Southern Exposure (Southern Desires Series Book 2) (5 page)

He knew exactly who that was. There was only one problem. Don was far from a guy in need of a handout. Bringing him here was going to require a long private talk and a lot of luck that he was between contracts.

“I won’t let that happen, Hannah, but you might need to provide another room for a guy I know who is a bit down and out on his luck right now. But he knows his way around construction better than anyone I know.”

Even from the back, he saw her wipe her cheeks before she turned to face him. “You think he’ll really be willing to help me?”

For me, yes.
“I would consider it more like you’re helping him.”
The man needs to get out of the city for a while. Besides, it’s been way too long since we worked on a project. It’ll give us time to catch up.

“I can only offer the same thing I’ve offered you.”

Her beautiful green eyes, still glistening from the tears, were filled with hope. There was no way he was going to disappoint her. Soon as he got a minute alone, he was going to reach out to Don with the plan.
He’s never let me down before. I know if I get the call, he’ll at least see this through without me.

“Why don’t I meet you at my Jeep, and I’ll see if I can reach him.”

She smiled and went to walk past him but stopped, and with her tiny soft hand touched his forearm. “Thank you, Mark. I don’t know what I would’ve done if you hadn’t—”

“Just doing my job.”

She nodded and let go. “Thanks.” Then she left him alone in the empty apartment.

The last thing he needed was her feeling endeared to him in any way. He wasn’t worried about his acting skills. God knows he’d used them so many times overseas that he’d lost count. It was easier playing whatever role he needed to, rather than being himself most times. Now he just had to make sure Don was up to the task as well.

Once she was out of earshot, he pulled out his cell and dialed Farrell.

“It’s been a while, Collins. Where you been hiding?”

Don knew he could ask but wouldn’t be told. “Around. I’m actually calling for a favor.”

“Looking for work? I thought you didn’t want to get behind a camera.”

“Actually, I think it’s time you took a vacation.”

“Hell yeah. Where are we off to? Rio? St Lucia? Dubai? Monte Carlo?”

“Savannah, Georgia.”

“Did they get a topless beach I haven’t heard about? ’Cause that doesn’t seem like my type of vacation,” Don said while laughing.

“Plan on being without a shirt, because the air conditioner isn’t working here either.”
Put update the electrical on the endless list.

“Mark, what exactly is this favor? I think I’ve just become busy.”

He knew Don was only joking. They’ve never said no to any request before unless it truly couldn’t happen. “There’s this woman Hannah Entwistle—”

“Ah. Now you have my attention. Tell me more.”

Don’t make it what it isn’t.
“She is about to lose her family home if we can’t pull off a miracle and get it fixed up so she can rent the place by the end of the month.”

“Why don’t you just give her the money or pay someone to do it?”

“If I thought for one minute she’d accept it, I would.”

“And you care about this why?”

“I only want to help her. She has nothing but this place.” Don would understand once he met her. It was impossible to explain over the phone.

“So what do you want from me?”

“I need you to fly out here and pretend you’re out of work and willing to do the job for room and board.”

Don laughed. “Do I get a bed or am I sleeping in a tree somewhere?”

“Just get here. This place is falling apart around her. She has the tools but nothing else. Oh, I need you to reach out to the hardware store and have them extend her credit. And by that I mean—”

“Yeah, I know how this works, Mark. I will make sure all is quiet, and it won’t lead back to you. Anything else?”

“I need you to find me a contact for the bank that holds her mortgage.”

“How do you think you’re going to keep that one from her if they already gave her notice?”

“Let me worry about that. So when are you going to get here?”

“I can have my jet there tonight.”

“Don, I don’t care if you fly by private jet, but remember, you’re broke.”

Don laughed again. “Fine. I won’t shave today and might even skip a shower. Will that do?”

“I really need your help, and we don’t want to scare her, so please, shower.” Before he disconnected the call, he said, “I really owe you, Don.”

“Collins, if you get all mushy on me I’m not showing up. Now text the damn information to where the hell I’m going and any personal information you think I might need. I’ll see you tonight.”

One down, one to go.
He put the phone back in his pocket and went to meet Hannah. She was standing on the porch waiting for him.

“Were you able to reach your friend?”

She still looked worried. Since she had no clue what really was going on, she should be worried.

“Yeah. He’s bumming a ride and will be here sometime late tonight.”

“That’s wonderful. Did you make the list of what we need at the store?”

If by list you mean the entire store, then yes.
“What we don’t grab today, I’ll grab with Don tomorrow.”

“I just want to make sure we only get what is absolutely necessary.”

A construction crew and a miracle is what you absolutely need. But what you’ve got is me and the one man who can help me pull it off.
“Don’t worry. I’m used to working with little. When we’re done, you’ll be shocked at what you see.”
Just don’t ask too many questions on how exactly we pull it off. Lying is not something I enjoy doing, but if it’s necessary for safety, or in this case, a beautiful woman’s hope, I will.

“Let’s get going.”

Mark headed towards his Jeep.

“Let’s take my car.”

He raised a brow. “We’re picking up supplies that you might not want in your fancy convertible.”

She looked at her Volkswagen then at his Jeep. “Good point. But then again, I don’t want to end up walking back because we break down either.” Hannah pulled her keys out of her purse waving them in the air as she hopped into the driver’s seat. “We can talk on the way, and you can tell me all about yourself.”

That’s not going to happen.
“I think I’d much rather hear about you and Savannah. I’ve never been here before. Why don’t you tell me about it?”

