You Are Always on My Mind

by Sable Hunter

  “It’s beautiful!” Harper sat straight up, straining to see through the windshield. The Creole cottage lay before her, illuminated by the headlights. “You’ve repainted.”

  “Yes, you can’t see it good in this light, but it’s a pale creamy yellow with white trim. Do you like it?”

  “Very much.” Harper cried. “How will I ever repay you?”

  This truly seemed to bother her, and her repaying him hadn’t crossed his mind. “I did it for you, not to be paid back.”

  Harper wiped her eyes. The knowledge that Clotille wouldn’t be there when she opened the door weighed on her heart. “I should have come home…I just didn’t think she could…”

  Revel watched her fingers cover her mouth as if to stem a confession. He knew they had a lot to talk about, there was something going on that he didn’t understand. And he was determined to find out what it was.

  “She loved you till the day she died, don’t ever forget it. I found some journals in the attic that she left for you. Nana Fontenot knew about them, she mentioned them the other day.” He parked near front. “I haven’t looked at them, of course. I’ll give them to you when you’re ready.”

  Revel got out and came around to help her, but Harper hadn’t waited for him to be a gentleman. She was walking slowly toward the house as if she were being drawn there by an invisible rope. “It looks the same, yet different,” she muttered lowly.

  He stepped close, placing a protective hand at the small of her back as she walked up the eight steps to the raised porch, trailing her palm on the railing.

  “I feel like she should be waiting for me at the door.” Her voice was sad and Revel wanted to ask her why she stayed away. Most of the time he’d been in Afghanistan. If it was him she’d been trying to avoid, he had been half a world away. But that wasn’t it, obviously there was more. The thought lay unspoken between them. Not wanting to make her feel worse than she already did, Revel chose not to bring it up.

  Instead, he made light of their situation. “Wait, I want to carry you across the threshold.” After unlocking the door, he swept her up in his arms and she squealed. “Revel! We’re not married.”

  “Not yet, but I’m an optimist. I believe in a positive attitude.”

  She grumbled a little, but she giggled too. “Turn on the light. I want to look around,” Harper encouraged.

  Revel stole a light kiss, letting her slowly slide down his body. When he felt her shiver, he took that as a sign he affected her as much as she did him. “Let there be light.” He flipped the wall switch, then stood back so she could look around. “Make yourself at home, after all, you are.”

  Harper was mesmerized. She moved slowly across the foyer, noting the polished marble floors, the antique tall mirrored hall chair. “This was Clotille’s.” She turned to him. “You saved some of the pieces.”

  “Yes, I kept what I could. Even had some of them refinished.” He followed along behind her as she touched the curved banister of the stairs, then wandered into the living room to see how he’d recreated Wildwood’s former beauty, yet added some modern touches.

  She darted from place to place—the fireplace, the bay window, into the dining room and on to the kitchen. By the time she had investigated the bottom floor, she wheeled around with hand on hip to confront him. “This is your house, Revel. You’ve spent a fortune. I couldn’t pay you back in a gazillion years.” She held a hand up and waved it around. “You’ve poured your heart and soul into Wildwood.”

  Revel walked up to her and picked up her hands. “I did it for you. This is my gift to you.”

  The revelation dawned in Harper like the morning sun rising in the east. He’d made a home—for her. Her head swam at the epiphany. She’d never really had a home, not where she was truly welcome…except for Wildwood. And Revel had given it back to her. “How are we going to do this?” she asked, truly wanting to know. “I’m a mess. And you seem to have it all together.”

  Knowing he needed to stop while he was ahead, he decided to settle her in her room and start fresh after she was settled. “Let’s go upstairs. I’ll show you the room you’ll want to sleep in and you can rest for a few hours while I put on a pot of coffee and start us some lunch.”

  “I am still tired and I need to freshen up.”

  Revel savored the moment. Having an idea, he walked to a nearby table, opening a drawer. Turning, he handed her a key. “This is for you. A key to Wildwood. Welcome home.”

