Southern Exposure (Southern Desires Series Book 2) (22 page)

“It’s big, but we don’t have all the details yet. The investigation is being handled by Homeland Security.”
That doesn’t mean I am not kept up-to-date, but you don’t need to know that.
“There is one piece I haven’t been able to figure out what it’s used for.”

“What is that?”

“Ketamine. It was found hidden in the belongings of the second guy. It’s a fast acting drug, primarily used by veterinarians as a general anesthetic. These guys were not vets so who the hell were they going to knock out with that?”

“Maybe put it in some water supply in the town?”

“That doesn’t make any sense. Not enough to do any harm being so diluted. No they had a target, but who?” Mark wasn’t going to give up until he had the answers. No one carried that type of drug around without a specific use in mind. He might not have the answer now, but he would figure it out.

“Mark, you like the impossible, so this challenge is right up your alley. You just let me know when you find the answer.”

I’ll tell you something, but the truth might not be it.

“Your re-enlistment papers must be coming soon. Have you decided what to do? You already have your twenty years. The offer to work for me is always there.”

It was a decision he never had to think about before. The papers came, he signed on again. This time he’d held on to them. He wasn’t exactly sure why. Maybe it was because all the issues that had gone down in Savannah. He’d been distracted before and never hesitated. Why now?

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“We’ll be landing in thirty minutes, Mr. Farrell,” the pilot announced.

Mark pulled out his cell phone to check her location. “What the fuck?”

“Not in Rhode Island?”

“It says she’s in the hospital.”

“Hannah?”

Mark dialed the number and spoke to several people, trying to get information. No one could confirm she was there as either a guest or a patient. “If anything happened to her I’ll—”

“Mark, you have no idea why she drove all this way. I’m sure it’s not to go for a medical procedure. There has to be another reason.”

The only other reason he could come up with was it had to do with Bailey. Don didn’t seem to have thought of that scenario, and he wasn’t about to bring it up.
I hope it’s neither of them.

Don had called ahead for a limo to meet the jet. “Are you sure you don’t want me to stay? I can cancel my meeting in Boston and ride with you. Someone really should keep an eye on you right now.”

For unknown reasons, I’ve come to realize I can’t live without this woman, and she’s not taking my calls and is now at the hospital. Yeah. I’m tense. And if something is seriously wrong, it’s about to get a lot worse.

“I’ll be okay once I see her.”

Don looked at him strangely.

“What now?”

“Just wondering if you know it or not.”

“Know what?” Mark asked, frustration filling his tone.

“That you love her.”

Hi voice was sharp as he responded. “Don, just get this plane on the ground.”

“I’ll take that as a yes.”

When the plane landed, Mark bolted it to the limo, barely saying goodbye. He was not going to rest until he knew she was okay.

When he knew she was driving, he didn’t text her. But now, he was worried. He sent her a text message.
Are you okay?

She responded which was a good sign, but with only one word.
Yes.

He sent a second text.
Tell me what’s going on.

No response.
She’s alive. She’s okay. And I’ll be seeing her shortly.
He didn’t tell her that. The next time they had any words, it was going to be in person.

When he arrived at the hospital, he used the tracker to find her location. When he turned the corner, he saw her sitting in a chair bent over, her face in her hands, crying.

He ran right over to her and pulled her into his arms. “Sweetheart, what’s the matter?”

She looked up at him, shocked but crying too hard to speak. She wrapped her arms around his neck and cried even harder. He held her so tight he was afraid he’d hurt her. Whatever news she just received it wasn’t good.
Thank God, it’s not her, but whoever it is, it’s killing her inside. I can feel it. And I wish I could make it stop.

“I’m here, Hannah. You’re not alone anymore.”

He held her until she released her grip on him. Then he got up and grabbed some tissues from the nurse and handed them to Hannah.

“Tell me, Hannah. What happened?”

“The doctor just came out and told me it’s cancer.”

