Cross Falls Saga - Southern Suspense Box Set

by Mallory Crowe

  CHAPTER TWO

  Gabrie followed him out of the room and shook her head in disbelief. "This isn't funny. You don't just look like him. You are Darren."

  "You mean I'm identical to him," shouted "Jack" as he pounded down the steps.

  Her heart banged out an erratic rhythm against her chest. "You're full of shit! Darren doesn't have a twin. He would've told me!"

  He snorted. "Hon, we're not on the best terms. I don't go yapping about him to my booty calls, so I don't think he'd be bringing me up during pillow talk."

  "Hey!" Gabrie grabbed onto one hard bicep and twisted him around. Well, she supposed he was strong enough to do whatever he wanted, so he "allowed" her to twist him around. "I'm not a booty call. I thought you were someone I knew and trusted. You're the one jumping into the sack with a complete stranger, okay?"

  Jack glared down at her. "One, we weren't in the sack. We were up against that wall over there." He pointed for dramatic effect. "Two, maybe you shouldn't trust him. He obviously doesn't trust you enough to mention me. Besides, how the hell was I supposed to know you were here for him? He hasn't been around here for years, and you were all over me before I could even ask your name. Am I supposed to stop every chick who kisses me to make sure they're not there to molest my brother?"

  "You didn't even ask my name! If you had asked me one little, teeny question about who I was, I would've known you weren't you." Even as she spoke the words, all the pieces clicked into place. He'd asked whether she was safe. He did look subtly different from Darren, but she'd attributed the facial hair and different muscle tone to the time passing since she'd seen him last.

  She backed away from him; her palm covered her mouth. "I slept with a complete stranger. Oh my God."

  His features softened; he took a step forward and reached out a hand, but before he made contact, the crunching of a car coming up the driveway reverberated through the silent house.

  She looked to the screen door and back at Jack. "It's Darren," she whispered as she silently cursed her stupidity.

  Jack let out a sigh. "He's not going to be happy."

  Gabrie ran to the window just in time to see Darren climb out of the BMW and glance at her parked truck. "Ya think?" she bit out as Darren came up the porch.

  She pushed one of the lose strands of her long, dark hair behind her ears and smoothed her shirt, trying to look as un-disheveled as possible.

  "Gabriella?" Darren pushed open the screen door.

  "Hey, Darren." She tried to look normal as she smiled up at him.

  His entire body stiffened as he saw Jack at the other side of the room. "What the hell are you doing here?"

  "Keeping your girlfriend company." Jack stretched to his full height. Which was kind of ridiculous considering Darren and he were the same size.

  Oh, no. These two really hated each other. Darren, who was nice enough to offer her an escape when her world crumbled, hated his twin—who she just slept with. She was so going to hell.

  "I didn't realize you had a brother," said Gabrie as cheery as possible, trying to cut the tension between the two men.

  Darren's eyes darted between her and Jack. "I'm sorry. He wasn't supposed to be here."

  "I have as much right to be here as you." Jack squared his shoulders.

  "You haven't been welcome here in years." Darren stared down Jack, and all Gabrie could do was marvel at the resemblance between the two. Same everything. Lips, eyes, pissed-off expression. Jack's hair was slightly longer than Darren's short-cropped hair, and his face was covered in stubble; Darren was in a tailored suit and not the barest hint of a five o'clock shadow.

  Jack took a step forward and for the first time, Gabrie realized this could actually come to blows. "Hey, calm down. This house doesn't belong to either of you at the moment, okay? If you two can't handle this like adults, you're going to have to ask your father."

  Both men looked at her as though she were insane. "I don't need the old man solving my shit for me," said Jack.

  "I'm sorry. I guess I was under the false impression you didn't have your shit together." She set her hands on her hips. "Wherever could I have gotten that impression?"

  Darren crossed over to Gabrie and set a hand around her waist. "Did he bother you? If he said or did anything that upset you, I'll make sure you never see him again."

