SomedayMyGoodOleBoyWillCome Read online

  “You deserve them every day. Let me be the one…”

  “Don’t. Please, I can’t do this right now.”

  “We’re ready, Mr. Derek.” Caleb shouted as he came running back. He quieted down as he saw his mother’s look.

  “We?” Derek asked as his eyes silently questioned Jacey.

  “Me n’ Shadow. He goes everywhere with me.”

  “Well then, let’s go.” Derek glanced from his son to back at Jacey. “All three of us.”

  “Have fun, baby. Listen to what Derek says, alright?” Jacey gave her son a hug and a kiss.

  “Just like a Marine would. Love you, Mama. Come on, Shadow.” Caleb ran down the steps.

  “What about my kiss?” he teased.

  “Take care of him. He knows my cell number if he needs to. He can swim and Shadow will protect him just in case, and…”

  “Jacey, I will not let anything happen to him. Trust me.”

  “I know, just one more thing.”

  “What is it, Jacey?” His tone was hard, showing his exasperation.

  “When…when he gets nervous or scared he, um…starts to stutter.” Her dark eyes never left his face. “If that happens, have him sit down on the ground and pet Shadow. Tell him to recite his scales, he will know what it means. Don’t look shocked or disgusted, it will only make him worse. He and Shadow have done this many times. Okay?”

  Shock crossed his expression before he nodded. She got the feeling he wanted to say something else. “Got it. Don’t worry, we will be fine and have a blast. So you do the same.”

  She smiled a little and nodded. “Alright. Have fun.” Jacey stood back and watched her son dance impatiently by the car to go fishing.

  “Don’t worry, princess, everything will be fine,” Derek said. Before she could protest one way or another he kissed her fast and hard, leaving her breathless as he sauntered his fine ass down the steps and over to the car.

  With the remnants of Derek’s kiss on her lips, Jacey drove over to the Moser farm in her Jeep to pick up Honey. She was now confused. Last night he had been so angry and now…now she wasn’t sure what was going on. The only thing she knew for sure was the fact that, sooner or later, she and Derek were going to have to have a long talk about Caleb and his future.

  Honey was waiting for her as she pulled up to the farmhouse. “So, where to, Honey?” Jacey asked as she jumped in the Jeep.

  “Doesn’t matter, let’s just drive and see where we end up.” Honey had a haunted look on her face, so Jacey didn’t argue.

  “All right. Let’s go.” With ease, Jacey headed them off. She drove down Mill Creek Road and waited for Honey to say something.

  After a while Jacey looked over at her friend and found that she was crying. “What’s the matter, Honey?”

  “I have been wondering about something you said when you first got here.”

  “And that was?” Jacey kept driving. She could interrogate with the best of them, but this was her friend and she just wanted her to tell her what she wished to tell.

  “If he makes me feel happy and safe.” She turned her eyes on Jacey.

  “And that is a good thing, right?” Jacey pulled into a convenience store and put the vehicle in neutral. “Be right back,” she said as she jumped out and ran in for some Cokes.

  Honey was still sitting and staring off into space when she got back, but after they pulled out of the parking lot she answered. “If it was true it would be a good thing. The thing is, I’m not sure if I am happy and I don’t feel safe with him anymore. But I don’t really have a reason why I feel that way.”

  Jacey’s eyes narrowed briefly. “Well, if you feel that way in your gut then you should trust it. But if you are just having pre-wedding jitters then don’t put too much stock in those feelings.”

  “How did you get to be so smart?” Honey asked as she took a big drink.

  “The same way you did, by being who we are. Look, I know that you know I’m not all that fond of David. But don’t call off something because of my feelings, or Derek’s feelings. It has to be something that you feel. If you don’t have proof of what you are suspecting or feeling then look for it. Just make sure that you are sure.”

  “But I trust your judgment,” Honey said.

  Jacey pulled over into a roadside park and shut off the vehicle. She climbed out of the Jeep, grabbed her drink, and said, “Let’s go for a walk.”

