Captivated by Love (Grangers Book 1) Read online

  BRENDA JACKSON

  CAPTIVATED BY LOVE

  LOVE, PASSION AND PROMISE BOOKS

  are published by

  The Madaris Publishing Company

  P O Box 28267

  Jacksonville, FL 32226

  Captivated By Love / Copyright 2016 by Brenda Streater Jackson

  All rights reserve. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the Publisher.

  Love, Passion and Promise is a trademark of the Madaris Publishing Company and Brenda Jackson Enterprises. The Love, Passion and Promise logo is a trademark and registered trademark.

  Cover design and layout by Nuance Art, LLC

  Art direction by aCreativeNuance.com

  ISBN 978-0-9799165-5-7

  10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

  Printed in the United States of America

  Love, Passion and Promise

  An Imprint of the Madaris Publishing Company

  www.madarispublishing.com

  Dear Readers,

  I am proud to present the seventh book from the Madaris Publishing Company, Captivated By Love.

  When I began writing the Granger Series (A Brothers Honor; A Man’s Promise; and A Lover’s Vow), I had no idea my readers would fall in love with Sheppard Granger, the father of the three Granger brothers. I received letters and emails from readers wanting Sheppard Granger and Carson Boyett’s story. Readers mainly wanted to know how they met, how they kept their love alive during his incarceration and how they are doing since he was exonerated of killing his wife.

  When I decided to honor my readers’ wishes and write Sheppard’s story, I knew it would be a special one. Here is a man who’d lost a lot yet kept his dignity and reached out to others with his kindness and wisdom. I knew Sheppard’s story would be the perfect way to kick off the next Granger connected series adventure, The Protector Series.

  The Protector Series features three of the men Sheppard mentored who eventually became bodyguards to his sons. The men were Striker Jennings, Quasar Patterson and Stonewall Courson. Book 1, Forged In Desire features Striker Jennings and will be released January 31, 2017. Book 2 features Quasar Patterson and is titled Seized By Seduction and will hit the bookstores in April. And Book 3, titled Locked in Temptation, features Stonewall Courson and will be released in July.

  A listing of all my books is found on my website at www.brendajackson.net

  Happy Reading!

  Brenda Jackson

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  To Brenda Chin, editor extraordinaire. Thanks for the wonderful editorial work that you did on this novel.

  To Connie Moore and Brenda Woodbury. Thanks for such wonderful promotional campaigns for all the books in the Granger Series…especially this one.

  To Gerald Jackson, Jr. and Brandon Jackson. Thanks for your love and encouragement. Your mother loves you!

  To the ladies of Diva Dayz 2016. Thanks for such a great time in Key West, Florida. I felt the love and needed the fellowship.

  He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD.

  Proverbs 18:22 NIV

  THE GRANGER SERIES BOOKS BY

  BRENDA JACKSON

  A Brother’s Honor

  A Man’s Promise

  A Lover’s Vow

  Captivated by Love

  THE PROTECTOR SERIES BOOKS BY

  BRENDA JACKSON

  Forged in Desire

  Seized by Seduction

  Locked in Temptation

  Table of Contents

  PROLOGUE

  PART ONE

  1

  2

  3

  4

  5

  6

  7

  8

  9

  10

  11

  12

  13

  PART TWO

  14

  15

  16

  17

  18

  19

  20

  21

  22

  23

  24

  EPILOGUE

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  PROLOGUE

  Determined not to awaken his wife, Sheppard Granger eased out of bed and walked over to the huge bay window. There was a crescent moon in the velvety sky, and what seemed like a million twinkling stars served as a panoramic backdrop.

  It was a beautiful night in December, three weeks before Christmas. Decorations were up and from where Sheppard stood, he could see that someone had strung colorful lights along the entrance to his family’s estate, Sutton Hills, and several of the trees in the yard displayed numerous colorful lights as well. The horses had been stabled for the night and the high pitched roof of the equestrian center was barely visible in the darkness. In a few days, Christmas lights would likely find their way there as well, he figured.

  Forecasters predicted that the residents of Charlottesville could be in for their first snowfall of the winter season this weekend, with the cold weather remaining through the holidays. All he had to do was take note of the frost on the outside of the window to conclude the forecasters were probably right. But he could handle snowfall or whatever the weather produced. He was just glad to finally be home. This was the house he had grown up in. The main house. His parents’ home. And it was the one he had decided to move into instead of the one he’d shared with his first wife.

  Standing there, he recalled the years he was locked up, not able to look out a window to see the moon or stars and definitely not a bunch of Christmas lights. At times, it had been impossible to determine when day turned into night or night into day. For years, he hadn’t seen snowfall or rain, and had missed the feel of wind beating against his face. He had almost forgotten the sound of birds chirping or frogs croaking; the feel of wet grass or the sight of a flower blooming.