He felt a stab to his gut.
You’re so young. You can’t have cancer
. He knew it was a disease that didn’t discriminate on age, race, or religion. “I want you to get a second opinion. We’ll go to—”

“It’s not me. It’s Bailey. She has breast cancer. The doctor told me she signed paperwork before the biopsy to have a mastectomy if it came back as cancer. When the surgeon went in for the biopsy, they found a mass. So they are removing one of her breasts now.”

Tears started flowing again. He had no words to comfort her. Mark saw a lot of death in his life and knew words never eased the pain. All he could do was be here for her, and all she could do was be there for Bailey.

His phone beeped announcing a text message. He looked at it. “It’s Don.”

Hannah’s eyes widened. “Don’t say anything about Bailey. I shouldn’t have even told you. If she wants anyone to know, it’s her place to say. Please, Mark. Promise me.”

Not a good place to be. Between a best friend and the woman I love.
“He would want to know.”

“Mark, please. I only told you because I—”

“You love me?”

She nodded. “Yes. I love you, Mark. We have a lot to talk about, and there are things you’re not going to want to hear.”

“I know. But you already said the one thing that matters to me. You love me.” He reached a hand out to touch her cheek. It was still wet from her tears. “Hannah, look at me.”

She lifted her head, and as their eyes met, he knew, without a doubt, she was the one.

“I love you too.” Words he’d never spoken to a woman before. Always told himself he’d never say those three words. And now he couldn’t picture not telling her every day of his life.

He wished they were someplace he could pull her into his arms and show her how much he loved her. Kiss her the way he yearned to. But this was a somber moment. Her heart was torn in two. He understood that and respected it. For now, he would sit with her and wait by her side. Later, he would show her.

Lifting her hand to his lips, he kissed it. “We’ll get through this together, Hannah.”

She leaned her head on his shoulder and said, “Do you promise?”

He had never told a woman he loved her, and now he was going to say something else he’d never said. But he wasn’t saying it for any other reason except that he meant it. This moment was life changing for him. She didn’t know it, but the people closest to him would. “Hannah. I promise.”

T
hey had stayed at the hospital until Hannah had a chance to see Bailey and know she was resting peacefully. Mark could tell Hannah was emotionally and physically exhausted. As he drove her Volkswagen to a hotel only minutes away from the hospital, she dozed off.
You’re an amazing woman, Hannah. Driving yourself from Georgia to Rhode Island all alone to be by your friend in a time of need. Absolutely amazing.

He went in, got them a suite, and went back to the car to find her still asleep. If it wouldn’t cause suspicion he would’ve picked her up and carried her to their room.

Brushing the curl across her face to the side, Mark touched her cheek gently. “Sweetheart. We’re at the hotel. Let’s get you inside and to bed.”

Her eyes fluttered and finally opened. “I was hoping today was just a bad dream. That Bailey wasn’t—”

“I know. She’s lucky to have you as a friend.”

Hannah got out of the car. “No, Mark. I’m the lucky one. She’s been there for me when my father got sick, and then again when he died. Even now she’s sick but worried about me.”

“How do you know?”

“Because she asked if you were with me. She didn’t want me to be alone.”

Mark smiled.
I like Bailey more and more as I get to know her.
“Then I’m sure she was happy to hear you’re not.”

Hannah nodded. “She said next time I go visit, I have to bring you with me. She has a few things she wants to discuss with you.”

If she knows what went down that last day we saw each other, I’m sure she doesn’t want to tell me what a sweet guy I am.
Mark knew whatever she’d say, wasn’t half as bad as what he deserved. He might be here now, but that didn’t make up for the times he wasn’t.

He pulled her suitcase from the back seat, and they headed up to their room. “Right now all I want you to think about is sleep.”

“Mark, I can’t.”

“Yes, you can. You did on the way over here. Once your head hits that pillow, you’ll be out like a light.”

As he opened the door, she entered the suite, turned to him, and said, “You’re right. I could sleep for days. But I don’t want to.”

“Why?”

“Because no matter how stressful you think my day has been, it won’t get any better until you and I talk.”

The last thing he wanted to do was make things any harder on her. “Hannah, it can wait.”

