Southern Exposure (Southern Desires Series Book 2) (12 page)

Oh, I can stand her all right. Too damn much. That’s the problem.
“She is not the issue. There are so many more repairs than we first thought.”
Thanks to my little diversion tactic that worked like a charm, but with one casualty, her bathroom. Damn. I still can’t believe I did that shit. Don’s never going to let me live it down.

“We? I thought you took these side jobs because you liked working alone. What’s really going on, Mark?” She tried sounding in control, but he heard the concern in her voice.

I think she’s spent too much time around me; she’s picking up my interrogation skills. I don’t like it. But what she still lacks is the ability to lie. You need both to excel.

“Don Farrell was between contracts and decided to come by and give me a hand.”

“I haven’t seen him in years. Not since you stopped making him follow me to make sure I was behaving myself.” Casey laughed.

He was still around, just got better at not being seen. Don’t worry, sis, I’ve always got your six.

“So get here a few days early, do you hear me?”

“I’ll do my best, but I can’t promise. We are in the middle of a major renovation, and I don’t want to leave her here without a working bathroom. Casey, Hannah’s had some tough times, and I’m not talking about needing work done here. I don’t want to add to them.” That was close enough to the truth to ease his conscience.

“What do you mean by tough times?”

“Her father died. She’s trying to deal with everything, but I’m sure you can imagine, it’s not easy.” He knew that was going to hit Casey hard. She was taking their father’s illness the hardest. She was Daddy’s little girl. It sounded as though Hannah was the same with her father.

“I’m sure it’s not easy for them.”

“She’s all alone, Casey. Her mother died when she was born.” Even telling Casey this information was tugging at his heart. Empathy was something he often faced in the field, but this was unlike anything he’s experienced. It felt
personal.

There was a long pause on the line before she said anything. “Oh, my God. I’ve got it. It’s perfect. I can’t wait to tell Sissie. This solves everything.” Casey’s voice was beyond excited, and it scared the shit out of Mark.

What is she thinking? And what did I just get myself into?
“Care to enlighten me?”

Casey laughed. “Not at the moment. I’ll call you tomorrow. Have a great day, Mark.”

She was too happy and plotting something. If he had the time to figure it out he would, but right now, he needed to help Don upstairs, or they’d never get this place done.

Mark flipped the button to record and left the room. Tonight he could listen while everyone else slept, except him and the tenant, that is.

Hannah and Bailey were out for a walk when her cell phone rang. Not many people called, and usually it was a collection agency regarding her father’s bills or her student loans.
What part of “I’ll pay when I can” don’t they get?

She would pay every cent she owed. It might not be on the schedule they wanted, but she didn’t like owing anyone anything. That’s why she wouldn’t accept charity. Because she was unable to return the favor.
One day things will be different. I will not give up. My father never did and neither will I.

Her phone dinged announcing she’d missed a call.
They can leave a message that I can delete later.

It rang again.
They’re persistent today.

“Aren’t you going to answer that?” Bailey stopped walking and looked at her sternly.

What could she say, that she was avoiding taking the call? She pulled it out of her pocket and answered.

“Well, I thought for sure you might be preoccupied with that sexy contractor since you weren’t answering my call.”

Sissie.

“Sorry, Sissie. I didn’t know it was you. How have you been?”

“I’ll be much better when you get your pretty little butt over here to visit me. I’ve not seen you in a few years. I think you’ve forgotten all about me.”

“Never. I’ve been so busy with the house and work.”

“Excuses work on people who don’t know you, girl. Now my friend is getting married this weekend, and it’s going to be a huge shindig. The whole town’s invited with their families.”

“That sounds exciting.”

“It would be, but you’re my only family. I’m not going alone. Do you hear me, girl? It’s time for you to come and visit.”

Sissie was using her tone that said
one way or another
. The problem was she couldn’t afford to travel except to her job. Never mind traveling all the way to Honeywell, Texas to attend a wedding of someone she didn’t even know.

“Sissie, I can’t come right now. I’m sorry.”

Bailey grabbed the phone from her hand. “Hey, Sissie, this is Bailey, your cousin’s best friend. When do you need her there?”

Hannah couldn’t believe this. Her best friend was turning on her like that.
She knows I can’t afford to go. And I have all this construction going on. Bailey, you’re not doing this to me.

