Southern Secrets (The Southern Series Book 2) Read online

  “Yes, why?” I asked.

  “Download this book. It’s about dreams, what they mean, and how to control them.” She looked back at me, and I shot her an incredulous look.

  “What? It can’t hurt, can it?” she reasoned.

  “I guess not. It’s just these aren’t your normal nightmares,” I informed her, pulling my flannel pj’s down to show her the bruises on my calves.

  “Where is your tablet? I’ll download this for you.”

  “In my bag upstairs, on my bed.” I started to rise.

  “No, I’ll get it. You stay here.” She bounced up the stairs.

  Footsteps on the front porch always made me anxious when Banton was away, and tonight was no exception. As the front door opened, I pushed up on the couch, ready to get up and run to him. Trying not to let my disappointment show, I brightened as Ty, John and Brie came through the doorway.

  “Hey, Andie-girl! How are you?” John came across the room, with Brie close behind him. He threw his arms around me in a bear-hug type embrace as Brie plopped down beside me on the sofa. Beau bounded down the staircase and ran to sniff and greet everyone.

  “I’m great! It’s good to be home,” I answered as I glanced back to the front door. “Where’s Banton?”

  Ty came around the sofa and sat down in the chair as he answered, “He stayed behind to visit with Sam, but he shouldn’t be more than thirty minutes or so behind us.”

  Brie leaned over to hug me. “You look great, how is everything?” She raised an eyebrow at me. I guessed John had probably spilled about my pregnancy.

  I returned her hug. “Great. And you two have some explaining to do. What are you thinking, sneaking off to get married without your two best friends?” I frowned at both of them.

  “Couldn’t help it. Your big day made it impossible for us to wait!” He picked Brie up off the sofa, and then sat down in her place as he pulled her back down into his lap.

  “And what did your parents say?” I asked, glancing back and forth between them.

  “Well, they’ve had some time to simmer down. At first, they told me if I thought I could make decisions on my own, I could pay for those decisions on my own, and I was cut off financially, college and all.”

  “Oh, Brie, I’m sorry…” I began.

  “Oh, but then they called me this morning, and they’ve had a change of heart, or at least my dad has, anyway. They’ve agreed to finish paying for college, if I keep my grades up. It seems they’ve had a private investigator looking into John’s history, and I guess he impressed them, so they aren’t as mad anymore.”

  “How do you know they had John investigated?” I asked.

  “I found out when we went to the base, they’ve been calling for all kinds of records, talking to my former superiors, and all that stuff,” John laughed as he kissed Brie on the neck.

  “So where are you two staying?” I asked.

  “Brie’s apartment, for now. Her roommates won’t be back until late next week, so we’ve got to figure something else out.”

  “No you don’t. Not right away. You’re still paying rent here, remember?”

  “I just didn’t figure you would want us here…we don’t want to impose. We’ll find something,” John assured me.

  “There’s no rush, John. We all start back to school in two weeks, and if you and Banton are deployed, well… I’ll be glad Brie’s here with me. So take your time, and find the perfect place. You’ve got work to do in the nursery, remember?” I watched Brie’s face. She blushed, and quickly glanced at John.

  He laughed. “Yeah, I told her. No secrets from your wife, I guess.”

  “That’s good.” I grinned as he patted me on the leg.

  “What nursery?” Ty caught on finally, and John laughed at his tardiness.

  “Ty!” Constance bounded down the staircase and into the living room as Ty jumped up and caught her in his arms.

  “Why are you still here? I thought you had to go back to Denham Springs.” Ty kissed her passionately, and John coughed, smothering a snicker.

  “I called mom, and told her I wanted to be here when Chandler and Banton got back. I told her I’d be home sometime tomorrow.” She beamed at him as he swirled her around.

  “Sweet Jesus, look at all the perfectly-matched lovers in the house! Just makes me want to go out and…kiss a stranger!” Everett announced, gliding down the staircase and into the living room.

  “What kind of stranger?” I asked as I smirked, glancing around the room.

  “Good try, Bebe. But I’m not talking…”

  “What have you been doing up there so long?” I asked. All he’d come back with was a couple of blankets.

