Southern Spice (Southern Desires Series Book 1)
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Authors: Jeannette Winters
outhern Spice
Southern Desires Series
Book One
by
Jeannette Winters
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Derrick Nash knows the pain of loss. But is he seeking justice or revenge? He doesn’t care as long as someone pays the price.
It is Casey Collin’s duty at FEMA to help those in need when a natural disaster strikes. After a tornado hits Honeywell, she finds there are more problems than just storm damage. Will she follow company procedures or her heart?
Can Derrick move forward without the answers he’s been searching for? Can Casey teach him how to trust again? Or will she need to face the fact that not every story has a happy ending?
Kindle Edition
An original work of Jeannette Winters, 2016.
All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, places, events, business establishments or locales is entirely coincidental.
Cover Design by Gin’s Book Designs (
ginsbookdesigns.com
)
Stock Photo Attribution: Depositphotos.com (Jerzy Krol),(Jill Lang)
This book is dedicated to Candace Underhill who never stopped cheering me on and also to everyone on the marketing team and the entire sales force. Thank you for your continued encouragement.
I am also supported by a team of beta readers who aren’t afraid to tell me the truth. Thank you for that!
Karen Lawson, Janet Hitchcock, E.L. King and Marion Arche, my editors you are all amazing!
To my readers who brings joy into my life with each and every message. Always make time for romance
able of Contents
Other books by Jeannette Winters
About The Billionaire’s Secret
About Always Mine by Ruth Cardello
About Fierce Love by Danielle Stewart
T
he roar of the thunder and crack of lightning lit up the night sky once again before finding its mark on a hillside only a few hundred yards away. His horse stomped and snorted, pulling at the reins, trying to free himself from the fence where Derrick Nash had tied him to keep him from fleeing. He walked over to calm the horse but with little success. “Easy, boy.” The storm was right above them; he knew his horse was questioning his sanity, and truthfully, he was questioning it himself. He looked around, and with the next burst of lightning, he saw the fencing was still intact on this side of the road. He could only hope his men found the rest in such shape. Even if they didn’t, fixing it during a storm like this was nearly impossible and definitely not wise. Still recovering from last week’s tornado, he hoped the ranch would be as lucky this time and still be in fairly good shape.
Derrick didn’t care how they managed to do it, as long as the repairs were to his liking. It was not only what he expected, but what he demanded. Many people thought him an arrogant ass, and they were probably right. His days of caring what others thought were long gone. Anyone on his staff who didn’t like it was free to pack their belongings and get the hell off his ranch. Over the past five years, there had been a lot of turnovers. Only his foreman, McLean, seemed to be immune. Derrick wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or not, but it provided him the ability to be anywhere other than at the ranch. That was the way he liked it.
The wind was picking up, and hail the size of peas began to fall. There hadn’t been any warning of additional tornadoes in the area, but he knew that was a bad sign. “Let’s go home, Spirit, before we get ourselves killed.”
I can’t believe I’m standing here talking to my horse. I really must be tired.
He knew how quickly the weather could change, growing up in Texas. That didn’t mean ranching was his dream. When he’d graduated from high school and had gone away to college twenty-four years ago, he had sworn never to make a small town his home again. But that was all he had left of his late wife, Penny, and their daughter, Kim. The ranch had been in her family for generations. With his family gone, it was up to him to ensure they were never forgotten, and the only way to do that was to ensure its continued success.
Even if it means risking my damn neck to do so.
Derrick, now drenched to the bone, climbed back up on Spirit. He was about to head back to the house when he saw what looked like headlights in the distance. There was nothing around them for miles, and he never invited any guests.
McLean isn’t stupid enough to have a girlfriend over while I’m here. So that only leaves one option. Trespasser.
Before whoever it was made it to the main house, he’d have them turn that vehicle around and head back to wherever they had come from. Another clap of thunder rumbled.
How am I not the only damn fool out in this storm? You’re not welcome here, no matter how bad the weather gets.