She walked over and sat on the couch. “No, it can’t. If anything today has shown me, it’s that things like this shouldn’t wait.”

He walked over and sat beside her. There was so much to say, and he had no clue where to start. “Would you like to go first, or should I?”

“I will, because I have many questions and don’t want you distracting me so I forget.”

A woman on a mission. I respect that.
“I’m all yours.”

“Good.”

He sat there waiting, but she said nothing. All she did was stare into his eyes. “Hannah. ask me whatever you want to. I’ll answer anything I can.”

“Mark, this isn’t fair.”

“What isn’t?”

“I was so angry with you for hiding things from me, for pulling the control away from me with the house renovations, and the mortgage, and for leaving me without even . . . saying goodbye.”

You mean without responding to you when you told me you loved me. I’m a complete asshole and don’t deserve you at all. But I’m going to try to explain now and someday try to make it up to you.

“Hannah. First you have to understand who I am. My entire life has been focused on serving in the US Navy. Nothing has ever come before that. What I do is confidential, and I cannot share it with you. Not because I don’t want to, but because I can’t.”

“I understand that.”

That’s the easy part. The rest won’t be. I’m going to have to be honest with myself so I can be honest with her.
He reached out and took her right hand in his. Her hand was so tiny and soft. She was stronger than most women, but still fragile. He needed to remember that as he spoke.

“I was between deployments when Sissie gave me the heads-up that you needed help with your home. There have been times in the past that I would seek out small jobs to help people for a few days to change my mindset when I returned to the States. If I didn’t, I’ve been known to be a bit difficult to be around.”

That was mildly put, but telling her I can be a controlling, demanding asshole isn’t the way I want her to see me. Hell, I’m already trying to dig myself out of the hole I dug. Don’t need to make it worse.

“So your place seemed perfect. Until I got there and realized it wasn’t only a few days that you needed me.”

“Yeah. I tried to explain it when we were texting before you came. I honestly never really thought you were going to show up so I left out some things.”

Most things.
“I normally would’ve told the person that this job was more than what I was looking for. When I saw you, I knew I couldn’t leave you to face everything yourself. Of course, that didn’t mean I could do it either. That’s when I called Don. Everything I know about construction, he taught me.”
If I didn’t you still wouldn’t have a running water.

“Why weren’t you honest and let me know what you were doing? Why not give me the option to say yes or no?”

“Because I knew you’d say no.” He said it. That was the truth.

She looked at him puzzled then shook her head. “Are you saying that you purposely lied and manipulated the situation because you knew I didn’t want your help?”

“Yes. I’m an asshole when you say it like that. All I wanted to do was lift the weight off your shoulders so you could start fresh. You’d been through a lot and all I wanted to do was help. There were issues with my plan, however with the time frame I had to work with, it was the most plausible. I wasn’t thinking about how my actions were going impact your life in any way other than a positive way. Obviously I was wrong.”

“Lying, Mark, never gets a positive result.”

“If you would’ve asked, I wouldn’t have lied. But I am very good at my job, which meant I was able to make things seem different from what they really were.”

Mark was at time to damn good at his job. He could hear the hurt in her voice as she asked.

“Was there anything real at all? Or was everything including Texas an elaborate effort to keep me from finding out what you were doing to my house?”

“Texas wasn’t supposed to happen. I didn’t know you were there. When Don told me you and Bailey went on a vacation, I thought I could attend Casey’s wedding and return to Savannah to finish the job and be gone before you got back home.”

“So you’re saying you didn’t want to see me again.”

This is going so badly. How is it I can interrogate some of the most lethal people in the world, but I’m cornered by one sweet lovely woman?

“Yes and no.”

“Care to elaborate on that answer?” Hannah asked with frustration loud and clear in her voice.

“Yes. I wanted it done so I wouldn’t see you again. But not because I didn’t want to see you. The problem was I found myself thinking of you all the time. I have never let myself feel as I did then. Or as I do now.”

She as searching his eyes for confirmation. He was who he’d always been. A person who couldn’t be read. Yet he wanted her to see the truth within him. Mark wanted her to see the side of him that he never allowed anyone to see. After a moment of her staring at him, she must have found what she was looking for as she asked more softly, “What changed?”

