Secrets Behind Those Eyes: Secrets of Savannah, #1

By SM Donaldson

This Book is for Mature Audiences 17+********
It is also written with a Southern Dialect therefore the Grammar will not be proper.*********

Scarlet Leigh Johnson hasn’t had the easiest life, it’s been full of heartbreak and abandonment issues. So when she’s accepted to her dream school in her hometown of Savannah Georgia she’s ecstatic. Only one thing steps in her way. Community Service. She lost her temper just a little bit and now has to pay her dues. Her plan now, just get through this and never look back. Go to SCAD and make her dreams come true. That is until the biggest, cockiest, smartass she’s ever met crosses her path. She doesn’t want to deal with another pre-Madonna rich boy. But behind all of his smartass quips she’s sees the pain he’s hiding in his eyes.
Ryder Grayton Abbott is a Cotton heir and all about having a good time. Until one nights good time lands him community service. His plan is to muscle through it and get it over with. Just a few weeks building a house and he could go back to working on his farm and having a playboy lifestyle. Women he loves women, he just doesn’t trust them. They all want something from him. That is until he meets Scarlet. She wants nothing from him except maybe to kick his ass if he talks to her. He can see the fear that lies deep in her eyes. He wants her he can’t explain it, maybe it’s just a self-challenge, since he’s pretty sure she hates him. He knows she doesn’t trust him and he’s pretty sure he doesn’t blame her.
Meet two people that have a bundle of insecurities and need each other more than they realize.
This is the first book in the spin-off series from the  Temptation Series.  

• Language: English
• Publisher: SM Donaldson
• Release date: Jul 3, 2014
• ISBN: 9781501408212

Book preview

Prologue

Scarlet

How could I be so dumb? I bust my ass to graduate a year early so I can start at the Savannah College of Art and Design in the fall and now I’m sitting here in a holding cell. He wasn’t worth this.

Scarlet Johnson. Come on. You’re bein’ released.

I nod. Yes, sir.

Walking out into the front lobby of the police station, I see my brother, Gable. Hey, kid. What in the hell happened?

I hug him. I’ll fill you in once we’re in the car.

Once we are in the safety of our car, Gable looks at me. Okay, so tell me.

Well, when we got back from meeting Cade last week, I felt like something between Dustin and I was off. Cade is our brother that we’ve just met for the first time.

Okay?

So this morning I decided to surprise him. I stopped by our favorite coffee shop to grab us some coffee and bagels. When I pulled up to his house, I noticed an Audi sitting in the driveway, but I thought it was one of his frat brothers or something. I walked in his apartment and I heard them. Walking back to his bedroom, I shoved the door open and I saw them.

Who was he with? My big brother with the murderous glare on his face says looking at me.

I shake my head. Him, his friend, Brandon, and my friend, Kelsie. They were in the middle of some weird shit. I screamed and they looked at me. That dick Brandon asked me to join in. Kelsie started blubbering and telling me she was sorry. Dustin’s naked ass jumped up and tried to talk to me, but I shoved him away. I took off running out the door, and he grabbed me from behind. Then he had the audacity to ask me not to tell anyone.

Wow that took balls. That still doesn’t explain how you ended up in jail.

Well, when he asked me that, I saw red. I grabbed some sort of handle. I think it was from an ax. I swung it at him until he backed up. I was just so angry. So embarrassed. It was like a switch flipped and I lost it. The first lick to his car was pure accident, but that one felt so good that I couldn’t stop.

Holy shit, little sister.

Yeah, well, the neighbors called the cops about all of the screamin’ and car bashin.’ When they got there, who were they going to believe? Me, part of the working class society around here, or three blue bloods? Three blue bloods who don’t want their parents or any of the town to find out they were having some kind of weird sex fantasy shit going on. Oh, and that two of the town’s most beautiful blue-blooded men have gay tendencies.

Whoa, what? I thought they were with Kelsie?

"Yes, but Kelsie was on the bottom, Brandon was on top, and Dustin was in the middle." I get grossed out just thinking about it.

Oh shit!

Look if he’d just came out and told me he’s gay or bi whatever, we could’ve went our separate ways, but he embarrassed me. Then, to see my best friend involved. Not one of them said a word when the police put me in the car.

So what are you looking at?

They said probably probation and community service.

Well, that’s good. I mean, I know Mom would worry about trying to come up with money.

Yeah, I know. All I could think about was the fact that they may take my scholarship to SCAD.