Before he could head in the direction of the approaching vehicle, lightning struck again, and Spirit began to stomp nervously. Tightening his grip on the reins and rubbing the huge animal’s neck, he tried calming him while waiting to confront his unwanted guest.
Even on a clear night, the dirt driveway, bumpy with potholes, could easily cause a tire to blow out or an axel to break. It was also winding and narrow with a fence running along the north side and a deep runoff ravine on the south. It was treacherous if you weren’t familiar with it.
Another bolt of lightning flashed, this time about five hundred feet to the left side of the vehicle. It was enough to rattle even the most experienced driver. Derrick watched as the vehicle swerved very hard to the right before losing control.
What the fuck?
It began rolling down the embankment into the ravine below.
Although tempted to leave whoever had ignored the large “No Trespassing” signs at the gate to fend for themselves, he couldn’t. All he could think about was the terror and panic his Penny and Kim must have felt. Even though he hadn’t been there, it played out over and over again in his nightmares. How they’d driven down that dark road, not knowing the dam upstream had given way.
His heart was pounding as though it would rip right through his chest and stop beating. Taking slow deep breaths, Derrick got himself under control and snapped out of the fog that so often tried to claim him. The first year after their accident he’d frequently wished he didn’t have a heart as it only brought him pain. Now he wasn’t even sure he had a heartbeat. At least not until now. It had been five years since that horrible night, yet sometimes it was almost as though he could hear Penny calling out his name, begging him to save them. But that hadn’t been remotely possible. Washed off the road, trapped in quickly rising water with no help in sight, they’d both died on that stormy night, much like this one.
If only I had been there to save you.
Derrick would never forgive himself for leaving them while they were on their family vacation. Penny had said she’d understood, but fuck if that meant anything to him right now. “Once in a lifetime opportunity. It’s only twenty-four hours, and this is going to open doors like nothing before. Trust me, our lives are about to change forever.” He felt sick recalling his last words to her. Oh, how he wished that statement hadn’t been true. He would give anything to have been wrong because, in the blink of an eye, everything was taken away from him. At least everything that mattered.
One damn deal . . .
Now it was too late. He couldn’t change what had happened five years ago, but he wouldn’t let it happen to another family. Not if he had the ability to stop it.
Digging his heels in, Spirit responded, quickly traveling to where Derrick last saw the vehicle. When he arrived at the top of the ravine, the truck, which must have rolled several times, now rested on its side. Thankfully it looked like the ravine had only a foot of water in it, but he knew, as heavy as the rain was, that could change any moment. Frustration and anger filled him when he pulled his cell out of his pocket and there wasn’t a signal.
Damn it. Can this night get any worse?
Dismounting, Derrick quickly tied Spirit to the fence on the other side of the driveway. Reaching into his saddlebag, he pulled out the rope he’d used earlier for removing a tree limb from the road. He never thought he’d be using it to lower himself as part of a rescue attempt. Once he securely fastened the rope to the fence, he headed to the edge of the ravine. He wasn’t worried about getting down to the truck—that would be easy—but getting back up on the muddy slope would be a different story.
Whoever you are down there, I hope you’re not hurt too badly ’cause I can’t carry you out of there myself.
From where he stood, he couldn’t see any signs of life. He hoped he’d be able to throw the rope down and pull the guy out without having to descend. “Are you okay down there?” Derrick shouted. The continuous clap of thunder made it impossible to hear a response if there was one.
Only one way to know.
Luckily he had his thick leather gloves on. Wrapping the rope around his back, he gripped it with his right hand and prepared to descend. As soon as he went over the edge, gravity took over, and his drop was fast. It helped that his boots acted like skis on a snow-covered mountain.
I’d rather be in ten feet of snow for a week than spend another day here.
Derrick stopped abruptly when his body came in contact with the rear axle. Before considering making his way around the truck, he needed to check for any signs of leaking gas. That was a complication he could do without. Once satisfied there was no current threat of an explosion, he held on to his makeshift rappel rope and made his way around to the front to see through the windshield. With the truck on its side he could see the full length of it easily. He just wasn’t sure he was ready to see what or who was inside. Mentally he prepared himself to see the worst, but he still hoped for the best.
