Captivated by Love (Grangers Book 1)

by Brenda Jackson

  #

  Sheppard couldn’t sleep. He just couldn’t get that kiss out of his mind. It was the first time he’d kissed a woman in more than ten years and he’d enjoyed it. Too much. He’d reached the point where he hadn’t wanted to stop and probably could have gone even longer if she hadn’t needed to come up for air.

  He’d heard from Ambrose that Carson had returned to Delvers that evening to deliver some good news to Craig Long. A judge had overturned his conviction and Craig would be leaving Delvers soon. Sheppard was happy for the young man and was glad about Carson’s victory.

  Everything about her had broken down his resolve today and that kiss had basically been the turning point. He’d tried to get her to see that there could not be anything between them. Why start something they couldn’t finish? Carson was more than a steal-a-kiss-every-now-and-then-woman. She deserved more. She deserved to have a man sleeping beside her each night. A man who could hold her whenever she needed to be held. A man who could take her out to dinner then out for a night out on the town. A man who could do things with her every weekend.

  As much as he wished otherwise, he was not that man. There were too many minuses. Too few pluses. He no longer wore tailor made suits. His most popular outfit only came in the color orange and with one design. He couldn’t sleep with her, share a meal with her or take her any place outside these barricaded walls. So why was he letting her get to him in a way no other women ever had? Why was he already counting the days when he would see her again? And why was he allowing her to create a need inside of him that could never be quenched?

  As a businessman, he knew the pitfalls, the blatant risks of going after something you knew wasn’t feasible to acquire. Somehow he had to make her understand. Because if he ever kissed her again, another chunk would fall from his shield of armor.

  When he saw her again, he would make things absolutely clear that there was no way anything could get started between them. It was a waste of time and energy. A no-win situation.

  He had to do this. He would do this. It was for the best.

  6

  Carson smiled as she walked beside her client as they left the judge’s chamber. Ingrid Adelson’s smile was even larger, understandably so. They had asked for seven million and settled on five. The opposing counsel had tried playing hardball, claiming they would not offer any more than two and had threatened to take it to court. Carson knew their threat was a bluff, especially since this particular case was getting a lot of national attention in the media. It was a case of David against Goliath and they wouldn’t want a jury to decide the outcome. Especially since there was a chance the judge might allow Perriman Department Store’s history to be considered; namely, how often their store security had violated human rights.

  “So what’s next for you?” she asked Ingrid as they walked out the building.

  “First I want to digest it all in. Then I want to set up a meeting with those charities I’ve selected to give some of the money to.”

  Carson had seen the list. The American Cancer Society topped it and she understood. Both of Ingrid’s parents had died of cancer within a year of each other. “Good idea.”

  Ingrid glanced over at her. “You were super in there. Those other attorneys really tried to intimidate you.”

  Yes, they had tried. It had been three men against one female and they figured they would make her sweat. They hadn’t liked that not only had she not faltered, but her cool had been astounding. “As you can see, their tactic didn’t work.” Unfortunately, she performed better under pressure.

  Unless that pressure involved a man name Sheppard Granger.

  She tried pushing the call she’d gotten yesterday from an administrative assistant at Delvers to the back of her mind. The meeting she’d looked forward to today with Sheppard had been cancelled. No plausible reason had been given but as far as she was concerned, none was needed. He was doing the same thing to her that she had done to him weeks ago. He was running. Away from her. If that kiss they’d shared had knocked out her senses, she could only imagine what it had done to his.

  She knew what his concerns were. Sheppard had said it all in the letter she’d received at her office the beginning of the week. She could remember every single word...

  Attorney Boyett,

  Before we meet again, I believe that we need to agree that our discussions should be kept on the strictest professional level. As much as I wish otherwise, the difference in our ages prohibits anything personal from developing between us. That, and the fact that I am a convict, makes a relationship impossible. You have a lot to offer a man. Don’t waste it on someone who has nothing.

  Respectfully,

  Sheppard M. Granger

  When she’d first read the letter, she’d been upset--not at Sheppard but at the situation that had locked an innocent man up behind bars. The attorney in her couldn’t blame the judicial system or the jury who’d found him guilty. She was placing the blame solely at the feet of his attorney.

  Over the past couple of weeks, she had read transcripts from his trial. She wasn’t someone who would normally critique a fellow attorney’s handling of a case, but there had been so many missed opportunities during Sheppard’s hearing, she often wondered if his attorney had been working for him or for the prosecution. Sheppard was a smart man. Surely he knew of his attorney’s incompetence. So why hadn’t he replaced the man?

  “Will you celebrate tonight?” Ingrid asked.

  She glanced over at her. Deciding not to give her client a glimpse into her dull and boring life, she said, “That’s my plan.”

  There was no need to explain that later tonight all she planned to do was go home and enjoy a glass of wine. Her reasons would be two-fold--to indulge in the thrill of victory, as well as to sit back and reflect upon regrets. More than anything, she had wanted to see Sheppard today, if for no other reason than to joyfully share a moment in his presence.

  She tried not to let disappointment overwhelm her, but found it difficult. She doubted her response to his letter would sway him to consider the stand he was taking. Her short reply had simply said...