“Great. You’ll see us both there tomorrow night. And thanks again for the invite. I’ve always wanted to see Texas. Hope the saying is true that everything is bigger in Texas.” Bailey laughed, and Hannah was sure Sissie had a snappy rebuttal to that comment. Sissie normally was quick-witted.

Bailey ended the call and handed the phone back to Hannah.

“I can’t believe you did that.” Hannah’s voice wasn’t harsh but shaking from hurt. She was going to have to call her cousin back and say she wasn’t going. It would’ve been easier being upfront and honest the first time.
Now she’ll be disappointed and won’t believe I really can’t go.

“Do what? Get you out of this place and on a vacation you need so badly?”

“I can’t afford to go, and you are the one person who knows that.”

Bailey put an arm around her shoulder as they started walking toward the house. “You’re right, but do you know what I do have?”

“No.”

“I have enough frequent flier miles from all my flying to comedy shows that it won’t cost either of us a dime to travel. And your cousin said we can stay with her. I know you took some time off from the diner so you could spend quality time with me. So let’s spend it in Texas. Are you ready to give in, or would you like to come up with a few more excuses that I’ll be happy to shoot down?”

“What about the repairs? Who is going to watch them?”

“Hannah. Be honest, girl. It’s not the repairs you’ve been watching, is it?” Bailey laughed.

Damn it. This is why we’re friends. She pushes me in ways I’m not always comfortable with, but she always has my best interest in mind. Am I that good a friend to her? I hope she knows how much I appreciate and love her. Once again she’s right. I do need a break.
“Okay. I’m going because I can’t stand to share that bathroom with those two guys for another week. I only asked one thing, one small thing.”

“Put the seat down?”

Hannah nodded.

“You have so much to learn, Hannah. It’s the small things that trip up the guys. You’d have more luck asking for the moon.”

Hannah laughed. “I’m glad you stole my phone from me.”

“Good, because I have more to tell you, but I’m holding out till we’re in Texas.”

Oh great. And you’re my friend?
Hannah smiled and wrapped her arm around Bailey’s waist as they approached the house.
Yes, you’re my best and dearest friend.

“W
hat do you mean you’re leaving me here to do the repairs on my own?”

Mark didn’t look at Don. “I told you, Casey is getting married.”

“Exactly. What I want to know is where the hell is my invitation? I thought I was like a brother to her.”

“Don, men don’t like to go to their own weddings, never mind someone else’s. So tell me why you suddenly want to go?”

“For starters, there usually are a bunch of single women at weddings. Next, anything is better than sitting here by myself while you go off and have all the fun.”

“You won’t be alone. I’m leaving you here to keep an eye on Hannah and Bailey while I’m gone.”

Don laughed. “So if I didn’t have to watch the ladies I could go?”

“Yes. But I can’t have them here alone with that guy upstairs.” Don knew this could be serious as Mark had given him his spare sidearm. If Don weren’t there, Mark wouldn’t go to the wedding. His priority would be to protect them at all cost.

“Excellent, so we will take my jet, which is still at the airport.”

Mark got up from where he was working and looked at Don. His voice was gruff and full of attitude. He was too tired to deal with any shit today. “What part of “you’re protecting the girls” did you miss?”

“None. But since they’re boarding a plane today, I don’t see why I should sit around here twiddling my thumbs. Besides, it’s a perfect time for me to have a crew come and get the work done for us.”

Are they leaving?
“Where are they going?”

Don shrugged his shoulders. “Bailey wouldn’t say. She said it’s a surprise for Hannah. I’m glad they’re heading out of here. We can have this done in a week or less without killing ourselves doing it.”

“What kind of surprise?”

Don was apparently frustrated. “I don’t know, and I don’t care. You brought me here to get the work done. Somehow it’s all working out better than either of us could hope for, yet you don’t seem to give a shit about what I’m telling you.”

Mark knew Don was right. His focus was on Hannah and not on the house.
This trip is good. She’ll be happy. That’s all that matters. I just wish I knew where and why she was going. And why she didn’t tell me . . .

“What were you saying about the repairs?” Mark hated admitting he wasn’t listening to Don, but it’d been obvious anyway.

