A Man's Promise by Brenda Jackson Page A

a lot to say, but first I have a question.”
    “And what is your question?”
    “Where were you and Jace when Richard Granger was giving out his endless lectures about unprotected sex and the use of condoms? Because it seems that somehow along the way, the two of you must have missed that class.”
    Caden stared at his brother, thinking his question couldn’t be a serious one, but when he saw that it was, he answered. “First of all, Jace and I did get those lectures, trust me. However, neither of us was as sexually active as you were in high school, and Granddad knew it.”
    Dalton lifted a brow. “He knew it?”
    “He couldn’t help but know it when you used to brag about your conquests over the breakfast table.”
    “But I spoke in codes so only you and Jace could know what I was saying, and I whispered most of the time. And if I remember correctly, Granddad was ignoring us and reading his newspaper.”
    “And listening to your every word while doing so.”
    “No kidding?” Dalton asked, smiling as if such a thing was good news.
    “Jace and I wondered if you knew. In fact, we thought you were embellishing a lot of the stuff you told us about because you figured the old man was listening.”
    Dalton rolled his eyes. “I didn’t have to embellish anything. I was giving you guys the facts.”
    “And you still wonder why you got more lectures than we did? Let’s move on from that. I want to hear what you really have to say,” Caden said.
    “Okay, here goes. I think you made a real mess of things but that it can be fixed. The reason I say that is because evidently Shiloh still cares about you.”
    “I don’t know how you figure that. I told you what happened when I dropped by her wine shop earlier today.”
    “Yes, and she’s still in pain from the hurt you caused her. And the reason I say she still cares for you is because you’re sitting there and I’m sitting here.”
    Caden was confused, and it showed on his face. “I don’t get your point.”
    Dalton rolled his eyes. “The only reason we were able to hold on to this company amid a hostile-takeover attempt was because Shiloh saved the day by voting her mother’s shares in our favor. That was after you did all those mean things to her—like having her ejected from one of your concerts and sleeping around for spite. And even with all that, according to you, she recently attended another one of your concerts, and when she found out the truth about what her father had done, she came to Sutton Hills to tell you.”
    Dalton paused a minute and said, “Shiloh has every right to be angry with you, Caden. But I don’t think she has totally fallen out of love with you. She only thinks she has, and understandably so.”
    Caden stared at his brother. For someone who had never been in love, Dalton was talking as if he were an expert on the subject matter. As if Dalton could read his mind, he said, “You don’t have to know a lot about love to figure out your problem, Caden. You just have to know a lot about women. And they are my specialty.”
    “If what you’ve said is to be believed, how am I supposed to get back into her good graces? How can I make her realize she still loves me as much as I love her?”
    Dalton smiled. “It’s rather simple. Come up with a plan to get her to fall in love with you all over again. If I were you, I would do everything to prove that the two of you belong together, that you still love her and that she still loves you. But most important, remind her that you’re worthy of her love.”

Fifteen
    F or Shiloh, the time had flown by this past week, and Saturday was here before she knew it. She had been so busy getting things organized for her grand opening that she hadn’t noticed the passing of the days. She’d also found time to meet with Nannette about the charity ball and had agreed to handle the entertainment aspect of the event. That shouldn’t be hard. Nannette had even given her a list of local talent she could