The Marriage Promise (Billionaire Games Book 4)

by Edwards, Sandra

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Blurb

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Epilogue

  Sandra's Books

  Sandra's Bio

  THE MARRIAGE PROMISE

  Billionaire Games: Book 4

  by

  Sandra Edwards

  The Marriage Promise

  Copyright © 2014 Sandra Edwards

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. With the exception of quotes used in reviews, this book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from Sandra Edwards.

  Published by SE Press

  United States of America

  Electronic Edition: September, 2014

  ISBN: 978-1-934342-27-5

  This book is a work of fiction and all characters exist solely in the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. Any references to places, events or locales are used in a fictitious manner.

  Digital formatting by StevieDeInk. < stevie1@steviedeink.com >

  Edited by Marian Kelly. RavensGateEditing.com

  Cover Design Copyright © 2014 Sandra Edwards

  Image obtained from Fotilia.com

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  Life is filled with precious moments to be cherished because it can all be gone in a flash and you’ll be left with nothing but treasured memories.

  Deidra Ferguson and John Sinclair are all too aware of this. They’re both in Hawaii to see their loved ones ashes to their final resting place—off the coast of Oahu. Can two broken hearts find a way to help each other mend? Find out in THE MARRIAGE PROMISE, Book Four in the New York Times & USA Today bestselling series BILLIONAIRE GAMES from award-winning author Sandra Edwards.

  CHAPTER 1

  JOHN SINCLAIR HAD BEEN BORN into a world of privilege in a stately home high in the hills of a spur off the Sierra Nevada Mountains south of Carson City, but none of the advantages he’d been born with were able to save his wife from the cancer that had ravaged her body and ultimately claimed her life.

  Early morning sunlight spilled in from the line of windows high on the east wall of the library in his family home. He’d moved back in, bringing the children with him, shortly after Jessica’s death. On days like this, John could almost smell the heady scent from the patch of Pinion Pine out behind the house.

  Outside, it was a beautiful spring day. But inside was another story. Sitting behind the leather-topped executive desk, John peered at the upper windows, high out of reach. He’d prefer to cloak them with curtains, blinds, or something. He didn’t like the sunlight. He didn’t like it trying to brighten his day. He had little more than a tiny sliver of nothing to be happy about. The girls—his and Jessica’s girls—were healthy. That was about it.

  Jessica’s will and its accompanying envelopes (three of them) seemed to stare at him from the desk’s top. Jessica’s instructions. Her last wishes. And the letters: one for each of them (him and the girls), inscribed with their names.

  John picked up his letter and traced his fingertip along the handwritten inscription. He’d never been able to do more than that; certainly not open it. Even though, according to Jessica’s will, he was supposed to have opened it two years ago—one year after her death.

  The will commanded his attention again. He set the unopened envelope down and looked at the document begrudgingly. Every time he thought about spreading Jessica’s ashes, as she’d requested, his heart died a little. He hadn’t been able to let go. He couldn’t do it. It was bad enough that he was expected to say goodbye, but she wanted her ashes scattered in Hawaii of all places. Where they’d taken their honeymoon, for God’s sake.

  John picked up Jessica’s will and blew out a sigh as he focused on the paragraphs that spelled it out in detail: she wanted her ashes spread near the “From Here to Eternity” Beach one year to the date of her death. After the ceremony, she wanted John and the children to read the letters she’d left them. In private, if that was easier.

  And here the letters sat, three years later, still unopened. Jessica’s ashes were still in the urn sitting on John’s dresser upstairs.

  His family had been bugging him, especially his older brother and sister, to put Jessica to rest, to make it final for the children so they all could move on with their lives. But John’s heart was still in a thousand pieces, as shattered as it was the day Jessica drew her last breath.

  John shoved Jessica’s will and her unopened letters toward the center of the desk and swabbed his hands over his face. He knew he should take the kids and Jessica’s ashes to Hawaii and finish it. For the good of the children, if not himself, it was the thing to do. But how was he supposed to move forward when his heart wasn’t willing to participate?

  Jagged edges from his shattered heart stabbed at his insides.

  He almost felt relief when the door opened. Almost. He blew out a sigh as he peered up at his older brother. Ray could distract John if he wanted to. Problem was, the only thing his brother wanted to talk about these days was what John had been avoiding.

  Ray glanced down at the desk, let out a half-snort before saying, “You’ve got the letters out. I guess that’s a start.”

  “Believe me, I know what you’re going to say.” And he did. John also knew he didn’t want Ray bringing in reinforcements. The rest of the family. His parents were beyond lectures these days, but his siblings—all four of them, two older and two younger—were a different matter.

  “You’ve heard it all before,” Ray said in a snide, older brother tone. “I don’t know why you keep making me repeat myself.”

  “Then stop.”

  “Go to Hawaii.”

  A stretch of silence drifted between them before John said, “I am. I’ve booked a suite on Waikiki Beach. I’ll be taking one of the jets.”

  “When are you leaving?” Hope filled Ray’s voice.

  “Tomorrow.”

