Southern Spice (Southern Desires Series Book 1)

by Jeannette Winters

  “Go inside and get some rest.”

  She turned to him. “Why did you bring me here, Derrick?” Her voice was soft like an angel, needing reassurance. It was something he couldn’t give, even if he wanted to.

  Damn if I know. Tomorrow, I’ll take you back to town. “It was a mistake.”

  The hurt in her eyes showed clear as day. The saddest part was he meant to hurt her when he said it. She shouldn’t want him, and if she knew the real man he was—a man who left his wife and child alone just to make money, and now they were dead because of him—she wouldn’t want him anyway.

  Her eyes glistened with tears. “I can’t stay under the same roof as you.”

  He felt the same way, but for an entirely different reason. Derrick wanted to pull her into his arms, tell her he was sorry, that he didn’t mean what he said. But if he touched her now, even briefly, he wouldn’t have the strength to do what he needed to do. Let her go. “You’re not going to. I’ll be here in the morning to give you a ride.”

  “A ride? To where?”

  Derrick couldn’t bring himself to say it. If he did, then it was final. No, he would leave that option open for now. At least until he sorted out a few things. “We’ll talk in the morning. Now go before I change my mind and take you right here in the truck.”

  Her eyes widened with shock, presumably at his boldness. Then quickly she hopped out of the truck, and half-ran up the steps and into the house. Are you scared of yourself or me, Casey?

  The answer didn’t matter, only the result. Jerking the truck into drive, he peeled away and headed to the bunkhouse.

  “What are you doing back? I thought you took off for New York,” McLean asked.

  So did I. “Change of plans.” Derrick grabbed a pillow out of the closet and headed for the back of the cabin.

  McLean followed him. “Something wrong with the main house?”

  “Casey is there.” He could’ve chosen not to tell him, but he was going to notice at breakfast in the morning if Sissie didn’t call him tonight. No matter how hard he tried to keep everyone out of his life, they just keep creeping in. That’s what was nice about New York. The people there knew when to mind their business. Heck, he’d never spoken to them in all the years he’d lived there. And that works for me.

  “And you’re here in the cabin, why? I mean, she is drop-dead gorgeous, unless you haven’t noticed.”

  I’ve noticed more than I should. “She’s here on business, McLean.”

  “You know that’s not an issue, Derrick. It’s been five years. It’s time to let go and start living again.”

  Derrick clenched his fist as he turned back to face McLean. “Do not go there.” Why couldn’t anyone understand? He had no right to be alive. If he couldn’t protect his family from the flood waters, then the least he could have done was die with them.

  McLean stood his ground. “Then I agree. You shouldn’t be at the house with Casey. At least not until you’re ready to appreciate what a special person she is.”

  He already knew how special she was. It wasn’t her that was the problem. It was him. He had promised Penny and Kim he wouldn’t rest until he made someone pay for their death. It had been five years and still no one had been brought to justice. Until that day, there was no room in his life for . . . anyone. Especially someone like Casey.

  Casey was so confused with the whole situation. What type of game was Derrick playing with her? She had left the ranch, given him the privacy he’d demanded, and then he brought her back and made her feel worse than she had been. Granted, she wasn’t honestly looking forward to spending one night, never mind several, in a jail cell, but at least she knew where she stood there.

  None of this was making any sense to her. Maybe because it had nothing to do with my job and all to do with lusting after a man I just met. She felt like such a fool. Once again, after kissing her he’d rejected her. What part of he doesn’t want you couldn’t she get? It was crystal clear. So why was she here in his home again? Why was she finding it so damn hard to move on?

  If her parents were back in the country, she would have called her mother to talk this through. At times like this she truly hated them being so far away. It’s not like she was a child, yet she valued her mother’s opinion. She never held back and always said what was on her mind. Kind of like Sissie.

  Casey was tempted to dial her number, but sharing what happened between her and Derrick with someone from town, that was unprofessional. Oh heck, throwing myself at him like a harlot was unprofessional. It’s too late to worry about my reputation. God knows the deputy probably has already told the entire town we were getting it on right there on a public road.

  Laughter rumbled through her. I hope he didn’t have a dash cam recording us. Because the way my week has been going, that would just be my luck.

  Casey knew this was a story she would share on a girls’ night out with her friends. They were so far and few between these days; her friends were all married and starting families. Although they get away one weekend a year, it didn’t seem the same. She had been invited to gatherings they’d had as couples, but she’d always gone stag. No matter how much they tried to convince her it didn’t matter, she’d always felt like the odd man out. There was nothing wrong with being single at her age. She was free to do as she pleased without consulting another person. But she couldn’t help but want what they had. Maybe one day I’ll be able to relate to them again.

  Her cell phone rang, and her heart skipped a beat, hoping it was Derrick changing his mind and coming to her. When she looked at the caller ID, she was still happy to get the call, but he was not someone she could talk to about this.

  “Hi, Mark. What’s up?”

  “Checking on my baby sister. What part of the country are you in now?”

  “Texas.”

