A Man's Promise
Authors: Brenda Jackson
A man’s word is his bond. His family is his strength. His heart is his own.
Superstar musician Caden Granger has spent years running from love, commitment and family. Yet despite his fame and fortune, he knows the kind of respect and adoration he needs can only come from one person—the very woman who wants nothing to do with him.
Charity volunteer and owner of a wine boutique, Shiloh Timmons finally got her life on track once her relationship with Caden ended, and she’s in no hurry to revisit a romance with the man who believes she left him standing at the altar.
If Caden can’t have Shiloh by his side, all the success in the world will mean nothing. Now he has a chance to renew his promises…but is it too late?
Praise for the novels of Brenda Jackson
“Jackson's series starter proves once again that she rocks when it comes to crafting family drama with a healthy dose of humor and steamy, sweaty sex. Here's another winnerâ¦. Bring on the Granger brothers!”
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RT Book Reviews
on
A Brother's Honor,
4 1/2 stars, Top Pick
“Welcome to another memorable family tree created by the indomitable Brenda Jackson, a romantic at heart.”
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USA TODAY
on
A Brother's Honor
“Readers can't deny that Jackson knows how to bring the heat, and more. Her characters are multidimensional, tantalizing and charming.”
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RT Book Reviews
on
Texas Wild,
4 1/2 stars, Top Pick
“This deliciously sensual romance ramps up the emotional stakes and the action with a bit of deception and corporate espionageâ¦. [S]exy and sizzling.”
â
Library Journal
on
Intimate Seduction
“Jackson does not disappointâ¦first-class page-turner.”
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RT Book Reviews
on
A Silken Thread,
4 1/2 stars, Top Pick
“Jackson is a master at writing.”
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Publishers Weekly
on
Sensual Confessions
Also by Brenda Jackson
The Grangers
A BROTHER'S HONOR
Look for Brenda Jackson's next novel in The Grangers series, available soon from Harlequin MIRA
BRENDA JACKSON
A Man’s Promise
To the love of my life, Gerald Jackson, Sr. My one and only. Always and Forever.
To everyone who enjoyed reading Book 1 of the Granger Series,
A Brother's Honor,
and couldn't wait for Caden Granger's story to be told, this one is for you!
Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
—
Romans
12:17
Contents
Prologue
Fifteen years ago
S
he was going to die....
Sylvia Granger swallowed tightly as she stared into eyes that were as cold as glaciers. She lowered her gaze to the gun pointed at her. Her only chance was to talk her way out of this, at least to buy enough time before her husband, Sheppard, arrived at the boathouse for their meeting. He should be here any minute now. She began talking, pleading, practically begging.
“Please, don't do this. They are playing the two of us against each other. Why can't you see that?”
“Are they?”
“Yes.”
The mocking chuckle made her skin crawl. “Haven't you figured things out by now, Sylvia? There is no one else. I only led you to believe there were others, just to see if you could be trusted. You failed the test.”
Sylvia's mind went into a frenzy.
There's no one else? That can't be true.
But after seeing the look of triumph flaring in the eyes staring at her, she knew it was true. “Butâbut how?”
“I don't owe you any explanation regarding the way I handle my business. You were smart, but not smart enough to betray me.”
“But it wasn't that way at all.” She spoke quickly as fear spread throughout her body, settling deep into her bones.
Another chuckle. “Yes, it was that way. You proved just how deceitful you are. Killing you will be a favor to everyone...especially your husband. He has no idea what you've been up to.”
Sylvia slowly backed up as the gun was cocked. “Please. Don't. You won't get away with this,” she said frantically. “Shep is on his way here. You can't leave without him knowingâ”
The sound of laughter sent a chilling sensation all through her. “I can, and I will, get away with it. I have too many players in place to fail. The stage has been set. I'm the major star, and your services are no longer needed.” The gun was lifted higher and, in an instant, a shot rang out.
Pain ripped through Sylvia's chest, and before she could blink, a second shot followed the first. She crumpled to the floor and took her last breath while gazing up into a pair of dark, evil eyes.
One
Present day
S
hiloh Timmons’s hands trembled as she set down the newspaper she’d just read. Emotions she’d been suppressing for the past four years were reemerging, and she refused to let them get the better of her. Caden Granger would never hurt her again; she would see to it.
Hearing someone clearing their throat, she glanced across the room and saw her brother standing in the doorway of her office. Growing up, Sedrick had been her hero, the big brother every girl needed and deserved. He’d been her protector. Even now, he was trying to protect her...especially since Caden had returned to town.
“It wasn’t Caden, Shiloh,” he said, referring to the newspaper article she’d just read.
“No, but it could have been. Did you read what that article said, Sedrick?”
He shrugged before coming into her office, closing the door behind him. “Didn’t have to. It’s dominated the local news since the story broke a few days ago.”
Shiloh drew in a deep breath. All last week she had been in California, in the heart of Napa Valley, making purchases for the grand-opening celebration of the wine shop she’d opened a few weeks ago. When she’d returned home last night it had been late, and since she wasn’t a television watcher, she hadn’t turned on the set. Instead, she had showered and gone to bed, knowing this would be a busy week at the Wine Cellar Boutique
.
She was gearing up for a party that would put her specialty shop on the map.
She’d been sitting at her desk, about to take her first sip of coffee, but nothing could have prepared her for what she saw in the morning paper. The headlines blared out at her in bold letters: Granger Narrowly Escapes Death.
Literally holding her breath, she read that Jace Granger, Caden’s older brother, had been kidnapped from the parking garage at Granger Aeronautics. He had been just seconds from losing his life when the FBI had located him in the warehouse where he’d been held hostage. Arrests had been made, and the authorities were trying to determine whether there was a possible tie-in between the kidnapping and the reported ongoing trade-secrets investigation at Granger Aeronautics. Of course, the article took the opportunity to remind the readers that Jace’s father, Sheppard Granger, was serving a thirty-year sentence for murdering his wife, Sylvia, fifteen years ago.
