This I Promise You (18 page)

“I don’t know,” Quentin said darkly.

“Your grandfather isn’t dying, is he?” Percy asked.

“Nah.”

“What about your uncle?” Summer speculated. “Do you think
he’s
sick?”

Lexi looked back and met Quentin’s gaze. The thought hadn’t occurred to either of them.

“I don’t think he’s sick,” Quentin said. “But I guess we’ll find out soon enough.”

Three heads nodded in solemn agreement.

After several moments, seeking to lighten the mood, Lexi said teasingly, “Hey, Percy. Remember back in college when you and Jagger used to swear up and down that Q was supposed to be a Kappa?”

Percy grinned. “Yeah, I remember.”

“Well, turns out you guys may have been right.”

“What do you mean?”

“Lex,” Quentin warned.

She ignored him. “All the men in Quentin’s mother’s family are Kappas. It’s an old family tradition.”

Percy stared at her. “Are you serious?”

She grinned. “Yup.”

Percy let out a shout of laughter and pointed triumphantly at Quentin. “I
knew
it!” he crowed. “I knew your pretty ass shoulda pledged with us!”

“Man, please,” Quentin scoffed, flagging him off. “I could never be anything but an Omega. Besides, Q the Que has a
much
better ring to it.”

“I don’t know, bruh. Q the Kappa sounds just fine to me.” Percy grinned broadly, wagging his head. “Wait till I tell Jagger.”

“Aw, hell.” Quentin pulled Lexi back against his chest so he could glare down at her. “Now why’d you have to tell him about that? I’m never gonna hear the end of it. I shared that conversation with you in private. Whatever happened to husband–wife confidentiality?”

She blinked innocently. “Is that like attorney–client privilege?”

“It’s even more binding than that. You know, because of that whole ‘till death do us part’ thing?”

“Oh.” She smiled sweetly. “Have I told you lately how much I love you?”

Everyone laughed.

Quentin kissed the top of her head as she snuggled back against him, enjoying the feel of his arms around her. Percy and Summer smiled at them, then looked at each other.

Catching the exchange of glances, Lexi inwardly smiled as she stroked the dark hair sprinkled across Quentin’s muscled forearm. Like Percy, he’d removed his tie and cuff links, loosened the top three buttons of his shirt and rolled up his sleeves. While his wedding band glinted on his left ring finger, both he and Percy wore their gold Morehouse class rings on their right hand.

“You know,” Lexi said casually, “just because Quentin and I will be out of town doesn’t mean the two of you can’t go to the film festival together.”

“That’s true,” Percy agreed, smiling at Summer. “I’m still down if you are.”

Summer hesitated, biting her lip. “I don’t know. I’m on a budget—”

“Don’t worry about it,” Percy told her. “I got you.”

She shook her head vigorously. “Thanks, but I can’t let you pay for my plane ticket.”

“Why not?”

“Because.”

Percy’s eyes glinted with amused indulgence. “That’s not an answer.”

Summer gave an exasperated laugh. “I can’t take your money, Percy. Tell him, Lexi.”

“Hey, I’m staying out of this,” Lexi joked, holding up her hands. “What Percy does with his money is none of my business.”

Percy and Quentin laughed as Summer shot her an aggrieved look. “Way to have my back, sis.”

Lexi blew her a kiss, giggling when Summer rolled her eyes at her.

Sobering, Percy reached over and put his hand on Summer’s knee. Even from where she sat, Lexi could see her sister shiver at the contact.

“Listen, shorty,” he drawled. “I’m not trying to offend you or anything. I know you’re an independent woman and I respect that. But you threw a suggestion out there and I’d like to take you up on it. If I have to buy your plane ticket to get you back here this weekend, I’m happy to do that. All right?”

Summer fought not to smile. “I’ll think about it.”

“Fair enough.” Percy winked, and she blushed.

As Quentin and Lexi exchanged a knowing look, Percy’s phone rang. He removed his hand from Summer’s knee to take the phone out of his pocket, barely glancing at the screen before he silenced it and put it away.

“So, Summer,” he said conversationally, “now that both of your siblings are here, would you ever consider moving back to Atlanta?”

“Um…no.”

“Damn.” He laughed. “Why not?”

“Apart from the fact that I have a good job in New York, I really enjoy living there. It’s a great city.”

“It’s cool,” Percy conceded with a slow nod. “But there’s nothing in New York you can’t get right here in Atlanta.”

