouraging.”

  “Yeah. Women are an awful lot of fun and hassle mixed together, aren’t they?” Alex grinned at him “But they’re worth it. Lana’s worth it. Just be patient.”

  Blake watched his wife interact with the others and longed to be by her side. “I’m trying.”

  “Now, about your friendly neighborhood ghost,” Alex changed the subject.

  “There’s a story for you. I wish we were closer on that one.” They turned toward the boardroom as people started moving back to the table. Blake wasn’t sure if Alex was right, but as Lana’s cousin, he’d known her longer than Blake had, so he’d have to listen to his advice for now, and hope he could make it turn out right.

  Lana’s stomach turned as she smelled the breakfast set out on the counter. Instead of making her usual coffee, she moved toward the loose dried mint leaves Sage kept on hand for tea. Though she was tired and could have used the caffeine fix, her stomach needed soothing. Again.

  She wondered if she was getting an ulcer. Though she was grateful to be free of the media mess that had plagued them in the months leading up to the hotel’s opening, things weren’t exactly smooth right now either. Managing a hotel was way more than a full-time job. And that didn’t take into account the stress of working with Blake almost every day.

  “Is it your day off?” she asked Rosemary when she saw her sitting at the island with a banana and cup of coffee.

  “Yeah. I thought I was going to sleep in, but my body is set for early rising,” Rosemary grumbled into her coffee mug. “We’re not totally booked today, though, so I figured it was the safest one to take off.” She eyed Lana. “Tea again? I don’t know how you’re managing without your caffeine fix.” She pushed her long, blonde braid over one shoulder.

  “I’ll have some at work. Right now I want something else.” She grabbed another banana and decided she’d order up some eggs in an hour or two if her stomach calmed down.

  “You look kind of pale. Are you sure you feel okay?” Rosemary set down her mug and studied Lana, who turned away. “You haven’t been yourself lately.”

  “I’m fine. I probably stayed up working too late. I’ll come home early today if I’m tired and take a nap.” At least she would claim that was the plan, even though she wouldn’t do it. She glanced at the clock and grabbed her breakfast. “I’m going to be late. I have to make my rounds before the meeting.”

  “Better you than me.” Rosemary returned to her coffee, but her blue eyes studied Lana over the rim.

  Lana hurried out before Rosemary could make any other observations. She was fine. She would be fine. Except this was the fourth time in the past week that she’d felt sick in the morning. She let the door between the house and the garage slap shut behind her and froze. She’d felt dizzy a few times in the afternoon as well. She tried to remember the last time she’d had her cycle and all of the breath whooshed from her body. It wasn’t possible. The timing had been all wrong.

  She nearly dropped her tea on the garage floor before she recovered enough to walk shakily to her car and put her things inside, then slumped into the driver’s seat. The hotel had been open six weeks. That meant she should have had two cycles, but she couldn’t remember having one at all since then. Since the night she’d drunk a little too much. Tipsy and needy, she’d turned to Blake and spent the night in her husband’s arms.

  Certainty flooded her and she felt tears rise to the surface. She was trying to get a divorce. How could she be pregnant now? She hit the steering wheel with her fist, then sucked in a breath, centering herself. She’d go somewhere that afternoon and get a pregnancy test. Somewhere far away where no one knew her. Until then, she had to pull it together. She had a hotel to run.

  Lana pushed the button to raise the garage door and pulled out to the street. No reason to worry until she had proof.

  Except she didn’t need proof. She was already sure.

  What was she going to do?

  Lana had never been so grateful to have Blake in California checking on some of the other hotels. Of all the days she needed him to be gone—this one took top prize. There was no way
he wouldn’t be able to tell she was distracted—and he wasn’t the type to give up if he wanted to know something.

  She forced a smile and pleasant attitude through her morning meetings, chatting with guests and employees as she made her rounds and checked on everything in the hotel. She waved to Joel—head of security, and her half-sister Sage’s boyfriend—and to Vince when she saw him outside winterizing the grounds. He would marry Cami in a couple of months and she couldn’t be happier for them.

  Except she really wished this pregnancy were Cami’s problem—she was going into a marriage, not trying to get out of one. A marriage none of the other sisters even knew about, and she was sure if any of them had figured it out, they would have said something to her. Though she couldn’t possibly show yet, she touched her stomach as she finished walking her usual loop of the grounds, checking out what Vince and his crew had been working on, and noting a couple of things for the engineering department to look at. She depressed the button on the nearly invisible lapel radio set she wore and contacted Dirk to let him know before she got distracted by everything else on her mind.

  She had no idea what Blake would do when he found out about the baby. Tell everyone they were married? Sue for custody? Insist even more that she give it another shot? Walk away?

  No, that one she was sure of, they had talked about kids—someday down the road. They’d both wanted them, but not like this. Not now. Tears rose again, but she blinked them back, refusing to let them fall. She was the boss, she had to be strong—not fall apart where her employees could see her.

  She finished the rounds of the property and headed for her car. Time to find out for sure.

  Lana stood in the drug store aisle debating the merits of the various home pregnancy tests on display for only a few seconds. The last thing she wanted was for someone to find her there and figure out she was pregnant. Wouldn’t the press love that story? She snatched one off of the shelves that promised an answer in less than three minutes and headed for the cash register.