  “You’ll see. Philippe should be back any minute, and we have a late-night appointment with an old movie on the big screen here. You’re all welcome to join us,” Everett said as he grinned, knowing everyone most likely had other ideas.

  “So what happened in Vegas?” I asked Brie and John.

  “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas!” John, Ty, Brie and Constance all chimed together, and then doubled over in laughter.

  “Well, obviously I wasn’t talking about that part…How were you attacked?” I asked as the laughter died down.

  “Well, it was lucky Brie wasn’t there when I was attacked. I’d talked her into going down to the spa and doing whatever it is you girls do there, and I was getting ready to take her to dinner. An Orco broke into our hotel room, and I fought with him, and he ended up on the concrete sidewalk outside the Venetian. I guess Orcos don’t bounce from twenty-plus stories. He appeared to have been killed by the fall, but when I ran down to ground level, the body was gone…there was no sign of him, dead or alive.”

  I shuddered as John continued, “I just wanted to get Brie back here where I knew I could protect her.”

  I silently watched Constance and Ty; Ty had a pained look on his face, and Constance still looked as if she was having trouble processing all the flood of supernatural information. An uncomfortable silence settled over the room, and then Everett, always knowing when to interject, cleared his throat.

  “I have a little something prepared for everyone upstairs. All of your rooms are waiting,” Everett grinned at John as John quickly picked Brie up, and turned to me. “Glad you’re back…night, all!” He ran around in the corner and up the stairs, with Brie giggling all the way.

  “Um, well, I guess we’ll turn in too, I’m a little tired,” Ty offered as he grinned, pulling Constance behind him as they followed John and Brie up the staircase.

  “You sure know how to clear a room,” I quipped as Everett laughed.

  “Oh, sugar, you know you would have been the first one up there if Banton was back. He’ll be here soon, I’m sure.”

  “I just wonder why he stayed behind. I forgot to ask them what the meeting was about, and what they found out. I guess they can’t tell me, anyway…” I trailed off.

  “Don’t worry, Bebe. Philippe has been in N’awlins all day too, meeting with other Aldon. We are coordinating, since there has been so much trouble. It has been decided we are going to band together and work as a team--watch the SEALs and their loved ones. We are going to clean house here in Baton Rouge and in N’awlins. It’s to our benefit, and we are ready for life to get back to normal. So quit worrying. Everything is going to be as fine as frog hair split four ways, honey!” Everett sang in his best honey-dripped southern drawl, making me giggle.

  “So what exactly did you do upstairs?” I asked, cocking an eyebrow at him.

  “You’ll find out soon enough, Bebe.” His eyes twinkled as he kept his little secret

  Keys jingled in the front lock, and I pushed up hopefully on the sofa. Mr. Philippe appeared around the doorway into the foyer, and I relaxed back on the sofa.

  “Well, Darlin’, it’s good to see you home! How’s my best girl?” He swooped into the room and kissed my cheek, then Everett’s, and then he sank into the chair opposite us.

  “I’m great, M
r. Philippe. It’s good to be home. Thank you for everything you have done for us, and for staying with Constance and Ty while we were gone,” I said warmly. He waved me off.

  “Don’t be silly, it was the least I could do. Those poor kids, and she was trying to be so brave, but I could tell she was just scared silly. We’ll just to have to hang around until we have this whole thing straightened out with these renegade Orcos. I’m beginning to feel right at home, it’s sort of fun, actually.”

  “Yes, sort of like running a bed and breakfast full of lovebirds,” Everett teased as Philippe laughed.

  I watched the first part of the movie with them, and as the lights flickered from the TV screen around the room, my eyes became heavy. The next thing I knew I was jostled awake as Banton placed me gently into our bed. Cascades of candles flickered around our room, and rose petals were strewn across the bed, with soft music playing on the stereo.

  “Everett’s been in here I see,” he chuckled as he tucked me into the bed.

  “I’m so glad you’re home! Why are you so late?” I yawned, and sat upright in the bed.

