Southern Exposure (Southern Desires Series Book 2)

by Jeannette Winters

  When did I change so much?

  She knew the answer. It happened when she stopped dreaming of her future and living only in the moment. She hoped this trip would help her find the answers she was looking for. Find herself again. She might’ve missed out on her first dream, but that shouldn’t mean there weren’t new ones waiting to be made. All she needed to do was look past the moment and see what lay ahead.

  That was easier said than done. She couldn’t stop thinking about what she was leaving behind. Maybe when she saw Sissie she’d tell her about the promise she’d made to her father. Sissie was the same age as her father, so maybe she could shed some light on what she should do.

  If she could let go, then she might be able to move on. It was the wise and healthy thing to do, but was she ready to or even capable of letting go? Only time would tell. Right now she was heading on vacation for seven days. If that didn’t open her eyes to some major revelation toward her future, nothing would.

  I already know what I want. I just wish I could have it. Time to grow up and think of things that are actually obtainable. Dad, you taught me to stand on my own two feet. Maybe I need to learn to lean a bit too. Might not be what I want, but maybe what I get instead.

  “Hannah, you look stressed to the max. Close your eyes and sleep if flying is making you nervous.”

  Hannah didn’t want to close her eyes. She knew what would happen if she did. The same thing that had been happening for the past three weeks, the recurring nightmare. The last thing she needed was to wake screaming on a plane and cause everyone to think there was something wrong then be escorted off by the police.

  “You sleep, Bailey. I’m not tired.”

  “Hannah, you have bags under your eyes. And if you haven’t realized it, I’ve shared an apartment with you before, and I know this is not you. I wish it was that sexy hunk of a man you have, but I don’t think this has anything to do with Mark. Tell me what’s going on. Why aren’t you sleeping at night?”

  God. I don’t want to think about it. It is too painful and sometimes makes me physically ill. Why would I want to share that with anyone?

  “We’re friends, Hannah. If you can’t tell me, go talk to a professional. But I suggest starting with me. My rates are cheaper.” Bailey tried to lighten the mood to ease her tension. It wasn’t working.

  “Bailey, it’s the dreams I can’t shake.”

  “How long have you been experiencing them?”

  “They started a few weeks before Mark arrived and each night they get worse.” Or at least they feel like they are. I can’t tell any more.

  “Tell me about them. They say every dream has an alternate reason behind it. Let’s see if I can decipher it.”

  “It’s not a pleasant one.” How was she going to tell her friend she’d been having nightmares about a man coming to her room and raping her? Just thinking about it made her hands tremble and her mouth dry.

  Bailey squeezed her hand. “And you will feel better once you say it out loud. Let me try to help. What better time than on a flight?”

  Hannah closed her eyes and visualized the dream as she spoke. “I get up because I hear something outside. I’m stumbling like I’m drunk.”

  “You don’t drink so there is one thing wrong with your dream. Keep going and I’ll find more.”

  There was nothing real about it, yet it felt so real to Hannah. It was like she knew something but her mind wouldn’t allow her to see the entire picture. Forcing herself to continue, she said, “Bailey, I’m not alone, there are men in my apartment. People I’ve never seen before. One man is tall and strong like Mark and Don. He has dark hair and his eyes . . . his eyes are black and cold. Like staring into utter darkness. And his face. He has a long scar across one cheek, jagged and rough. I ask him what he’s doing there. Someone shouts something to him, but I don’t know what’s being said. The man comes and grabs me, hurting me. His hands are digging into my arms as he drags me to my bedroom.”

  Hannah didn’t want to think about it anymore. It was painful enough when it came to her in her sleep, but now recalling it hurt even more.

  “Hannah. Have you ever seen this man before? In person or maybe on television?”

  Shaking her head she answered, “I’ve thought long and hard, and no, I’ve never seen him or any of them before.”

  “How many men do you see in your dream?”

  “Three, maybe four. But only one face comes back to me again and again. The one with the scar.”

