“This is Connie Moore reporting live from the Red Carpet of Charlottesville’s annual Live-It-Up Ball to benefit cancer research. This year’s entertainment is Grammy winner Caden Granger, who will be performing to a sold-out crowd. Tonight is particularly special, because it will be the first time his father, Sheppard Granger, will see his son perform. As most of you know, Sheppard Granger was released from jail after serving fifteen years for a crime he didn’t commit. All the Granger men and their wives are expected tonight. It’s no secret that the youngest Granger, Dalton, is engaged to be married. Sorry, ladies. Unfortunately, he’s taken, and plans to tie the knot on New Year’s Day.
“Everyone is excited and anxiously waiting for the Granger limo to arrive so we can all get a glimpse of those handsome men. In the meantime, here is our mayor-elect, Ivan Greene, arriving. Mr. Mayor, may we have a word with you?”
Ivan Greene smiled for the camera, showing a mouth full of dazzling white teeth. “Yes, Connie, I will always have time for the people of Charlottesville, and I’m glad everyone came out to support such a worthwhile cause tonight.”
“Thanks, Mr. Mayor. And what do you think about Sheppard Granger being released from jail after all this time?”
Still smiling, Ivan faced the camera and said, “I’m glad Mr. Granger was released. I, for one, never believed he was guilty...”
“What the f—”
Jules slapped her hand over her fiancé’s mouth before he could finish what he was about to say. They were sitting in the limo with everyone and watching the proceedings on the limo TV monitor. “Remember, sweetheart, we are in the company of others,” she said, smiling. “And there are guests,” she said, referring to her father and Mona.
Dalton removed her hand from his mouth, kissing her fingers, and then said, “Your dad and Mona aren’t guests. They’re family. And please tell me, at what time did Ivan Greene think Dad was innocent?”
Sheppard reached across the aisle of the limo and placed a hand on his youngest son’s shoulders. “Let it go, Dalton. It doesn’t matter anymore.”
Jules glanced over at Dalton, saw that hard glint in his eye and knew that he wouldn’t let it go. Oh, boy.
“In a way, I don’t blame Dalton,” Caden said. “I don’t think I’ll ever forget how the Greenes treated me at Shiloh’s open house. I might dedicate a song to them tonight.”
Dalton smiled. “Which one?”
“A musical rendition of ‘Eating Crow.’”
“I got one better,” Dalton countered. “How about ‘Your Lying Heart?’”
Jace shook his head, grinning at his brothers. “I am so glad you’re back, Dad. They are yours to tame.”
When the limo pulled up to the red carpet, the driver opened the door, and everyone behind the ropes began screaming. Some for Dalton, some for Sheppard, others for Caden and some for Jace. Mostly for Caden. Jules knew men in black tuxes did things for some women.
Connie seized the opportunity to cop an interview with Sheppard. “Mr. Granger, I understand the state will compensate you for all that time you were unjustly incarcerated.”
Smiling, Sheppard said, “That’s what I understand. Any compensation will be going to the Sheppard Granger Foundation for Troubled Teens. Now if you will excuse me, my family and I need to get inside. I’m anxious to see my son perform tonight.”
Sheppard and the others moved ahead, but Dalton hung back. It wasn’t long before Jules figured out why. Ivan hadn’t gone inside yet, and he was standing in a group surrounded by reporters while being interviewed.
“Hand me your lipstick,” he said.
She lifted a brow. “What?”
“Hand me your lipstick.”
“Which just happens to be your favorite color?”
He smiled down at her. “Yes, my favorite color.”
She opened her purse and gave him the lipstick. She glanced back over at the mayor. Too bad he was wearing a white suit.
She watched Dalton ease his way through the reporters who were so busy listening to what the mayor was saying that no one noticed the word Dalton was writing on the back of the mayor’s dinner jacket with her lipstick.
Dalton returned moments later, smiling. He handed Jules’s lipstick back to her and took her hand. “Now I can enjoy the evening.”
She glanced over her shoulder just as the crowd of reporters around the mayor was disbanding. Her jaw dropped when she saw what Dalton had scrawled in flaming red on the back of Ivan Greene’s white jacket: Liar.