  “Stay still. I’m going to shower, and then I’ll tell you all about it.” He leaned across the bed and kissed me, and then he pulled his shirt off as he crossed into the bathroom to start the shower.

  I was determined I wouldn’t fall back asleep before he got out of the shower, but my eyelids were almost shut when I felt him snuggle in behind me. I turned over as he folded me in his arms.

  “Now, tell me how the day went,” I requested as he placed slow, deliberate kisses down my neck.

  “As we suspected. We all made reports on our attacks, and then we spent the next three or four hours in conferences.” He continued to explore my neckline with his lips, and then pulled my t-shirt over my head, and dropped it to the floor beside the bed. His mouth found mine, and we kissed, his hunger obvious as he became more and more demanding.

  “So what now?” I asked, not actually wanting to hear the answer.

  He stopped, pulling away as he ran his fingers through his hair. As he sat up in the bed, I pushed up and leaned my head over on his chest and sighed. “You can tell me. I want to know. I think I already know.”

  “They have some new intelligence, and we’re …going to be away for a couple of weeks.” He stroked my cheek as he spoke.

  The usual anxiety reared its ugly head. “When?” I whispered.

  “In four days. We’ll know more after we leave. I’m so sorry. I knew this was coming, but I didn’t think I’d have to leave you so soon. I’m going to talk to Everett, and get him and Mr. Philippe to stay here at the house with you and Brie. You’ll be safe with them here. I’ll check in with you often, and I’ve already bought you a webcam for your laptop. I’ll be back before you know it, I promise.”

  I was determined I would be the good Navy wife. “It’s fine. Don’t worry about me, I’ll be all right. I knew what I was in for, when I married a SEAL.” I pushed up on his chest, and kissed him. “I don’t want you worrying about anything here, just do your job and get home safe. Please?”

  “Promise. I love you, Chandler.” He kissed me softly as he pulled me back down into the covers on the bed. He slid his hands down my ribcage, and then down into the waistband of the flannel pants I still had on. As he tugged them down my legs, I protested.

  “I’m back on bed rest, remember? We can’t…” I whispered against his neck.

  “Oh, but we can, we just have to be careful, and creative…” he finished undressing me under the covers, and then showed me how much he’d miss me. I forgot everything except the feel of his hands on my body and the exquisite touch of his lips.

  Chapter Nine

  The morning of Banton’s last day at home dawned cold, rainy and dreary. I didn’t care; I was snuggled down in the soft covers of our bed with him. I watched him as he slept – lying on his back, his arms loosely wrapped around me. I lay motionless, because the slightest movement these days snapped his eyes open instantly. He had become the lightest of sleepers, afraid he wouldn’t wake me in time if I had a nightmare. I was worried about the amount of sleep he was getting, and I was determined to make him nap while I was awake the next twenty-four hours. Somehow it was so sweet, so comforting to hear his heart beating, his breath moving in and out. I was memorizing everything about his profile, the way the stubble on his cheeks turned his skin just a shade darker than the rest of his face, the way his eyelashes curled as they lay just above his cheekbones. I inhaled deeply – his clean, woodsy smell – just the scent of his cologne was enough to stir me. Tears began to pool in my eyes as I thought about the next few weeks without him. My mind drifted to where I dare not let it, What if he didn’t come back, if he were to be captured like Sam was, or killed…I couldn’t breathe, my chest ached at the thought. I shut my eyes and prayed silently…Please, dear lord, keep him safe, bring him back to me, and to my babies…

  Opening my eyes again, I found him watching me silently. He reached his hand up and caught a tear as it slid down my cheek. Without saying a word, he pulled me up over him, and caught my lips with his. He worked his lips slowly, breathing in and out as he explored, his kiss calming me. He continued to caress my lips softly with his as his grip tightened around me. He was telling me everything would be all right, and he would return to me. I was glad he didn’t say anything out loud. He knew exactly what I was thinking. I was worrying, and words were useless. His kiss became more urgent as he moved his hands down my waist, over my hips…he grasped my leg and pulled my thigh around his hips as he rolled me to the side, and hovered over me. Pulling away, his eyes burned into mine as he watched me intently.