  Harper clutched it in her hand, letting the sharp edges bite into her palm while she ascended the stairs behind him, gazing at the photographs on the wall—some new, some original to Wildwood. And when she stepped up on the landing, Harper was amazed when he threw open the door to what used to be Clotille’s room and she saw what he’d done with it. “Oh, my goodness!” Harper twirled around, trying to take it all in at once. The big beautiful bed, the French doors leading out to the balcony, the rich furniture and drapes, the beautiful ensuite bathroom which beckoned like a spring rain. “It’s perfect!”

  Revel smiled, pleased that she liked his efforts. “This is our room. You still have clothes here, they’re hanging in the closet.” When he saw her eyes bug out, he laughed. “Don’t worry, I’ll be across the hall. I’ll only sleep in here when you give me an invitation.” He moved toward her slowly, almost predatory like. Harper said nothing and she instinctively took a step backward.

  Revel wasn’t menacing, he was magnetic and she felt if she didn’t escape his gravitational pull, she’d be inexorably caught up in his orbit, encircling him like his own adoring moon. “An invitation?”

  “Yes.” Revel placed his hands on her shoulders. “I haven’t changed. I adore you. I’m as in love with you today as I was the day we parted. Whatever dragons I have to slay so we can be together, I’m ready to do it.”

  Harper gazed up into his ruggedly handsome face. “What if there aren’t any dragons? What if I’m the problem?”

  Revel caressed her cheek with the back of his forefinger. “You aren’t the problem, baby. You’re the answer, the answer to all my questions.” They stood there for a moment until he backed away, knowing she needed some space. She’d been through enough in the past couple of days, it was time for her to rest. “Relax. Rest. Come down and join me when you feel up to it. I’ll be waiting.”

  Once she was alone, Harper hugged herself and turned slowly, taking in a panorama of the place she’d always felt was her sanctuary.

  She was home.

  At the moment, what that meant—she didn’t know.

  * * *

  The sheets were clean, they smelled like the freshest flowers. Harper rolled over, luxuriating in the softness, the room she had to stretch out. This bed beat a car seat any day of the week. Rubbing her face against the pillow case, she wiggled her toes into the mattress pad, feeling absolutely decadent…when she heard it.

  She went still. Completely still.

  Harper raised her head, chill bumps breaking out all over her body. Years ago, she’d heard it. Over time, she’d convinced herself it was her imagination. But today, she was wide awake and the noise of a baby crying was unmistakable. Rising quickly, she grabbed a robe from the closet. Harper knew she had left clothes here that fateful summer, and was pleasantly surprised they all still fit. And if she wasn’t mistaken, there were a few new things hanging alongside the old. She didn’t know if they were courtesy of Clotille or Revel, she really wouldn’t put it past either one of them to buy her a gift when she was nowhere near to receive it. A feeling of contentment passed over her…until she heard the cry again.

  Harper stood still, trying to get an inkling of where the noise was coming from. What else could it be? Some type of animal? Again, the wail came. Cold shivers made her tremble. When she was a child, she’d believed in ghosts. As she aged, she found out there were so many worse things in the world, that she’d forgotten what it felt like to have that uneasiness creep down her spine at the eerie mournful lament. It sounded exactly like a hu
man baby, one who needed to be picked up, fed, and consoled. The maternal part of her nature rose up and she felt this urge to find the waif, cradle it and shield it from whatever made it feel so desolate and alone.

  Harper realized she was projecting her own feelings onto the situation, magnifying it, allowing it to become more than it probably was.

  Another mournful cry, sounding closer this time.

  Whatever was making the noise, it was definitely in the house. She walked closer to the wall, trying to determine what direction to take. Carefully, she opened the door and slowly moved down the hall. It seemed the supernatural disturbance was coming from the small bedroom at the end of the corridor. With tiny hesitant steps, she moved closer. What would she find? In all of her readings and movie watching about spirits and hauntings, she’d never heard of a baby ghost. Ghosts were supposed to linger because they wanted to right a wrong or reveal some secret. What message would a baby be trying to deliver?

