Lies Beneath the Surface (Buried Secrets #2) (25 page)

Bitchy.

That’s the only way to describe me.
Stress from every angle absorbs me and if I didn’t have Colton by my side, holding my hand and reminding me to breath, I’d done lost my shit. At twenty weeks pregnant my rounded belly is clearly noticeable, the raging hormones seep from my pores and the resting bitch face kindly tells everyone to piss off without me having to say a word. I’m restless already, my legs ache in misery each night as I try to sleep. I want to eat and have sex around the clock.

Colton is beyond ecstatic that I have such
an insatiable sexual appetite. For a man who can’t keep his hands to himself, he’s living in a desirable bliss. Each morning, my hands find his thick cock before my eyes even open. He started setting his alarm earlier than usual because I was late getting Heidi Jo to school one morning due to an explicit sheetrock splitting, headboard cracking good morning
kiss
. Like I said, my hands wander. One thing led to another and before we knew it the headboard was shoved through the wall, the bed rails busted to the floor just as Colton spilled his release into me. When he collapsed on top of me, his sweaty body heaving roughly against my chest, I never wanted that moment to end. Whether he makes love to me gently or rocks me violently beneath him in the most aggressive way, the love delivered is earth shattering.

I spent the
entire last two weeks browsing through wedding magazines and planning catalogs before I got frustrated and threw the towel in. After talking to Colton, we decided to get married on the beach. I have less than two months to tie the knot, so I don’t have time to pussyfoot around with planners, flowers and all of the other bells and whistles that go into a fairytale wedding. Give me some warm white sand, the ocean breeze blowing through my hair as the sun sets in the horizon and I’m right as rain.

Colton asked to select the music for the wedding and I happily agreed. I reminded him that he needed to find a best man, and even suggested that he ask his dad. H
e laughed at that suggestion, calling on Luke Ashton instead. Shocked the frickin’ hell right out of me, but it’s fitting in its own way. Colton’s life revolves around his daughter and coal mining, so he hasn’t had many friends involved in his life in recent years. Since he accepted Luke as a permanent fixture in my life, the two of them have become true friends which nearly scared me at first, but I’ve adapted to their friendship.

Naturally, I want Savannah to be my maid of honor, but I haven’t worked up the courage to ask her yet. She hasn’t called me since I told her
that Colton and I were engaged and I’m nervous for her reaction to being included in the wedding. Jealousy and anger are two emotions I haven’t seen on Savannah since we were kids and the more I think over her personality changes recently, the more convinced I become that Luke may be right. Instead of being bubbly and smiling all of the time, she’s withdrawn and quiet. She hates any physical contact and the light in her eyes is simply dim. I just don’t know how to approach Savannah and ask bluntly if I need to cut Josh’s dick off before torturing him slowly for hurting my sister. Not a very subtle conversation to have with someone.

I’ve been on pins
and needles over our lunch date since she replied to the text agreeing to meet me. We decided to meet at a restaurant close by her house, so after I drop Heidi Jo off at school, I stop by Simon Energy quickly to check in on Colton. He has been all up in arms over some violations that MSHA smacked us with last week. We were given two weeks to bring everything up to code or we’d have to face a ten thousand dollar fine for each day that the violations went over the two week deadline. He’s been working fourteen hour shifts, just to keep the miners asses in line and to keep any extra stress away from me; so we’ve seen very little of each other this week. He leaves the house at six AM each morning and comes dragging in after eight each night.

Shelly is nowhere in sight, so I grab the stack of mail and messages she has set aside for me and turn down the hallway towards Colton’s office. I stop mid step when I hear loud shouting seep from the walls.
There are two voices, both are muffled and I can’t make out the argument. I knock on his office door once, but I’m sure he doesn’t hear me through the shouting. Intrigued by the argument, I twist the knob pulling the door open and enter Colton’s office. The shouting stops. Colton’s eyes pierce mine and the roiling anger that radiates from him and Bill causes my breath to hitch in my throat.

“Eh, I-I’m sorry. I knocked but maybe you didn’t hear me? I’ll be in my office. Just stop by when you have a second, please.”

“You ain’t gotta run off darlin’. This frickin’ bastard was on his way out the damn door.” Colton seethes through gritted teeth. Bill stands up slowly and walks away from Colton without another word. His face is tired and haggard. The hurt and anger written in his eyes confuses me. He tips his head at me as he walks past me but never mouths a word. When he’s out of the room, I close the door behind him then sit down in front of him.

“You alright?”

“Nothin’ for you to worry with, baby.” He doesn’t even raise his hands from his face to answer me. The same tension that enveloped the air when I entered the room still hangs heavily and anxiety grips my chest tightly not knowing what has caused Colton to be so torn.

“Colton, you know you can talk to me, right? I know things have been strained with you and your dad lately, but you can talk about it if you need to.”

His head raises slowly and when I catch sight of his narrow, red rimmed eyes, I nearly fall apart at the seams. I walk around the desk and climb into his lap the best my rounded belly will allow, and hold him close to me. “Please, just talk to me.” I beg, but my plea goes unheard.

“I thought you’re supposed to meet Savannah for lunch today, Carly Jo?”