  Honey climbed out and followed. For a while they walked along the path as it followed a trickling stream. When they came upon a picnic area, Jacey sat down and waited for her friend to do the same.

  “You know, Honey, in my line of work it is very important for me to be able to rely on my gut feeling. I know you don’t want to hear this, and I know you’ll probably get angry, but I can’t not tell you. My gut says not to trust David.” Jacey made sure to hold Honey’s gaze.

  Honey played with her drink bottle. “You wouldn’t lie to me, so tell me why you think like that.” Her face filled with the stoicism of a woman who knew what was coming…something bad.

  “I’m sorry…I really wish I didn’t feel this way, and maybe it’s because I automatically look for the worst in people…”

  “Just spit it out, Jace. I know you aren’t the only one who feels like this. Derek does also. I know he does, but he won’t tell me to my face. At least you are willing to talk to me about it.”

  Honey turned her attention to peeling the label off her bottle. But before Jacey could say anything else she began again.

  “What? Is it because you don’t think I have anything to offer him? That I’m just a small town girl? I know what people are saying about me, that there is not one good reason for him to want me,” She spat.

  I can think of eighty reasons and each of them is acres of your land. Jacey sat silent as she listened to her friend rant on and on about how unfair they were all being towards David. Finally Jacey put out her hands in a timeout gesture.

  “Hey…hey…hey. Give me a second here. I’m only going on what you told me the last time we talked. You said that you didn’t trust him. And then I get a wedding invitation in the mail two months later. What am I supposed to think?”

  “You are supposed to trust my judgment,” Honey wailed. “He is offering me the chance to get out of here. I don’t want to live at the farm for my whole life. I know that sounds horrible but it’s true. David said we would travel the world and do whatever I wanted to do.”

  “Honey, stop this. Just stop. If you are so sure and confident about what you are doing, then why are you asking me?”

  “Because I don’t understand why y’all aren’t happy for me.”

  “We just want the best for you.”

  “And you don’t think he is what’s best for me,” she said in a low voice.

  “Honestly, no. I don’t. But I will stand up there with you and support your decision. I’m not the one who has to live with it.” Jacey watched as Honey nodded sagely.

  “Okay. You don’t like him, or trust him. I get that. But thanks for still supporting me.” Honey smiled at her friend and got up. “Let’s keep walking. I want to know why you didn’t tell Derek he had a son with you.” Jacey didn’t even blink, just sat there and looked at Honey, who began to laugh. “Yes, I know who the father is. I am pretty sure that the rest of the family does as well.”

  Jacey nodded as she stood up. Side by side, the friends walked and talked about everything that they needed to. When the sun was beginning to set, they left the trail and drove the hour and a half back to the Moser farm.

  Alone, Jacey drove her Jeep into the yard of her childhood home. There was one light on, and she climbed out of the vehicle and slowly walked up the steps to the front door. “Anyone home?” she asked as she walked in through the screen door.

  She was met by silence. “Caleb? Mom? Dad?” She paused for a moment then asked, “Shadow?” Nothing. Jacey walked into the kitchen and found a note for her under the plate of lemon squares her mom had made.r />
  Jace:

  We are going to eat in town.

  Caleb and Shadow are with us.

  Maybe this would be a good time for you to explain

  Some things to the father of your child.

  Love,

  Mom and Dad

  “Sure,” she muttered sarcastically to the empty kitchen. “I’ll get right on that.” Munching on a lemon square, she wandered up the polished staircase and entered her room. She changed out of her sticky clothes from the afternoon and put on a pair of BDU’s. Regardless of the heat, she felt comfortable wearing her fatigue bottoms. She slid on a clean cutoff tee-shirt with a Marine logo on it. Since it was so warm she figured she would just walk around barefoot so, with her French manicured toes peeking out from under her black BDU’s, she padded back downstairs.

  She realized that now would be a perfect time for her to do a little digging into the past of David Turner, both Senior and Junior. Jacey glanced at her watch, looked at all three dials on her analog watch, and saw that it was only eight-thirty or so. Still time to make the calls.

