Southern Spirits Read online

  “You are entirely welcome. I enjoyed cooking this afternoon, with everyone around the kitchen. It made it so homey. I’ll miss you all when you all go home,” she sighed, her eyes misting.

  “Well, Chandler and I will be in and out. I’m not coming to N’awlins to the base anymore without bringing Chandler and the babies with me,” Banton answered.

  “And that means I will be here too. I’m the official nanny, you know,” Everett joked. He sat on the chair arm next to Claudia. I watched as he placed his hand on Claudia’s shoulder, and Claudia placed her hand over his.

  “Goodnight, all.” Banton called over his shoulder, helping me climb the stairs with the babies.

  The babies went down quickly, and as I came out of the bathroom, I smiled. Banton was backing into our room, pulling Elly’s crib into the space at the foot of our bed, both babies asleep in her crib. He glanced up as I walked to him.

  “I just can’t leave them alone in the nursery, not yet,” he replied. I cocked an eyebrow at him. “I need them near us.”

  I nodded at him. “I feel the same way. Thank you,” I said as he leaned over to kiss me.

  Beau settled down, curling up in the floor under the crib. Banton went into the bathroom to shower. As I heard him moving around the bathroom, I reached over to the nightstand and retrieved my favorite bottle of lotion, the one Banton had bought for me. I lathered my arms and legs, checking the bruises that seemed to be fading fast. I took in the luxurious scent of the lotion, remembering our magical night under the stars in the gossamer-wrapped pool house. The memories came flooding back…his hands on me, the oil and lotion, soft music playing romantically in the background. His fiery kisses, his mouth on mine, on my body…

  For the first time, I didn’t shudder when I thought about us becoming intimate again. I was ready for my husband to touch me. He hadn’t even asked. He’d been so patient and gentle. I smiled as I imagined him drying off, the beads of water running down the muscles in his back. The bathroom door opened, and Banton quickly flipped the bathroom light off. There was only soft lamplight coming from his side of the bed.

  “Chandler, I’ve got some bandages…do you want me to wrap your ribs for you? We forgot to do it earlier,” he said as he sat down on the edge of the bed.

  “Yes, please. It helps, especially when I try to turn over in the night.”

  I pulled the covers back, scooting closer to his side of the big king-sized bed. He turned and paused as he looked at me.

  “You are glowing tonight,” he murmured as he leaned over and kissed me softly. He seemed to still be a little wary of my reaction to his touch.

  “Banton, it’s okay. You can touch me now, I’m good.”

  “I just don’t want to rush things. You are doing so great,” he replied, stroking my cheek.

  I pulled my nightgown up under my arms, and he scooted closer to me and began to wind the wrap around my ribcage. He tugged it tightly as he went, and I drew my breath in.

  “Too tight? I can loosen it a little,” he offered, drawing back to look at me.

  “No, it’s good. Keep going,” I urged him as he leaned close to me again. I could smell the clean, spicy smell of his shampoo in his still-damp hair as he worked. When he finished wrapping, he reached over to the nightstand and retrieved the clasp to fasten the end of the wrap.

  “All done,” he said as he drew back to look at me. I reached up and slipped my hand around his neck, bringing his lips down to meet mine. As he kissed me gently, I opened my mouth, inviting him. He moved his lips slowly as he traced my lips with the tip of his tongue. I whispered a moan as I slid my hand down his neck to his shoulder, pulling him down with me on the bed. Sliding his hands around my shoulders, he eased me back onto the pillows. Our mouths were melded together, our tongues dancing and whirling when his kiss deepened. As he slid his knee up over my legs, I parted mine, letting his calf slide between them. I hitched my right knee up and over his, and pulled my thigh up against his as I pushed up to meet him. I could feel his passionate response.

  “Baby, no. I don’t want to push you,” he murmured against my lips.

  “You’re not. I want this,” I whispered back as I raised my lips to capture his again.

  He pulled away and looked down at me. Pulling the covers back, he gazed down at my stomach and my legs. I followed his gaze, taking in the dark bruises that still marred my skin.