Summer laughed. “Listen to you. Do you own shares in the Convention and Visitors Bureau or something?”

“Nah. I just think you should consider coming back to Atlanta. This is your home.” Percy’s tone was mild, but Lexi wasn’t fooled. Where Summer lived mattered to him.
A lot.

Summer heaved a sigh. “I hear what you’re saying, Percy. But I honestly don’t think I could ever move back home.”

Percy gave her a slow, enigmatic smile. “If that’s how you really feel, I guess I’ll just have to find a way to change your mind.”

Summer’s laugh was breathy. “Okay. Why did that sound like a threat?”

His eyes gleamed. “I don’t make threats, Summer. Only promises. Remember that.”

Lexi knew her sister would.

15

A
fter dropping Summer off at the airport the next afternoon, Lexi stopped by Whole Foods to pick up a few things. She was in the kitchen unpacking the groceries when Quentin got home from work.

“Hey, baby,” she called out as he came through the garage door, set down his briefcase and crossed the room to greet her. “How was your day?”

“Good.” Towering over her in her flats, he bent his head and brushed his warm mouth over hers. “How was yours?”

“Good.” She smiled into his eyes. “It just got even better.”

“Mine too.” He slid his hand down her back and gently squeezed her ass. When she giggled, he kissed her again and grinned before moving away to pour himself a glass of water.

Loosening his silk tie, he leaned back against the counter and took a sip of his drink. “Junior asleep?”

“Yeah. Summer and I wore him out today. We took him to Gymboree this morning, then dragged him around the mall before we went over to Reese’s house to let him play with MJ while we had lunch.”

Quentin grinned. “And you still got Summer to the airport on time?”

“Yup. She’s on her way back to New York. But not for long, if Percy has anything to say about it.” Lexi grinned. “Your boy is really feeling Summer. Did you see the way he was staring at her last night? He couldn’t take his eyes off her, and he clearly didn’t want to leave.”

“I know,” Quentin said with a chuckle. “I thought I’d have to put his ass out.”

Lexi laughed. “I’ve never seen him like that before. I didn’t even think it was possible.”

“Anything’s possible.” Quentin smiled. “I should have known something was up when he asked about Summer at the game on Sunday.”

“Yeah? What’d he ask?”

“He wanted to know if she was coming home for Christmas.”

“Did he now?” Lexi grinned, tapping her manicured fingernails on the granite counter. “Don’t you guys still have that bet going about who’s getting hitched next?”

“Sure do.”

“So who’s next?”

A slow grin curved Quentin’s lips. “Guess.”

Lexi stared at him. “Are you serious? Percy?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Well, well, well. Things just got even more interesting.”

“You think?”

They both laughed.

Sobering after another moment, Lexi sighed and shook her head. “Summer hasn’t had the best luck with guys—”

“I know,” Quentin murmured.

“You do, don’t you?” Lexi smiled faintly, folding her arms across her chest. “Colby and I have always been very protective of her. When we were younger, we did everything we could to shield her from Mom’s vicious temper. When she followed Colby to New York for college and decided to stay, he convinced her to move in with him just so he could keep a close eye on her. I know she’s a grown woman, but she’ll always be our baby sister.” Lexi paused. “As much as I love Percy, if he hurts her—”

“He won’t.” Quentin’s voice was flat and hard. “Believe me, Percy knows better than to treat Summer like some ho off the street. But just in case he needs a reminder, I’m more than happy to give him one.”

Lexi offered him a grateful smile. “Thank you, sweetheart.”

“You don’t have to thank me. Summer’s family, and you know I don’t play when it comes to family.”

Lexi’s smile softened. “You certainly don’t. And I love that about you.”

Quentin winked at her before taking another sip of his water. “You ready for the trip?”

She sighed. “I’m all packed, but I don’t know how
ready
I am.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’ve been doing a little research and looking up pictures of your mom’s family, and I couldn’t help noticing that…”

“What?”

“Well, they’re all light skinned.”

“So?”

She picked up a Whole Foods bag and held it up to her cheek. “In case you haven’t noticed, I don’t exactly pass the brown paper bag test. I’m a few shades too dark.”

Quentin went perfectly still. Beneath the furrowed slash of his brows, his eyes narrowed on hers.

He clearly wasn’t amused.

