Black Hills Secrets

by A. C. Wilson

  Severe Thunderstorm Warning.

  “Well looks like it could get rough. Up to half dollar sized hail with gusty winds and locally heavy rain.” Blake kept his voice flat, but it bothered him. The unknown always bothered him.

  “Sounds like fun.” Bailey’s sarcasm reached his ears but he was too busy watching the sky. She touched his arm. “Do you want to come inside for lunch? I rented a movie in town. I haven’t watched it yet.” She sounded casual and happy. He hung onto her emotion hoping it would buoy him up.

  “Please tell me you aren’t scared of the weather.” Blake took a breath and looked into her eyes. He let her calm welcome him. Bailey shook her head.

  “No, I’m just cautious. The raw power can be frightening, but it is another fact of life.” She entwined their fingers and he gripped them. He gave her a swift nod and she walked them to her apartment. Unlocking her door, she went inside and with a cursory look at the sky, Blake followed her.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  The apartment smelled amazing. His stomach growled as Bailey flitted about the small kitchen putting together their lunch. She hadn’t been expecting company and he felt anxious about invading her space. She insisted that she had invited him and that was that. He wasn’t about to argue as Bailey opened the oven door to check on the dessert—chocolate chip cookies. They smelled heavenly. His mouth watered at the craving to taste the sweet chocolaty goodness. Her eyes popped into his thoughts.

  So many other things craved those bits of chocolate too.

  He bit his lip and turned his head aside so that she wouldn’t see his reaction. He could really see the depths of her eyes just after he had kissed her. They melted, dragging him further down. Blake thought he could happily drown in them.

  “I hope toasted roast beef sandwiches with au jus and French fries are fine for lunch.” Bailey indicated the two plates on the counter. She picked up the two small dishes and ladled the hot broth into them.

  “Perfect. It smells great.” Blake took a few steps toward the kitchen and was surprised at how easy it was to be here. Without knowing it, Bailey had made this place feel like home.

  It could be.

  “There is ketchup in the fridge if you want some for your fries.” Bailey looked his way and smiled. Blake swallowed hard and nodded. Opening the fridge door, he found the bottle. He took another deep breath and tried not to feel overwhelmed by the admissions he was making to himself. It had been a while since he was able to be open with the things happening in his life. It seemed easier to just shut off.

  “You are really sweet to make lunch. Thank you, Bailey.” His tongue tasted her name once more and he loved the feel. She put the small bowls of broth in the middle of the plates and then looked up at him. She smiled softly and then it spread brilliantly. Her eyes locked with his and her cheeks bloomed with color. It took a moment to dawn on him that she might be as new to hearing his thanks as he was to having her kindness.

  The oven timer beeped and the moment was broken. Bailey turned to open the oven door and pull out the cookie sheet. Blake closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He completely forgot about the thunderstorm brewing outside until a crack of thunder nearly sent him for cover under the counter. Bailey didn’t seem to notice. He stepped forward to clutch the countertop to stop the spinning. He swore his body was leaning before he jerked it back upright. His heart crawled up into his throat and his head felt fuzzy.

  “Blake?” Bailey was suddenly beside him with her hand on his arm. Blake tried to regulate his breathing and ride out this wave of anxiety. He swore he could hear gun shots exploding in the room and his grip tightened on the counter. It dug painfully into the flesh of his fingers.

  “Blake, honey, open your eyes for me.” Bailey’s voice was slowly penetrating the fog. Surprisingly it was calm and warm. She wasn’t panicked or distressed like he thought that she would react. Her hands on his skin left tingling feelings as she caressed up and down. She moved behind him and as entrenched as he was in the moment, Blake couldn’t help the recognition of her pressed up against him. Her fingers kneading at the stiff muscles of his back. They mimicked the rhythm of his breathing and he followed her lead. Hell, he thought he just might follow her anywhere.

  “Just breathe. You’re safe.” Bailey chanted over and over from behind his shoulder. Her warmth and her presence pulled him back to the apartment. He took in the smell of warm chocolate chip cookies and the roast beef sandwiches. His stomach growled on cue. Finally his eyes felt clear, but he stayed put for a moment to savor Bailey pressed up against his back. Something trembled inside of him and it wasn’t from fear. It was from a deeper need to experience the one person who would have his back always. He wanted a partner, a true partner for his whole life.