Shiloh stood and walked over to the window. If she were to tilt her head back and slant her gaze to the right, she could see the twenty-three-story building of Granger Aeronautics. Had it really been over a month since she had been there, attending the stockholders’ meeting in her mother’s absence? That day she had cast the deciding vote that allowed the three Granger brothers to retain control of their family corporation. Jace and Caden’s younger brother, Dalton, had been friendly to her, but Caden had not spoken one word. And she could not forget the daggered looks he’d given her.
“You need to move on with your life, Shiloh. You tried telling Caden the truth about what happened and—” Sedrick began.
“And he didn’t want to hear anything I had to say.” Shiloh turned around, remembering that night a few weeks ago when she had gone to Sutton Hills, the Granger estates, to tell Caden that she’d recently discovered what her parents—specifically, her father—had done to ruin her life. Her mother was not blameless in the whole sordid business, either, because she’d known what her husband was capable of.
That was the same night Shiloh had moved out of her parents’ home and taken a place in town after giving her mother a scalding earful. Her father would have gotten more of the same had he been alive to hear it. But he had died several months ago, probably thinking he had taken all his secrets to the grave. Nonetheless, there was one secret that hadn’t quite made it. And it had been by pure accident that she had stumbled upon the truth.
She saw Sedrick’s concerned expression. “I have moved on, Sedrick. Honest. However, I haven’t forgiven Mom for the part she played in everything. But, rest assured, Caden means nothing to me anymore.” The same way he had let her know that she no longer meant anything to him. He’d even gone so far as to tell her that he couldn’t stand the sight of her. His words had hurt, destroying her already broken and shattered spirit. The words he had spoken that night had been cruel, brutal and so undeserved. She doubted she would ever forgive him for that.
“I hope one day you’ll find it in your heart to forgive Mom, Shiloh. She needs you more than ever. She’s all alone now in that huge house. I wish you hadn’t moved out.”
She felt Sedrick’s words were unfair. “I don’t see you racing to move back home,” she said curtly.
“Only because I need to be close to the hospital. Surely you understand that.”
Yes, she did understand. After medical school, Sedrick had moved back to Charlottesville, whereas she had remained living in Boston after completing college. She’d returned to Charlottesville only after her mother had pleaded with her to come home seven months ago. At the time, her father was dying of lung cancer. She had been home only a few weeks before he’d passed on.
“You and I both know Mom was a bigger puppet for Dad than we were,” Sedrick said, interrupting her thoughts. “Samuel Timmons expected everyone to obey any orders he dished out. And we did.”
“Not all the time,” Shiloh countered. “When we got older, we began thinking for ourselves,” she said, recalling that time. It was after they had both moved away to go to college that they were finally able to begin to really understand how things were at home.
“I regret the day Mom and Dad forbade us to have any contact with Jace, Caden and Dalton Granger. That was wrong. After their father was sent to prison, they probably needed their friends more than ever. Instead, they were ostracized,” Sedrick said.
Shiloh regretted it, as well. One day, the two families had been close, and then the next, her parents had forbidden her and Sedrick to have anything to do with the Grangers. And all because her parents believed Sheppard Granger had killed his wife. They hadn’t wanted their kids associating with the kids of an accused killer. She remembered Mr. Granger as a nice man and, for the life of her, she couldn’t imagine him killing anyone. And she knew that Caden and his brothers were convinced of their father’s innocence.
“Jace was my best friend growing up, and I lost him,” Sedrick said, interrupting her thoughts. “Did I tell you that he didn’t even recognize me that night he arrived at the hospital after his grandfather had that heart attack?”
Yes, Sedrick had mentioned it, and for him to bring it up again meant that he was bothered by it. Shiloh drew in a deep breath, remembering that Caden had been her best friend growing up. And in later years, after leaving for college, she had defied her father’s orders by seeking out Caden, and they had become lovers.
“Well, since you’re certain you’ve moved on, what about Wallace?”
She lifted a brow. “Who?”
“Wallace Aiken. Another heart specialist who transferred in from a hospital in Maryland. He’s a good guy, and I like him. I introduced the two of you last month when you dropped by the hospital to see me. He’s asked about you several times since. He told me last week that he would like to take you out.”
Shiloh couldn’t remember the man Sedrick was talking about, which meant he hadn’t made a lasting impression on her. But then, very few men had, compared to Caden. But not anymore. “Fine. Fix us up.”
Surprise showed on her brother’s face. “You’re serious?”
She chuckled. “Why not? We can start off by double-dating with you and Cassie.”
Her brother and Cassie Mayfield, a respiratory therapist at the hospital, had begun dating a few years ago. As far as Shiloh was concerned, it was time for Sedrick to put a ring on Cassie’s finger. Samuel Timmons hadn’t liked Cassie, saying she was from the wrong side of the tracks. But he hadn’t been able to tear the couple apart. One of his few failures.
“Great! I’ll talk to Wallace and make all the arrangements,” Sedrick said, smiling. “Is this weekend okay?”
She moved back to her desk to check her calendar. She sucked in a hiss between her teeth. She might have spoken too soon. “That’s a week before grand-opening night, and I’m going to have a lot to do this entire week,” she said, glancing over at her brother.
After seeing the
I figured you would come up with an excuse
look on his face, she quickly added, “But I will make time. It will probably be the last chance I have for some fun before getting really busy at work.”
“Great. And by the way, I’m impressed with how this place is shaping up. I’m glad you’re doing something you enjoy.”
A smile touched Shiloh’s lips. “Thanks, and I do enjoy this, Sedrick. I really do.”