Surface Below: Dark Secrets (The Surface Below Book 1) (3 page)

Do I know this man?
Of course she didn’t; she was sure she would remember a face like that. A body like that. But something nagged at her.

William felt the shift inside her. It reminded him of when someone recalled a memory. It was a very distinct feeling for him. He cocked his head slightly as the same feeling hit him now.
Who is this girl?

“You know what; I’ll take a whiskey and a beer.”

Becca snapped out of the daze and realized she was still staring at him, and immediately blushed.

“Right, whiskey and beer.”

He took in everything about her as she walked away. The way her curls bounced on her back with each step. Her smooth, barely tanned skin sent a shiver down his spine. He even noticed when she gave him a sideways glance. It made him smirk. Could this be the change he had been looking for, he wondered, looking back down at the book in front of him? With a shrug, he let the notion go for the moment, at least until she returned.

Becca came up to the bar with a smile on her face. She wasn’t sure why she was smiling but knew it was because of him. Nikki and Linda stared at her, waiting for her to say something.

“Whiskey and beer, Linda.”

“And?” Nikki poked at her.

“And nothing, just a whiskey and a beer.” She held back, not sure if what she was feeling was worth sharing. Linda waved her hand at her and poured the whiskey. Throwing the bottle into the trash.

“Z!” He peered around the corner from the back.

“Yo.”

“I give you ‘yo’. We need a bottle of Jack on the bar.”

“Well that’s good because I was already bringing you one.” He smiled, setting it on the counter.

“Smart ass.”

Becca giggled at the two and grabbed her tray. Linda had played an important role in all three of their lives. The closest any of them had as a maternal figure. She was supportive and understanding when Danny was downright irrational.

“Careful Nikki, you might lose my handsome cousin to a cougar.”

Nikki brushed it off and grabbed Z by the shirt, jerking him towards her. “Not a chance.” She kissed him hard.

Becca giggled again as she turned away and made her way back through the bar. She enjoyed goading Nikki when it came to Z. The three had been together since kindergarten. And when they had hit high school, Z’s and Nikki’s relationship had gone from friendly to intimate to inseparable.

William sensed her return and he looked up to meet her eyes.

This time Becca didn’t waver but gave a coy smile as she put the shot glass and bottle in front of him. There was something about him that made her curious. And she couldn’t shake the feeling of familiarity.

“Anything else?”

“Yeah.” He considered the next words. “How ‘bout your name?”

“Hmmm, you first?” Becca countered, watching his reaction. But in good William fashion he barely blinked.

“William.”

He already liked her personality. She was shy but with a hint of feistiness under the surface.

“Becca.”

She offered her hand to him, and he took it and placed a gentle kiss on it as he softly inhaled her scent. The Beast within him stirred some. It was intoxicating and vibrant and sent a thrill through him. Something deep within him that was begging for attention. He couldn’t remember a time a woman had felt this good. Felt this right.

“Nice to meet you.”

He released her hand and it left her frozen. His touch was enchanting; her heart raced and breaths quickened.

“Wow, and most think chivalry is dead,” Becca muttered, finding her balance again. His smile shook her though. “You let me know if you need anything else.”

He nodded.

William’s hand reached for her hand though, as she turned to walk away. It was an impulsive move and he almost pulled away. But he reminded himself that it was time for a change. And that change started with her.

Turning, she looked down at the fingers just barely grazing hers. Her eyes met with his and she could see something there. Lust and passion. She was sure she knew those eyes.

“Would you let me take you out sometime?” He was sure his voice was shaky, nervous even. But unlike with the other women he had met before, there was something that made him want to know her better. Something beyond fifty dollars on the night stand and a stolen bite to the inner thigh on his way out. She was better than that and he wanted to find out how much better.

“I’d love to.” She surprised herself. “But I’m not your usual dinner and movie kinda girl. Takes a little more to impress me.”

William chuckled to himself as she turned again and went back to the bar. She was feisty, shy and beautiful. He found her fascinating. Her scent lingered around him of strawberries and vanilla.

