Soul Mates Read online

  She nodded. “Okay.”

  “But if you find you’re pregnant, that will change everything. You call me and I’ll break my contract, take the penalty, and come home.”

  She shook her head. “That won’t be necessary. I—”

  “Yes, it would be necessary. I have no intentions of allowing you to be a single mother. I want your promise, Lee.”

  Although she nodded, she was determined not to stand in the way of his achieving his goals. If she got pregnant, she could go it alone until he returned.

  He sighed. “Oh, damn, Lee. I love you.”

  Her heart raced and tears filled her eyes. “I love you too. I wish I could come with you. If only Erinae—”

  “No. You think I’d drag you away just as things are taking off for you and Erinae? After all your hard work is finally paying off? I’ll be back in two years. If you can, keep the flame burning for me until then.”

  She nodded, her throat too tight to speak.

  He pressed a quick kiss against her lips, patted Danny’s head, and let himself out.

  She stood by the door until the sound of his car was no longer audible. Then she went to her bedroom, fell across the bed, and let the tears filling her eyes spill down her cheek. Intermingled with her sadness at losing Sam was the lingering pain of losing Trey for the final time. Without Sam or Trey, the future looked bleak.

  She rolled onto her back and touched her stomach. God willing she would have Sam’s baby. Going it alone as a single mom for over a year would help keep her mind off the two lost loves of her life. She sat up and lifted a small picture from her nightstand. She had used her new digital camera to take several photos. This one showed a handsome, smiling Sam kneeling next to Danny along the path behind the parking lot.

  She lay back, hugging the picture against her chest. “I miss you already,” she whispered.

  * * * * *

  “I’ve heard a lot about you.”

  Trey considered the woman seated on the other side of the large desk. She had short dark hair, smooth brown skin, and surprising gray eyes. They had never met and yet he had known her the moment he walked into her office. “From who?”

  “Carlee. You’re her Trey.”

  He stiffened. For the appointment, he had given his middle name and his mother’s maiden name. “You know who I am.”

  She inclined her head.

  “How do you know?”

  “As I said, I’ve heard a lot about you from Carlee.”

  “What did she say?”

  She sat back in her chair, her compelling gray eyes locking with his. “Let’s talk about you. What brought you here?”

  “Why do I get the feeling you already know? We’ve met before.”

  “What leads you to that conclusion?”

  “I don’t know. I just know we have met before.”

  “What have you come to discuss?”

  He sighed in annoyance. Why was she making this so hard for him? “I think maybe Carlee was right.” He raked a hand through his hair. “I had this dream that wasn’t really a dream. It was more like a recovered memory…” He paused, waiting for her to prod him. She remained silent and he finally went on. “…of a past life.”

  “Why do you find it so difficult to consider a prior life?”

  “If I’d lived before, wouldn’t I have remembered just as Carlee did?”

  “What do you think might explain your lack of memory?”

  “Well, the memory I had…actually now that I look back, I’ve had several that I thought were nightmares. I always woke up feeling scared and angry and sad because I hadn’t been able to keep my word to her. I tried, but I never found her. I didn’t rescue her when she needed me.”

  “And how did you deal with that?”

  “I was miserable and unhappy.”

  “But life went on for you?”

  He nodded. “Yes.”

  “Did you think about what kind of life she must be living without you?”

  A wave of anguish washed over him. “After awhile I couldn’t think about what she must be going through. It was too painful.”

  “So how did you handle it?”

  “Oh, God!” He closed his eyes briefly. “I was going crazy thinking about her possibly being abused and mistreated and I couldn’t handle it.”

  “So you did what you needed to do to keep your sanity.”

  “I forgot. Oh, God! I conveniently forgot and she remembered and suffered for it. I took the easy way out. I—”

  She shook her head. “It is not cowardly to do what is necessary to preserve one’s sanity. You did what you needed for your mental and spiritual well-being. Do you think Carlee would begrudge you that peace of mind?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Why don’t you ask her?”

  He sighed. “Has she waited for me?”

  “This session is about you. If you want to know something of what Carlee has done, why not ask her?”

  “You know I haven’t been with anyone since we met again.”

  “That’s news you should, if you choose to, share with Carlee.”

  He looked into the dark gray, enigmatic eyes. “Who are you? We’ve met before.”

  “Really? When?”

  “A very long time ago.”

  “When?”

  “A very long time ago. You came to me in the middle of the night and helped me forget. How can you still be alive?”

  “If you now believe that you and Carlee have lived before, why close your mind to the possibility that others might have lived before as well?”

  “Have you?”

  “We’ve met for the purpose of discussing your concerns.”

  “So you’re not going to tell me who or what you are?”

  “Who or what I may or may not be is not important. You are now in full possession of that which was taken from you so long ago without your full permission or consent. For that, I offer a humble apology.”

  He suspected that was as close as she was going to come to admitting that, like he and Carlee, she had lived before. Back on the plantation, she had wiped the memory of Carlee from his mind. He dismissed a fleeting anger. If he had found Carlee when they were both teenagers, he would have been in no position to rescue or protect her. Both he and Carlee would have been miserable and without hope. This woman, whoever she was, had done him a kindness. “Thank you.”