  “I love you Chandler, and I want to make love to you. But not until I know you are completely healed, inside and out. I don’t want to do anything to jeopardize your recovery. You are so brave,” he said, stroking the side of my face.

  “Banton, please…I need you,” I pleaded as the familiar ache took over. I was surprised at myself. All I felt was my need for him, no self-doubt crept in. I had been afraid intimacy would be a hurdle for me, but I knew I could handle it. My desire for this beautiful man crushed any doubt that still remained.

  “No, baby. Give it just a little more time.” He looked at me sternly.

  I nodded as tears gathered. I knew it was unreasonable, but I let the little bit of doubt creep in that Banton was having trouble with the attack, and he might be put off by the thought of Dante’s having touched me.

  “Okay, I won’t push.” I sighed and closed my eyes. I didn’t want to cry, and I didn’t want Banton to know he’d upset me.

  I felt him brush his face against mine and his soft lips at my ear.

  “Andie, don’t do this. I know what you are thinking. I can feel you this time. Don’t doubt my feelings…reach out, and feel what I’m feeling,” he commanded as I opened my eyes and looked at him.

  I was enveloped with the strongest desire, the strongest need I’d ever felt. My heart leapt. It was if I was feeling my intense love for him for the first time. I gazed back and forth into his eyes and to his lips as he lowered them to mine. He kissed me again, his passion apparent in his kiss as he drank in all of me. As he pulled away, I nodded.

  “Can you feel me?” he whispered.

  “All of you. There aren’t even words,” I replied.

  “Good. Because the connection I feel with you, especially when I’m inside you, is almost mythical. I don’t want anything to mess that up. I’m taking this slow, Lady…for both of us. As before, I want everything to be perfect.”

  I nodded, overcome with emotion.

  “I remember a night when you were first pregnant with the twins; you’d been put on bed rest.” He reached over and grasped the hem of my gown. As he slowly worked it up my body, I lifted my shoulders, allowing him to raise it over my head. He dropped it in the floor beside him. “I undressed and then I undressed you,” he whispered as he shrugged out of his pajama pants. Then as he peeled his boxer-briefs down, he dropped them both in the floor. “I pulled you in against me,” he whispered as he reached over and grasped me gently around the waist. As he pulled me up against his chest, he finished, “And I held you against my bare skin all night.”

  “I seem to remember something about your bare skin,” I murmured as I snuggled into his chest.

  He felt so good, our skin touching everywhere for the first time since the attack. I was so sensitive to him, and so aware of his every muscle, his every move, and it was heaven. I was home.

  “Are you okay?” he asked as he reached to switch off the lamp.

  “Mmm. Yes, I am. I’m perfect.”

  * * *

  I was in a half-dream state, existing in that moment when you know you are dreaming, but you become aware of your surroundings. As my thoughts moved from the dream I was having about the twins playing on our front porch, I became aware of moaning, and the bed shaking. My eyes snapped open, and as I turned to look at Banton, a scream tore through the darkness.

  “NOOO! Get her out now! God, no! Chandler!”

  Banton fought the sheets as he thrashed around. I sat up quickly and reached to switch the lamp on beside the bed. Banton sat up, his eyes wild as he frantically searched around the room.

  “Ban
ton, you’re just dreaming,” I tried to calm him as I took his face in my hands. He was covered in beads of sweat, his eyes dilated.

  “Banton, I’m here. It’s me, you’re all right. It was just a dream,” I soothed, pushing the damp hair back on his forehead.

  “Chandler, Oh, God…Chandler,” he breathed in relief. He pulled me into his chest in a fierce embrace. I winced, my ribs protested against his tight arms.

  He pulled me back to look at me. His eyes were still wide.

  “Banton, you were just having a bad dream. Everything is okay,” I repeated as his breathing calmed.

  Our door opened abruptly, and Ty stood in the doorway.

  “Is everything okay, Brother? I heard you yelling,” he said. I frantically pulled the sheet up around our naked bodies. Banton nodded.