Taking the shot and a sip of the beer, he got up and walked up to the bar. Linda and Nikki stopped what they were doing, eyes wide and jaws dropped. He laid twenty down on the bar and eyed Becca. She had her back to him, preparing a tray full of drinks.

“Sunday afternoon, three o’clock.” Becca jumped, and her drinks toppled over, spilling the liquid over the tray. She turned to stare at him. “I’ll meet you here.”

“Okay.”

“Have a good weekend, ladies.” He flashed them all his sexy smile and left. Nikki and Linda looked at Becca, their mouths hanging open.

“A date?” Linda smirked.

“Yeah a date.” She barely looked at them as she watched him leave.

Becca tried not to act too excited. But inside she was more than excited. Her inner goddess was jumping up and down, delighted.

“Whose gotta date?” Z asked, slamming a full crate of liquor up on the bar. He narrowed his eyes at the three women.

“Becca has a date.” Nikki pursed her lips and stifled a smirk.

“Who?”

“Oh don’t you worry about it,” Becca retorted, cleaning up her tray and heading back out into the football crazed crowd. “It’s not Davin and that’s all you need to know.”

The weekend went slowly for Becca but Sunday had finally come.

She pulled her hair up into a loose bun, and looked in the mirror once more to check her makeup. Fashion was never quite her forte like Nikki’s. She had a natural instinct when it came to clothing, hair and makeup. Becca questioned every little thing from the clothes she wore to whether she was putting the right makeup on. She looked down at her watch and sighed. Two thirty. It would have to do if she was going to make it on time.

In the living room, Nikki and Z were cuddled on the couch watching some kind of reality show. Becca walked out and in front of the television. “How do I look?” she asked, desperately flattening out the short pink sundress. The weather outside was still warm, low eighties, and she was soaking up as much of it as she could.

“You look fine, Becca. You always do,” Nikki assured her. “Stop second guessing yourself.”

“Z?” Becca turned to him, ignoring Nikki.

“Darling, you look great,” he assured her and then waved for her to move. “Now would ya move?”

“I’ll be home later.” Becca gave up and walked out the door.

Pulling into the parking lot of the bar, Becca saw only a couple of cars. She was sure that Linda and her uncle had been “entertaining” each other for a long time. Becca didn’t mind though; Danny needed a companion. Someone to keep him distracted every once in a while. He had spent his life raising Z and Becca, and hell, Nikki too. It was time for him to worry about him.

Becca pulled down on the visor and looked into the mirror. Again she wondered if she would still be so insecure, if she had grown up with a mother. Quickly, she pushed the memory and thoughts out of her head. The last thing she needed to do was bring her otherwise perky attitude down. As she snapped the visor back up into place a black truck came to park next to her, and she felt her heart jump.

No turning back, she told herself.

She reached for the door handle and the door opened swiftly, and he smiled down at her. His big green eyes smoldered and she felt a warmth in her core.

“Still trying to prove chivalry isn’t dead,” she quipped, stepping out of the car.

William was taken by her beauty. The pink dress she wore played nicely against her skin and he appreciated her natural beauty.

“I’m sure it’s not,” he replied, closing her door and turning to open the passenger side of his truck. “Shall we?”

Becca bit her bottom lip. “We shall.”

The drive out of town was quiet. Neither knew what to talk about. William hadn’t held an interesting or even intellectual conversation with a woman for a very long time.

Becca watched the countryside pass by. She knew Raymont inside and out. It had been home her entire life. And it made her wonder how she had never met this man before. How could she have missed him? They were the same age, she thought. If he grew up here, why hadn’t she meet him when they were in high school? So many questions filled her mind about this gorgeous mystery man.

William stole glances at her. He had questioned all the actions and decisions he was making with her. Just being with her was dangerous. If someone saw him, it could create trouble not just for him but her as well. Trouble she didn’t or wouldn’t need. But at the same time he couldn’t shake the feelings he had for her. Or the draw that he felt. Like a cosmic force was thrusting them together.

When he had returned home from the bar just a few nights before, it was a change of pace for him. He had been sober, intrigued and renewed. Worst of all, he had found himself thinking about her every second.

