Claiming Her Billion-Dollar Birthright by Maureen Child

us.”
    â€œYou’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?”
    â€œFine. 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.”
    â€œLate, huh?” Gavin pointed out.
    â€œNo,” 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?”
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    Christian leaned back in his chair and studied the two men. Gavin was standing off to one side, his armsfolded 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.
    â€œWhat’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.
    â€œShe’s smart. Funny. Strong.” His gaze shifted from Gavin to Trevor and back again. “She’s nervous, as any one would be, but she’s determined to make this a success.”
    â€œWhy is this so important to her?” Gavin asked.
    â€œHate 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.”
    â€œFocused.”
    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.”
    â€œWell, that’s telling us,” Trevor muttered. “So wecan play nice or we can be the bastard brothers she’s accustomed to.”
    â€œExactly,” 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.”
    â€œIt 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.
    â€œI