“Since they are out for a week, I don’t know why I can’t bring in a team to get this all done. We don’t even need to be here to supervise. They can show up in the morning, and we’ll tell them what needs to be done and come back after the wedding, and we’ll do the finishing touches long before the girls get back.”

It sounded good. Mark liked projects, but this one was much more than he normally took on. Getting some extra hands while they were away would mean he could concentrate on the guy upstairs when they got back.

“Do it.”

“Oh, I already did. They’ll be here by six a.m. tomorrow. My jet leaves at ten.”

Bastard.
Don was the only person who could get away with pulling that type of shit and he knew it. But this time, he was more of a cocky bastard than usual. Even though the plan was coming together nicely, he preferred it when it was his plan, and he had control.

This has to stop. When we get back from Texas, I’m taking the control back.
He knew this was much bigger than Don. He’d lost it with Hannah more than he ever thought possible. Time away from her was exactly what he needed. If he didn’t put some distance between them, he wasn’t sure he’d be able to hold back next time their paths crossed.

“Isn’t this fun?” Bailey said as they stood by the window of the airport terminal.

“Loads.” The sarcasm was coming through loud and clear.

“Okay, tell me what’s wrong.”

Hannah turned to her and said, “I can’t believe you wouldn’t let me tell Mark we were leaving. What’s he supposed to think?”

“Keep the man guessing. Besides, I told Don, and he’ll tell Mark. See, all good. Stop worrying already.”

Worry is all I seem to do lately. Worry about bills and worry about disappointing people. It’s exhausting, and I can’t keep doing it. But what options are there?

“It’s easy for you to say. But that place is all I have.”

“No. You’re wrong on that point, my friend. You have so much more, and getting away to see your cousin might help you realize that.”

I hope so. Right now I just want to be back at that old broken down piece of shit because that is where Mark is. That’s stupid because he’s been avoiding me since I had my little meltdown, but I can’t stop thinking of him. The damn man is making me feel. I’ve tried so hard not to.

“While we wait for them to call out seat numbers, why don’t you tell me what else you and Sissie have planned for me?”

“Good try, but no. That is a surprise. My lips are sealed.”

“I thought we were friends.”

“BFF always. But the answer is still no.”

Before she could push any more, their seat numbers were called to board the plane.
You lucked out that time, Bailey. When will it be my turn to have some luck?

They boarded, and Hannah gave Bailey the window seat. She hated to fly, but Bailey loved it. As they taxied away from the terminal, they passed by a row of private jets.

“Now that’s the life. No lines, no waiting.”

Hannah looked out to see what Bailey had been pointing to. “Maybe when we’re old and gray we’ll have one too,” Hannah teased.

“It comes when you least expect it.”

Then it should’ve already been here.

“Hannah, hurry up and look at that one. The smaller jet. What does it say?”

She leaned over again not watching the movement as they taxied, trying to avoid getting sick. “I don’t know.”

“Look. I think it says Farrell.”

Hannah looked again. It did look like that, but she wasn’t sure. The letters were too small. “It could be anything, Bailey.”

“Yeah, it could, but it could also be Farrell. You don’t think—?”

“No, Bailey. I don’t. Did you see the old beat-up truck he’s driving?”

“Oh, yeah. What the heck was I thinking? That some billionaire decided to play contractor at your house just for fun? I tell you, I think I’ve been doing comedy so long my imagination thinks anything is possible.”

“Well, you ask Don when we get back if he’s a billionaire undercover and let’s see if he laughs.”
I know I will if you actually do it.

She gripped the armrest as they began their takeoff. Bailey reached out and covered her hand. “And off to live on the wild side for a week, Hannah. Who knows, maybe we’ll even rustle us up some sexy cowboys.”

She was going for one reason and one reason only: her friend with a very strong will. If she had her way, she’d have her feet planted on the ground where they belonged. She didn’t know why she hated flying so much. She’d made this flight every summer when she was a child and went to stay with Sissie. But as she got older, things that hadn’t scared her then, did now.

When did I change so much?

She knew the answer. It happened when she stopped dreaming of her future and living only in the moment. She hoped this trip would help her find the answers she was looking for. Find herself again. She might’ve missed out on her first dream, but that shouldn’t mean there weren’t new ones waiting to be made. All she needed to do was look past the moment and see what lay ahead.

