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Giving My All To You
Sheryl Lister
A hero’s touchFaith Alexander’s guardian angel has a body built for sin. Ever since she woke up in the hospital after a car crash, her rescuer, Brandon Gray, has been by her side—chivalrous, caring, and oh, so fine. Faith came to Los Angeles to find her long-lost father, only to learn that he’s a partner in Brandon’s family business. How can she reveal that her inheritance stands in the way of Brandon’s career dreams?All of Brandon’s focus is on his long-coveted role as CEO—until he stops to help a mysterious beauty. With chemistry this irresistible, he’s ready to share a future with Faith, and then he feels beyond betrayed to discover what she’s been hiding. If desire and trust can overcome pride, he’ll realize he’s found the perfect partner in the boardroom and the bedroom…
A hero’s touch
Faith Alexander’s guardian angel has a body built for sin. Ever since she woke up in the hospital after a car crash, her rescuer, Brandon Gray, has been by her side—chivalrous, caring and oh-so-fine. Faith came to Los Angeles to find her long-lost father, only to learn that he’s a partner in Brandon’s family business. How can she reveal that her inheritance stands in the way of Brandon’s career dreams?
All Brandon’s focus is on his long-coveted role as CEO—until he stops to help a mysterious beauty. With chemistry this irresistible, he’s ready to share a future with Faith, but he feels beyond betrayed to discover what she’s been hiding. If desire and trust can overcome pride, he’ll realize he’s found the perfect partner in the boardroom and the bedroom...
Brandon reached for her hand and pointed toward the water.
They sat in silence, watching as the sun set in a blaze of orange and reds across the sky. “It’s amazing.” And so was he. How many men would be content to sit and enjoy the simple pleasure of a sunset?
“I agree.” Their eyes met. “Stunning.”
The intensity of his stare told her he meant more than the sunset. She gently withdrew her hand and resumed eating.
When they finished, he settled the bill and asked, “Would you like to take a walk?”
“I’d love to.” Because they were close to the water, the temperatures had dipped and a slight breeze had kicked up.
He entwined their fingers and they strolled off. He stopped a ways down the path and faced her. For a moment, he said nothing, seemingly struggling with what he wanted to say.
“What is it?”
“I can show you better than I can tell you,” Brandon whispered and lowered his head.
Dear Reader (#u57ac6e21-236f-56f1-a9ca-3a6bb78d13da),
I hope you have enjoyed reading about the Gray siblings as much as I have writing them! Many of you have asked when will Brandon Gray’s story be told and here he is. You know how intense he is and how often he sticks his foot in his mouth. Well...nothing has changed, lol. Only this time he’s met his match in a woman who might just make him want to readjust a bit. Faith Alexander has no qualms about sending Brandon packing, and I totally delighted in watching the sparks fly...in more ways than one. And I hope you enjoy the ride, as well.
Up next is Khalil Gray—model turned fitness buff, and boy, do I have a lot in store for him! Stay tuned.
As always, I so appreciate all your love and support. Without you, I couldn’t do this.
Much love,
Sheryl
Website: SherylLister.com (http://sheryllister.com)
Email: sheryllister@gmail.com (mailto:sheryllister@gmail.com)
Facebook: Facebook.com/SherylListerAuthor (https://www.facebook.com/SherylListerAuthor)
Twitter: Twitter.com/1Slynne (https://twitter.com/1slynne)
Giving My All to You
Sheryl Lister
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
SHERYL LISTER has enjoyed reading and writing for as long as she can remember. She writes contemporary and inspirational romance and romantic suspense. She’s been nominated for an Emma Award and an RT Reviewers’ Choice Best Book Award and has been named BRAB’s 2015 Best New Author. When she’s not reading, writing or playing chauffeur, Sheryl can be found on a date with her husband or in the kitchen creating appetizers and bite-size desserts. Sheryl resides in California and is a wife, mother of three daughters and a son-in-love, and grandmother to two very special little boys.
For the readers who asked for Brandon’s story.
Acknowledgments (#u57ac6e21-236f-56f1-a9ca-3a6bb78d13da)
My Heavenly Father, thank You for my life. You never cease to amaze me with Your blessings!
To my husband, Lance, my children, family and friends. Thank you for your continued support. I appreciate and love you!
To my critique partner, Leslie Wright. Girl, those phone calls are a lifesaver! Thanks, sis.
A special thank-you to the readers and authors I’ve met on this journey. You continue to enrich my life.
Thank you to my editor, Patience Bloom, for your editorial guidance and support.
A very special thank-you to my agent, Sarah E. Younger. I appreciate you more than words can say.