“I’m meeting her at noon. I wanted to check to see how you were today. I know you have been stressed out with MSHA, so I’ve been worried about you.”

“Don’t
worry with me, Carly Jo. I’m tryin’ to take damn stress off you, woman. Go have fun with your sister. I’m holdin’ the fort down just fine.” He presses a kiss to my lips, then lifts me from his lap. “I gotta get underground and light a fire under these bastards’ asses. I’ll see you at home.”

I want to comfort him and erase whatever is causing him to hurt, but Colton deals with things in his own way. I don’t know how his and Bill’s relationship has been over the last eight years, but lately it seems to strain more and more with each passing day.

When I get to Tessa’s Café I find Savannah waiting at a table in the far left corner of the restaurant. She has a compact in her hand blotting her face lightly with powder. She flinches as she powders the side of her jaw and a wild fury of anger rushes through me. I approach the table slowly, willing my anger to subside because I need to get answers from Savannah instead of basing everything on assumptions. Savannah smiles lightly when she sees me, but she doesn’t even stand to hug me. I sit down, scooting my chair as close to the table as the little monkey will let me.

“
Aww, you look so adorable with a little baby bump.” She sings.

“Thanks, Sis. Little monk
ey is getting bigger by the day and she obviously thinks my organs are her drum set. I swear I pee all damn day long.” I gripe like every other hormonal pregnant woman.

“
Wait! You said she and her? It’s a girl?”

“
YES! It’s a girl!” I shriek louder than I intend. Clasping my hand over my laugh, I stifle back my laughter as I look around the room at all of the surprised faces. “I’m a bit excited, or can ya tell?”

“I’
m happy for you, Carly.”

“Are you, Savannah? You seemed so hurt when I called to tell you we were engaged. It took me b
y surprise.” She drops her head hiding the shame that is clearly written in her eyes.

“
I’m very happy for you, Sis. I’m sorry I got smart with you on the phone. I’ve been really tired lately, running after these kids and then basically wipin’ Josh’s ass. I need a break.” She says massaging her temples. “Like a blissful beach vacation and the sound of the ocean waves crashing against the shore line.”

“Well, what if I could organize that for you? It wouldn’t be kid free, but you can leave the dick at home; in fact leavin’ his ass is a stipulation.”

Savannah eyes me curiously, tipping the glass to her lips. Setting it on the table, her eyes narrow and a suspicious grin tips up her lips. “Stipulation, huh? For what, exactly?”

“
For you to be my maid of honor.” I state flatly, making it appear as if the wedding is boring and mundane. Savannah’s mouth drops and she covers it with her hands as tears slip over her eye lids.

“Y-y’all are gettin’ married this soon?” She whispers.

“Our little monkey is due in September. We want our family complete when she arrives.”

The waitress interrupts our conversation to take our orders, leaving the table as quickly as she appeared.
The conversation flows freely and the excited expression lit up on her face never wavers as I explain the wedding plans in detail.

“
Wedding planning started out dreadful from the get-go. One hour of looking at wedding magazines was maddening enough for me. Colton jokingly mentioned getting married on the beach after he proposed. But once I realized how much time and attention I’d have to put into a traditional wedding, I reconsidered a beach ceremony.”

“So when’s the big day?”

“June twenty-eighth. I was thinking I could get married at the beach house in Myrtle Beach. I just want everything to be simple and elegant.” I grip her hand in mine, hoping to convey the importance of what I’m about to say. “Sis, I really want you and the kids there. This is such a special moment in my life. Please promise you’ll be there by my side when I take Colton’s hand.”

“I wouldn’t miss it
, Carly.” She winks.

The waitress brings our food to the table
and we eat in silence momentarily. “Who’s Colton’s best man? He doesn’t seem to have many friends.”

I chew back my food before replying, “Luke.” She drops the fork to her plate in surprise, her eyes wide in shock.

“Uhm, Luke? Seriously?” She asks tilting her head in bewilderment.

“Luke’s my best friend, Savannah. Colton loves me enough to put the
past behind us and focus on our future. He and Luke are pretty good friends now.” I shrug. But then I wonder, maybe it’s not the Colton and Luke issue at hand, but the Savannah and Luke issue? Savannah squirms like she has ants in her pants when Luke is anywhere near her proximity. Then the reminder of why I’m having lunch with Savannah peeks its ugly head in and I wince knowing this lunch may just go south, fast.

“Listen, Sis,” I sigh, folding my napkin and pla
cing it beside the plate, “I’ve been really worried about you lately. You just don’t seem like the same cheerful person I’ve always looked up to. Is there anything you need to talk about?” I beat around the bush, treading lightly so the land mines doesn’t explode beneath me. Savannah keeps her eye cast down as she twirls the fork lazily in the pasta.

“What do you mean, not the same, Carly?” She questions softly.

“You-you seem lost. You seem lonely. You seem afraid. You look unhappy.” Her big hazel eyes flutter up, glistening brightly with unshed tears.

“I’m fine, Sis. Don’t worry about me so much. You have your own happy little family to look after.” She smiles weakly, dabbing the tears in the corners of her eyes.