  “Thank you.” His voice rumbled softly and Bailey stepped back. He felt the loss immediately. She moved to his side and tipped her head when he looked at her. Those brown eyes studied him carefully. In a decided move, she took his hand and twined her fingers with his.

  “Come with me.” She nearly whispered, but she started towards the door. His brow furrowed in question as he took stilted steps after her. She pulled him along. Opening the front door, he noted that the sky was dark grey, nearly blue and all at once a loud crack of thunder followed a silver streak of lightning across the sky.

  “Bailey, we can’t go out there.” He didn’t like the sound of panic creeping in again. He took a couple of deep breaths.

  “Why not?” She asked him, turning to look him squarely in the eyes. The lightning zigzagged behind her. She looked amazingly fierce, but it didn’t change his own reservations.

  “Well for one there is a storm outside and two, I don’t want to see you get hurt.” His gut tightened and his throat squeezed. He used to be fearless, or maybe a fool in the face of danger. This reticent side was not him at all.

  “Danger is everywhere.” Bailey stepped out the door onto the landing and rain immediately pelted her face. It was coming down harder now. Her eyes darkened and her lips pursed just before she let go of his hand. It physically hurt to let her go. “If you think I’ll get hurt, maybe you should rescue me.”

  She turned and went down the stairs. After pulling his jaw up off the ground at her statement, Blake realized she was already down the stairs and striding purposefully out into the open. Her blonde hair was damp now with the rain. Swallowing hard he followed her. He couldn’t think about it or he would chastise both of them for being idiots. Lightning lit up the sky again and a loud crash of thunder shook his resolve. He stopped and fought the sense of vertigo. Blake tried to focus on Bailey and what was actually happening around him. Trying to rationalize the transports back to a war zone seemed pointless, but he needed to try. He didn’t want to be a victim the whole rest of his life. Some things he might not be able to control, but he would never know what those things were unless he tried.

  Bailey pushed wet strands of long hair out of her face as they escaped from her ponytail. Her eyes never left him. She didn’t move even as the thunder crashing around them seemed to get louder. Blake focused on the woman standing in the pouring rain. Her top well and truly soaked now. He could see the outline of her breasts and the flare of her hips. He wasn’t so far gone as to not feel the physical attraction he had for her.

  One foot after the other. It was all he could do, but do it he did. His boots sinking into the wet earth and the rain coursing down his face. He was within feet of her now.

  Ten. Eight. Six. Four. Three. Two. One foot.

  He reached out with both hands and wrapped them around her waist. Letting out a ragged breath, Blake pulled her into his arms without hesitation and she wrapped herself around him. Never in his life did he think that would be possible. Never did he think that one person could change the entire game. Yet here she was in his arms and the world for all of its cruelty and beauty could fall away. He had no greater certainty than the absolute knowledge that Bailey was meant to be his.

  Bailey twisted in his arms
until she had found his lips. The rain dripped from her lashes as she closed her eyes and wove her spell more deeply than before. She was fierce and she was soft. Her tongue slipping into his mouth and laying claim. Blake couldn’t help the groan that escaped from his throat. His arms tightened on her until he thought neither of them could breathe. His scalp tingled as her fingernails raked back and forth. Blake was mesmerized and thoroughly entranced as his tongue danced with hers. Her essence and sweetness permeated the sensitivity and pain of himself.

  Their embrace might have continued for seconds or minutes, he wasn’t sure. They were soaked to the skin and he felt Bailey shiver. He didn’t know if it was the passion or the chill of being wet. Wanting more, but deciding to savor it, Blake broke the kiss. He kept her in his arms as he watched her open those luminous and dazed eyes. A sweet smile curved her lips and he couldn’t resist a wide grin too.

  “My hero.” Her words were a whisper, but he felt them whole-heartedly. He would have said them back to her if that hadn’t sounded so cliché.

  “What do you say we take this inside?” He jerked his head toward the apartment and Bailey nodded.

