SomedayMyGoodOleBoyWillCome Read online

  “Don’t assume you know all there is to know about me. I will ask you again, what do you do?”

  “What are you two talking about?” Honey broke into the conversation.

  “Jacey was just asking me what I did for a living.”

  “Oh, David is from a contracting family. Let’s not talk about work, come dance with me, David. Jacey, if you will excuse us.” Honey led her fiancé off to dance. Over her shoulder she sent a small apologetic smile to her friend.

  “What has you so serious, runt?” Carson appeared at her side, holding out a plate of fresh fruit to her.

  Immediately Jacey schooled her features and sent a small smile to the man next to her. “Nothing, just thinking that’s all. Is that plate for me?” She was hungry, starved in fact, for dancing was hard work.

  “We can share.” Carson pulled out a chair for her and sat next to her, placing the plate of finger food in between them.

  “Cool, thanks. So tell me, what do you think of David?” Her features may have been relaxed but her mind was working overtime. A contracting family, she would look into that. She knew just the man to call.

  “Well, I like him. He seems a little off every now and then, but I do like him. Derek hates him. Can’t stand him, and it is so funny to see him try and control his feelings around Honey. She doesn’t know how he feels, so don’t tell her.

  “In fact, I bet anything that is why Derek is late, because he just can’t stand to be in the same room with David for long. I know he was looking forward to seeing you.” Carson laughed as he pushed away the empty plate and pulled Jacey up. “Come on, let’s dance some more.”

  Later, Jacey was talking with Uncle Frank and Aunt Ro when she heard that same high-pitched squeal of Honey’s she had heard when she first arrived back in Leeburg. When she looked all she saw was Honey hugging some guy and figured it must be Derek.

  Her stomach quivered as her mind was a mixture of fear and hope. Soon, soon she would see him again.

  Would he even look remotely like she thought he would?

  Would he like the way she looked?

  Why, for that matter, did she care?

  Jacey gave herself a firm mental shakedown. For crying out loud, here I stand acting worse than a lovestruck teenager. She focused back on the conversation around her and found herself being propelled over towards where Honey was still talking to the newcomer, who was listening raptly.

  “Oh, Derek,” Honey’s voice reached Jacey’s ears. “I was getting worried that you wouldn’t be coming. Jacey’s here. I can’t wait for you to see her. She’s changed.”

  The man—all right, Derek—mumbled something in return but Jacey couldn’t make out what it was. Whatever it was caused his cousin to laugh. What she did recognize was the feeling that coursed through her body—lust. Raw lust. One she hadn’t felt in years and it took her a moment to get control of her body.

  Jacey glanced around the room and saw Shelby glaring at her. David stood alone, glaring at Derek, or at least she guessed it to be him. Assuming it was, it appeared there was no love lost from David’s end either between the two men.

  Well, can’t put things off forever. Squaring her shoulders, Jacey strode the rest of the way to the two cousins with bent heads as they spoke amongst themselves. No time like the present.

  The entire town had heard from their children about how Jacey had confessed her undying love to Derek, on that one day oh so long ago. So, as she moved over towards where he stood bent over listening to his cousin, the room began little by little to fall silent.

  Stopping beside the whispering pair, Jacey stood with hands hanging at her side, giving off the appearance she was relaxed. “Hello, Derek.”

  The two speaking went silent as her words fell upon their ears. Honey stood up and away from her cousin with a smile for her friend.

  * * * *

  At those two words Derek’s world stopped, his pulse sped up, and he had begun to sweat for now his palms were damp. Pure, untamed desire surged through his entire body. He moved his eyes hesitantly to his left and found himself looking at a pair of brown feet with French-tipped nails, strapped in gray high heels. Around one ankle was a silver chain with a pendant on it.

  Moving his gaze up slowly, he felt his mouth going dry as his eyes took in a pair of gorgeous, lean, nut-brown legs, smooth as silk and well lotioned, for he could pick up the subtle scent of apricots. A pair of luscious legs that he had spent many—but not nearly enough—pleasurable hours learning about one night a long time ago. It couldn’t be, it wasn’t possible, so he must just be admiring Jacey’s legs and wishing they belonged to his mystery woman, which was why he heard her voice.

  He gave himself a strong mental shake for he realized he must be seeing things. It was just Jacey, childhood tagalong and brat. Squeezing his eyes shut once, hard, he stood up and looked right into her face and said, “Hello, Jacey.”

  It was a good thing he had begun to say that with his eyes closed, for after he got a look at her face he was struck speechless.

  Could it be?

  After all this time?

  “You.” The word was breathed by both of them at the same time. By now the whole room was straining to hear what was going on over there.

  * * * *

  Jacey was having a really hard time not freaking out. In front of her stood not only Derek Moser, but the Marine that had been part of the lost regiment. The same man that she had slept with that one night in Atlanta. The father of her son. Fate could be so damn cruel.

  Derek still looked as good now as he had that night in the hotel. Perhaps better. His hair was longer and wavy, still thick and black, beckoning to her to sink her fingers into it,. Eyes were strikingly pure. Her breathing seemed to be just as affected as it had in that hotel.