  “Sorry, Ty…I was dreaming, I guess,” he replied, a bit embarrassed.

  “Okay, I was just checking,” he said as he pulled the door to. As his footsteps retreated back to his and Constance’s room, I could hear him talking to Claudia in the hallway.

  “Well, that’s embarrassing,” Banton mumbled. He ran his hand agitatedly through his thick hair.

  I reached up and touched his cheek. “Nobody understands nightmares better than I do, Banton. They can be pretty real.”

  He smiled down at me as his breathing finally returned to normal.

  “Yeah, I guess you do know about those, don’t you?”

  I rose and grabbed my robe from the foot of the bed.

  “Where are you going?” he asked.

  “I’m going to go and get us both something to drink. I’ll be back in a minute.”

  I hurried down the back staircase into the kitchen. Everett and Claudia were seated at the breakfast bar.

  “What are you two doing up?”

  “I couldn’t sleep, and Everett has the uncanny way of always knowing when I’m stirring…we seem to be having a lot of these late-night chats,” she smiled a wistful smile as she sipped on a cup of coffee.

  “I just came down to get us something to drink. Banton had a nightmare and needs something to soothe his nerves,” I murmured as I opened the icebox.

  “A glass of wine might help. There are wineglasses to your right,” Claudia offered.

  “Um, no…I think I’ll just get us both some water,” I replied as I took out two bottles of Perrier and two glasses. I filled the glasses with ice and started back for the stairs.

  “I thought so. Chandler, is there something you want to tell me? Claudia asked as I turned to her. She was staring determinedly at my tummy.

  “How did you,” I started to ask.

  “I’ve been watching you turn green at every smell and every offer of food for the past three days now. You’re pregnant again,” she said as her eyes twinkled.

  I nodded. “We haven’t told everyone yet,” I cautioned as she nodded. She looked over at Everett’s guilty expression.

  “You knew!” she said accusingly.

  “Yes, and Chandler’s secrets are the only one’s I’d try to keep from you, darlin’,” he assured her as he covered her hand with his. She continued to glare at him.

  “Night, all!” I called over my shoulder as I retreated up the staircase.

  When I entered the bedroom, Banton was nowhere to be seen. I crossed over to the bathroom, and found him standing in front of the vanity, splashing water on his face and over his head.

  “Here, here’s some sparkling ice water,” I offered. He peeked at me from under the towel.

  “Andie, I’m so sorry I woke you. I never have bad dreams,” he stammered as he took the glass from me. I followed him back into the bedroom. Stopping to check the babies, I pulled their blankets back up over them, tucking them in around their shoulders. Amazingly enough, the commotion didn’t wake them

  We crawled back into the bed, and I reached up to shut the lamp off.

  “Do you want to talk about it…what was your dream about?” I asked softly. Banton reached over and drew me back into his arms as he spooned behind me.

  “We were back on the ship, and I couldn’t pull you out between those damn bars. You were drowning again,” he whispered, his voice thick with unshed tears.

  I rubbed my hand back and forth over his. I turned in his arms and kissed his lips softly as I slid my leg intimately in between his.

  “I’m here, and I’m safe. You saved me, Banton. Sleep, baby. I’ll hold you all night,” I whispered. I felt his eyelashes against my cheek as he closed his eyes.

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  “I know Claudia wanted us to stay longer, but I’m so glad to be going home. It seems like years since I’ve been in my own house,” I said as I turned to gaze at Banton. The babies napped in their car seats in the back, Beau dutifully packed in between them. Every time one of them sighed or made a baby-squeak in their sleep, Beau raised his head and sniffed to check them. I smiled--Beau was their second nanny.

  “I’ve been meaning to ask you something.”

  “What?” Banton asked as he checked the rear-view mirror, then signaled as he took the ramp to the interstate.

  “When Astrid took me, Beau was nowhere to be seen. I didn’t think about it until I was on board the ship.”