The answer was so complicated and yet so damn simple. “You. I changed because of you. I have been focused only on my job, and now I see you too. You’ve got me dreaming of things I’ve never dreamt of before.”

“Like what?”

He didn’t answer.

“Tell me, Mark. Help me understand.”

“My job means you never know what tomorrow brings. So I’ve never allowed myself to think beyond today. You changed that. Through your eyes I saw a home, a family. Things that would’ve scared the shit out of me before.”

“And now?”

“It scares the shit out of me thinking that you might not forgive me for what I did. And my dream will stay that, just a dream.”

Hannah quietly took in everything he was telling her.
Why would she take my word after I told her I manipulated her to get what I wanted? Maybe I shouldn’t have been so damn honest about everything.

“Being married to someone like me wouldn’t be easy. You’d go periods of time having to trust that I love you and will do everything in my power to come home to you. That is why I didn’t want to see you. You deserve someone who will be with you by your side every day.”

“Wait. What? Married? Who are you to tell me what I deserve or want?” Hannah’s spoke sharply.

You’re right. I shouldn’t.

“For starters, you’re right. I would’ve said no about the repairs. I was being so stubborn that I would’ve lost everything just so no one knew how badly I really wanted it. What you gave me was a gift I will cherish always. But it is lacking something very important that you didn’t think about.”

“What is that?”

“It’s just a house. Our love is what will make it a home.”

Our love. Home.

“No sweeter words. So is that a yes?”

“Was there a question?” she asked with her brow raised and a twinkle in her eye.
God, I love this woman. How had I ever thought I could go a day without her in my life.

Mark slid off the couch and dropped to one knee. “I love you, Hannah Entwistle, but I want your name to be Hannah Collins, if you’ll allow it. And you would make me the happiest man alive if you would do me the honor of becoming my wife. Will you marry me?”

Tears streaked down her cheeks as she shouted, “Yes! There’s nothing more in this world I want than to be yours forever.”

He pulled her onto his knee and kissed her. She wrapped her arms around his neck and held him close. When he pulled away she looked at him puzzled.

“Hannah, there’s nothing more I want to do right now than to carry you to that bedroom and make love to you. But I think we both need something first.”

“What is that?” Hannah said as she yawned.

“Sleep. You’ve had a long drive and a very stressful ordeal. When we do make love, I want us both awake enough to enjoy it.” He kissed her on the tip of her nose as he lifted her into his arms and walked to the bedroom.

She yawned again. “I’m not really that tired.” But her eyes were already fluttering as she let him undress her and slip her between the cool sheets. It took everything within him not to caress her, kiss her, love her the way she deserved to be loved. Right now he’d have to control his own desires. No longer would he think of anything other than her wellbeing. Quickly he removed his clothes and slipped under the covers beside her. She curled up facing him, and he fought his flesh from reacting. It was a battle he almost lost.

“We have the rest of our lives, Hannah. We’ll be home in Savanah before you know it.”

Hannah tensed and asked, “What about Bailey?”

Even now in her exhausted state, she couldn’t think of herself, only of others. He wasn’t going to be able to change that part of her, and he didn’t want too. It just meant that he’d need to be the one to care for her.

From what the doctors had said, Bailey needed six to eight weeks to recover before the next phase. He didn’t want to be away from Hannah any longer than his job already required him to be. There was only one feasible option.

“I can’t picture a healthier environment for her than the clean, fresh air back home. I think she should come and stay with us.” He knew he was being presumptuous, but he didn’t want to live anywhere but with her when he was in the States. From her body language, he knew she felt the same.

Tears started coming down all over again.
I seem to make her cry a lot. I’ll need to work on this.

“Thank you for understanding me, Mark. She needs me, and I need her too.”

Kissing her gently he said, “It’s me who should be thanking you, Hannah. I’ve been living all these years, but only now am I alive.”

She turned her face to kiss his bare chest. “Alive and awake I hope because I’m suddenly not all that tired.”