  Step. Stop. Step. Stop.

  Harper clutched the neck of her robe, drawing into herself as she crept closer to the place where a specter might be waiting…calling for her.

  Suddenly, a scream rent the air. Harper jumped in midair. This was no baby. This shriek sounded more like a banshee. Awash with terror, Harper turned and fled, running down the stairs as fast as she could, across the living room, into the kitchen and straight into Revel Lee Jones’ arms. “Hold me!”

  “I thought you’d never ask.” Revel widened his stance, absorbing the full weight of her body gladly. Cradling her to him, stroking her back, he tried to ease the shudders wracking her small body. “What happened? Did you see a ghost?”

  She scrubbed her face on his shirt, wishing she could burrow into his big body and hide. He smelled so good. He felt so good. “No, but I heard one,” she whispered. “I must be crazy, I think I’ve lost my mind.”

  Revel hid a smile. “You aren’t crazy, you’re cute.” Whatever ghost had put wings on her heels, he owed them a huge debt of gratitude. “You were probably dreaming. Come sit down and eat. I have food prepared.” He kissed her forehead, rubbing his lips back and forth on the soft skin. “Afterward, I’ll go up and check everything out for you. Just in case.” He didn’t tell her he’d heard some things himself. As he pulled out her chair and enjoyed the way she folded her lithe shapely leg beneath her and leaned forward on the table so he could see down her blouse at the luscious mounds of her breasts—he thought he might reconsider. After all, whatever she’d heard had sent her barreling down the stairs and launching herself into his arms. If he told her a few stories about the rougaroux, she might invite him into her bed later tonight. “I remember that you liked boudain, so I warmed some up and made salad.”

  Inhaling deep, Harper smelled the spicy Cajun sausage made with pork and rice. “Smells like home.” Before taking a bite, she picked up an oversize glass filled with sweet amber iced tea. “You’re spoiling me.”

  “I’m trying,” he admitted, sitting down across from her. “I guess we have a lot to talk about,” he ventured to broach a subject he knew was the elephant in the room.

  Harper took another bite of the savory dish and another drink of tea, avoiding answering as long as she could. “Yea, we do.” Avoiding his eyes, she stared a hole in the Royal Doulton china her grandmother had prized so well. Knowing there was nothing else to do, she scratched the tines of her fork on the slick surface of the plate—once, twice—then, she put it down. “What do you want to know?”

  Wow. What did he want to know? He ran a hand over the top of the wood grain surface. The oak trestle table was probably two hundred years old. “Everything. I want to know everything about you. You’re the most important person in the world to me.”

  Harper placed a hand over her heart. He sure knew how to hurt a girl. “Well, for starters. You’re too good for me. You need to find a more suitable girl.”

  Revel stared at her face. The bruise was still prominent, marring the creamy perfection. Her little chin was stubborn and the line of her mouth was set, but all he wanted to do was kiss it till it softened for him. “Do you remember the day we were at Evermore and I showed you the slave cabins?”

  Yes, she remembered. She remembered Harlow Duhon too. “Of course I do. I didn’t lose my memory when I was mugged. But what does that matter? You can’t possibly think who your father is or where you lived when you were a kid makes you less of a handsome intelligent war hero now?”

  If he hadn’t been trying to make a point, Revel would have enjoyed her description of him. “Okay, so you’re not judging me. Why would you think I’d judge you?”

  A searing flash of remorse made Harper cringe. “Because I’m guilty.”

  Revel pushed his plate back. “Guilty of what?”

  This was where she became tongue tied. It wasn’t that she was at a loss for words, there were just so many different things she could say. “Oh, well, let’s see. Take your pick.” She leaned back in her chair and folded her arms, digging her fingernails into the soft flesh of either wrist as hard as she could. “I…have done things. Bad things.”

  “Oh, baby.” Looking at the angel beside him, Revel couldn’t imagine that she could even envision something bad, much less carry it out. “Like what?” He watched her struggle for an answer, and when he did—Revel noticed how she was gripping herself. Reaching out, he tugged her close, pulling her arms apart. “Harper, you’re bleeding!”