  “I didn’t miss him either in all the commotion. After we left to find you, Dad went out to the garage to check the video camera, and found him locked in a room out there. Astrid must have locked him up when she took the babies out to Alexandra.” As he mentioned the kidnapping his eyes darkened, a shadow crossing his face.

  “That’s another question I have. I remember you saying something, when you told me about Commander Reed and Alexandra…you said there was more. What else is there?’ I asked.

  Banton checked his mirrors again, and then set the cruise as we fell into traffic. He glanced over to me, and then took my hand in his, and lifted it to place a soft kiss there.

  “Commander Singleton is conducting an investigation, and a lot of what he has found is classified. We’re still not sure just how high up this went, and if others over Reed knew anything about the medical tests he was trying to run. But it’s what they found in his files that disturbs me,” he said as I cocked an eyebrow at him.

  “What did they find?’ I urged him to continue.

  “The documents started around the time I called him out at the Christmas ball,” he answered. “He was digging into my past, and he had my college records, information about my family…he had my dad’s medical records from the Navy. Then there was information on Hillary, Alexandra, my college girlfriends. And he had a file on you.”

  “Why? What was he looking for?”

  “I don’t know, but I have my suspicions. I think at first he was trying to mess with me, and dig into my past to cause trouble between us. Everett thinks maybe if he was able to upset you enough, you would leave, and he would have easier access to you…maybe to kidnap you for the Orcos, or to get medical information. Dr. Renault is suspicious of the Navy, and he thinks Reed’s interest was your genetic makeup and in the twins for their own research.”

  “So you know for sure Reed was the one who persuaded Alexandra to come here?”

  “Yes. He paid her a great deal of money. There were even e-mails on his computer. He didn’t have to encourage her much, she had her own reasons for wanting to come back into my life, and she played right into his hands.”

  “Do you know what was in the e-mails?”

  “Some of it. He just asked her if she could make me believe the child was mine. He encouraged her to make as much trouble as she could between us, and to try to draw you out. He also instructed her to make an issue of blood testing, for me and for you and the babies. She was supposed to go through his office, but of course I fouled his plans up.”

  “Will she be charged with anything?’

  “Not if we can’t find her. She’s disappeared. Everett thinks Astrid and the Orcos probably disposed of her,” he whispered as my eyes widened.

  “What about Reese
? What do you think happened to him?”

  “I honestly don’t know. I’m worried about that too, and Dad and Mr. Lon have some people looking into it,” he replied, stroking my cheek.

  “Baby, there’s something else,” he said as he glanced sideways at me.

  “What is it, Banton?’

  “In Reed’s file on you, he had some things on your dad. Did you know he worked for a time, before he married your mom, with some sort of private security team?”

  I frowned, and then looked up at him. “I seem to remember him or my mom mentioning that he had a dangerous job she didn’t like, and after I was born, he stopped. He worked shift work, and sometimes two jobs when I was little. But they never talked much about his first job.”

  “Did your Grandfather Collins adopt him?” Banton asked.

  “No, but my dad used his last name. Paw Paw married Mawmaw when my dad was almost grown.”

  “Do you know why she divorced your biological grandfather?”

  I shook my head. “She never talked about him, and I don’t think my dad remembered much about him. The only thing I ever heard my grandmother say was that she’d made a terrible mistake when she’d married the first time. Where is all this going, Banton?”

  Banton shifted in his seat, and then changed lanes before he answered.

  “There was a copy of your father’s original birth certificate in the file, but there was no date on it. His biological father’s name was Elan Samuels. Do you know who that is?”

  I shook my head. As I mentally whispered the name again in my head, my skin prickled on the back of my neck.

  “Everett says Elan Samuels was his biological father’s brother. If it’s the same Elan Samuels, you and Everett are cousins.”

  I stared at him incredulously. “That’s extraordinary,” I whispered.

  We both sat in silence, lost in thought as the possibilities whirled around in my head.

  “Banton, what are the chances…that I would come to Louisiana, meet Everett, buy the house on Rue Dauphine that was connected to his past, and then find I’m related to him by blood?”