  For fifteen years, Sheppard had been a man living behind bars for a crime he hadn’t committed. But that was over and he’d been exonerated of all charges. It felt good to be home at Sutton Hills. Back with his three sons and the women they’d married. He was still in awe after the birth of his first grandchild, Rylan Bradford Granger.

  Sheppard wished his father could have been there for the delivery of the eight pound, three ounce healthy boy. Richard Granger would have been proud to usher in the fourth generation of Grangers. Unfortunately, a heart attack had claimed his life several months back. And as much as Sheppard wished his father hadn’t died, he credited Richard’s death as the spark that started the fire.

  He was well aware that if his father hadn’t died, there would not have been a reason for his three sons - Jace, Caden and Dalton - to return home to Charlottesville. No reason for them to make that deathbed promise to Richard to save Granger Aeronautics and do whatever it took to get Sheppard out of prison. Somehow, his sons had managed to do both, just like they’d promised the old man they would.

  Promises made. Promises kept.

  “Sheppard?”

  He turned at the sound of the feminine voice and met the gaze of the woman he proudly called his wife. Yesterday, they had celebrated their first wedding anniversary. He’d wanted to take her out of town for a few days, however, she’d preferred a quiet dinner with just the two of them. Then they’d returned home to spend the rest of the night in bed enjoying each other.

  Carson Boyett Granger was everything he’d ever wanted. More importantly, she was every single thing he needed, even when it looked like he was destined to serve thirty years in prison. The last thing he thought he’d find while locked up behind bars was the love of a lifetime. A woman who, for five years, had
shown him that if you truly believed, dreams could come true.

  His wife had looked exquisite tonight. The dress she’d worn had been absolutely perfect. It had been red--his favorite color--and the sleek design had skated along all her seductive curves. The side split that ran up her leg had exposed an appealing thigh. He’d noted the heads of several men turn to stare when they’d entered the restaurant.

  He’d barely been able to keep his own eyes off her during dinner and scarcely recalled what had been on his plate. However, he had remembered every detail of what happened once they came back home. He had leaned against the closed bedroom door and watched her strip. His heart had pounded with every stitch she’d removed, letting each piece of clothing pool at her feet. Her dress, garter, bra, panties…

  His heart was pounding now at the memory. He had met Carson about six years ago, when the family of one of the young inmates he mentored had hired her to represent their son when they pushed for a retrial. The first time he’d seen her, he had been totally and completely captivated. He’d been convinced then and was still convinced now, that she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever met.

  The attraction between him and Carson had been instantaneous, although he’d fought it like hell. First off, she was nearly ten years his junior. And from what he’d heard about her, she was a top-notch attorney who frequented the prison to meet with the young inmates, pro bono.

  He, on the other hand, a man accused of murdering his wife, had nothing to offer her. But Carson hadn’t cared once they had been honest about their feelings. When he’d gotten dissatisfied with the way his own attorney was handling his business, he had replaced the man with Carson. It was a decision he’d never regretted.

  Realizing he hadn’t answered, he spoke up. “Yes, sweetheart?”

  “You, okay?”

  A smile touched his lips. Carson always made him her major concern. Her main priority. That was something his first wife, Sylvia, never did. “I’m fine. Just thinking.”

  “At three in the morning?”

  He chuckled. “Yes, at three in the morning. I guess some habits are hard to break.”

  While in prison, he hadn’t been able to sleep until he knew all the young men on his floor, most of whom he’d mentored and who’d come to be known as Shep’s boys, had been accounted for and were in their cells asleep. It was only then that he could close his eyes and rest.

  “Then we will think together,” she said, easing out of the bed.

  Sheppard drew in a deep calming breath, trying to keep his libido in check, while watching her cross the room to him. The moonlight shining through the window cast a glow on her naked body. Mesmerized, he believed she was the most desirable woman to walk the face of the earth, and he fought against the turbulent sensations fueled by intense desire from overtaking him again that night.

  He was satisfied in believing…most of the time…that this continued influx of sexual need for her was due to the fact they were still making up for lost time. For so long, the very idea of making love to her was a dream and never a reality. For five years, they’d done everything but consummate their relationship and it hadn’t been easy. Just looking at her made the air shimmer and could cause a tightening low in his gut.

  When he opened his arms, she quickened her steps and walked right into them. He tightened his hold on her and at that moment, he needed her. Here in his arms. So many times while in prison, she’d been his lifeline. His calm after the storm. He didn’t know of a more loving, dedicated and loyal individual. Carson was someone who loved deeply. She wasn’t quick to make judgements. And if she claimed you as a friend, it was for life.

  Sheppard inhaled her scent, a fragrance he’d come to accept as uniquely hers. Her sensuous aroma was his weakness, and usually just a whiff could bring him to his knees…and while he was down on them, he usually took the opportunity to satisfy another sense. His taste. He loved being on his knees, tasting her between those gorgeous legs. From the way she would groan, he could tell she liked it as well. As far as he was concerned, her body was a perfect match to his, and as soon as their naked flesh connected, he was always caught up in a wild rush of sensual hunger.