  “Good,” Ray said and glanced at John. “Does Laurie know?”

  John nodded. “We just closed the Marietta deal. She’ll be able to handle things until I return.”

  Ray might be the eldest, but it was John and his older sister, Laurie, who headed Sinclair Enterprises. Ray, a corporate attorney, handled the company’s legal affairs.

  “Well then…” Ray said. “You’re all set.” He looked at John the way he used to when they were kids, like the time Sally Frith had broken John’s heart. Ray had made John laugh by telling him that Sally stuffed her bra. “Stay for a week or two,” Ray suggested. “Figure out how to enjoy life again.”

  John smiled at his brother. Even if Ray couldn’t understand it, John knew he meant well. But Ray had never been married. As far as John knew, his brother had never even been in love. Ray had always been so focused on impressing their father that he’d never taken the time to explore love—which was kind of odd, since the only thing more important to Daddy than the family business was producing heirs to inherit it. So far, John and his siblings had been a dismal disappointment in that department. To date, they’d only given the man two grandchildren—that John was aware of. Both were John’s. And both
were girls.

  John couldn’t see Amy, his eldest, taking over Sinclair Enterprises. That was a laugh.

  Maybe, instead of trying to run John’s life, Ray should go get one of his own.

  Deidra Ferguson zipped up her suitcase, then glanced at the table by the door. The crematory urns—TSA approved—served as a reminder that she was truly alone in this world (and the reason for her trip).

  She’d moved to southern California last year to be near her best friend, Lecie de Laurent Matthews. At the age of twenty-seven, Deidra had snipped off the apron strings and officially moved away from her parents.

  They’d come for a visit three months ago and died in a car crash when a utility truck ran a traffic light, colliding with the passenger side of the car they’d rented at the airport. Deidra’s mother died instantly. Her father lingered long enough to make it to the hospital. A few minutes after Deidra arrived, he passed on.

  As their only child, Deidra was left with the job of carrying out their final wishes—they wanted their cremated remains scattered off the coast of Oahu, Hawaii.

  Although she’d never been there, she knew her parents had spent their honeymoon at Waikiki Beach, and she suspected that had a little something to do with why they wanted Oahu to be their final resting place.

  Three months after the accident, the pain was still raw, but she felt a pressing need to set her parents free. She couldn’t bear the thought of keeping them cooped up in the urns any longer. And she wasn’t forgetting that she’d have to do it alone.

  The knock at her bedroom door made her forget, momentarily, about the dry tears burning her eyes. She glanced up. The sight of Lecie standing in the doorway, with her obvious baby bump, showered Deidra with a measure of peace. She wished Lecie could accompany her to Hawaii, but understood why she couldn’t. Five months into her pregnancy with twins ruled out that option.

  Lecie smiled and waddled into the bedroom. “I wish you would wait until after I have the babies.” She stopped at Deidra’s side and studied her face. “You shouldn’t do this alone.”

  Having no other family, Deidra didn’t see that she had much choice. “I wish I could.”

  “You can.” Lecie nodded. “There’s no law that says you have to do it now.”

  Deidra blew out a sigh and sat down on the bed. Lecie joined her. “My father came to me in a dream last week.” She looked at Lecie, trying to squelch her reluctance to share the details. “He wants me to release the ashes. Now.”

  Lecie remained silent and straight-faced for what seemed forever. Finally, her eyes filled with regret as she said, “If there was any way at all that I could go with you…” She shrugged. “But the doctors say no. No travel for me.”

  “It’s fine.” The last thing Deidra wanted was to load stress onto Lecie’s shoulders. “You just stay here and take care of those babies. I may not technically be their aunt, but I’ll love them just as much.”

  “You will be their godmother.”

  “Really?” Deidra’s inquiry caught in her throat. “I would’ve thought you’d choose Camille or Tasha.”

  “No way,” Lecie declared. “No one outside Nick and me will be closer to these kids.”

  Deidra hugged Lecie. “You’re such a great friend.”

  If only she had Lecie’s strength. She could sure use it to help get her through the next week.

  Reno, Nevada

  The helicopter ride from Whisper Falls to the airport had been mostly uneventful. The spring weather was still a little chilly and John Sinclair had told the girls to wear sweaters. They were glad for the extra clothing now, but they’d complain about it once they got to Hawaii.

  Amy, John’s eldest daughter, was about to turn twelve and had been a handful since her mother’s death. Emily, now nine, had been somewhat subdued, but John knew she longed for a mother figure in her life. The problem was that John wasn’t anywhere near ready to provide that for her. He doubted he ever would be.

  Hell, he’d only just managed to muster up the courage to see Jessica to her final resting place along the shores of Oahu.

  John’s brothers and sisters had offered to come along. He’d thought about it, but ultimately decided that this was something he and his daughters had to do alone.

  Surprisingly, as they approached the airport, John was beginning to rethink that notion, mainly because of the gaggle of nerves tangling in his gut. He didn’t know if he was sad or glad to see the Sinclair jet waiting on the tarmac as the helicopter touched down.