*****

Looking out the window of the museum, my mother works as she demands my attention. Look, young lady, you should be glad they just gave you probation and community service. You did enough damage to that car to constitute a felony.

I know, Mom. It’s just... If everyone knew the truth of why I flipped-

You will not tell anyone his business.

I’m the one being looked at like the crazy ex-girlfriend.

Young lady, I raised you to be compassionate to people. You couldn’t tell he was confused when you were together?

No. How would I know about being confused anyway?

Well, I just assumed since you two had been seeing each other for so long. I guess I just thought you guys had been having sex. You know how I feel about sex and all.

Yes, I know you are completely casual about sex most of the time. But no, we never had sex; as a matter of fact, I’ve never had sex.

My mom stops in her tracks. Really?

Yes, Mom, really. Oh my God, why am I discussing my non-sex life with my mother?

Hey, I’ve always told you. Sex is an expression with our bodies. I’m okay with you discovering that. As a mother, I would prefer it be someone who you’ve been with a while. But the free spirit my parents raised says go for it.

Jeez. I’m going to do my community service.

Ryder

Son you’re nineteen years old. It’s time you get some direction in your life. My dad spins around. And by direction, I mean a plan other than living off your inheritance, booze, and whores.

I run my hands through my hair in frustration. So you’re sayin’ you won’t talk to Judge Griffin about throwing out my community service? I mean, shit, I could pay all the fines for probation and shit. Hell, I’ll even pay that old asshole restitution for the damages.

No, son. You need to pay with your sweat and hard work. It’s time that you learned money will not get you out of everything in life. You can’t go around bein’ hotheaded wreckin’ cars and tearin’ other people’s shit up. Also money isn’t going to be all you need in your life. Having friends, family, and people you can trust; that’s what matters.

So you keep sayin.’

My dad makes his way across the room and puts his finger on my chest. Let me explain something to you. I loved your momma with every breath I had in me. I was an incomplete person when she came along. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t wish that she was still here and not a day that goes by that I can’t wait to see her again. But sometimes, I can’t help but wonder if she’d be disappointed in me for how I’ve let you turn out. He turns and walks out of the room.

Feeling like the biggest douchebag in the world, I make my way out of the house to my community service.

*****

Sometimes it’s hard for me to remember my momma. I was only nine when she died. So there’s been a lot of shit since then. Plus, those last couple of years, she wasn’t herself. She was sick from the chemo and radiation. She wasn’t the momma who would take me pond swimming. Her long sandy blonde hair had fallen out; she looked frail, but she always tried to put on a smile for me. She always made me chocolate chip cookies, even when the smell of something cooking made her vomit. I haven’t eaten a chocolate chip cookie since. The taste, the smell, they make me nauseous.

I park at the address given to me for my community service. I’m going to help build a Habitat for Humanity house. I figured doing this would be better than scrubbing toilets or picking up trash on the side of the road. Plus, I get more out of it. I can actually see what I accomplish and I’ll be able to finish up my time sooner than picking up trash every Saturday.

I walk up to the big guy with a clipboard in his hand. Hey, I’m Ryder Abbott. I’m doing some community service here.

He huffs. Good, I’m Gus. I was hoping I’d get some good, strong guys. They sent me that girl over there and I can tell she’s going to be a hard worker, but the southern man in me says I can’t have her hauling lumber over her shoulder. My granddaddy would roll over in his grave and come back to haunt my old ass.

I push my shades up on my head, laughing. Yeah, I can see that. So where do I start?

Go over there where I’ve got Scarlet handing out hard hats and tool belts and she’ll give you the info.

So Little Miss Blondie over there got community service?

Yep, smashed the shit out of some guy’s car or something. What did you do?

Um, kinda the same. Except, well, I smashed up my car doing about 110. Taking out some guy’s barn and a cow.

Wow, it’s a wonder that man didn’t kill you over that cow. The price these days. He walks off, shaking his head.

I step up to the table where Blondie is handing out everything. Hey, I’m Ryder. Gus sent me over here to get some information and stuff from you. She has her blonde hair up in a messy bun. She’s wearing ripped up jeans, a white tank top that accents the gorgeous set of tits she’s got, and a pair of cheap mirrored sunshades. Damn. She’s fucking hot.

Yeah. I’m Scarlet; nice to meet you. She sticks her hand out to shake mine. I take her tiny hand and shake it. She smiles. Here’s your hard hat, your tool belt, a set of daily instructions and the OSHA guidelines.

