Whispers of the Falls: Book one (Twelve Oaks Farm Series 1) (6 page)

Beth stood and stretched. “I have to get up early in the morning. Happy birthday, Nina.”

Nina opened her mouth to stop her sister, but she never slowed, quickly opening the sliding door, she disappeared inside. Nina’s eyes returned to Grant as she chewed her bottom lip.

“Do I make you nervous?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. Why would you make me nervous?”

He leaned in so close their mouths were only inches apart. “Why didn’t you tell me today was your birthday?”

“I have been so busy today I didn’t even think about my birthday.”

Water droplets shimmered on her bottom lip. Grant wiped them away with his thumb. Soft music played from somewhere in the house and spilled out into the quiet night. A beautiful woman, the music, the half moon shining overheard, the feel of the cool water on his skin all had his senses reeling. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her against his almost nude body. God, she felt great. Their lips met for a tender kiss. Her fingers tangled in his wet hair and a tiny moan escaped her lips. Hot and moist, her mouth opened and she devoured him. He had felt that under all that control and independence was a woman with fire in her blood.

All he had to do was push her bathing suit to the side and he could enter her in one quick sweep. She wrapped her legs around him and pressed against his member. “Woman, what are you doing to me?”

Her moans were louder as she pumped against him. He untied her bikini top with trembling hands and pulled it from around her neck. Lips fastened on a taut nipple, he suckled taking as much of the white orb into his mouth as he could manage. His hand moved to his penis while he held her with the other. He freed himself before pushing her bikini bottom to the side. He buried his face in her neck, breathing in her scent as deeply as he could.

When she felt the pressure of his penis against her moistness, she began to struggle. “Stop, Grant. We can’t do this.”

He placed his forehead to hers. “Why not, Nina? I want you so bad. Please, don’t make me stop.”

“I’m sorry.” She pushed away from him and swam to the ladder.

Back against the lining of the pool, Grant watched her climb the ladder and pad across the tile. Her breasts looked magnificent in the dim light and he wanted to feel them, hold them. He wanted to make love to her. Not looking at him, she raced inside, slamming the sliding door with a little too much force.

Grant took several deep breaths to calm down. The woman had him tied in knots. Careless did not describe him, but he was about to have sex with a woman he had only known for a few days. Needless to say he was not thinking rationally. He shouldn’t jeopardize his assignment for a romp in the hay, or in this case a frolic in the pool with someone he was investigating.

Frustrated, he began to swim laps. One lap after the other until his muscles screamed for him to stop. Only then did he give in and climb the ladder. He gathered his clothes and headed to the barn. Sleep would allude him another night.

Chapter Five

Nina felt like hell. Last night she couldn’t stop thinking about Grant Wilson. Handsome and muscular, he had her acting like a love sick school girl with her first crush. But he was more than a pretty face. He was a good man. Even though she had known him for only five days, she could feel he was a man of honor.

She kicked the covers off and sat on the side of the bed. Dropping her head into her hands, she rubbed her tired eyes. A tingle between her legs caused her to squirm as she remembered what it felt like to be kissed by Grant. The frantic need she felt last night returned and she wished he were in her bed this morning so they could finish what they started. She was reading too much into their relationship. Men had sex with women all the time that they didn’t have feelings for. Of course he was attracted to her physically, but she was sure that was all he felt for her. She wasn’t born yesterday. She knew that look. Numerous times she had seen him watching her when they were working side by side. She felt the same sexual chemistry.

Nina attacked her blond hair with vigor running the brush through the masses several times. She swept her hair into a ponytail before she padded to the kitchen for a cup of coffee. Caffeine is what she needed to face the day.

Already eating breakfast, Beth looked up from her bowl of cereal. “Well, do I get any of the dirty details? Did my prude of a sister get any last night?”

“No, I’m still a virgin.” Nina nervously stroked her fingers through her hair. The last person she expected to see was her sister. She should be on her way back to school.

She let out a laugh and placed her hands over her heart. “What a pity. Something tells me it would have been mind blowing sex.”

“Don’t you have class today? Shouldn’t you return to Duke?”

“Not until twelve o’clock.” Beth scooped a spoonful of cereal onto her spoon but she didn’t eat. It seemed she was more concerned with Nina’s love life. “Grant couldn’t keep his eyes off your hot body last night. I have never felt more like a third wheel. I just knew he would be the man to finally deflower you.”