“Did you grow up here? In Raymont?” He asked, finally breaking the silence.

“Yeah, born and raised.” Becca replied, finally looking over at him. He wore a black button-up shirt and jeans. “And you?”

“Uh mostly here but spent time at my uncle’s a lot too,” he said.

“Oh, kinda odd we never met in high school then.” Becca shrugged, hoping for something to jog her memory.

“Homeschooled all the way through.” William shrugged. “Overprotective mom.”

“Oh.” She raised her brow and bit at the inside of her lip.

“And your parents?”

As soon as the words left his mouth he felt something change.

“Um, they died," she said, forcing herself to bury the emotions she had for them. But not enough to keep him from feeling it.

“I’m sorry…I…” He stuttered, feeling like a complete ass.

“It’s okay, you didn’t know.” Becca reassured him. “Um, my parents died when I was young. My mom in a car accident. And my dad was sick. My Uncle Danny raised me.”

“Really, I’m sorry.” William offered again.

“William, you didn’t know.” She found his remorse for her sweet. He was genuinely sorry for even mentioning her parents.

“So your family goes way back in Raymont?”

He was digging some, trying to find the familiarity he felt.

“The Lorde family goes back a few generations, yeah,” she said.

The name caught him off guard and he tried to place it. It was more than familiar; he was sure he had heard it before.

“Why do you ask?” Becca looked over at him.

“I was watching you at the bar the other night. It seemed like everyone knew you. I just got the feeling that it was more than just your favorite, friendly bar.”

“Very observant.” She looked back out the truck window. “Where are you taking me?”

“Do you like picnics?” He asked. Becca met his gaze with a surprised look on her face. “What? Not what you were expecting?”

“No, it wasn’t.”

A picnic, she thought. Becca remembered what she had said to him about not being a dinner and movie kind of girl. He was taking that to heart.

“Good.”

William drove the truck down a hidden dirt road. Passing through motorists and tourists would unlikely ever find the path, but he had lived in Raymont long enough to know of all the ins and outs.

Becca knew where he was taking her; just at the end of the dirt road would be a thick brush. Just off to the side, hidden from newcomers was another path that would lead down to a clearing overlooking the lake. It would be the perfect spot for a quiet, intimate picnic.

Bringing the truck to a halt, William got out and was quick to round the truck to open the door for her. She liked the attention and almost southern boy charm. From the back seat of his crew cab he retrieved the small picnic basket and blanket.

“Ready to go?” He asked, turning with a sexy smile on his face. She nodded and followed behind him towards Raymont’s only path heavily used by the locals; grass had all but been trampled away, leaving a packed down earth path. The path opened up into a lush grassy area that overlooked a beautiful view of Pickett Lake.

William laid out the blanket and the two sat down. Becca liked it here. It was so far away from town and with the nearest resident about 20 miles to the east, the only noise around them was of the breeze traveling through the woods and the occasional ripple in the water from its inhabitants.

From the basket, William pulled out containers. Becca watched as he opened them. The aromas mingled in the air around them and wafted into her nostrils. “Am I supposed to believe that hidden behind that sweet, charming, gorgeous man is a cook?” she teased. He gave her half a smile and began putting food onto her plate before handing it to her.

“Gorgeous huh?” He laughed.

“And sweet and charming,” Becca was quick to remind him with a coy smile.

The two enjoyed the food and each other. Becca found a comfort in being here with him. He was polite, light-hearted and funny. They talked about interests and hobbies. Becca opened up

William loved to hear her talk about herself. With each story she told him, he learned more. It was refreshing to step out of his comfort zone. Most of all, it was nice to have a real conversation with a human. More importantly with her.

The afternoon crawled by until finally the sun had started to float down towards the horizon, leaving an orange, pinkish hue in its wake. What was once a beautiful, warm early fall day turned to a cool breezy evening. William could tell the coolness of the early evening was affecting Becca as she pulled her arms in closer to her body. For him though, it barely made him shiver.