  Gabrie's eyes widened and she felt the blood drain from her face. "I, um, he didn't—"

  "I didn't touch your fucking Barbie," muttered Jack as he reached into the closet off the side of the entryway to pull on some black boots.

  Gabrie frowned. Between her long brown hair and ten (or twenty) extra pounds, she'd never once been accused of being a disproportionate doll.

  But Jack wasn't done yet. "I'll give you two time to have your little reunion, but I'm going to be back tonight and I'm damn well not paying for a motel in my own town." With that, he was out the door and strode around the house and out of sight. Gabrie still had no idea where his car was, so he was probably going to get it. And, theoretically, a shirt.

  "Bastard," breathed Darren as he crossed over to the window to watch his brother disappear around the side of the plantation. "You know he parked out of sight so he could surprise me, right?"

  Gabrie raised a brow. "To be honest, I don't know much about this whole thing. I didn't even know you had a brother." She tried to keep her tone conversational, but a slight accusing note slipped out.

  Darren turned to face her. "Shit, I'm sorry to get you stuck in the middle of all this. I really didn't expect Jack to be here."

  She bit at her bottom lip. "Your father is in the hospital. Was their relationship really so bad he wouldn't come to visit?"

  "Jack is...Jack." Darren rubbed the back of his neck. "He was distant as a kid and as soon as he got out of high school, he hit the road. I've hardly seen him in the past fifteen years."

  Gabrie shook her head. What a waste of a family. She'd give anything for a brother or sister, and Jack had thrown his away. "If it's a sore subject, we don't have to talk about it." Lord knew she didn't want to spend any more time talking about the twin she never knew existed. It would be best for her state of mind if she and Darren moved on. Literally, as she could see the exact place Jack had fucked her up against the wall, and she'd rather not be reminded of her epic stupidity. "We're here alone now, so why don't you give me a tour of the place and let me know what your ideas were."

  Darren nodded and seemed to relax a bit. "Well, you obviously found the house okay. Sorry I couldn't get out here like scheduled. A client called, and if I'd known how long he was going to rant about the IRS, I wouldn't have taken the damn call."

  Gabrie inwardly shuddered at the thought of his job. "It's not even tax season. Why are you getting urgent calls?"

  He shrugged. "He got a notice saying he owed a hell of a lot more than he paid."

  "Really?" As far as Gabrie knew, the point of paying Darren so much money was so his clients didn't have the IRS beating down their doors. "Does he owe it?"

  "I can only work with what they give me. If the massive auto expense he reported was for him purchasing a new car for his daughter's sixteenth birthday, I'd have no way of knowing that. But I don't want to talk about my work. Let's focus on your new job."

  Gabrie smiled. Her new job. It was hard to imagine that she could ever make this interior decorating thing work out, but it was the chance of a lifetime. She'd tried doing what was safe and secure, but after getting her business degree and working in a soul-sucking office environment for three years, her sudden layoff might turn out to be the best thing that ever happened to her.

  After nights of crying and refusing to look at the bills piling up, Darren's offer had seemed like a godsend: Come stay in his family home for a few months while overseeing the renovations. This time her career could be something she was passionate about.

  "So what was it like growing up here?" she asked.

  He slipped off his suit jacket. "Pretty normal, I suppose. It didn't s
eem strange to me. Went to school and did sports like most teens."

  Gabrie thought of how far that was from her own childhood. Bouncing from school to school, never knowing whether there was going to be enough food for dinner. Darren and Jack had more in common than they wanted to admit. Neither knew exactly how lucky they had it.

  "So has the house always been so..."

  "Neglected?" supplied Darren.

  She shrugged. "I wanted to say something a bit more delicate, but neglected works."

  He absently picked at the corner of some dusty, faded curtains. "My mother was always really good about getting things taken care of. She handled the lawn service and any repairs needed. After she was gone, Philip stopped caring. Anytime I tried to offer help, he'd tell me off and that was that."

  A wash of guilt came over her. Who was she to judge Darren? Even rich people had problems. He hadn't mentioned it much during their brief relationship, but they'd both bonded over the sudden deaths of their mothers. Gabrie's by murder and Darren's by suicide.