  “For?”

  “Helping me—”

  She sighed. “That was the original intent, but it might have done more harm than good.”

  “No.” He shook his head. “It was the right thing for me. I’m sorry that Carlee remembered and suffered, but that’s something I hope to make up to her soon. Thank you.”

  “I didn’t do anything. I asked questions and you did the work. You were ready to resume your burden.”

  He studied her. “You came to me in my dreams and basically said the same thing. You drew me here.”

  “Did I?”

  “Yes. Is this how you helped Carlee.”

  She smiled. “Contrary to what some may think, I’m not a quack. I ask probing, guiding questions that require thoughtful, truthful answers. Nothing more. Do I need to ask you any more questions?”

  “No, but you can answer one very important one for me.”

  “If I can.”

  He suspected she knew what he wanted to know. “Are we going to be all right together?”

  “I can not foretell the future.”

  “Yet you knew I wouldn’t be able to find her for a very long time.”

  “What one might have suspected and known for a certainty are not necessarily the same thing.”

  He shook his head. “Do you ever just answer a simple question?”

  “Is there such a thing as a simple question?”

  He laughed. “I suspect that even if there were, you wouldn’t answer it.”

  “You might be right. Is there anything else?”

  “Not at the moment.”

&
nbsp; She rose. “Then allow me to offer you my best wishes as I see you to the door.”

  He rose and extended his hand. “Thank you, Dr. Cheyenne.”

  She smiled, inclining her head slightly. “Be safe, well, and happy, Trey Brandauer.”

  “Will we meet again?”

  “Only if you feel overburdened. If you do, I will be available at any time in the future.”

  “Thank you.”

  He left her office, filled with hope. In his car, he punched out the number to Carlee’s office. Minutes later, her soft voice sounded in his ear. His heart thumped. “Hi, honey.”

  “Oh, my God. Trey?”

  “Yes. How are you, honey?”

  “I’m fine. Oh, God! I didn’t expect to hear from you again.”

  He frowned. “Why not?”

  “Why not? It’s been…do you know how long it’s been since you just walked out and—”

  “You said you didn’t want to hear from me again.”

  “Then why are you calling now, Trey?”

  He sighed. “I had to. I was hoping you’d be glad to hear from me, honey.”

  “I guess I am. How are you?”

  “I’m better than I was.”

  “Were you sick?”

  “Not physically.”

  “Then how are you better than you were?”

  “It wasn’t me, but things are looking up now.”

  “I’m glad they are, but I didn’t expect to hear from you again.”

  “You’ve already said that.”

  “It’s been two months since we saw each other.”

  “Two months and four days.”

  “So what can I do for you, Trey?”

  Her voice lacked the warmth and welcome he’d come to expect from her. Had he blown it with her? Mick had been right. He should have at least called her and told her what was going on with his mother and sister.

  “I need to see you. Can we have dinner tonight?”

  Silence greeted the question. Oh, hell. He could imagine her shaking her head. “Things have changed for me since we last saw each other.”

  Oh, damn he didn’t like the sound of that. “What does that mean?”

  “It means you left without waking me and then you didn’t call.”

  “I should have.”

  “But you didn’t and I moved on.”

  He pressed his forehead against his steering wheel briefly before staring out the windshield into the dim parking garage. “You mean you’re seeing another man.” He paused, aware of the clear accusation in his voice. That wouldn’t help. “Is it that guy you mentioned?”

  “You clearly weren’t interested and he was.”

  He swallowed a painful lump. “Is it serious with him?”

  “It would have been.”

  He gripped the steering wheel. “Except?”

  “He left for the Middle East for two years and we—he decided he didn’t want me to wait for him.”

  Yes! He pumped his fist in the air. “Are you all right with that?” He frowned. “You said he decided. Did you want to wait for him?”

  “It doesn’t matter. He’s gone. I’ll deal with that.”

  Damn. “Did you want him to stay?”

  “Yes.”

  He swallowed hard. “I see.”

  “Listen, Trey, it’s been nice talking to you, but I have a meeting in fifteen minutes and—”

  “Dinner tonight?”

  “I don’t think that would be a—”

  “I have to see you, Carlee.”

  “Things have changed, Trey.”

  “The only thing that’s changed is the fact that he’s gone and I’m not. I can deal with whatever’s happened in the last two months.”

  “Are you sure?”

  Oh, damn things were sounding worse every second. “I’m going to have you, Carlee, so whatever’s happened, I’ll just have to learn to accept it.”

  “What if I don’t want to deal with you?”

  “I’ll believe that when you tell me that to my face. You do that and…”

  “And what?”

  “And I’ll know I really have to work hard to win you back.”

  “Trey—”

  “I’ll pick you up at six.” He broke the connection before she could respond. He started his car and drove out of the parking lot. Oh, hell. He’d made a mess of things with Carlee and would have to rebuild his bridges and fences quickly. This time, he knew what was at stake for them both. It wouldn’t be easy, but he was determined to make things work with her.