  Sheppard,

  While I don’t have a problem keeping our meetings on a professional level, I don’t agree with the rest.

  Carson

  She could only surmise that his cancelling of today’s meeting was his way of letting her know that he hadn’t particularly liked what she’d written. Oh, well. They would eventually see each other again, that was a given. She would be patient and let him resolve any inner turmoil he was dealing with.

  Carson was convinced that there was something different, something monumental, going on between them. There was no other explanation for the intense attraction they shared. She’d never been an aggressive female when it came to men. However, she knew if she gave Sheppard the opportunity to retreat, he would take it. And she couldn’t let him do that.

  #

  “You okay Shep? You seem pretty distracted today.”

  Sheppard glanced over at his father and saw the concerned look in the older man’s gaze. Richard Granger was the one man Sheppard had always admired. There had never been a time he hadn’t wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps, to learn so much from him. To constantly make him proud. His father had never demanded anything of him, other than to do his best. He’d married the woman his mother had deemed the perfect wife, although he’d known his father had had his misgivings. However, Richard had not interfered or stated how he truly felt. A part of Sheppard wished that he had.

  He drew in a deep breath. There was no need to tell his father about Carson, how hard he’d been trying to distance himself from her when deep down, all he wanted to do was see her again. He hadn’t known not seeing her would make him this miserable. More miserable than he’d been in a long time. Even Ambrose had asked him what was wrong.

  “I’m fine Dad. I just have a lot on my mind.” He quickly decided to change the subject before his father inquired as to what some of those
things were. “And you still haven’t heard any more from Marshall?”

  Richard shook his head. “No, not since a couple of weeks ago. When I returned from Puerto Rico, he called and said he was on to something big but couldn’t go into any details.”

  Sheppard nodded. Marshall had alluded to the same thing to him when he’d visited, and Sheppard had been thinking hard as to what he could have uncovered. He studied his father. Was he imagining things or did the old man look more relaxed than he had the last time he’d seen him? Sheppard didn’t see the usual strain that often lined his father’s features whenever he visited.

  “You’re looking well, Dad. That business trip to Puerto Rico must have been pretty relaxing.” Was he imagining things, or did his father just blush.

  “Yes, it was rather relaxing.”

  He had a feeling his father wanted to say more and knew it wasn’t Ambrose’s presence that was stopping him. As usual, the prison guard was engrossed in his crossword puzzle. Besides, over the last several months, he knew his father had gotten used to Ambrose and liked him a lot. Being able to meet with his father face-to-face in a private room was a lot nicer than having a glass partition between them. He figured he had Ambrose to thank for that, too.

  “Is there something going on that I should know about?” Sheppard finally asked, picking up on Richard’s nervousness.

  His father met his gaze. “I’m dating.”

  Sheppard blinked. That hadn’t been what he expected to hear. As far as he knew, Richard hadn’t dated since his mother’s death. Ava Marie Granger had died more than twenty years ago and everyone had taken her death hard. She had been the epitome of a loving and gracious wife, perfect for her husband in every way. They had been partners in all things. He knew losing a baby within days of his birth had been hard on them--although at four Sheppard had been too young to fully understand--but they’d weathered the storm and he thought the loss had brought them even closer.

  “I’m glad, Dad. Honestly, I am happy for you. Mom’s been gone for a long time and you’ve buried yourself in work for too long. If things had worked out differently, you would have been retired by now.”

  A wry smile touched his father’s lips. “From Granger Aeronautics, yes, but not from work. I probably would be more involved in that foundation I established for your mother.”

  Sheppard nodded. He knew the Ava Granger Foundation was still doing great charity work in Charlottesville. One of the first things the foundation had done was to build the Ava Granger Wing at St. Francis Memorial Hospital.

  “So Dad, who’s the lucky lady?”

  Richard paused a minute and Sheppard watched the deep coloring return to his cheeks.

  “The lady I am serious about, Shep, is Hannah.”

  Sheppard knew his face had to radiate his shock. “My Hannah?”

  Richard smiled and nodded. “Yes, your Hannah. Our Hannah.”

  Hannah had been the Granger’s housekeeper for years, but before that, she’d been hired as Sheppard’s nanny. He couldn’t remember a time when she hadn’t been an important part of his life. She’d taken over as head housekeeper before Sheppard had married and had been there to help him raise his sons. Jace, Caden and Dalton all adored her and she loved them.

  Hannah wasn’t considered an employee but a member of the Granger family. She was someone he knew his father trusted implicitly. She was someone he could talk to and confide in. He figured the place had to have gotten pretty lonely after the boys moved away for school. Both Richard and Hannah had lost their beloved spouses, so Sheppard could understand them coming together.

  Hannah visited him at least once a month and he’d always complimented her on how good she looked for a woman in her sixties. Hannah was a beautiful woman. And his father was a good looking man in his early seventies. It made a lot of sense.

  But still…

  He just couldn’t imagine the fun-loving Hannah and the ultra-conservative Richard Granger as a couple. “Did you take Hannah to Puerto Rico with you?”