Nina poured herself a cup of coffee and took the place next to Beth. Her cheeks turned pink when she thought of how close she came to having sex with Grant last night. “Close, but at the last minute I chickened out.”

Beth placed her hand over Nina’s. “It’ll happen when the time is right. You are not the type of woman to have casual sex. Wait until you are sure he deserves such a special gift.”

Nina took a sip of coffee. “I have never wanted a man like I do Grant. No one has ever made me feel what he does.”

Beth stood and kissed the top of her head. “Don’t rush things. He’ll be here at least another week. I’m sure the two of you will figure out what is best for you both.” She placed her bowl in the sink and leaned against the counter.

“I don’t want to get hurt. As you said I’ve only known him five days, but I really like him. That is what scares me most. My attraction to him is so strong I can’t think about anything but him.” Nina rubbed her hands across her face. “After what happened with Randle I’m a little apprehensive to trust another man.”

“Randle is history. The moment you discovered his true character you broke it off with him. You knew he was a dog. Trust your instincts.” She pushed away from the counter. “I’d better get going. I have a long drive.”

Nina stood and hugged her sister. Life had thrown them a hard blow when their parents were killed. Loss of a loved one was the worst kind of pain. Worse was losing both parents at one time. “I appreciate all you have done, Nina. Not many people would give up a year of their life for their sisters like you have.”

“Your time will come.”

Beth groaned. “You don’t mind getting your hands dirty.” She held up a perfectly manicured hand. “I might break a nail.”

Nina laughed at the thought of her sister mucking out the stalls. But then she knew Beth would step up and do her part when it was her time to keep the farm going. That is what family did for each other and her sisters were all the family she had left.

****

Old Blue was loaded down with vegetables to sale at the farmers’ market. All morning Nina had picked tomatoes, corn, and okra by herself. Several times she glanced toward the barn but had not seen Grant. His car was parked in the circle drive, so he had to be somewhere close. Maybe he went fishing or canoeing. Could be he was still in bed. After last night he might not be speaking to her. She did act like a hot tart and then suddenly freaked out on him. He probably thought she had mental issues or something to that nature.

As if sensing her dark mood, Shadow nudged her hand. Nina stripped off her gloves and rubbed his head. “What do you think, Shadow? Should we invite him to go with us to the farmers’ market?”

Shadow barked, sat, and then gave her his paw to shake. “I think so, too.” She headed toward the barn, her dog at her side. It couldn’t hurt to ask. The worst that could happen would be for him to say no. She lifted her hand to knock and that was when she saw the note taped to the door.

Nina, I hope you don’t mind that I borrowed your four-wheeler. I decided to do a little camping and might not be back for a couple of days. Grant

She crushed the note in her fist. She had probably scared him away with her crazy moods. For the first time in her life she had met a man that she had profound feelings for. Who was she kidding? A man like him probably had women throwing themselves at him all the time. Besides, she didn’t have time to lust after someone with their own demons. She had enough of her own and a farm to run. She stuffed the note in her shorts pocket as she hurried to the truck. The day was a wasting.

****

Grant dropped to his knees to examine the map of the surrounding forest. Long shadows made it difficult to see in the fading light of the dense forest. Two hours ago he had to hide Nina’s four-wheeler in the forest and trudge the rest of the way to the site of the marijuana crop on foot. He unzipped his backpack and took out his canteen. Tipping it to his lips, he gulped several swallows before replacing the cap.

By his estimation, the camp was just over the next rise. He folded the map and stuffed it back inside the backpack and trudged toward the setting sun that reached to the horizon through the trees. If he was going to take pictures of the men and operation, he had to hurry before it got too dark.

Now was when he needed to be careful. Drug growers were known for setting booby traps around their fields of marijuana. The moment he stepped into the clearing, he saw the glimmer of a piece of metal. He approached slowly uncovering the leaves and debris from metal plates with a nail on top of the ground. Underneath a shotgun shell had been buried that would explode if he stepped on the plates driving the nail into the shell. The shell would make enough noise to alert his presence. Careful with his steps, he crossed the clearing and dropped onto his stomach. The whole area could have the same type of trap. He was lucky he didn’t set off the contraption. If so, he would probably now be dead.