  * * * * *

  Carlee put the phone down and sat staring at her closed office door. Her heart thudded, her mouth felt dry. She pressed a fist against her lips. How could she see Trey and risk having her heart broken again? Did she even want to see him again? Her feelings for him and Sam intermingled. Was it possible to love two men at the same time to such a degree? How could she miss Sam already and yet long to see Trey again with all the old yearning? And what would she have done had Sam still been around when Trey called? Which one would she have hurt?

  A rapid knock on her office door startled her. She blinked and sat up in her chair. “Come in.”

  The door opened. Erinae looked around the opening. “Staff meeting. Are you coming?”

  “I’m not sure.”

  Erinae’s frowned and slipped inside. She leaned against the closed door. “What’s wrong, Lee?”

  She pointed to the phone. “Trey just called.”

  Erinae crossed the room and sat in front of her desk. “And?”

  “He wants to have dinner tonight.”

  “Great. I’m having dinner with Mick. Want to make it a foursome?”

  She sighed. “I don’t know what to do, Nae.”

  “See him. I’ll call Mick and get him to call Trey and we’ll do a foursome.”

  “I don’t think—”

  “Sometimes it’s okay not to over think things. Let’s just go with the flow and we’ll see how things go. Okay?”

  “Okay.”

  Erinae nodded. “Now. We have employees waiting.” She rose. “You coming?”

  She nodded. “Yes. I am.”

  Erinae grinned and reached over to hug her. “That’s my Lee.”

  Forty minutes later, Carlee and Erinae returned to Carlee’s office. Erinae sank down into one of the chairs in front of Carlee’s desk and kicked off her heels. “So we are basically ready to roll with this new contract.”

  Carlee nodded. “Yes. I meant to ask you, how did Mathis Builders come to offer us the contract?”

  Erinae grinned. “Don’t you know?”

  “No. You never said.”

  “Trey suggested us.”

  “Trey? My Trey?”

  “That’s the only Trey I know. He liked the portfolio you showed him.”

  “So he knows someone connected with Mathis Builders?”

  “Lee, he owns Mathis Builders.”

  “Oh.”

  “Why oh?”

  She shrugged. “I thought we’d earned a spot on the merits of our—”

  “Hey! We did earn it. You don’t think he’s gotten where he is by making dumb business decision, do you? The only thing your knowing him got us was our foot in the door. The portfolio did the rest. If we weren’t good, we wouldn’t have been offered the contract. So don’t go getting an inferiority complex on me.”

  She nodded. “Yes. You’re right. Things are looking up for us.”

  “Yes they are! And not just professionally either. We’ll have a great time with Mick and Trey tonight.”

  She shook her head. “I don’t know if I should see him, Nae. He won’t be happy when he learns I’ve slept with Sam.”

  “Sam is gone and you have to move on. Besides, you think Trey hasn’t been getting his freak on while you’ve been separated?”

  Trey was a passionate, skillful lover. Of course he hadn’t been celibate. Since she’d been with Sam, she could hardly complain that he’d had other lovers. “I’m sur
e he has. That’s probably why he didn’t call before now. He was probably having too good a time.”

  “Oh, I don’t know if I’d go that far. I knew the first time I saw him looking at you that he had it bad for you.”

  “Then why didn’t he call before now?”

  She shrugged. “I don’t know. You can ask him when you see him. Right?”

  She sighed. “He might tell me something I’d rather not know.”

  “If he does, you’ll just have to decide how important that information is and weigh it against how you feel about him.”

  “You make everything sound so simple.”

  “Things are what they are.”

  “Is that how things are between you and Mick?”

  She shrugged. “Things are definitely what they are between us. We both accept that. You’ll have to decide if you still love Trey and if so how much.” She glanced at her watch. “Look, it’s nearly four o’clock. Why don’t you head home and take a nice, relaxing bath to get some of the kinks out? I’ll hold down the fort.”

  “You’ve been doing a lot of that recently.”

  “If you’re keeping score, stop it. We’re partners and friends. And don’t you ever think that you’re not pulling your weight around here. Is that clear?”

  She nodded.

  “Good. Now get your butt out of here. I got your back.”

  “I am feeling a little tense.”

  “I can tell.”

  She rose and kissed Erinae’s cheek. “Thanks.”

  Erinae squeezed her hand. “No matter what, I will always be here guarding your back, Lee.”

  Tears pricked her eyes. “I know.”

  Erinae blinked rapidly. “Get out of here before we both start balling like babies.”

  She nodded. “Yeah.” Half an hour later, she lay in her bath, her body immersed in warm, soothing water and oils, her eyes closed, resting her neck and head against a bath pillow. Pictures of Trey and Sam chased each other across her closed lids. She lifted a hand and touched her breasts, recalling the pleasure the touch of both males brought. The pleasure and the pain.

  Sam was gone and now Trey wanted to see her. Did she dare allow herself to fall under the spell of his charm again? Had she ever gotten over him? Memories of the nights spent in Sam’s arms assailed her senses. She hadn’t thought of Trey on a conscious level much while she’d been with Sam. While with Sam, she had felt happy and content.