  “Yes. I’ve been trying to get her to go out of town with me for a while. We’re keeping our relationship a secret, for now. It was Hannah’s decision, not mine. I told her I would give her whatever she wanted, as long as we could be together.” He paused a minute. “I love her Shep and she loves me. And in case you’re wondering if there was ever anything between us when your mother was alive, there wasn’t.”

  Sheppard drew in a deep breath. “I know that, Dad. Mom’s been dead over twenty years. I’m sure it’s been lonely for you.”

  “Yes, but I had you and the boys. And when you left, the boys kept me busy…and on my toes. There was never a dull moment with that Dalton.”

  Sheppard heard the fondness in his voice. For his father, Dalton may have been the most challenging of Shep’s three sons, but the love was there in his tone regardless. “I’m hoping that one day Hannah will feel comfortable about bringing our love out in the open,” Richard said.

  Sheppard smiled. “I hope so, too. The two of you deserve to be happy. You know how I feel about Hannah.”

  “Yes, I know and she loves you and the boys just as much.”

  Sheppard didn’t say anything for a minute. “Dad, can I ask you something?”

  “You can ask me anything, son.”

  Sheppard leaned forward and rested his arms on his thighs. “I know Hannah is six years younger than you. The difference in your ages doesn’t bother you?”

  Richard shook his head. “No, not at all.”

  “What if there was a ten-year difference?”

  “It still wouldn’t bother me. I’ve discovered age doesn’t matter when you care deeply for someone. Since your mother’s death, I’ve been approached by a number of women, young and old, claiming interest. Some were young enough to be my daughter or granddaughter. They might have been interested, but I wasn’t. What really interested them was the Granger’s wealth. I’m not a stupid man. I know when a woman is sincere and when she is not.”

  Sheppard nodded. Yes, his father would know. Although his father thought an age difference was no big deal, Sheppard still had that even bigger stumbling block to get past—he was a man in prison. And he still contended that Carson Boyett deserved better than that.

  7

  Carson had gotten a call first thing this morning from Delvers. Sheppard Granger had requested to meet with her. So here she was, ten minutes before the hour, wondering what this meeting was about. Had Matthew Fontane gotten into more trouble or was this a rescheduling of the meeting Sheppard had cancelled a couple of weeks ago? Warden Smallwood’s personal assistant hadn’t said. Either way, she was here. She looked forward to seeing Sheppard again. He’d had a birthday last week and she’d sent him a card. She’d thought about him a lot and purposely kept herself busy, so she didn’t go crazy.

  Since her victory with Ingrid’s case, she’d taken on new clients, grateful for the opportunity to build up her firm. She was even thinking about bringing in another attorney, the way her workload was growing. Right now, she was able to handle what she had and still dedicate some time to her pro bono work.

  She had visited with Roddran, Myles and the baby yesterday. They had broken the news to her that Myles had accepted a job offer in Texas and they would be moving there in a couple of months. Although she knew this would be a huge promotion for Myles, a chance to become partner in a prestigious law firm, she hated to see her best friend leave Charlottesville. But she knew Houston was just a flight away and she would make it her business to visit often. Especially since she had agreed to become godmother to Zina. The christening ceremony was to take place this coming Sunday.

  Yesterday, she had lunch with Roland at his office and had seen several of his employees she’d met a few months ago; three bodyguards who had once been inmates at Glenworth. Though she knew Glenworth was a huge facility, she asked if they’d met Sheppard while confined there. They had. Furthermore, the three said Sheppard had been their mentor, a role model, someone they coul
d look up to, someone who’d always had their backs. By the end of the conversation, she gathered Sheppard was someone they highly respected.

  Carson really wasn’t surprised. Just being around him had shown her just what a decent man he was. Any woman would appreciate having someone like him in her life. She definitely would.

  Getting out of her car at the prison, she pulled her entry badge from her purse. As she walked toward the guarded entrance, she tried keeping her heart from pounding in her chest.

  #

  Sheppard stood at the library window and watched as Carson got out of her car. The moment he set eyes on her, he’d felt a pull in his gut. As usual, she was dressed in a business suit. This one was royal blue. She dressed for success and the businessman in him liked that. As she walked toward the building, he couldn’t help noticing the way her hips swayed with every step she took.

  Carson Boyett was a beautiful woman. An irresistible woman.

  And more than anything, she was an unforgettable woman.

  Lord knew, he’d tried forgetting her by putting distance between them. That hadn’t worked. He’d finally come to terms with the fact that he couldn’t hold out not seeing her any longer. He thought of her every single day and dreamed about her each night. And when he’d gotten that birthday card from her last week, he’d been deeply touched. He hadn’t realized she’d known his birthdate. The card had even smelled like her and he’d wondered if she’d sprayed it with her perfume. Convinced she had, he’d slept with the card beneath his pillow each night, closing his eyes to her scent.

  He kept looking out the window and watching for her until she’d arrived. It was then that his thoughts shifted to all the other birthday greetings he’d received--emails, cards and calls. The emails had mostly come from the young men he’d mentored while at Glenworth, as well as others employees at Granger Aeronautics. He was touched they had remembered his birthday. Hannah had called and so had his dad.