Realizing that her joke had fallen flat, Lexi bit down on her lip. “Ah, maybe that wasn’t—”

Quentin set his glass down with a sharp thud and stalked over to her. Before she could react, he snatched the grocery bag out of her hand and tore it into shreds. “Here’s what I think of the brown paper bag test.”

“Quentin—”

“And here’s what I think of anyone who buys into that ridiculous ass shit.” He scooped up the torn pieces and turned to dump them in the sink.

As Lexi watched in disbelief, he grabbed the lighter from a drawer, flicked it on and set fire to one of the shredded pieces of paper. When it went up in flames, he tossed it onto the pile in the sink, letting the whole thing burn.

Lexi laughed, shaking her head as he turned back to her. “I can’t believe you just did that! You’d better be glad that stainless steel is nonflamm—”

Quentin put his hands around her waist and lifted her onto the island, then reached under her maxi skirt to grasp the waistband of her boy shorts. She lifted her hips so he could pull the underwear off her legs, exposing her buttocks to the cool surface of the countertop.

She shivered. “Baby—”

“I wish a motherfucker would try to tell me my wife is too dark.” He unbuckled his belt and shoved down his pants along with his briefs. His heavy erection bobbed from between his long shirttails.

Lexi licked her lips as warm moisture trickled from her sex.

“You’re mine,” Quentin growled, “and that’s the only damn thing that matters.”

Hazel eyes glittering fiercely, he wrenched her hips to his, causing her to gasp at the feel of his hot, hard cock. Pulse quickening with arousal, she hooked her legs around his hips and planted her palms on the counter to anchor herself.

And then he plunged inside her, capturing her wild cry in his mouth as she threw back her head.

Sipping at her parted lips, he began thrusting deeply into her…

…and there was no more talk of paper bag tests or anything else.

16

T
he Harringtons of Savannah were one of the oldest families in Georgia. They were members of the elite old guard, a bastion of the black aristocracy that took great pride in upholding traditions that kept them largely insulated from the rest of society. They belonged to the right social clubs, attended the right churches, earned the right degrees and held the right occupations. They married into the right families, sent their children to the right private schools and camps, and presented their daughters at the right debutante cotillions. They owned successful businesses and summered in Martha’s Vineyard and Sag Harbor.

Such was the life of privilege and prestige that Georgina Harrington had been born into. Had she not strayed from the path of her birthright, her life would have been filled with country club luncheons, cocktail soirees, charity balls, art auctions and lavish dinner parties hosted for her husband’s wealthy friends and clients.

But she’d been expelled from this world, excommunicated for the unpardonable sin of heeding the desires of her heart rather than the dictates of her pedigree. Shunned by her family, she’d returned to Atlanta to defiantly forge a new path for herself, far from the only world she’d ever known.

The narrative of his mother’s life dominated Quentin’s thoughts on the way to her family home that afternoon. As they neared their destination, he glanced over at Lexi. She was staring raptly out the window, her nose nearly pressed to the glass. He could feel her growing excitement, and wished he shared it.

When he reached over and gently touched her cheek, she turned to smile at him. Her eyes glowed with a softness that told him she understood just how difficult this trip was for him and his mother.

As he stared at her, she took his hand and curled her fingers around his, then tenderly kissed his knuckles.

His chest swelled, and in that moment, he was powerfully reminded of all the reasons he loved her so damn much.

Lifting his eyes to the rearview mirror, he studied his mother. She, too, was staring out the window, her hands folded tightly in her lap. She was a thousand miles away, lost in memories that were beyond his reach.

Soon he was steering the Escalade down a winding country road flanked by an alley of live oaks. A large gatehouse guarded the entrance to the Harrington family estate. He slowed as he drove through tall wrought-iron gates, following the curve of the road.

The centerpiece of the property was a sprawling antebellum mansion that dominated the landscape. It had four white columns and a generous front porch adorned with white wicker chairs and a matching wicker love seat. Majestic moss-draped oaks that had presided over the land for generations surrounded the grand house. Although it was winter and the branches were bare, Quentin could imagine them thick and leafy, swaying in the sultry summer breeze with gracious indolence.

“Wow,” he heard Lexi whisper in awe. 

He parked in the circular drive directly in front of the mansion. Then he stared up at it for several moments, feeling no connection to the house or its inhabitants.

Lexi touched his arm. “Are you ready?”

He nodded, his mouth set grimly. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

He glanced in the backseat at his mother. She was still staring out the window. “You ready, Ma?”

