"I'm a little afraid of you, or more importantly, of us. But, I'd be a liar if I said I didn't find you attractive." Ashley James is dumped at the altar by her fiancé, so she returns to her hometown to escape the gossip her very public humiliation provokes. Secretly relieved the wedding hasn't taken place, all she wants is a quiet place to lick her wounds and get on with her life. When her first love shows up at her new job, it flips her world upside down. The attraction she still feels for Carly is undeniable, but the timing can't be any worse. Giving in to her feelings will make her vulnerable, and she's suffered enough rejection to last a lifetime. Carly Poindexter is a catch, a wealthy real-estate developer who can have any woman she desires. She typically wants a good time for the night, nothing more or less. Carly has only given her heart away once, and two decades later, she will be reunited with the love of her life. Determined to win Ashley back, she agrees to a simple fling, no strings attached. But, what Carly wants and what she agrees to are two different things. Can she break through the barriers Ashley has erected around her heart, or will she lose her all over again? So what happens when high school sweethearts are reunited? Everything. The Promise is a steamy second-chance romance with a host of unforgettable characters. This includes a wise aunt, a crazy family, and a love that refuses to die. And of course, a happy ever after you'll never forget.