So what did a pretty little thing like you do to get community service? I flash her my signature get a girl into bed smile.

Pushing her shades up on top of her head and putting her hands on her hips, she looks at me. I took an ax handle to my ex’s car. You?

I was stupid racing a car. So he was stupid enough to dump you? He deserved it.

No, I dumped him.

Flags fly up in my head. She’s a crazy ex. We all have one. The one you half expect to come home one day with a rabbit boiling on your stove Fatal Attraction kinda crazy. So then, what exactly did his car do to you?

Look I’m not going into this. I’m here to do my time. I don’t need to deal with another blue-blooded, conceited, spoiled rotten, selfish bastard. So just stay out of my way.

I put my hands out defensively in front of me. Hold on, sweet tits. What gives you the right to think you know a fucking thing about me?

She turns to walk off and glances back. I don’t and I’d like to keep it that way.

I spin around, walking away from her. Damn. She’s a crazy bitch. But the crazy ones are always the hottest in bed. Self- challenge accepted.

Chapter 1

Scarlet

Burning up in the Georgia humidity isn’t exactly how I wanted to spend the last few weeks of my summer, but its better this than trying to come up with the eighteen hundred dollars’ worth of damage I did to Dustin’s car.

Truth being told if his parents found out that I didn’t just find him screwing Kelsie, but that I found him being drilled in the ass at the same time by one of the city council member’s son they might think differently. I can’t though; I know what would happen to those two boys. Their families would blacklist them and, after that, they might as well be dead. Because one thing is for sure. If you are raised up being a blue blood, if you rock the boat, they can make your life a living hell.

So here I am, working off my time. It’s been cool, though, to watch a house being built pretty much from start to finish. Most of the framework was done when I got here, but today I’m helping paint the interior walls.

Hey sexy. You need some help with those paint cans?

Dealing with this obnoxious jerk may kill me before this week is over. "No. I still don’t need your help with anything."

I was just trying to be nice. We finished up the landscaping outside and Gus told me to come in and help you paint.

Fine, I tell him. Just grab a roller and start on the other side of the room.

Sure. He shrugs and walks over to the other side and starts painting.

After an hour of blissful silence, it’s time to wait for the paint to dry a little before we start the second coat. He walks over and hands me a bottle of water.

Thanks. I sit down on a bucket.

So what do you do normally? Like are you in college or whatever? he asks.

I graduated high school a year early so I could start SCAD this fall.

"Which program are you doing at SCAD? Wait, let me guess. Something in fashion or, with a name like Scarlet, art history."

No. My mother works for the Telfair Museum so art history has been crammed down my throat for most of my life. I’m kinda scattered right now. I’m doing some sculpture, some painting, sketching, and graphic design.

Wow, that’s kinda all over the place.

I have an interest in all of them and I’m good at all of them so I just really can’t decide. Sculpting and painting are passions. The feeling of creating something is awesome. But I’m also realistic enough to know that it isn’t going to pay the bills. I already do some graphics stuff for my brother’s band, so I figure why not look into doing some of it professionally.

So you have a brother. Older or Younger? he asks.

Older. I have two actually, but I just met my oldest brother, Cade, a few weeks ago. My brother Gable plays in a local band.

Did you just find out about this other brother?

No, I knew about him for years. Well, after the fact that my dad had two families came out anyway.

Holy shit. That’s wild. I don’t have any brothers or sisters. My mom died when I was young and my dad never found anyone else.

I’m sorry, I tell him. That’s so sad. My dad going away wasn’t so bad; he was a jackass most of the time. But my momma, I don’t think I could live without her. As crazy as she is.

So your mom works down at the Telfair, huh? What’s her name? I used to have to go down there all the time to deliver stuff for my dad.

Her name is Whisper Johnson.

Yeah, I’ve met her; she’s really nice. Seems really into art. He waves his hands around.

Her parents were like true to the word hippies. So she’s all free love, art, don’t hate people. The only thing she has done differently was try to be married once and live in one place with us, rather than floating around like gypsies.

Damn. So how are you not so much free love then?

You’re an ass. As soon as I start thinking you’re a normal person… I should’ve just ignored you.

I’m just saying you put off all kinds of frosty vibes. No wonder you and the ex had hard times.

Shut up; you don’t know a fucking thing about my ex. Mind your own damn business and leave me the hell alone. I storm back to the other side of the room and start the second coat.