She didn’t respond.

He and Lexi looked at each other, then nodded wordlessly and climbed out of the Escalade. Quentin opened the back door, took their sleeping son out of his car seat and cradled him against his shoulder.

When his mother still hadn’t moved, he and Lexi exchanged concerned glances.

“Maybe she’s not ready,” Lexi whispered.

Quentin clenched his jaw. He was more than willing to get right back in the car and head back to Atlanta.

But then suddenly the back door opened.

He turned to watch as his mother slowly climbed out of the Escalade and shut the door. Then she stood there with her eyes closed and her face lifted toward the sky, breathing in the honeyed fragrance of the afternoon as she heard the whispers of childhood ghosts.

After more than four decades, Georgina Harrington was back.

Back with the family that coldly repudiated her and the man she loved. Back to face the past from which she’d courageously turned away.

Watching her, Quentin was struck by the profound poignancy of the moment. When his mother finally opened her eyes, he wasn’t surprised to see them glistening with tears.

Meeting his gaze, she gave a barely perceptible nod that conveyed more than any words she could have spoken.

She was ready.

As they all turned and started toward the house, the massive front door opened and Edward Harrington emerged. He stared out at them for a long moment, then walked to the top of the porch stairs to wait for them.

As Georgina came up the steps first, he gazed at her. His eyes were dark and full of emotion. “Welcome home.”

“Thank you, Edward,” she said quietly.

He leaned down to kiss her cheek and gently clasp her hand. “I can’t tell you how much it means to me to have you here, Georgie.”

She smiled tremulously at him. “I’m glad I came.”

“So am I.” Edward kissed her forehead, then turned to shake Quentin’s hand and clap him on the shoulder. “Thank you for coming, nephew.”

Quentin nodded, putting his arm around Lexi. “This is my wife—”

“Alexis. Of course.” Edward smiled warmly at her. “It’s wonderful to meet you.”

“Hello, Mr. Harrington.” Lexi ignored his outstretched hand and hugged him, catching him off guard. After a startled moment, he wrapped his arms around her, hugging her back with an expression of fierce gratitude.

And just with that simple gesture of acceptance, Lexi had won him over.

He released her and smiled, his eyes warm. “Please call me Uncle Edward.”

Lexi smiled. “All right.”

Edward’s pleased gaze shifted to Junior, who was now awake and eyeing him curiously. “What a beautiful boy. Six months old, right?”

Quentin and Lexi nodded.

Edward looked hopefully at Quentin. “May I?”

After a brief hesitation, Quentin handed his son over to his uncle.

Edward stroked Junior’s hair and kissed the top of his head, then looked at Quentin and whispered humbly, “Thank you.”

Quentin inclined his head.

“Edward,” Georgina said quietly, “are they here?”

Her brother didn’t have to ask whom she meant. “They’re attending a luncheon,” he explained, presumably referring to their parents. “I planned it that way. I wanted to give you a chance to arrive and get settled before you see them.”

Georgina nodded, looking relieved and grateful. “Thank you.”

“No thanks necessary. I don’t want to overwhelm you.” Edward smiled gently. “On that note, I want you all to meet the rest of the family.”

As if on cue, the front door opened and a large crowd of people emerged from the house, moving with an orderly precision that made Quentin yearn for the boisterous energy of his father’s family.

As the group came forward, Edward swept his arm around the slender waist of a primly attractive light-skinned woman in a high-collared gray dress with matching pumps. “Everyone, I’d like to introduce my wife, Grace.”

The woman smiled pleasantly and shook their hands in turn.

“Your brother has told me so much about you,” she informed Quentin’s mother. “It’s an honor to meet you at last.”

“Thank you, Grace,” Georgina said warmly. “I look forward to getting better acquainted.”

The next several minutes were filled with the many introductions that come with meeting relatives for the first time. There were three adult children who belonged to Edward and Georgina’s sister Olivia. All three had spouses and kids who ranged in age from toddlers to teenagers.

Standing behind Edward’s wife were their four children. Richmond, the eldest son, was married with two small kids. He resembled his father, tall and fair skinned with astute dark eyes set in an aristocratically handsome face. He pumped Quentin’s hand, clapped him on the shoulder and welcomed him to the fold. The other two, Wesley and Lavinia, were more reserved, although they seemed more shy than aloof.