  High cheekbones, straight nose, and if he smiled there would be a dimple in his chin on the left side. It matched the dimple he had in his left butt cheek. His body looked just as firm as it had been that fateful night, and her body responded with wanton desire.

  * * * *

  Derek couldn’t believe it. He had found her. Hell, he had never lost her, for he had known who she was the whole time. His youngest cousin’s tagalong friend.

  That one night in Atlanta had been the most amazing night spent with a woman. Ever. Seeing her wearing a tight black skirt and tank top had been such a change from her combat gear that Derek had been shocked. So shocked, in fact, he couldn’t formulate a single sentence to speak to her. He had known she was on his flight, but still didn’t know her name. When they had been told they wouldn’t be flying out that night, he had followed her to the hotel and got a room there as well.

  Then he waited near the bar, hoping that she would come down for a drink. She did and he had to touch her skin, to see if it was as soft as it looked. It was, for he had touched her hand as he reached for his drink.

  The rest was, you can say, history.

  “It was you,” he stuttered.

  “You…it was you. I didn’t know it was you…oh my God.” Jacey’s words weren't coming all too clearly either. Something akin to horror began to fill her eyes. Derek saw it and it scared him, for he didn’t wish for her to fear what they had together. He planned on taking it to the next level; this woman was his saving grace.

  “What are you two talking about?” Frank’s voice broke in, interrupting their reunion, a fact that he was both angered and pleased about. “Are you saying that you two have seen each other since Jacey moved?”

  Eyes were still a bit wide, but Jacey looked over at the man he understood she considered her uncle. “Yes. We ran into each other about. . .”

  “Seven years. It was about seven years ago.” Derek itched to touch her skin, kiss her lips. So strong was his desire that he began to clench a fist, digging his nails into the palm of his hand to stop himself from reaching for her.

  “Yes, that’s right.”

  Neither Jacey nor Derek saw the light of clarity flicker in Uncle Frank’s gaze.


  “Where would the two of you be together?” Shelby bit off the question, breaking the spell that was between them. The woman who wanted Derek strode up to them, blonde hair swinging in time with her agitation.

  Everyone in the room waited for the answer to that. Derek began, “After one of my missions overseas we had been extracted from a situation and. . .” He never took his eyes off Jacey as he spoke, not sure how to say it, for Derek didn’t like to talk much about his time in the Marines. “Well, Jacey was. . .”

  Jacey interrupted, “I was stationed at the base they were lifted to after the extraction.” Jacey met Derek’s glance only briefly before looking at Uncle Frank and Aunt Ro. “I had no idea that it was Derek. None.” A generous smile crossed her. “I’m glad to see that you are doing well, Derek. It is good to see you again. Do I at least get a hug?”

  He knew the only reason she did was if she didn’t people would think something was wrong if they didn’t hug. “Of course. And it is good to see you again as well.” Derek stepped closer to her and opened his arms, and to his immense pleasure she moved easily into them.

  As their arms closed around each other she whispered into his ear, her warm breath teasing his skin. “Don’t tell them I was with the rescue. No one knows about it.”

  Derek brushed a quick kiss along her cheek and breathed into her ear. “You know I wouldn’t do that, but we need to talk.” His body was hard and he wanted nothing more than to take her and make love to her. Forever this time.

  Jacey stepped back and out of his arms, and he experienced an intense loss as Shelby moved closer to him, placing her silent claim on him.

  “Wait a minute. I still don’t understand why you two wouldn’t have talked to each other.” Aunt Ro looked between them both.

  “Auntie Ro, bases are big. I only saw him in passing. I was taking some supplies to his unit. That’s all. I didn’t recognize him; it has been quite a few years since I have seen him, after all, and he has changed.”

  “Oh, so you were a supply girl. That’s what you do in the Marines? Hand out stuff to the ones who really do something for the country?” Shelby’s cackling voice made him grit his teeth.

  “You could say that,” Jacey responded .

  “That’s not true.” Derek pulled from her, furious immediately on Jacey’s behalf. “Jacey is a Marine through and through. One I would be proud to serve with. Don’t ever slander any Marine’s worth in front of me, Shelby.”

  “Jacey,” Honey broke in.

  “Yes, Honey?”

  “Here.” Honey was holding out Jacey’s cell phone. “Your phone went off. It’s Caleb.”

  Immediately a huge smile crossed Jacey’s face. “Thanks.”

  She took the phone from her friend and he clenched his jaw in rage. Who is Caleb?

  “Hey, handsome. How are you? I miss you, too.” Jacey wandered off to continue her conversation.

  Chapter Five

  Derek seethed. Seven years. Seven years he had this woman on his mind—both day and night—and she turned out to be none other than the child that used to follow him around. Now that he had found her again, there was some man in her life named Caleb.

  He wasn’t about to lose her again. To this day he still dreamed about her. The way her body fit so perfectly against his. The faint apricot scent of her skin and hair. The way she was so unrestrained with her passion. The feeling of totality and completion she gave to him.

  “Derek! Derek, are you listening to me?” Shelby whined from at his side.