  “What does he do in your dream?” Bailey’s voice was so soft and sweet as she tried to console Hannah.

  “He throws me on the bed. I try to move but my body can’t. I try to scream for help, but I have no voice. His hand is on my throat and he says I’m his now. His mouth comes down on my lips, hurting me.” Hannah felt sick as usual. “I can feel his hands on me, saying something I can’t understand. I’m crying and want him to stop. Then the rest is blank. My dreams stops.” Thank God. I don’t think I would want it to be any more than that. It’s like dreaming of a rape that never happened. I know it’s not real, but it is taking a toll on me physically and emotionally anyway.

  “Oh sweetheart. No wonder you can’t sleep and look so tired. That’s horrible. You must’ve watched a scary movie before sleeping one night and now you can’t stop thinking about it. I’ve read about how some people are more susceptible to that after suffering a loss.”

  “So what do I do to stop the dreams?”

  “One person said to write them down in a journal or diary. And this way they lose the power they have over you at night.”

  It sounded corny to Hannah, but she’d try anything. She was going to lose her mind if she couldn’t stop the images each time she closed her eyes.

  “It’s worth the try. And Bailey, thanks for listening.”

  Bailey replied, “I’m glad I could be some help. Now sleep. I want you ready for those cowboys when we land.”

  Hannah laughed but it wasn’t sincere. “Ready, willing, and able.” None of the above, but one white lie won’t do any harm.

  She looked out the window. Remember. It was only a dream. Focus on what’s ahead and that’s going to be a desperately needed mini vacation with Sissie and Bailey. Time to leave the bad dreams behind and fill them with some sweet memories.

  Chapter Eleven

  How did I forget how hot it is in Texas? Dang, makes Savannah feel like a spring day. As they entered the Wild Sass Saloon, Sissie practically leaped from behind the bar to give Hannah a big grizzly-bear hug.

  “Sissie, you’re going to crack my ribs.”

  “I need to toughen you up, don’t I? Wait till these boys start draggin’ you on the dance floor. You’re gonna need to know how to stand your ground.” Then she turned to Bailey. “I guess you’re the young lady I need to thank for draggin’ her here. Was she kickin’ and screamin’ all the way?”

  Bailey laughed. “I’m hoping the bruises won’t show because I brought my boots, and I’m not planning on fighting the boys off.”

  “Hell, yeah. My kind of gal. Did you spill the beans yet?” She nudged Bailey with her elbow.

  “Nope.”

  Hannah looked at them both. “Are you sure you two haven’t met before, because you’re pretty chummy right now.”

  “Two peas in a pod.” Sissie laughed.

  “This is going to be a great vacation.”

  “For some of us,” Hannah added.

  “Don’t you worry, Hannah. I promise you’re gonna have a wonderful time. The three of us are goin’ to a weddin’ on Saturday, and you’ll soon forget all your troubles,” Sissie informed her.

  I really hope so. “Whose wedding?”

  “Derrick Nash, he’s a local ’round here. A very sad story that’s havin’ a happy endin’. Not my place to tell it, though.”

  Since when? I know you’re the gossip hound here. “Guess a lot has changed.”

  “Oh yeah. You noticed I had the bar spruced up? I needed to get with the times.�
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  That’s not what I meant. “Looks good. I hope you still serve your homemade lemonade.”

  “You bet I do. Just tell me, do you want it with a kick or without?”

  “With,” Bailey answered.

  “Without,” Hannah said.

  “Go find yourself a table, and I’ll bring them right over.”

  As Sissie left, Hannah turned to Bailey and said, “Am I going to forgive you for whatever little secret you and Sissie have?”

  Bailey winked at her. “You’ve forgiven me for worse.”

  Great. That tells me nothing. Maybe I should’ve gotten my lemonade with an extra kick.

  As they sat listening to the music, a familiar face arrived.

  “Don’t tell me that’s little Hannah Entwistle all grown up.”

  Hannah got up and greeted him with a hug. “Jack, you look great. I thought you would’ve moved away from here.”