  “Yeah, I saw they had some tornados there a week ago. I know you guys normally are on-site within a few days. Sounded like it was a small town with no loss of life. Does that mean this is a hit-and-run or are you going to be there a while?”

  Even another five minutes is too long. I need to get away before I make a total fool of myself. “Another few days. Then I am going to go home for a while.”

  “Home? Okay. What’s wrong, Casey?”

  Mark. My big caregiving brother. The Navy had made him into a strong, confident man. An excellent SEAL. But at times like these, Casey appreciated how gentle he could be with her and still be perceptive to the situation.

  What isn’t wrong? She couldn’t tell him. He would only lecture her. Mark couldn’t help it. He was a rule follower. Must have been his SEAL training that did it. Casey followed rules as well, but this time, she seemed to break them with every move she made. It would be easier for her to keep track of the rules she followed instead of those she’d broken this time around. “Nothing is wrong. It’s just been a while since I’ve been home.”

  “Am I going to need to call Mom?” Mark threatened.

  Really? He pulled the mom card? So not fair. “No. Okay, fine. I met someone,” Casey admitted.

  “Has he hurt you? Is that why you want to go home? Just say it, and I’ll be down there and straighten his ass out. You hear me?” Mark’s voice barked.

  Mark wasn’t joking. He was all about honor, and that meant protecting women and children at all times. When she was younger and dating, it hadn’t been convenient when he’d enjoyed scaring her dates at the door even before going out. I’m all grown up now, Mark. I don’t need a protector. I just need common sense. “It’s not like that. We just can’t be together; that’s all.”

  “Is he married?” Mark inquired.

  Maybe talking to Mom would’ve been easier. This is as bad as talking to Dad. “No, he is not married. Mark, there are many reasons why people can’t be together.”

  “I only care about one. And that is the reason why you two can’t be together.”

  I’m still trying to figure that out myself. “Because I’m here on business, not pleas
ure, Mark.”

  There was a pause, and she thought her answer was adequate. However, Mark wasn’t through with her. “What’s his name?”

  She didn’t want to tell him. There was only one reason why he would ask, and that was so he could do a background check. She had already invaded Derrick’s privacy too much; she wasn’t going to allow her brother to do it too. “Mark, due to confidentially, I am not able to provide you with that.” Now that’s fast thinking.

  What she’d forgotten was his knack of reading when someone was hiding something, his most annoying skill when growing up. That explained his role in the Navy.

  “Okay. I’ll be there tomorrow, and we can discuss this in person.”

  “No,” she blurted out. “There are no accommodations here.”

  “So where are you staying?”

  “The sheriff made arrangements for me to stay on a local ranch that wasn’t damaged in the storm.” There shouldn’t be a problem with that, as it was the truth.

  “Sounds good. You know how to find me if you need me,” Mark said before disconnecting the call.

  Well, that was easy. Oh shit. Too easy. What are you planning on doing, Mark?

  There wasn’t anything she could do at the moment. She wasn’t even sure where Mark was. When he was not out on an assignment, or whatever they called what he does, he seemed to be at loose ends with himself, never staying in one place very long. All she could do was hope that whatever he was doing now, he was too busy to butt into her business.

  For now all she wanted to do was close her eyes and get some much-needed sleep. But where had Derrick gone? Any why? He’d slept under the same roof other nights I’d been here. At least I think so. He was always gone before I was up.

  By the way he kissed her and touched her, she knew he found her attractive. Something else had changed his mind at the last minute. Unfortunately, nothing changed mine. I would gladly give up another night of sleep to have you here with me, Derrick.

  Chapter Nine

  Her eyes were closed, but sleep wouldn’t come. This time, it wasn’t just Derrick keeping her awake but Mark as well. She’d been so distracted with everything happening between her and Derrick that she never asked Mark why he was calling. Casey hoped everything was okay with him. He wasn’t one to share information as much as obtain it. If she would have returned his call, he would’ve evaded her questions and deferred the subject back to her.

  Talking to Mark did open her eyes. He would’ve dug deeper into what was going on because he never took anything at face value. So why was she taking Derrick at face value? There was no way it was because Derrick had warned her to stay out of his private life. If anything, a warning like that should have been a red flag that something wasn’t right. Maybe it’s time I find out what that is.

  Casey knew Derrick’s wife and child had died in an accident. That type of trauma would leave a permanent scar on the strongest of people, but something told her there was more to the story she didn’t know.

  Throwing her covers off, she went downstairs and confirmed she was alone in the house. She plopped herself down on the couch. This would be so much easier if I had my laptop.

  With everything still in Jack’s office she had to make do with her iPhone. She normally wasn’t a snoop, so where to start looking didn’t come naturally. She typed in Derrick Nash. He didn’t have a Facebook page. That probably wasn’t going to give her the information she needed anyway. The only thing she was able to find was that his address wasn’t here in Texas, but actually he lived in New York. So why are you here?

  Knowing his New York address, she found some details of his business online, and it seemed Mr. Nash was doing quite well for himself. Ranching must be his hobby because that man doesn’t need the money.