That was easier said than done. She couldn’t stop thinking about what she was leaving behind. Maybe when she saw Sissie she’d tell her about the promise she’d made to her father. Sissie was the same age as her father, so maybe she could shed some light on what she should do.

If she could let go, then she might be able to move on. It was the wise and healthy thing to do, but was she ready to or even capable of letting go? Only time would tell. Right now she was heading on vacation for seven days. If that didn’t open her eyes to some major revelation toward her future, nothing would.

I already know what I want. I just wish I could have it. Time to grow up and think of things that are actually obtainable. Dad, you taught me to stand on my own two feet. Maybe I need to learn to lean a bit too. Might not be what I want, but maybe what I get instead.

“Hannah, you look stressed to the max. Close your eyes and sleep if flying is making you nervous.”

Hannah didn’t want to close her eyes. She knew what would happen if she did. The same thing that had been happening for the past three weeks, the recurring nightmare. The last thing she needed was to wake screaming on a plane and cause everyone to think there was something wrong then be escorted off by the police.

“You sleep, Bailey. I’m not tired.”

“Hannah, you have bags under your eyes. And if you haven’t realized it, I’ve shared an apartment with you before, and I know this is not you. I wish it was that sexy hunk of a man you have, but I don’t think this has anything to do with Mark. Tell me what’s going on. Why aren’t you sleeping at night?”

God. I don’t want to think about it. It is too painful and sometimes makes me physically ill. Why would I want to share that with anyone?

“We’re friends, Hannah. If you can’t tell me, go talk to a professional. But I suggest starting with me. My rates are cheaper.” Bailey tried to lighten the mood to ease her tension. It wasn’t working.

“Bailey, it’s the dreams I can’t shake.”

“How long have you been experiencing them?”

“They started a few weeks before Mark arrived and each night they get worse.”
Or at least they feel like they are. I can’t tell any more.

“Tell me about them. They say every dream has an alternate reason behind it. Let’s see if I can decipher it.”

“It’s not a pleasant one.” How was she going to tell her friend she’d been having nightmares about a man coming to her room and raping her? Just thinking about it made her hands tremble and her mouth dry.

Bailey squeezed her hand. “And you will feel better once you say it out loud. Let me try to help. What better time than on a flight?”

Hannah closed her eyes and visualized the dream as she spoke. “I get up because I hear something outside. I’m stumbling like I’m drunk.”

“You don’t drink so there is one thing wrong with your dream. Keep going and I’ll find more.”

There was nothing real about it, yet it felt so real to Hannah. It was like she knew something but her mind wouldn’t allow her to see the entire picture. Forcing herself to continue, she said, “Bailey, I’m not alone, there are men in my apartment. People I’ve never seen before. One man is tall and strong like Mark and Don. He has dark hair and his eyes . . . his eyes are black and cold. Like staring into utter darkness. And his face. He has a long scar across one cheek, jagged and rough. I ask him what he’s doing there. Someone shouts something to him, but I don’t know what’s being said. The man comes and grabs me, hurting me. His hands are digging into my arms as he drags me to my bedroom.”

Hannah didn’t want to think about it anymore. It was painful enough when it came to her in her sleep, but now recalling it hurt even more.

“Hannah. Have you ever seen this man before? In person or maybe on television?”

Shaking her head she answered, “I’ve thought long and hard, and no, I’ve never seen him or any of them before.”

“How many men do you see in your dream?”

“Three, maybe four. But only one face comes back to me again and again. The one with the scar.”

“What does he do in your dream?” Bailey’s voice was so soft and sweet as she tried to console Hannah.

“He throws me on the bed. I try to move but my body can’t. I try to scream for help, but I have no voice. His hand is on my throat and he says I’m his now. His mouth comes down on my lips, hurting me.” Hannah felt sick as usual. “I can feel his hands on me, saying something I can’t understand. I’m crying and want him to stop. Then the rest is blank. My dreams stops.”
Thank God. I don’t think I would want it to be any more than that. It’s like dreaming of a rape that never happened. I know it’s not real, but it is taking a toll on me physically and emotionally anyway.

“Oh sweetheart. No wonder you can’t sleep and look so tired. That’s horrible. You must’ve watched a scary movie before sleeping one night and now you can’t stop thinking about it. I’ve read about how some people are more susceptible to that after suffering a loss.”