  Back into the kitchen she went, grabbing another bar and a bottle of water before picking up the cordless phone and walking out to the porch, off the kitchen. She sat down at the table out there and dialed a number that she knew by heart.

  “Hello?” The deep voice reached her ear, bringing a smile to her face.

  “Hey, Gav, what’s up?”

  “Jace? Is that you?”

  “Yes, sir, it is.”

  “Sanura’s not here right now, she’s out with the girls.” He chuckled. “I’m at home with the kids.”

  “Well, I actually needed to talk to you. I need your help.” Her voice lost its cheer.

  “What do you need?”

  “Can you see if you can dig up anything on a contracting family named Turner? Both father and son are named David.”

  Gavin didn’t ask why or for what reason, just said, “I’ll get right on it. Where can I reach you?”

  “Call my cell with whatever you find, no matter how big or small.” Jacey gave him the number to her satellite phone. “I am also going to contact Brandt and see what he comes up with.”

  “Good, I was just going to suggest that you do that very thing.”

  Jacey smiled as she pictured Gavin sitting in his chair. He was like an older brother to her. “Thanks, Gav. Give my best to Sanura and the kids.”

  “Will do. darling. Come see us soon.”

  “Okay. Thanks for your help. Goodbye.”

  “Bye, Jacey.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  Jacey put the phone down and took a healthy drink of water. One down and one to go. She took a deep breath and got up for a bowl of fruit. Once she was back outside, she reached for the phone and dialed another number.

  “Hello?” This time it was a woman’s voice that answered.

  “Hey, Serenity. How are you doing?” Another smile crossed Jacey’s face. She had missed her friend.

  “Jacey.” The answering voice was her full of joy. “I’ve missed you. How are you doing?”

  “Well. And yourself?”

  “Awesome, we are pregnant so you know, expecting the first.” She sounded giddy.

  “Congratulations, I am so happy for the both of you.” And she was, Brandt and Serenity had been trying to get pregnant for a while now. “I really hate to cut this short but is Brandt there? I need help.”

  Serenity, who had also been in an elite military group, knew Jacey like she knew herself. If she was asking, then she really needed it. So, without asking anything herself—for Brandt would tell her later—she said, “Just a minute and I will get him. It was wonderful to talk to you again, Jacey.”

  “You as well, Serenity. Again, congratulations.”

  Mere moments passed before she heard a baritone voice come over the line. “Hey, babe.”

  “Hey yourself, my handsome man,” she teased back.

  “Why are you bothering to hide from me, you know you want me.”

  “Oh, baby, you know it. But until we get rid of the wife then I’m afraid phone sex is all we can have.”

  He laughed a laugh that made Jacey smile in spite of what she was about to ask. “What’s up?” His tone had become serious again.

  “I need you to check on a supposed contracting family for me. David Turner, both the Senior and Junior. As fast as possible.”

  Jacey heard him writing on a piece of paper. “What am I looking for?”

  “Anything. I want to know as much as I can about them. I’m guessing they will be expecting me to dig into their background, so I’m not going to do so. But they won’t think that I will have someone to do it for me.”

  “Give me a number where I can reach you.” She did and she heard him write it down as well. “All right, babe, you got it.”

  “Thanks. Hey, congrats on the baby,” she said as she popped a grape into her mouth.

  “Thank you. We will keep you posted on the progress.”

  “Look, I know you want to go spend some time with your woman, so I won’t keep you any longer. But thanks for helping out.”

  “Hey, we’re family. Besides, with this number now I can call late at night and have lots of phone sex with you.” He kidded.

  “Oh, Brandt,” Jacey purred in a seductive way, “I just can’t stand it that we have to keep our feelings a secret. I want you so bad.” She had to bite the inside of her lip to keep from laughing.

  He couldn’t keep from laughing. “Oh, Jace, you are too much. Love you, kiddo.”