  He jumped up to wet a paper towel and Harper gazed down at her arms where she’d gouged herself until she bled. “It’s nothing.”

  “Nothing?” He wiped away the blood, then dug in a drawer until he found some antiseptic and sprayed the places. “Why would you do that?”

  Shame made Harper bow her head. “I can’t help it. I’ve been doing it for years. I get nervous and it helps.”

  Revel bit his tongue. Castigating her for behavior she couldn’t seem to help wouldn’t accomplish anything but alienating her. And that was something he couldn’t afford to do—not when he wanted a life with this woman. “Explain it to me.” He knelt by her. “I want to understand.”

  Harper buried her face in her hands. “I need something to focus on besides what’s in my head.”

  “Memories? Fears?” He pulled her hands down so he could hold them and look into her face. “Tell me, I want to help. You can tell me anything.”

  “No, I can’t.” Harper disagreed, desperation in her voice. “You’re the man I…”

  He gave her a mischievous smile. “I know what I wish you’d say. The man you what…lust after, desire, admire, love?”

  Knowing he was teasing, she couldn’t help but smile. “Yes. And no woman wants to admit her most embarrassing secrets to the guy she wants to impress.”

  Now, they were getting somewhere. Revel raised her right hand and kissed the palm. “Count me impressed, Bright Eyes. I’m in this for the long haul. I want to make things perfect for you.”

  Harper’s heart did a dipsy-doodle. “I don’t deserve you,” she said flat-out.

  Revel frowned. “I don’t want to hear you say that again. We deserve to be happy and my happiness is you, so like my Captain used to say in Afghanistan…whatever it takes is what I want to do to make this work.”

  Shaking her head, Harper tried to work through it in her mind. “Everything is so wonderful, yet so backward. You’ve brought me home, yet it’s more yours than mine.” When he would have protested, she laid two fingers over his lips, which he promptly kissed. “You’re telling me you want me, yet you know I need things that turn you off. And you’re worried about your past which compared to mine was a Sunday School picnic.”

  “So if things are backward, let’s work together to turn them around.” Revel stared into her eyes, his were twinkling and Harper wanted to kiss him so much she ached. And since he was looking at her with such a hopeful expression, she gave in to her desire. Leaning forward, she placed her lips against his, softly, tentatively.

  Revel couldn’t believe
it. She was kissing him—voluntarily! He didn’t close his eyes, he wanted to witness this stupendous event up close and personal. As her soft lips moved over his, Revel’s heart pounded. He held back as long as he could before he took over, sliding a hand up in her hair, engaging her mouth in an erotic, deep, tongue-sucking kiss that had his cock hard and throbbing.

  His kiss was an absolute indulgence, like Godiva chocolate. Harper allowed herself a few more decadent moments before she pulled back. Okay, she’d bite. If she didn’t, she’d never forgive herself. “How do we turn things around?”

  Revel wanted to give a celebratory war whoop. “Well, I have a few ideas.” He smiled mysteriously.

  Harper was interested, but she was also practical. “I need a job. I need a way to pay you back for…all this.” She gestured at the beautiful home.

  “All right, even though that’s not necessary, I can understand wanting to feel productive.” It would probably be good for her. “What kind of job?” Revel was having problems thinking clearly when her robe had come undone and he could almost see one entire pert breast. With care, he pulled it back in place but not before caressing the beautiful swell.

  Harper shivered at his touch. “Well, I didn’t finish school, which is just as well. I don’t think anyone would want an elementary teacher with my background.”

  “How would they know?” Revel wanted to defend her.

  “Anyone can google my name, there were news reports after Ajax attacked me,” she confessed sadly.

  There was so much he needed to tell her, but this was as good a place as any to start. “When Clotille passed, they couldn’t find you. I know she left a will and the lawyer is in Lafayette. You need to pay him a visit. The house wasn’t the only property named in the will, there were assets. I don’t know what they are or the value, but you might be better off than you think you are.”