  "That's understandable," she said. "Are you sure he won't be pissed that I'm redoing the place? I mean, he's resisted it for over a decade."

  Darren's lips tightened. "It's hard to admit, but in all honesty, he's probably never coming home. He's been fighting the cancer for over two years and has lasted longer than anyone expected, considering he refused chemo. I think he only has a few weeks left at most."

  "Oh Darren." Gabrie sucked when it came to situations like this. She remembered all the police and social workers who tried to offer her comfort after her mother's death, but not one thing they said made her feel a teensy bit better. So who the hell was she to give words of comfort? "I know it's hard."

  He nodded, his face unreadable. "It's been a long time coming."

  She wanted to change the subject. His dying father was probably the last thing he wanted to talk about. Still, she did have one request. "Would it be possible for me to meet him?"

  "Why would you want to do that?"

  "It's his house I'm messing with. I'd like to know if there are any specific requests he has before I start making the bigger decisions." It had seemed like a good idea during the long drive from Raleigh to South Carolina, but now that she knew Philip was opposed to renovations, maybe she should avoid any possible conversations. But that didn't feel right. He wasn't dead yet, and this was still his house. He had a right to his own opinion.

  "I'm heading over to the hospital after this, so you're more than welcome to come with. I'm sure he'd enjoy conversation with a beautiful woman." Darren's thousand-watt smile came on, and she tried her hardest not to blush at the praise.

  She'd never been one to take a compliment well, especially not from such a handsome man. Even though she'd dated Darren and knew for a fact he found her attractive, somehow her brain still couldn't comprehend it. Probably why she'd been stupid enough to break up with Mr. Perfect in the first place.

  "As long as he doesn't get upset with you for inviting me to stay here," she murmured.

  "Don't worry." He took one of her hands in his big palm. "Once he meets you, he's going to like you just as much as I do."

  All his charm, so close to her, was almost overwhelming. He had on just the right amount of cologne, smelling sexy and strong at the same time. For a brief second, Gabrie allowed herself to close her eyes and take it in. Jack hadn't worn anything, instead smelling like man and sweat.

  Gabrie's eyes shot open. No comparing brothers! "I'm glad you have so much faith," she quickly said. "Now I'm dying to see the rest of this place."

  She pulled her hand out of his and moved past the stairs and towards what looked to be a sitting room, the opposite direction of where she and Jack had...gotten to know each other.

  Darren moved to walk in front of her as he explained the history of the home. "Cross Falls Plantation has been in our family for generations. It was originally built in the mid-1700s, but after a fire, it was rebuilt in 1839. We used to own about fifteen hundred acres, but over time plots of land have been sold off. Even so, the surrounding fifty acres are still ours."

  "Hold up," said Gabrie. "The plantation is called Cross Falls?"

  Darren snorted. "Yes. My family home has its own name. That doesn't make me seem horribly snobbish, does it?"

  Gabrie took in the centuries of history that surrounded her in awe. "Is that why you never told me this? You didn't want to appear snobbish?"

  His eyes shot to the ceiling as though he was looking for the best way to phrase his answer. "Words like 'plantation owner' and 'town founder' all have such strong connotations behind them. I don't feel like I fit those. I suppose when we first met, I didn't want you to get the wrong idea about me, and then there was no reason to bring it up."

  "That makes sense." She could understand wanting to keep secrets better than most, and she had to admit, her opinion of him was altered when she learned where he grew up.

  He led her deeper into the house. Each room was decorated in a similar style, and the obvious repairs needed stood out. The hardwood floors were a plus, but they were in desperate need of refinishing. The few rooms that had carpet hopefully had hardwood beneath them; otherwise, she would recommend installing the wooden floors that seemed to be all the rage.

  Ceramic or marble tile might also work, but she thought the wood would make the home seem more like a part of history. Marble looked so neat and clean, but this was a plantation. It had been burned and rebuilt and been through countless tragedies and victories. It needed a rustic, dirty touch, even if that rustic and dirty touch ended up looking fantastic.