  When she lifted her head from his chest and tilted it back to look up at him, he lowered his lips to hers, taking her mouth with a hunger that nearly overpowered him. It didn’t matter that they’d made love mere hours ago and had fallen asleep in each other’s arms. Nor did it matter that he kissed her all the time, so there was no reason for his greed right now.

  His only excuse was that Carson had the ability to make her feminine power surround him. And it didn’t help matters when she began making those sinfully erotic movements with her hips…like she was doing now. It would not have been so bad if they hadn’t been naked, but since they were skin-to-skin, sexual desire quickly began to curl in his stomach. How could it not when he was drowning in woman? His woman. His wife. His best friend.

  And when she began returning his kiss, stroke for stroke, he knew where all this would lead again. But even when he released her mouth, he began brushing kisses against her lips, while whispering promises he intended to keep later. For now, he just needed to hold her.

  “So what were you thinking about?” she asked, resting her head on his chest once more. “Do you regret having the boat- house torn down and rebuilt elsewhere?”

  He shook his head. “No. That was a good decision. I don’t have to see it whenever I look out this window.”

  The boathouse was where his first wife Sylvia had been murdered sixteen years ago. It was also the place where she would often entertain her lovers, right under her family’s noses. There definitely hadn’t been any shame in Sylvia Granger’s game.

  “Then what got you up at three in the morning?”

  He drew in a deep breath, inhaling her luscious scent through his nostrils. “I’ll be spending a full day at the office tomorrow.”

  Her eyes widened. “You will?”

  "Yes." He'd dropped by Granger Aeronautics several times over the past year since his release from prison, mainly to see employees who'd been there when he had been second in command under his father. It had felt good walking through the doors and the changes in the place had amazed him. His father had worked hard to keep the company moving ahead without him. And his oldest son, Jace, was doing an excellent job in keeping it forging forward.

  “I figured it was time to start getting acclimated to everything. I talked to Jace and he thinks it’s a good idea to get started before the holidays. He wants to take Shana and the baby to their cabin in the mountains the first week in January.”

  “I think that’s a great idea.”

  “What? You’re happy that Jace, Shana and the baby are taking off to the Shenandoah Mountains for a week after the holidays?” he asked.

  “That too, but I was mostly thinking about you returning to Granger Aeronautics sooner than planned. You’ve been free for a year and I can tell you’re getting restless.”

  Was he? The day after he’d been released from prison, he had done the one thing he couldn’t wait any longer to do--marry Carson. The wedding had been held here on Sutton Hills, with family and close friends attending, as well as many of the men he liked to think of as his “surrogate sons”. Young men he’d met while confined, who had eventually gotten their freedom, as well--either by serving the time they’d been given or by getting their convictions overturned when new evidence proved their innocence.

  The number of innocent men who were locked up was atrocious. That was the message he had taken to Capitol Hill two weeks ago when he’d been summoned to appear before a congressional hearing regarding the need to overhaul the criminal judicial system.

  His release from prison had made international headlines, especially since the takedown of the organized crime cartel responsible for killing his wife and numerous others played a large role. Arrests were still being made and notable politicians and businessmen were among those indicted.

  He had refused
to do interviews with the major networks until after his honeymoon. He and Carson had deserved some privacy, so they’d taken a three week trip to Hawaii. But they had returned in time to attend his son Caden’s benefit concert. Sheppard’s second-born son, who’d always loved to play the saxophone, had become a Grammy-award winning musician in his absence. The concert had been sold out and it had been the first time Sheppard had seen Caden perform.

  “I didn’t want to rush back to Granger Aeronautics on a full-time basis too soon,” he said, taking his fingers and twirling a few strands of her hair, loving the feel of the silky texture. “Jace has done an outstanding job, with Caden and Dalton helping out. Besides, there were a lot of documents I needed to read, classes I need to take to get re-certified in a number of areas before going back.”

  “I understand.”

  He held her gaze and knew she honestly did. “And what do you understand, sweetheart?”

  She wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned up on her tip-toes to brush a kiss across his lips. “You like the idea of your sons taking part in the company. You said it was your father’s dream, and I think, deep down, that it was your dream as well. Now it’s a reality and you don’t want them to feel that they aren’t needed.”

  A smile curved Sheppard’s lips. It was at times like this, he wondered how she could read him so well. And because he felt there was more, he said. “Go on.”

  She nodded. “Jace is a natural born leader and you know he’s not going anywhere, whether you return or not. I can see him pulling up his shirt sleeves and working hard by your side. Caden loves his music and will continue to try to do both. But I think you know which of the two is his first love…besides Shiloh.”