Contents
Cover (#u578d7edc-dd6b-55aa-b5c9-f240db98c267)
Back Cover Text (#ube75888b-23f1-5bc7-9792-62993571dfff)
Introduction (#u340a2415-d1f4-5e29-922d-f5aba8d1de1d)
Dear Reader (#u21abf830-ca96-5a00-b69c-ed994dec9af7)
Title Page (#u9e4daacd-a8eb-5183-adaa-834aacb1ddca)
About the Author (#ua1e30ded-cf6f-5af5-8c7a-e4e88c90eeab)
Dedication (#ue1b2ec87-a6a9-5e51-a804-148aa28a00d4)
Acknowledgments (#u39beba63-c317-5981-a719-9e20a5863191)
Chapter 1 (#u92193f44-cf1a-59d0-a1bc-c919b1b20e67)
Chapter 2 (#ue2fc871b-0229-5965-9c5d-48d55cfb9f78)
Chapter 3 (#ud36c6e9f-b97c-5dff-9443-c77cd90ba879)
Chapter 4 (#u354ac907-b15a-5efb-ac8d-378ac24ff56b)
Chapter 5 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 6 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 7 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 8 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 9 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 10 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 11 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 12 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 13 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 14 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 15 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 16 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 17 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 18 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 19 (#litres_trial_promo)
Epilogue (#litres_trial_promo)
Extract (#litres_trial_promo)
Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 1 (#u57ac6e21-236f-56f1-a9ca-3a6bb78d13da)
“Hey, girl. You want to do lunch today?”
Faith Alexander smiled. “Sure. I’m just working on one of my web designs.” Once or twice a month on a Saturday she and her best friend, Kathi Norris, met for lunch. “Hang on, Kathi. Someone’s at the door,” she said. She saved the page she’d been working on and left the spare bedroom in her town house that she had converted to an office. It contained a desk, two bookshelves, a file cabinet and a sofa for those times when she planned to work all night, but needed a place to nap. She crossed the living room, opened the door and saw the mailman standing there.
He stuck a box into her hands along with a card and pen. “Just sign here, please.”
She cradled the phone against her ear, adjusted the box and signed the receipt. “Thank you.” Faith closed the door and frowned, not recognizing the sender.
“Helloooo.”
Kathi’s voice drew Faith out of her thoughts. “Sorry. I just got a box from someone in Los Angeles named Thaddeus Whitcomb.”
“Ooh, girl, you’ve got a man sending you gifts from California?”
“No. I have no idea who this is.” She shook the box and heard a slight rustling.
“What’s in it?”
“I have no idea,” she said, walking back to her office and placing it on the desk.
“Anyway, Cameron—the guy I’ve been dating—has a cute friend and I thought we could double-date,” Kathi said.
“No.”
“Come on, Faith.”
“No. The last time I went on one of your little blind double dates it turned into the month from hell. You’re on your own this time.”
“Grant wasn’t that bad.”
“Hmph. You weren’t the one he was calling ten times a day asking when I was going to let him come to my house. I swear that man had octopus arms and was just as slimy. He made my skin crawl.” She shivered with the remembrance.
“Okay, okay, I get your point. He did border on stalking.”
“You think?”
“But this guy is different—six feet, rich brown skin, fit and easy on the eyes.”
“Doesn’t matter. I’m not interested.” After that fiasco six months ago, she had sworn off men and was content with building her year-old web design business.
“We aren’t getting any younger and I’d like to settle down and have a kid or two before my eggs shrivel up and die.”
She laughed. “Kathi, you act like we’re pushing fifty. We’re only thirty.” She cut into the box, pulled back the flap and saw a stack of letters with a rubber band around them. All were addressed to her from Thaddeus Whitcomb and had “Return to Sender” written on them. She quickly flipped through them and noted the postmarks went back almost twenty-eight years.
While half listening to Kathi list all the reasons why this guy would be different, Faith opened the gray envelope on the top that had her first name written in large letters and withdrew the sheet of paper. When she unfolded it, a photo of a man wearing an army uniform and holding a baby fell out. She didn’t know who he was, but she recognized the child. She quickly read the letter. Her eyes widened and her heart stopped and started up again. “It can’t be. He’s supposed to be dead,” she whispered in shock. “Kathi, I have to go.”
“Wait...what? What about lunch?”
“I need to take a rain check. I’ll call you later.”
Butterflies fluttered in her belly as she picked up the photo again and studied it for a moment before rereading the letter. Tears filled her eyes and anger rose within her. She tossed everything back into the box, slid her arms into a light jacket and grabbed the box, her purse and keys, and left. Although the sun shone, there was a slight breeze and the early June temperatures in Portland hovered near seventy. Twenty minutes later, she rang her parents’ doorbell.
“Faith,” her father said with a wide grin, “we didn’t know you were coming over. Come in, baby.” He kissed her cheek.
“Hi, Dad.” Her mother had married William Alexander when Faith was eight and he had been the only father she’d known. “Where’s Mom?”
“She’s in the family room working on one of those word search puzzles.” He placed a hand on her arm as she passed him. “Everything okay, Faith?”
“I don’t think so.”
His concerned gazed roamed over her face. “Well, let’s go talk about it.”
Her mother glanced up from her book when they entered and lowered the recliner. “Hey, sweetheart.”