  Casey gave up finding anything juicy on him. She could call Sissie, who probably had all the information she was looking for, but she’d probably have her own twist on it. Also, she wanted to keep her search private, and Sissie held a secret like a strainer held water.

  I’m looking for the wrong name. Casey typed Penny Nash and still no results. What was she missing? Then it hit her. Typing one final name, Penelope Nash, she hit search. Instantly numerous articles from North Carolina appeared. She was tempted to start there, but her eyes were focused on one in particular. The obituary.

  Casey was hesitant to read it. She wasn’t sure why. It was public knowledge. Maybe the reason she was going to read it was troubling her. She scanned it quickly and found Penny had been an only child. Her parents were already deceased. Derrick kept the burial private, which seems to be exactly how he remained to this day. Alone.

  Casey then opened the articles that had been in the paper. One mentioned the husband had been in New York on business at the time of the accident. Many couples needed to separate to maintain financial stability, so that wasn’t abnormal. What wasn’t normal was an interview where Derrick stated it was murder—not an accident—and someone would pay.

  What made him think their deaths were anything but an accident? Whatever it was, she needed to find out. It was too late for her to call the police department and request a copy of the report, but at least she could reach out to one of her coworkers at FEMA and see what they had on file. This accident was during a hurricane, so it was very possible a FEMA agent was on-site afterward. And with loss of life, a supervisor should have been there as well.

  Normal practices would require her to go through the proper chain of command and request a report through JT. I’m not saying anything about this story until I know exactly what happened five years ago.

  Typing the email to one of her friends, she asked for copies of the documents to be emailed to her. Now all she could do was wait. The next twenty-four hours were either going to give her answers or more questions. Either way, she needed to make sure Derrick didn’t find out she was digging deeper into his life.

  Believe it or not, Derrick, I’m doing this for you. Just remember that when or if the shit hits the fan.

  Derrick was up early, mostly because he hadn’t slept. McLean’s words, though out of line, had haunted him all night. It was so easy for everyone to give him their advice when they weren’t walking in his shoes.

  Yes, they’d all loved Penny and Kim. Penny had grown up on this ranch, and the folks of Honeywell acted as though they were her extended family. But the reality was Penny and Kim weren’t their family, but his. How they’d all moved on so easily without any answers was beyond him. Often he felt hatred toward them as they continued on with their lives. All it did was remind him that it was his job to keep their memory alive, or they’d be forgotten altogether.

  A knock on the door broke him from the painful thoughts. “What do you want?”

  McLean opened it and said, “You have company.”

  Derrick stood up. “I know. I told you Casey was staying at the house.”

  “Not her. When I was out at the barn, I saw a chopper landing behind the house in the field. You expecting anyone else?”

  I wasn’t expecting the first visitor, never mind more. Derrick brushed by him and shouted, “You left Casey at the house alone with God knows who?”

  “Your house, your girl. Thought I better let you handle it.”

  If he wasn’t concerned about Casey, he would stay and set McLean straight about his smart-ass remark. This past week, he noticed McLean was pushing his luck more than usual. He was playing a dangerous game, and Derrick knew very well how it was going to end if McLean didn’t back off.

  Derrick might use questionable tactics in business, but nothing that would have someone showing up at his door. Whatever brought them here today, he needed to address it quickly.

  He flew out of the cabin and jumped in the truck, speeding to the house. Casey had enough going on without her taking on any of his issues as well.

  As he rounded the bend, he saw the chopper taking off again. There didn’t appear to be any markings on the chopper, which was odd. Whoever it was had decided not to h
ang around. Could they have landed there in error? Or maybe they were doing a flyby to check out the damage. Of course, they hadn’t sustained any at the ranch.

  Then he saw a tall muscular man climbing the steps to the house. He wasn’t dressed in a uniform, but that didn’t mean anything. The only thing Derrick knew was he hadn’t invited him.

  He was about to shout out to the guy when the front door opened, and Casey came out. First she looked shocked, or surprised, then she was smiling, actually beaming with joy and half ran into the man’s arms. He watched the guy swing her around in the air before placing her back on the porch and giving her a kiss on the top of her head. Damn. He’s not here for me. It’s her lover. She invited her lover to my ranch. What the hell!

  Everything in him wanted to go and tell her off and kick the guy’s ass off his ranch. She’d invited the folks from town and now her boyfriend? Was she just playing him when she’d looked at him with desire? Had she just been relieving her boredom? Does she do this on every assignment? Whatever game you’re playing, Casey, I’m not playing it with you. You and your friend, or whatever he is, can get the fuck off my ranch.

  His blood rushed through his veins in anger. Last night he’d come so close to taking her to his bed. Today she was in the arms of another man. Casey appeared to be one hell of an actress. She enticed him with her sweet ways, when all this time she was involved with another man. You can have her, buddy. She’s not the lovely sweet girl everyone believes her to be. Eventually, true colors always come out.

  Derrick didn’t even get out of the truck. Instead, he turned it around and headed down the driveway. Staying in Texas yesterday had been a mistake. I should have gotten on that plane. It’s time. Time to return to New York.