  Brandt and Gavin must be the only men aside from her men in Zulu Spectre that could call her “kiddo” and get away with their lives intact. “Love you too, Brandt. Thanks for the help. Bye, Dhaaling,” she said before she hung up the phone.

  Still chuckling, she ran her hand over her face before climbing out of her chair and turning to go back into her house. She found herself face to face with the one man—the only man—that could break down each and every one of her defenses. Derek Harmon Moser.

  “Who the hell is Brandt?” he snapped as he leaned against the kitchen doorframe. Looking gorgeous and deadly all at the same time.

  What was it about him that made her not think straight? “A friend.” She walked towards him, determined not to let him know how her insides were shaking.

  Derek didn’t move. If she wanted to go inside he would make sure she walked past him. “What kind of friend?”

  Jacey turned sideways, her shirt sliding off one shoulder. “The male kind.” Her body brushed up against his hard one. And then she stopped when they were face to face.

  Her eyes bore into his as she leaned in. His mouth grew dry as she licked her dry lips. “Derek,” she breathed all low and throaty sounding.

  He swallowed hard. “Yes, princess?”

  Jacey moved so their lips were millimeters away. Her full breasts pressed hard against him. She hesitated for just a moment before she stated in an almost bored voice. “What are you doing here?” She arched an eyebrow as she backed away and walked into the kitchen, leaving him there to gather his lost breath.

  * * * *

  Damn her! Derek followed her inside as watched the black material cup her tight butt as she leaned over in the fridge. How was it possible to want someone so much?

  That lean, muscular body stood up, turning to face him, and Derek fixated on her chest. At least until her throat cleared. He looked up into her black eyes and found them staring at him.

  “What are you doing here, Derek?”

  “Your mom said you wanted to talk to me.” He spread out his arms. “So here I am.”

  So here you are. “She did, did she?”

  “What did you want?”

  Her eyes burned with passion. She opened her mouth and the one word that fell out was, “You.”

  If it was not possible to be handed heaven, then Derek had just been granted the impossible. That one word made his blood boil more than he thought allowed by the realms of feasibility.
His body was alive with flames as he strode over to her. Backing her into the refrigerator door, he pinned her there with his lower body.

  He couldn’t control himself after one touch. With one smooth motion Derek had swung Jacey up into his arms and was headed for the stairs.

  “Derek,” she screeched. “Put me down. Derek, I don’t want to hurt you, put me down.”

  “Shut up, Jace. Just shut up.” His words weren’t harsh, it was more of an entreaty for her cooperation. He tightened his hold on her body as his legs churned up the staircase straight to her bedroom, like an arrow heading for the bullseye on the target.

  By the time Derek shouldered his way into her old bedroom, Jacey’s lips were pressed against his own.

  Derek let her slide down his body. Their lips never left each other. Her fingers were twisted in his hair, pulling his head closer to hers. He moved his hands up her back and gathered her closer, yet as his foot kicked, the door shut behind them.

  When the door slammed Jacey pulled back a little bit.

  “We shouldn’t be doing this.” Her fingers pulled up his shirt to find the warm flesh beneath it.

  “Yes we should.” He leaned in and kissed her like she could save his soul from eternal damnation.

  “No,” she mumbled beneath his kisses. “Off. Take it off.” She tugged on his shirt.

  It took him less than a second to whip off the offending piece of cotton, leaving Jacey purring contentedly. “You too,” he said into her mouth.

  Jacey stepped back and Derek lifted off her shirt, leaving her in her bra, a lacy honey-colored contraption.

  The golden yellow against her dark skin was sinful, and Derek’s eyes hurt at her beauty. Just as suddenly as they had begun, Derek held her away from his body. Jolting her eyes wide open, she searched his face. When she reached for him he shook his head and just continued to look at her.

  “What, Derek?” Jacey asked, her voice throaty with desire and longing. With need. A deep need that Derek heard.

  “Just let me look, Jacey, I just want to look.” He dropped his arm and gazed at the woman who stood half naked in front of him. That night in Atlanta he had looked, memorized, and looked some more, but this time, knowing who she really was, he really looked.