  The entry into the apartment was a bit soggy from the rain. He hadn’t closed the door when she took off to prove a point. She waved it off and brought out a big, fluffy towel from the bathroom. She handed it to him as she used another on her hair. Her mouth twitched as she considered him as he dripped on her floor.

  “I have a dryer. If you want to use the bathroom to take everything off, I will throw it in.” She blushed at the context those words sailed in and he bit into his bottom lip. He couldn’t help it.

  “Then what would you have me do?” Her blush deepened and he knew he would never tire of teasing her. He wouldn’t take this desire any further than she wished, but it was fun to make her burn.

  “I may have a pair of shorts you could borrow as long as being half naked wouldn’t offend your tender sensibilities.” A playful grin accompanied that adorable blush and he laughed. Oh did he laugh! He couldn’t breathe as he nearly doubled over. Finally he nodded to concede defeat.

  For now.

  “Lead the way.” He followed her to a small bathroom and she left him to return with a silver pair of basketball shorts. They wouldn’t hide much, but they were cover. He sat down on the toilet and lifted his foot. She lifted a brow.

  “They got wet rescuing a damsel in distress and I’m afraid they might be hard to get off now.” He wiggled his foot at her again and she sighed with a shrug. She cupped his heel in one hand and put her palm on the toe of his boot to pull. It took a minute to get the wet leather to unlock the suction from his foot. The next one followed in much the same way.

  “I’ll take these with me.” Bailey said as she gathered the boots up and closed the door behind her. Blake looked around at the white walls adorned with a couple of photos of beaches. The greenish blue shower curtain had sandals printed on the bottom. He smiled remembering she hadn’t ever left Hot Springs. If that were the first place she would go, he would take them on vacation to a beach somewhere. Warm sand beneath their toes and cool tides rolling back and forth. It would be heaven.

  Anywhere would be heaven with Bailey.

  “Everything okay in there?” Bailey knocked on the bathroom door and Blake startled, knocking over her hand soap dispenser. Blake rolled his eyes at the crash.

  “Fine. Just fine.” He shook his head and opened the door. He picked up his wet clothes and smiled at Bailey. She jerked her head toward the stackable washer and dryer. She had already changed into a dry tank top and cotton capris.

  “The sandwiches are still warm, but if you want them hotter I can heat them in the microwave.” She indicated the forgotten plates on the counter. He smiled and shook his head.

  “Warm is good for me. I always manage to burn my tongue.” Instantly Bailey was on it.

  “We can’t have that now, can we? It would be such a travesty.” Winking at him, she picked up her plate and headed for the couch. Blake chuckled and picked up his plate too. Out of the corner of his eye he saw the orange kitten watching him from the safety of Bailey’s bedroom door.

  “I’m glad your cat didn’t get out while the door was open.” Blake indicated the cat’s location. She smiled and nodded.

  “Chomp isn’t big on water or strangers for that matter. He’s just warming up to me.” Bailey dipped the corner of her sandwich in the broth.

  “Oh yeah? Lucky cat.” Blake smiled and sat down next to her on the couch. He was thoroughly aware of how close they were. Bailey didn’t seem to notice as she shrugged.

  “The last couple of mornings I have found him curled up next to me on the other pillow. He has never done that before.” She took another bite of her sandwich. A droplet of broth lingered on her chin. Not able to stop himself, Blake reached out and wiped it away with the pad of his thumb.

  “Is it ok to say that I envy the little fur ball?” Blake asked, his eyes widening as he watched her. She tilted her head to the side.

  “Depends why you envy him.” She said breathlessly. He let out the breath he was holding in.

  “Well I think it would be a gift to wake up next to you and I don’t sleep well anymore.” Complete honesty with a dash of flattery, but he knew he would need to share his past if she were to share her own. Her eyes saddened, but she didn’t pull away. He wasn’t sure what she would say or if she needed to say anything at all.

  “How about a movie?” She asked, her focus slipping back to her meal. He took a breath and accepted the change of topic. Distraction would be nice for a change.