It would be dark soon so he needed to hurry. Sprawled on the ground, he opened his backpack and pulled out his binoculars. The sight caused the muscles in his stomach to clench. Marijuana plants stretched beyond the eye’s reach. The crop had to be worth thousands maybe even millions of dollars. But then he knew little of the drug trade. The only education he had in the very profitable drug was from his Uncle Tate. By his estimation, it looked as if the crop would be ready for harvest in about a month. The stalks were approximately thirteen feet high and bright green. Trenches had been dug from the creek to the fields to irrigate the plants. Someone had put a lot of labor into the crop.

From his hiding place, he could see two men moving about the plants. Camouflage backpacks were strapped to their backs and they were spraying the plants. Grant assumed it was fertilizer. Thin camouflaged netting covered the open fields. They were thin enough to let the sun penetrate, but prevented a helicopter from finding the crop. He focused the binoculars and saw four other men walking the perimeter of the field with automatic machine guns. They were carrying some serious fire power. They meant business and wouldn’t hesitate to kill him if they found him spying.

Tents had been erected under the thick trees to keep them hidden from view. Someone knew what they were doing. The men slept, ate, and lived at the camp. It looked as if they never left.

As the light faded, he took out the high powered camera his uncle gave him and began snapping pictures. The high powered lenses zoomed right in on faces and he could almost see every angle, every imperfection on their faces.

His heart began to thump when a familiar face emerged from one of the tents. Randle Collins stopped to speak with two of the men carrying weapons. Grant snapped as many pictures as he could of each of the men. Maybe he was the man behind the whole operation and the death of Officer Shaw. Curious, he wondered what Collins’ connection was with Nina. Had money passed hands so he could plant his crop on her land? Is that how they met, through a business deal? Had they been lovers? The thought caused his heart to ache.

As the questions swirled in his head, he heard a twig snap behind him. Grant rolled into the underbrush taking the camera with him. His hopes of it being a wild animal were dashed as two men wearing camouflage stepped into the clearing each carrying automatic machine guns. Thankfully, he had been very careful to walk on the leaves so he wouldn’t leave prints behind. One of the men checked the booby trap before they crossed not more than two feet where he lay. Grant held his breath as they peered down on the operation below. Placing his hand on his pistol sheathed to his side, he said a silent prayer he would not be discovered. If he had to use his pistol, it would alert the men below and the whole investigation would be ruined.

One of the men fumbled in his pocket and pulled out a cigarette and a lighter. He lit the cigarette and took a deep draw before blowing the smoke in the air. “One more month and we’ll harvest the crop.”

“I can’t wait to have a little time in town. I haven’t had any pussy in a month.”

The other man laughed. The one smoking replied, “With your ugly face you’ll have to pay to get laid.” After several more draws from the cigarette he dropped it, crushed it under his boot. “We’d better get back to checking the perimeter as ordered by Collins before it gets too dark.”

Right before he disappeared from sight, the smoker turned and looked at the very spot where Grant was hidden. Dark gray eyes squinted as if he knew he were there. His finger rested on the trigger as his eyes scanned the clearing. Did the man have a sixth sense and feel his presence? He shook his head and hurried to catch up with his friend.

Grant let out the breath he had been holding. As a precaution, he remained on the ground a few more minutes before he sat up and listened. The only sounds he heard were the animals of the forest. In the distance a woodpecker hammered on a tree. An excited flock of crows carried on in the trees above him. A cautious look in his eyes, he crawled on his belly to the edge of the rise and peered down in time to see Collins straddle a four-wheeler and race away. At least he had some hard evidence to give Uncle Tate.

A little more than two hours later Grant lay on his back peering up into the dark sky. The thick limbs of the crop of oaks he decided to spend the night under only let a little of the waning moon penetrate. The darkness matched his mood. Tomorrow after he spoke with his uncle, he would return to Twelve Oaks Farm and Nina. So many questions tumbled in his head. How did Nina know a man like Randle Collins? He wanted to believe she knew nothing about the marijuana being grown on her land, but now he wasn’t so sure.

A light breeze blew the limbs of the mighty oaks and Grant wondered how old they were. Some of them had to be at least one hundred years old. Grant rolled over onto his stomach and pillowed his head on his hands. In his mind he could see Nina’s magnificent body. He wanted her more than he wanted to admit to himself. Women had always been a way to scratch the itch he got from time to time. Last night when he almost made love to Nina he felt something different. What made her stop him? Idiot that he was, he came on too strong. Maybe that was why she freaked out. It didn’t matter. He couldn’t let it happen again. He would flirt to gain information, but he would not cross the line. Sleeping with a woman to get her talking was despicable. He did not use people carelessly.