  Darren took her through the outdated kitchen and the few bedrooms on the first level. As he headed up the stairs, he said, "I don't remember exactly, but the house has somewhere between twenty and twenty-five rooms."

  Gabrie's eyes widened. The house was big, but it didn't seem twenty-five rooms big. Then she remembered the tiny bedrooms and sitting room she'd seen on the first level. "Have you ever thought about tearing down some walls to give you some more space?"

  He looked over his shoulder as he reached the top landing. "Actually, I hadn't. What walls were you thinking?"

  "Oh, I don't know exactly yet. We'd need to figure out which walls even could come down before we decided anything drastic, but it's something to keep in mind. I'm not too sure of the budget either, and I'm thinking stuff like that is really expensive."

  Darren moved aside to allow her room to enter the upper level hallway. Gabrie was once again face to face with the pictureless walls. Now that she remembered the tragic loss of Darren's mother, it made more sense that the pictures would've been removed.

  "I'm not too worried about the cost. A remodel is far overdue."

  "Are you thinking about relocating the business here and moving in, or are you considering selling the place?"

  He sighed. "To be honest, I'm not sure if I'll have either of those options available to me. As you now know, Philip has two sons and one house. Neither of us can really be called a firstborn, so even though I was the first one out, we don't know who he's leaving anything to."

  Her brow crinkled. "I thought you said Jack has hardly seen your father."

  "True. And Philip and I have been in regular contact ever since I moved to Raleigh, but I can't be sure. Besides, I try not to sit around and imagine what I'll get once Philip dies. It all seems so...morbid."

  Gabrie nodded, but couldn't help but be confused at his words. He claimed he and his father had a decent relationship, but continuously referred to him as Philip. Her sixth sense told her there was a lot more to this family drama than he was telling her, but she didn't ask. If he wanted her to know, he would've told her, and it wasn't any of her business.

  "A lot of people would sit back and daydream about a house this fantastic coming to them," she said softly. "You're a good son." She set her hand over his, trying to offer what little comfort she could. She hadn't wanted anyone to touch her after her mother passed, but most people seemed to cra
ve human connection in times like this.

  "I appreciate you coming out here," he said. "I'm happy to have someone here who I can talk to."

  The corner of her mouth hooked up. "You're thanking me? This is the chance of a lifetime, Darren. You gave me hope when I thought I was going to have nothing left to my name. I don't think I can say how grateful I am for all your help."

  He smiled down at her. "I can't take credit for all that. It was just good timing that you got fired the day I needed your help."

  She cocked her head. "Fired?"

  "Shit. Laid off. I'm sorry, Gabrie."

  She let out a laugh. "It's fine. I'm just giving you a hard time."

  "That's why I always liked you. You don't overreact to my little screw-ups."

  Honestly, she loved his little screw-ups. It made him appear so much more human. Back in the city, he'd seemed too perfect. Too unattainable, even though she already had him. Somehow he was more vulnerable on his home turf, unable to hide behind his sleek apartment and tailored suits anymore.

  "So what's up here? Where's your room?"

  "Come on." His fingers interlaced with hers.

  Her gaze fell on their hands as they moved down the hallway. Were they back together? It had seemed like such a good idea an hour ago. Back before she'd boinked the wrong brother. She'd already figured out that Darren had his own secrets, which he was entitled to, but if they were going to get back together, she'd want him to be open and honest.

  Which would include her being open and honest with him.

  CHAPTER THREE

  Gabrie stopped in her tracks outside the bright white hospital room as she saw Philip wasn't alone. Jack sat in the chair next to the window and flipped through a magazine absentmindedly. At least until he realized he wasn't alone.

  Jack's head jerked up; his dark eyes met hers, and for a brief moment, Gabrie was torn between remembering his body up against hers and reminding herself not to think about it again.

  "I didn't know you were going to be here," said Darren from behind her, breaking the spell.