The hail had stopped, but the darkness and rain made it difficult to see clearly, yet he thought he saw movement.
Promising.
Approaching closer, he saw the roof of the truck had been crushed on the passenger’s side.
Not good if anyone is in that seat.
He strained his eyes to focus more closely in the cab. He only could see one person, a woman, attempting to free herself from the seatbelt. Her shirt had been pulled up to reveal her breast, now barely covered by black lace. Under different circumstances, he might stand back and enjoy the view, but this was not a show to entice him. Oblivious to his presence, she seemed panic-stricken.
Of course she is, jackass.
The seatbelt must have tangled around her while the truck rolled. One of her arms looked like it was pinned behind her. Struggling desperately to free herself, each movement seemed to tighten the restraints, leaving her trapped.
Was this what it was like for you, Penny? Is that why you didn’t get out of the car?
Painful visions flooded his mind. He didn’t want to think about their last moments—what they must have suffered, but he deserved to be haunted by them. After all, it was his fault they were out that night. If he had just stayed at the cottage with them they would be alive today.
Lightning lit the sky, breaking his thoughts. The woman in front of him was still struggling.
So many questions came to mind, the first: who was she? Although he made it a point to avoid socializing, he was always tuned in to his surroundings. She wasn’t someone he had seen in town. Since she wasn’t a local, why was she driving to his ranch?
And why would a beautiful woman like you be traveling alone in a storm like this?
Now was not the time to ask as he could feel the water level beginning to rise. It was just a matter of time before it rose too high, and they would both be in trouble.
He banged on the truck’s windshield to get her attention. “Are you okay?”
It was only then she noticed him. Her eyes were wide open and filled with panic as if she understood danger was approaching. “Help me. I can’t—” she screamed from inside as she continued trying to free herself.
“Hold on. I’ll get you out of there,” he shouted back. He pulled himself onto the driver’s side of the truck, which now faced the dark sky above. Although the handle was still intact, the door wouldn’t budge. It was crushed from the crash, pressing inward. Kicking out the window wasn’t an option as she was still tangled in the seatbelt too close to the window. The breaking glass would cut her. He saw her try to help him. With her one free arm, she pounded on the window and door. If he couldn’t get it to open, he had no idea what she thought she could do with such tiny hands. It would have been comical to watch, but this was no laughing matter.
Weighing his odds, he jumped off and returned to his initial position. Again she met him square in the eyes, begging him to do something. Anything.
The water was now mid-calf. It wouldn’t be long before it cleared his boots. It wasn’t the height he worried about as much as how fast it would fill. Even though he avoided the ranch as much as possible, he still had seen it almost crest during some springtime thunderstorms.
This storm is going to be one of those times. Move, Derrick. Move.
His only option at that point was to kick in the windshield and hope it didn’t injure her any more than she might already be. The glass shouldn’t shatter, but he wasn’t going to risk it. “I want you to turn away and cover your face. I’m going to kick in the windshield,” he yelled.
The woman nodded and with her free arm did as Derrick had instructed. He would have preferred her to cover her face with a jacket or blanket, but in her current state, that was impossible. To reduce the risk, he raised his right leg and kicked as hard as he could, connecting the heel of his boot firmly against the glass farthest from her. Nothing happened. A second, then a third attempt had the same results.
What the hell kind of glass is this? A pebble hits my window, and it cracks. This thing doesn’t even break during a rollover crash.
Derrick scanned the slope looking for anything he could use to break it. There wasn’t a large rock in sight, so he returned to kicking at it. He wasn’t about to quit.
Either this glass is breaking or my leg will.
After several more tries, it finally gave. Several more kicks and the entire passenger side had been kicked in. He reached in and with his gloved hands and grabbed both sides and began pulling it towards him. The last thing he wanted was the woman to get cut if it could be avoided. Once the windshield was free, he tossed to the side.