Reclaiming His Bride (DiCarlo Brides book 3) (The DiCarlo Brides) Read Online Free Page A

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.
    “Ms. DiCarlo, it’s good to see you. How are things going at the resort?”
    Lana turned to see Alanna Jenkins, reporter for the Chronicle, the local newspaper. She held the hand of a little girl with dark hair. Of course she would run into a reporter here. At least it was just a small press—but the gossip rags would salivate over a story like this. “Hello. How are you doing today? I haven’t seen much of you lately,” Lana greeted her.
    “Is that an invitation?” Alanna’s smile broadened. “There hasn’t been much for me to report here since your gala opening. I hear rumors about ghost activity at your place, though.” Her voice was light, but her eyes indicated she was fishing.
    “You can’t do anything about old crackpots who like to tell tall tales, can you?” Lana forced a light chuckle and wished Cami had been the one to field that. She was so much better with people. “I hardly think old ghost stories are worth your time.”
    “True enough. Let me know if it turns into more than that?” Alanna’s eyes slipped to Lana’s hand, and the way her brows lifted ever-so-slightly made it clear she’d noticed what was in the box. “Until then, we’ll let rumors blow themselves out.” She flashed a friendly smile.
    Lana felt her face grow hot, but hoped it wasn’t as bad as she thought. Alanna had been all news and zero sensationalism on her articles regarding the resort in the past, keeping back bits that were salacious, but not worthy of a serious news source. She hoped the woman didn’t change her mind about