  “Sure. A movie sounds great.” Blake took a bite of his sandwich, discarding the fries. They were a bit cold by now anyway. Bailey set her plate down on the scratched coffee table. Her phone dinged and she picked it up. Her easy spirit changed and turned more thoughtful. He recognized it as easily as he recognized his own.

  “What is it?” He hoped that she wouldn’t shut him out. It would bring an insightful day to a grinding halt. She typed back and set her phone back down.

  “Just my sister.” She waived it off but then continued. “Marty hasn’t been home since the night we had our fight.” She didn’t seem too worried about that. It bothered the heck out of him.

  “Can’t the cops do something now? Abandonment or something?” He asked, his chest tightening and his muscles flexing. He was itching for a fight.

  “No, they won’t. Marty would just get one of his friends to lie and say they were looking in on Taryn. This is a pattern. He always does this. He leaves for about a week and then comes back.” Bailey hugged her waist as if she were cold. He wasn’t sure if she would welcome his touch so he held his ground.

  “Then what happens?” He asked, hoping she would continue. He needed to know more. Bailey’s jaw firmed and her eyes lifted to his. He could see the sadness and concern filling them up.

  “Most of the time he comes back and acts like it never happened. I used to think he was so drunk he didn’t remember.” Tears misted those wide eyes and Blake fought to keep his temper in check. “Every now and again he comes back angry looking for a fight.” She cleared her throat but he knew the lump was still there. Her frame trembled slightly and it was the last he could do to not hold her. Putting his plate down on the table, he rested his palms on his bare knees.

  “How bad is it?” He asked in a whisper. It wasn’t in the past. It was right now and Bailey was fighting her own demons now. She hadn’t let him deal with it alone and he wasn’t going to abandon her either. A tear slipped down her cheek. She turned her back to him, scooting sideways on the couch. She reached behind and lifted both the hem of her shirt and shorts to reveal the bare length of her back. He swallowed hard and this time black fury nearly blind-sided him. An inch wide by a six inch long raised scar crossed her lower back.

  A few seconds later she dropped her clothing back into place. Blake couldn’t help it. He reached for her and pulled her back into his stomach. His arms circled her and
held her tightly. He felt the stiffness melt from her muscles as she relaxed into him.

  “Never again.” He vowed in a hushed voice near her ear. She curled up against him and let him hold her close. She needed to feel safe and he needed to save her.

  CHAPTER TWENTY ONE

  Bailey soaked in his warmth as she fought the bone chilling cold from just sharing another one of her secrets. The raised scar on her lower back was a constant reminder that however much she might wish her past wasn’t tainted, it always would be there to haunt her. This was the first time she had shared this particular trauma with someone other than her sister. Her throat squeezed the air to her lungs.

  “I was cleaning up from the lunch after my mother’s funeral. The ladies of the church wouldn’t let me do much, but I was putting the clean dishes away and tossing paper napkins away.” Bailey leaned more heavily against Blake’s broad chest and he absorbed her. His arms wrapped tightly around her and she prayed they would be enough to hold her together.

  “It was tough being in that house and listening to the silence. Our neighbor took Taryn with her for a while. Taryn was only ten and it was difficult to explain how just last week she had a mother and today she wasn’t coming home.” Bailey closed her eyes and felt the hot tears slip down her cheeks. They dropped onto her bare skin and slid down between her breasts. Each one felt like a repeat of the hopelessness she felt.

  “I was standing in the hallway looking at a family portrait we had taken just the year before and I heard the front door open. I thought it was another neighbor with food and was content to leave them to it. I was so tired.” She couldn’t control the shaking her body was doing. She leaned her head back against Blake’s shoulder and broke a bit more as his cheek snuggled next to hers. He kept it there despite the wetness.

  “I hadn’t expected it to be Marty, but there he was standing in the living room staring through me. His hair was wild, his eyes hard, and he smelled horrible—alcohol, sweat, and whatever else. I stood still and kept quiet. We hadn’t seen him in a week and I thought maybe he was gone for good.” Bailey shuddered as she tried to take a deep breath. Blake was mercifully silent but his presence spoke volumes. She knew he wasn’t going anywhere. She was safe with him.