He was good about making sure no one knew anything about him except those closest to him. Even then, they only knew what he was willing or able to share. Most of his life was top secret. Where he was and what he was doing never could be discussed. Not even his parents knew. It wasn’t always the easiest life, but it was the one he wanted, the one he chose.

After they returned from the store, Mark installed the lock on her apartment door. Then a second one on her bedroom door. She looked at him like she was about to dispute that, but said nothing.
Progress. Baby steps, but progress.

Hannah had shown Mark a room for Don then went to bed early by his standards. He was glad she didn’t stay up waiting to meet him. He needed to discuss with Don what actually was going on, away from Hannah’s ears. Especially after the conversation he’d had with the bank earlier.

It hadn’t taken Don long to get the bank contact information. The rest had been left to Mark to handle. It was convenient that she used a local bank which meant dealing with people who were in charge and could make decisions. The one problem with that was a small town meant people knew and said more than they should. Mark was able to obtain the information regarding how far behind she was on her mortgage as well as why.

She’d been struggling for longer than he’d thought, taking on debts that weren’t hers, and never taking a handout of any kind.
Sweet, stubborn Hannah. You may think you won the battle, but trust me, I’ll win the war.
Her unwillingness to accept his help wasn’t going to happen. Many people might let that deter them, but he never let anything come between him and a successful mission.
And saving your family home has just become my personal mission
.

Don pulled up in an old beat-up truck. “Where the hell did you get that?”

“You said I’d be working for peanuts, so I bought this off a peanut farmer the next town over. What do you think?”

That you’re nuts.
“It suits you. You should drive it more often,” Mark said while laughing.

Don pointed to the Jeep. “Is that why you took Bessy on this road trip?”

“You know she and I go way back.”

“Yeah, too long if you ask me. Every time I see you pull up in that green thing you call a vehicle I cringe.”

“You’re just jealous because you rolled yours when we went four-wheeling.”

“That was a damn good time. Sounds like a better vacation than what you have planned for me here. Want to talk while we can?”

You know it.
“Did you get things set up at the hardware store?”

“That’s why I’m here so late.”

Not the only reason I’m sure.
“Excellent. We’re going to need it. Don, you’ve no idea what work we have ahead of us.”

“Worse than the last job we did in Buffalo together?”

“Makes it look like a walk in the park.”

“Tell me again why we’re not using a crew?”

“Because I don’t want her to know we’re funding this.”

Don shook his head. “So you think she’s going to believe that the two of us are so hard up on our luck that we’re willing to do all this work for room and board only? And that the store is running one hell of a special deal right now, and her supplies are dirt cheap?”

Not when you say it like that.
“Leave that to me. You’re here to make sure it can be pulled off. If anyone can make this place livable, it’s you.”

“Great. No pressure.”

That’s what was nice about having Don help. They might not have worked together on any projects for the last three years, but it was like old times as soon as they connected. He wouldn’t bring additional stress. In fact having him around meant one less thing Mark needed to worry about.
Don is someone who will ask questions, but not flip out if he isn’t given any answers.

Mark and Don sat on the porch far from the door in case Hannah decided to come out and join them. The last thing he needed was for her to overhear their conversation. She already wasn’t going to be happy, but Mark planned on being long gone before she caught on to what transpired. It was going to be too late by then.

He informed Don what the bank said. “Even if she fixes this place up she might lose it? So what’s the point? Just tell her the truth and be done with it.”

“Don. She lost her father about a year ago. I know we see a money pit, but this was . . . is her family’s home. When she talked about it, I could see she wasn’t ready to let go yet. And I’m not going to let a bank or anyone else tell her she has to before she’s ready. Hannah needs someone to fight for her, even if she doesn’t want to admit it.”

Don looked at him questioningly. “You of all people know you can’t save everyone.”

It was something he lived with every day of his life. He’d lost members of his team as well as too many others he’d met in the field. Over the years you would think you’d stop counting, but you don’t. Each one had a name, a family, a story. He refused to let any of them be forgotten.
I might not be able to save them all, but I sure as hell am going to try.

“Don, this is different.”

“You’re right. You’re not on a battlefield somewhere. And this is not your men that you can order around. Hate to tell you, buddy, but you’re trying to control this, and you can’t do that when it comes to women. They have a knack for finding out, and when she does, it’ll be hell to pay.”

One fragile woman doesn’t scare me.
“Trust me, Don. I know what I’m doing.”

“I’m only here to work and watch the show,” Don joked. “I do know one thing.”

“What’s that?”

Don slapped Mark on the back. “I can’t wait to meet this woman. Whoever she is, she sure has shaken you up.”

Mark didn’t get shaken by anything or anyone. He was task-driven and right now helping her was just that, the task at hand. “I feel for her situation, Don. Nothing more.”

“So what you’re saying is she’s available? Maybe this vacation won’t be so bad after all.” Don arched his brow, taunting Mark.

Even though he knew Don was just joking, his gut tied in a knot. “What I’m saying is you can sleep in that tree or the old piece of shit truck you drove up here in, but keep your hands off Hannah.”

Don burst out laughing. “Don’t worry, Mark. I won’t touch your girl.”
My girl? Hannah could never be my girl.

The problem with bringing his best friend in was he’d never hear the end of it. “Keep it up and you’ll—”

Don got up and said, “Be sleeping on this porch. Yeah, I know already. Want to show me where I’m really sleeping? If I’m right, you’re going to get my ass up before the birds.”