  “I want you so badly…” I whispered.

  “I know. Just a little longer, believe me, I want you too. I love you, Chandler. More than anything.” He slid down to my stomach, pulling the covers back as he placed a slow, deliberate kiss on my abdomen. He then lay his head down on me as if listening for the babies. I held his head in my hands as I ran my fingers through his hair.

  “I’ll be thinking of this, every moment you’re gone. Promise me,” I choked on the words.

  “I promise you, sweetheart. I promise. I’ll come home.” He placed another kiss on my abdomen, and then pulled back up to look into my eyes. “I need to get up and talk to Everett and Mr. Philippe. I want to make sure they will stay here while I’m gone. If they can’t, I want you to go to N’awlins and stay with my parents.”

  “I can’t, I have to register for classes, and school starts in a week,” I argued as I saw look of defiance cross his face.

  “You can’t go, unless Doctor Lane says you can stay on your feet.”

  “I know. But I think I’ll be all right. And if I can’t take classes the regular way, I’ll take some classes online.” I offered the compromise I knew he couldn’t refuse.

  “I know you, Andie, and I don’t want you to push yourself. I know you promised Mrs. Sue and Mr. Lon, but they will understand when we tell them about the babies.”

  “I guess we need to tell them, don’t we?” I asked as I sighed.

  “I wanted to do it together, but we don’t have much time before I leave. Why don’t you invite them for dinner tonight?”

  “No. I’m in a selfish mood. I want you all to myself. I’ll tell them after you’re gone. What are they going to do, ground me?” I grinned at him.

  “You’re such a bad girl…” he started, but didn’t finish. My lips silenced his for once.

  * * *

  “You don’t even have to ask, Banton-babe. Mr. Philippe and I have already discussed it, and we are staying here while you boys are away. We’ll watch your sweet darlins, and keep them entertained so they don’t miss you too much,” Everett assured him as we sat in the kitchen drinking coffee.

  “I’ll bet. One big slumber party, and by the time we get back, you two will have them spoiled rotten.”

  “You got it, stud,” Everett grinned over his mug at me as Banton chuckled. And we’ll take car
e of the other thing, too, as soon as I can get Constance to see Dr. Lane.

  “What other thing?” I asked, looking back and forth at the two of them.

  “We need to do some testing on Constance. Ty is worried, and it would set his mind at ease to find out once and for all,” Banton stated. It dawned on me they were talking about the question of whether Constance was a half-breed.

  “Have you explained it to her, yet?” I asked Everett.

  “No, but from the sound of the voices coming down the staircase, I’d bet he has already brought the subject up.” Everett watched down the hallway as he spoke, and then his eyes widened as Constance burst into the room.

  “Okay, Everett, let’s go. I want to get this over with, once and for all. Ty isn’t getting rid of me over his fear of my being bitten!” she exclaimed as tears welled up in her eyes.

  I sat in stunned silence, for I’d never seen her cry over a romance. Ever.

  “Calm down, Darlin. Ty’s just worried about you, he cares about you. We’ll go and see Dr. Lane, maybe you’re a half-breed as well. There’s a fifty-fifty chance, you know,” Everett answered, trying to calm her.

  “It doesn’t seem to matter either way to Ty. He’s made his mind up, if I carry the gene, he’s afraid I’ll draw them in. And he doesn’t want to be with me, if I don’t, because he’ll put my life in danger. What am I supposed to do? He’s pushing me away, and I can’t stand it!” She replied exasperatedly. Banton rose and put his arms around her. I held my hand out and grasped hers.

  “Shh. I’ll go and talk to him. I know exactly how he feels.” Banton pulled her back to look at her squarely in the eyes. “You and Everett set up your appointment this morning with the doctor. I’ll talk to Ty in the meantime,” he assured her as she glanced over at Everett. He was already pulling his cell out and dialing the number.

  Constance was shaking with fury. “He doesn’t know me at all. Half-breed or not, I can kick his ass! He’s not dumping me,” she fumed, plopping down in the chair next to me. I giggled at her comment and she glared at me.