We go back to our silence. I can’t wait to get off work today. It’s Friday and my best friend Annabelle is taking me out for my birthday finally. My birthday was actually a month ago, but I wanted to go to meet Cade and then all the shit with Dustin happened, so I never got the chance to go until now.

We are finally finishing up for the day. At five o’clock sharp, Annabelle pulls up in her new Camaro. She’s a blue blood but you wouldn’t think it. She steps out of the car, pulling off the ultimate Southern Belle sex appeal. She’s in a pair of cut off shorts and a bandanna tank top. Hey girl, you ready to go get our barhopping on?

Yeah, just a minute; let me go make sure that I closed up all the paint and stuff.

She follows me into the house. Wow, this is really neat. I can’t believe you helped do this.

She didn’t do this painting all on her own, you know, Ryder says.

Annabelle rolls her eyes. So, is this Sir Douchebag you told me about?

Yep, I say, popping the p.

Sir Douchebag, huh? Does that make you Queen Frosty?

I ignore him, but Annabelle just can’t. Hey, didn’t I go to high school with you? When you weren’t doing some stupid shit to get suspended?

Probably. School isn’t really my thing. Never has been. He says with a slight grin.

Abbott Cotton Company. No wonder you don’t have to like school, Annabelle scoffs.

Hey, I’m ready to go, I interject. I need to go by my place and grab my clothes.

Great! I’m ready to get our barhopping on. We walk out, not even bothering to give Ryder a goodbye.

Two hours later, I’m showered, shaved, and buffed. My hair and makeup are done, and I have a killer sexy outfit. Annabelle and I walk out of her place dressed to kill. I have on my new Miss Me jeans I’m so proud of because I busted my ass and saved to buy them, a hot pink, sparkly, strapless top, and some killer hot pink cowgirl boots Annabelle got me for my birthday.

Once we get in her car, she laughs. Okay, so this is the second part of your birthday gift. She pulls out a bottle of Parrot Bay. Now we’ll swing by Sonic and grab a couple of slushes to add this to so we can pre-game.

Are you going to be able to drive us all the way to Swampy Tonk and back? Or like usual, am I driving home?

No, I got it covered tonight. Since we’ll be so close to Richmond Hill, we’ll crash in a hotel room down there.

Okay, sounds cool.

Forty-five minutes later, I have downed my route 44 blue coconut slush along with half the Parrot Bay. Annabelle has downed her slush with the other half. We’re feeling tipsy walking into the bar. We chose the Swampy Tonk because they don’t really check the IDs of pretty girls. Since she’s the only person besides my mom and Gable that know the truth about my break-up, she’s buying my shots tonight. Our plan is to get buzzed good here and then head to some of the other small bars. No one really knows us down here and there are always hot soldiers here from the base. They are always willing to buy pretty girls drinks.

You are getting on that mechanical bull tonight, Scarlet, she says.

Hell, no, I’m not.

She giggles. We’ll see.

Chapter 2

Ryder

Just when I thought I was going to be having a boring Friday night…

I figured I’d be sitting at home or hitting up some local bar, but my buddy Judd just got stationed down at Ft. Stewart and he got a pass for the night. We’re going to hit up some little bars down in Richmond Hill. It’ll be good to have a few beers with him. I think he’s going to be deployed soon and he’s like a brother to me. Good thing we both had some great fake IDs made two years ago.

When we pull my Jeep Wrangler into the parking lot of the Swampy Tonk, I can tell tonight is going to be interesting. I look two spots over and see the bright red Camaro that picked up Scarlet today. Hmm, so this is where they started their night off.

We walk into the bar and I see her across the room, dancing with her friend. Judd, I may need you to keep that little raven haired beauty on the dance floor busy tonight.

Damn, bro, I don’t think that’ll be a problem for me.

A nice slow song pipes up just in time for Judd to make his way over to Scarlet’s friend and ask her to dance. Scarlet makes her way to the bar and so do I.

Can I buy you a drink?

While turning her head, she smiles. Sure. Until she sees that it’s me offering. Ugh, damn, just my luck. No, I’ll get my own drink, thanks.

I just want to buy you a drink to say sorry.

Fine.

I motion for the bartender to give her another and I get a beer for myself. Didn’t think I would run into anyone I knew down here.

We came here to get away from the locals and celebrate my birthday. She has a cute little slur going on.