“And last but not least,” Edward announced, putting his arm around the shoulders of a beautiful girl who appeared to be in her mid twenties. “This is my youngest daughter.” Watching his sister’s face, he added quietly, “Her name is Georgina.”

Quentin’s mother gasped. Her stunned gaze flew from her brother to her niece. “You named her…after me?”

Edward nodded, smiling poignantly.

With her smooth honey complexion and long dark hair, Georgina Harrington bore such a startling resemblance to her namesake that Quentin couldn’t help staring at her.

She stepped forward with a shy smile. “Hello, Aunt Georgina. It’s so nice to finally meet you.”

“Oh, my goodness.” Blinking back tears, Quentin’s mother pulled her niece into her arms and hugged her long and hard. Watching them, Quentin felt a lump rising in his throat. When he glanced at Lexi, he could tell she was just as moved.

As expected, everyone oohed and aahed over Junior, with some of the girls vying to hold him. After much cajoling, Edward relinquished the baby to one of his niece’s teenage daughters. Junior looked at the smiling young faces gathered around him and flashed his toothless grin, drawing coos of delight from the enraptured crowd.

Edward grinned at Georgina, Quentin and Lexi. “Let’s go inside.”

They followed him through the intricately carved front door into a cavernous entryway. The sweeping grandeur of the house made Quentin blink in surprise as he looked up and around.

A spectacular crystal chandelier hung above the foyer, lighting every corner of the massive space. The vaulted ceiling seemed to soar to the sky, flanked by palatial balconies on the upper level. A dramatic curving staircase reminded Quentin of the one featured in
Gone With the Wind
—one of many movies Lexi had maneuvered him into watching over the years. The walls were adorned with rare oil paintings that had undoubtedly been passed down through generations of Harringtons. Although the hardwood floors were probably original, they had been sanded, stained and polished to a high gleam that made them look new. Through open doorways on either side of the foyer, Quentin could see that there were not one but two high-ceilinged parlors. Both were lavishly appointed with rich fabrics, marble fireplaces, ornate antiques and heirlooms, and expensive Persian area rugs. Sunlight shimmered like rainbow prisms through French doors that overlooked well-tended gardens.

As Quentin took it all in, he couldn’t help thinking of the old row house he’d been raised in. Although his mother had kept their home spotless, it might as well have been a shack compared to this mansion. While she’d never once complained, it hurt him to think of her settling for such shabby digs after growing up in a place like this.

He turned to look at her, gauging her reaction to being here after all these years.

She was walking around slowly, touching things here and there with an expression of quiet nostalgia. “Everything looks the same.”

Edward watched her with a soft smile. “Think so?”

She nodded. “It’s like…” She trailed off, but the unsaid words hung in the air like a ghostly whisper.
It’s like I never left.

After a long moment, Edward announced, “Grace and I live a stone’s throw from here with our two youngest. If there’s time tomorrow, I’d like to take you all over there, show you our home.”

“I’d like that,” Georgina said softly, studying a painting of a pastoral landscape on a lazy summer day.

Suddenly the front door burst open, and a stylishly dressed woman in her early sixties strode into the house, her high heels clicking smartly on the polished wood floor. She bore such a strong likeness to Quentin’s mother that he knew she must be his aunt.

As his mother turned around, the woman froze and stared at her. “Georgina?” she whispered.

Georgina’s smile was bittersweet. “Hello, Olivia.”

Olivia rushed forward, pulled Georgina into her arms and gave her a hard, welcoming hug that went on forever. When they pulled apart, both women had tears running down their faces.

“I’m sorry,” Olivia whispered with feeling, cradling her sister’s face between her hands. “I am truly sorry—”

Georgina shook her head. “Liv, please—”

“No.” Olivia gave her a fierce look. “It needed to be said. That and so much more. But we’ll talk later. Let me say hello to my nephew.”

She hastily wiped the tears from her eyes before hugging and kissing Quentin, exclaiming over his height and “devilish” good looks.

“He takes after his father,” Georgina said, her eyes glowing with pride.

“Indeed.” Olivia gave Quentin another admiring glance, then turned to embrace Lexi. Drawing back, she cupped her cheek and sighed. “Such a pretty little thing, isn’t she, Georgie?”

Georgina smiled warmly. “Yes, she is.”

“And just look at this precious child.” Olivia took Junior from her granddaughter, gushing over him as he stared up at her in bewildered wonder. “Goodness, what a handsome baby boy you are! You look just like your daddy.”