  “Hell, no. I love Honeywell just like you love Savannah. You know it’s home.”

  That it is. But love it, well that’s not how I’d describe my feelings exactly. “Jack, let me introduce you to my best friend, Bailey Tasca. Bailey, this is Jack Bullard.”

  “Howdy. Any friend of Hannah is a friend of mine.”

  “Pleasure to meet you. Am I reading that badge correctly? You’re the sheriff?”

  Jack reached a hand up and tipped his cowboy hat to her. “Yes, ma’am. I’m the law ’round here, so if any of the boys get out of hand, you just let me know, you hear?”

  “I like Honeywell already,” Bailey said, grinning from ear to ear.

  “So what brings you to Honeywell?”

  “Visiting Sissie,” Hannah answered.

  “And we’re attending the Nash wedding,” Bailey added.

  Jack said, “I didn’t know you knew Derrick, Hannah.”

  “We don’t, but Sissie said we were invited as her family. So here we are.”

  Jack looked at her puzzled and turned to Sissie as she approached. She was grinning and gave him a playful wink.

  “Yes, sir. These ladies have a special invite to the weddin’,” Sissie said.

  Special invite? Why special? I thought the family was invited. Am I missing something?

  “Well, it’s late, and my deputy needs the morning off tomorrow, so I best be heading out. I guess I’ll see you two at the wedding.”

  “Looking forward to it, Sheriff. I’ll save a dance just for you,” Bailey said.

  Hannah rolled her eyes. “If she only knew that you dance like an ox and will be stepping all over her feet.”

  Jack walked away shaking his head.

  “Now there’s the old Hannah I know,” Bailey said. “Good to have you back.”

  Hard not to be when I’m around you. She raised her glass and said, “To a much-needed vacation.”

  Bailey raised hers and said, “To happy endings.”

  “Isn’t that supposed to be happily ever afters?”

  “Happy endings are fun. You should give them a try.”

  That’s going a bit far, but okay. We are attending a wedding. “I think I’m going to follow Jack’s lead and head to bed. I’m not sure if it’s the heat or the flight, but I’m exhausted.”

  “Okay. You go. I’m still waiting for one of those cowboys to ask me to dance.”

  “Bailey, they’ve been working all day and won’t be asking anyone to dance till Friday night. Trust me. I know them.”

  Bailey looked disappointed and got out of her chair. “Heck, then I might as well get some beauty sleep. I hope your cousin’s place has air-conditioning.”

  You and me both. But I don’t want to get spoiled because going home won’t be pleasant if I do.

  “I can’t believe you had the men at the house so quickly.” Almost as quick as I can pull my team in for a mission. Now I see you have loyalty around your men as well. Different reasons, but still loyal men.

  “Why not, Mark? You think you’re the only one who can bark orders and people jump? The only difference is, mine don’t jump, they strap on a tool belt.” Don laughed.

  Not the only difference. But I get the point. “I’m impressed. You’ve got me believing that when we get back Monday morning, this place will be practically complete.”

  “Don’t doubt it for a second. These guys are the best. If anything goes wrong, they’ll have it fixed even before we hear about it.”

  Things going wrong are exactly what worries me. Hannah has to come back to this being completed. Her future is at stake, and I don’t want to let her down.

  “Quit worrying.”

  “I’m still trying to figure out what I’m going to say to Casey when she sees you at the wedding.”

  Don laughed. “Don’t worry about it. I’ve already spoken to her. By the way, why didn’t you tell me she was marrying Derrick Nash?”

  “You know him?”

  “Yeah. One tough businessman. I’m not sure how someone as sweet as Casey is going to handle someone like him.”

  “That was my thought at first, but Casey is not the little girl we knew. She’s toughened up a lot. Been through a lot. Derrick loves my sister. When I was in Texas with them, I saw a man willing to die to protect her. That’s all I needed to know.”

  “Guess we don’t always know what lies beneath, do we? Because that’s a man I never thought would get married again. Maybe there’s hope for you yet.”