“Come on, I’ll take you home,” he offered, already packing the picnic basket up.

The two packed up their romantic setting and went back to the truck.

William put the basket and blanket into the back of the truck and then turned to open the door for Becca. She wasn’t sure what made her want to do it, or if she even should have, but before stepping up into the truck she pushed herself up on her toes and kissed him. Her hands gently holding to his arms. It sent warmth through to her core, leaving her breathless. Lowering down from her tiptoes, she lifted her eyes up to meet his.

His dark green eyes darkened, but not enough for her to notice as he let his hand caress her cheek. The feel of her skin against his had him imagining all the delightfully naughty things he could do to her. She leaned into the warmth of his caress, savoring the moment. His other hand cupped the other side of her face and he dipped down to her lips. Pressing against them softly, his tongue pushed for admittance and she granted it to him. His fingers twisted into her hair, yearning for more of her. The taste of her lips, her tongue melding against his. Becca tasted sweet on his palate.

It ignited to life the Beast within him. Whatever it was about this girl, the Beast approved and that thought forced him to pull away. William breathed harder than he wanted, and hoped she didn’t notice.

A strong breeze whipped around them, leaves rustled around the ground and it made Becca shiver again. Her bare arms completely exposed by her sundress spaghetti straps.

“Get in the truck so you can warm up.” He smiled, motioning for her to get in.

Becca did but grudgingly. She could have stayed in that moment forever, giving no mind to the coolness in the air.

Making his way around the back end of his truck, he stopped briefly and took in a deep breath.

“Not this time. Not this one.” He whispered to himself.

Once she was safely to her car and he had thwarted himself from any further advances, he drove towards town and approached the small apartment above the pharmacy. He wavered though, wondering whether to go out to the family farmhouse. It offered much more peace and serenity, with no real neighbors or traffic.

“Farmhouse it is,” he whispered to no one.

William turned away from town and took the main road out and several miles into the country. His mind wandered back to the kiss. It seeded into place the growing affection he had for her. What he couldn’t shake though was the obvious strong familiarity he had for her. Or the Beast’s adamant approval of her. It was like they had met before. The chances they had in the past were high. Raymont was a small community and he could have seen her in town. He thought it was unlikely though, since he kept to himself mostly, and until the other night had never stepped foot into the town bar.

Hunting in your own back yard would cause too much suspicion. He usually went a few towns away.

And the feeling he had was much stronger than just a happenstance passing by.

Bringing the truck to a stop in front of the beautiful old farm house, he hopped out. The air out here was far different than in town. It was thinner, cooler and cleaner.

William had inherited the family homestead when his mother had finally found refuge within the Conjurers’ Dimension. But only after he, Markus and Miranda had left to go to college. It didn’t make sense for her to stay there alone, unprotected from the evils of the Bottom world.

And Markus and Miranda were content living in the Dimension.

William retrieved the basket and a backpack from the back of the truck and went inside.

He dropped the bag next to the stairs just inside, and walked into the country style kitchen. Putting the basket on the aged island counter, he stared at the room. The small breakfast nook in the far corner hadn’t been used in years. William couldn’t remember the last family meal they’d had together. Its six white chairs and table had a thin layer of dust on them. Just beyond the island, towards the back of the kitchen was a door leading down into the cellar.

William kept an emergency supply of blood down there for the nights his hunting was unsuccessful.

No matter how long he stayed in town, this would always be home. Even when he didn’t want to admit it.

It was quiet and only the glow of the light above the kitchen sink lit up the room. The countryside orchestra outside of crickets and frogs was the only ambience. William stayed there sporadically, finding it simpler to stay in town for simplistic reasons, but he began to question the practicality of it.

Emptying the contents of the basket into the sink, he promised himself he would take care of it later.

He placed the basket back in its place on top of the fridge and went back to the stairs to grab the bag. As he started up the stairs he could feel a residual presence. He recognized it easily. Markus and Miranda had been there. Probably getting away from their mom, Caroline, and Miranda’s father, Craeden. A playful smile played on the corners of William’s face as he imagined their reasons for getting away.