  John unfastened his seatbelt and climbed out, then helped each of the girls out. Phillip, his assistant, was waiting at the bottom of the stairs leading up to the jet.

  “Good morning, Mr. Sinclair,” Phillip said.

  “Good morning, Phillip.” John moved aside to let the girls head up the stairs. “I trust our luggage is on the plane?”

  “Yes, sir. Everything is in order.”

  “And your wife? And Thompson’s wife?” John asked of Phillip and the pilot’s spouses.

  “They’re on board, sir.” Phillip glanced at John and added with an air of prudence, “My wife could’ve taken a commercial flight.”

  “Nonsense. We’re all going to the same place.”

  “Are you sure you won’t need my assistance while in Hawaii?”

  John shook his head. “This is something that my kids and I need to do alone.” He moved toward the bottom step. “And you and Helen deserve a vacation.” John trotted up the stairs with Phillip following close behind.

  Funny, John’s assistant and his pilot and their wives were all looking forward to their Hawaiian vacation. Even John’s kids were somewhat enthusiastic about the trip. But at the end of the day, all that thirty-two-year-old John Sinclair could see was that he was going there to let go of his wife. Forever.

  CHAPTER 2

  Waikiki Beach

  TWO DAYS LATER, on Sunday morning at 3:30 AM, Deidra was wide awake. It was like jet lag on steroids. Around 5:30, she got up, took a shower and got dressed. By a quarter till seven, she was twiddling her thumbs.

  When she’d checked into the Embassy Suites the day before, the girl at the registration desk had told her about the Shore Bird, a restaurant inside the Outrigger Reef across the street.

  Deidra wondered what time they opened. She picked up the hotel room’s phone and dialed the front desk. After hearing the hotel operator’s standard greeting, Deidra asked, “Can you tell me what time the Shore Bird across the street opens?”

  “7 AM, ma’am. You won’t regret it. Get there early if you want a window seat,” came the recommendation in a perpetually happy voice. And why not? The clerk lived in paradise. Everybody here was happy and carefree.

  “Thank you,” Deidra said and disconnected the call. She plucked the green leather case sheathing her cell phone off the table, draped the case’s strap over her shoulder and headed out.

  Once in the hotel lobby, Deidra picked up a few excursion brochures on her way to the door. A cool breeze blew past her as she stepped outside. There were a few people strolling along the sidewalks. It was still early; later there would be a stream of tourists. Deidra glanced at the brochures in her hand. A dismal task had brought her to Hawaii, but she might as well find something about the trip to enjoy. Her parents would’ve wanted it that way, in fact, they’d insisted upon it. Their instructions were that she was to spend a week relaxing and enjoying Hawaii before she scattered their ashes.

  Deidra strolled through the Outrigger Reef’s lobby, an open portico stylishly decorated with local Polynesian art. The Shore Bird restaurant was in the back, to the left, and it seemed that everyone she’d talked to had raved about their breakfast buffet. There was no line at the cashier, but most of the restaurant’s tables along the windows were occupied.

  The cashier gave Deidra a folded laminated card. One side read “Reserved” and the other “Thank You.” After a brief explanation to place the card, reserved side up, on an open table, Deidra was off. She could pretty much gue
ss to flip it over when she was done.

  She found only one available table along the windows, a four-chair table on the other side of the empty bar. It was probably selfish to take up so much space, but she wanted to sit at an open window and let the soft breeze caress her face and arms as she ate her breakfast. Soon enough, she’d have to carry out a much harder, somber task.

  Deidra placed her card, right side up, on the table and glanced around for the buffet, catching sight of it in the far back corner. She headed that way.

  In the lobby of Trump Tower in Waikiki, John took the paper from his assistant and listened as Phillip said, “The ceremony is Sunday, sir. A representative will meet you here at 10:15.” He nodded toward the couch and chairs against the right wall.

  “Thank you,” John said, then mentally counted off the days. Seven of them. An entire week. “Now, you and Helen go have some fun. Enjoy yourselves. I don’t want to see you again until it’s time to leave, a week from tomorrow.” The day after the ceremony.

  “Very well, sir.” Phillip looked around sheepishly, then backed away.

  “Daddy.” Emily tugged at John’s blue Hawaiian shirt. “Can we go eat now? I’m hungry.”

  John looked down at her and nodded. “Yes. That’s our next order of business.” They could’ve eaten at the breakfast buffet in the hotel, but John thought it better to get the girls out and walking—even if it was only across the street.

  He reached for both girls’ hands as he prepared to head out, only to have Amy dodge his attempt to hold hers.

  “Dad,” Amy said, following alongside him. “I wanna take surf lessons.”

  “All right.” He shrugged. He doubted she’d get far, but hell, he needed all the distractions he could get.

  There were seven days between now and the ceremony. John had planned a couple of excursions for the family, but now he was beginning to think he needed to find more things to do so he didn’t have extra time on his hands. Giving himself time to think would bring it home that at the end of the week he was expected to release Jessica’s ashes. The thing was, John saw it as a betrayal of sorts, because it felt like he was letting go of her.