  Mark shot him a look. “Don’t be looking at me. We’re the same age and I don’t see a wedding ring on your finger.”

  Neither of them were husband material, but it was for totally different reasons.

  “That’s because I enjoy the single life.”

  “And so do I,” Mark said plainly.

  “Then I guess we’re both going to enjoy this wedding. Lots of single women.”

  “Yeah. Think about it, Don: a bunch of single women all wanting what Casey and Derrick have. And neither of us are going to give it them.”

  “Damn, Mark, why do you gotta ruin a man’s dream?”

  Because I live in reality, my friend. I don’t lie to myself. That didn’t mean he didn’t deny himself things he wanted. Because he wanted Hannah, he just couldn’t have her. Not the way he yearned to. “Don’t worry. I’m sure you’ll find someone who can put up with you someday.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  It means I’m done talking about it. “If you don’t mind, I’m going to get some long-overdue, much needed sleep while we fly to Texas.”

  He closed his eyes, but sleep wasn’t what he was after. He replayed everything he’d heard on the recordings of the tenant. The guy was smart enough to watch everything he said, but every once in a while he’d slip and say the transfer was made or payment was delivered and waiting on orders. Who they were paying and for what reason was crucial needed information. Since the guy didn’t leave the apartment, he had to be doing it through someone else. This was some kind of professional ring. He wasn’t ready to say a terrorist ring, but whatever it was, it was most likely illegal. He’d already sent some of the recordings off for analysis to see if they could identify any of the voices. So far nothing had come back. What he needed was a picture of the guy or a damn good description ASAP.

  Just because Hannah was safe didn’t mean his duty to his country was over. I can’t rest until I know what we’re dealing with. Don wants to be back by Monday. I want to be there Sunday. Something isn’t right, and I’m going to find out what.

  Chapter Twelve

  Although Casey and Derrick insisted, Mark and Don decided not to stay on the ranch. They both wanted privacy, but for entirely different reasons. Don seemed to think he was going to find some sweet young thing who wasn’t going to be able to resist his charms. Mark wasn’t about to remind him he wasn’t all that charming. Enjoy your fantasy buddy. I have no time for such distractions. Beside, there’s one sweet thing already causing me enough distraction right now; I don’t want to think about another.

  Now alone in h
is hotel room, Mark pulled out his phone and dialed his second-in-command, Johnson.

  “Getting in isn’t going to be as easy as you’d like to believe, Johnson.”

  “Never stopped us before, Collins. Other complications?”

  “None.”

  “Right. So . . . the landlord and her friend?”

  “Explain your hesitation.”

  “Just ensuring this is a duty mission, not one of . . . love.”

  What the fuck? Mark wanted to jump through the phone and straighten Johnson’s ass out. He had never questioned him like that before. All these years, he of all people should know better. I don’t love Hannah. I just don’t want her hurt. There was no way Mark was going to answer Lionel’s concern. He was a damn good second-in-command but had crossed a boundary this time.

  “Johnson, I have intel on a possible terrorist, POI. Do your job.”

  No matter how good the team was, they really had no idea what they were walking into. If anything went wrong, he wanted no civilians, especially Hannah, anywhere nearby.

  “Hannah Entwistle and Bailey Tasca should be away until the end of next week, which provides time for us to get in and get out. If there is no evidence of criminal activity, no harm done, but if there is, we need to act fast. Just have the team close by so when I return they’re ready for the mission.”

  “Roger that. The team is on standby if you need us. Text me, and we go in.”

  “Thanks.” He slipped the phone back in his pocket and saw Don standing in the doorway. Johnson may have given him shit, but he was a good man, and there was no doubt he’d have Mark’s back. He just needed to plan for the perfect time. Get Don’s men out of there and then we go in that night. One way or another, we are getting some answers before Hannah returns.

  “My jet is at your disposal anytime, Mark. If something is going down and you need to move quickly, you don’t have to ask.” Don handed him a business card. “The number on the back is the pilot’s cell. I’ll let him know to keep it fueled and ready for you.”