  No he wasn’t. “Sorry, no. Excuse me, Shelby. I need to go speak to Jacey.” How he had hooked up with Shelby was still a mystery to him. Now she wasn’t even a blip on his radar, for he was totally focused on Jacey.

  “Why?” Her question was so sharp and hateful it stopped him short.

  Derek’s eyes narrowed as if he were truly seeing Shelby for the first time, her true self. “I don’t have to explain myself to you. Jacey is a friend and a fellow Marine. I wish to speak with her, that is all you need to know. Goodnight, Shelby.” Because I can’t not be near her, this woman completes me. Derek strode off.

  Jacey came back to stand by Honey and they spoke quietly for a bit before Honey raised her hand to ask for silence.

  “Thanks to each and every one who came. But I am going to steal Jacey now, for we have some more catching up to do. We will see you around town. Again, thanks. Goodnight.”

  With a wave Jacey added, “Thanks y’all. This was more than I ever could have hoped for.” Her eyes never left Derek as she said that.

  Derek watched as Carson leaned down and whispered something into Jacey’s ear, causing her to smile and laugh. Her smile transformed her face, lighting it as if the sun had chosen to shine only on her smooth, brown skin. A sound that kicked him right in the gut. How he had missed her voice, a low alto, to him the most beautiful sound in the world.

  ♠

  Agreeing that it would be a no strings attached fling had been so hard for him to do. In the dark of the rainforest she’d not said a word—the Spec Ops team used hand gestures. He had been worried when he saw there was a woman in the group—a very unfounded fear, for if he were to be honest with himself he really didn’t know she was a woman until he saw her silhouette. If anything, she was more efficient than the men. Maybe not as strong as the men, but more than capable of doing the job required of them. A better shot and more agile, that much he knew. He had been her responsibility. To this day he still didn’t know who they were or how they had found him and his unit.

  She spoke for the first time once they were safely on the chopper lifting into the night sky amidst the barrage of gunfire. It had taken them five heart stopping nights to reach the extraction point. As the last one boarded on the chopper, she sat closest to the open door, nearest to the danger, and it didn’t faze her at all.

  One of the men beside her, the gunmen, took a hit in the shoulder with a mild curse. That was when Derek fell for her, even he couldn’t explain it only to say something in her tone of voice made him feel safe and like he had found his other half in life. She shoved the wounded man further into the chopper and took his spot operating the M-60, emptying round after round into the oncoming swarm of enemy personnel.

  When the helicopter landed on the aircraft carrier, each unit went their separate ways so he hadn’t seen her again until they were in a group debriefing. She had been dressed in clean fatigues and he felt yet again an immediate and strong desire to have her. The members in her unit called her Jack, but they had no nameplates or ranks anywhere on their uniforms that he could see. He couldn’t get close to her for the other seven men surrounding her at all times, with expressions that told him along with every other man she was off limits, so don’t bother trying.

  She didn’t even acknowledge him or any of his team members. She was all about the business at hand; in fact, she barely looked at him. In his defense he and his unit had not had a chance to get cleaned up. He kept his eyes on her at the debriefing, ignoring the commanding officer, and lost his soul.

  Derek had heard about the whole near death and sex relationship, but he would swear that there was some kind of deeper connection between them. Especially since there were other attractive women on the carrier, but Derek’s attention was not held by them at all. Not the way Jack held it.

  Both regiments were sent to the nearest base by helicopter for some rest and relaxation. That evening he watched as she walked on ahead of him—she had a first class ticket —on a plane bound for Atlanta, Georgia. As he walked past her seat it took all his willpower and control not to touch her, grab her, kiss her, and make her his own.

  Even now Derek didn’t understand what the pull was between them, but he did know that this woman was meant to be a part of his life. All he knew was before he heard the husky lilt of her voice he was all ready to reenlist. After hearing her, Derek remembered about family and realized what he wanted was to be home with his, and have her be a part of it. Grow old together, ha
ve children together, not the killing. Not anymore.

  * * * *

  Derek would have been wrong about his assumption, for that same woman busy occupying his mind had felt the electric current, she just didn’t know where or who it came from. It had just hit her, sending ripples of electricity throughout her body, instantly tuning her body for the source of the thrill.

  ♠

  So here he stood—in the present—watching as she walked towards the door with his cousins. Unable to do anything else, Derek followed. He watched as she slid behind the wheel of the blue convertible he had seen on his way to the diner and waited for Honey to finish saying goodnight to her fiancé.

  “Wait up, Carson. I’ll head home with you.” Derek took a deep breath of the night air.

  “Sure thing, cuz. What about your car?” Carson yelled back as he helped Honey into the convertible.

  “I can come back in the morning and get it.”

  “Well, let’s go then.” Carson looked at the two women in the car and winked at them in the hushed light from the streetlamps. “See y’all at home.” Then he walked off to meet Derek and they got into their vehicle.

  * * * *

  On the way back to Moser Farm, Jacey waited for Honey to say something. Anything. Finally it was too much.

  “What’s the matter, Honey?”

  “You don’t like him, do you?” Her question was bland, as if she really knew the answer and was all right with it.