Riding the Storm (36 page)

BOOK: Riding the Storm

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Jayla,
and
what
you
plan
to
do
goes
against
everything
I

believe
in.
When
it’s
possible,
I
think
a
child
should
benefit
with
the
presence
of
both
the
mother
and
father
in
the

home.
But
if
you’re
hell-bent
on
going
through
with
it,
then
I’ll
be
there
to
do
whatever
you
need
me
to
do.”

Jayla
blinked
back
the
tears
in
her
eyes.
“Thanks.”

“Hey,
Storm,
get
your
mind
back
on
the
game,
stop
daydreaming
and
throw
out
a
card.”

Thorn
Westmoreland’s
words
recaptured
Storm’s
attention
and
he
threw
out
a
card
then
leaned
back
in
his
chair
and
frowned.
“I
was
not
daydreaming
and
my
mind
is
on
the

game,”
he
said
throwing
out
a
card.

After
another
round
of
bid
whist,
Stone
Westmoreland

shook
his
head.
“If
your
mind
is
on
the
game
then
you’re
a
lousy
card
player
since
you
just
threw
out
a
diamond

instead
of
a
heart
which
means
you’ve
reneged.”
A
huge
smile
tilted
the
corners
of
Stone’s
lips.
“But
I’m
not

complaining
since
that
puts
me
closer
to
winning.”

Storm
pushed
back
his
chair
and
stood,
glaring
at
his
four
brothers.
Apparently
they’d
found
his
lack
of
concentration
amusing
but
he
didn’t
find
a
damn
thing
funny
about
it.
“I’m
sitting
out
for
a
while.
I
need
some
fresh
air.”

While
he
was
walking
away
he
heard
his
brother
Thorn
ask
the
others,
“What’s
wrong
with
him?”

“Don’t
know,”
his
brother
Dare
replied.
“He’s
been
acting

strange
ever
since
he
got
back
from
that
conference
in
New
Orleans.”

“Maybe
the
pressures
of
being
a
fire
captain
is
getting
to
him,”
he
heard
his
brother
Chase
add.
“There’s
nothing
worse
than
letting
a
job
stress
you
out.”

“Yeah,”
his
other
brothers
agreed.

Storm
shook
his
head
when
he
opened
the
door
and

stepped
out
on
the
lanai.
His
brothers
didn’t
know
how

wrong
they
were.
His
new
promotion
or
work-related
stress
had
nothing
to
do
with
the
way
he’d
been
acting
since

returning
from
New
Orleans.

He
glanced
up
and
noticed
a
full
moon
and
the
stars
in
the
sky.
It
was
a
beautiful
night
and
he
was
glad
he
had
come
outside
to
appreciate
the
evening
for
a
little
while.

After
Thorn
and
Tara
had
gotten
married,
they
had
moved
into
Tara’s
place
since
it
was
larger
than
Thorn’s,
but
only
temporarily.
They
were
building
their
dream
home
on
a

parcel
of
the
Westmoreland
family
homestead,
which
was
located
on
the
outskirts
of
town.
It
was
a
pretty
nice
area
if
you
liked
being
out
in
the
boon-docks
and
cherished
your
privacy.

Storm
shook
his
head
as
an
image
of
a
woman
forced
its
way
into
his
head.
It
was
the
same
image
he’d
been
trying
like
hell
to
forget
the
past
week.
Jayla
Cole.

He
balled
his
hands
into
fists
at
his
side
as
he
wondered

what
was
wrong
with
him.
He’d
had
affairs
before
but
none
had
affected
him
the
way
this
one
had.
No
woman
had
ever
remained
in
his
thoughts
after
the
affair
had
ended.
He’d

known
there
would
be
memories,
hell
he
had
counted
on

savoring
them.
But
he
had
wanted
them
safely
tucked
away
until
he
was
ready
to
revisit
them.
He
hadn’t
counted
on

having
no
control
of
his
own
memories.

Visions
of
Jayla
in
the
red
dress
were
taking
him
to
the

cleaners
and
wringing
him
out.
And
then
there
were
those
images
of
the
sway
of
her
hips
whenever
she
walked,

whether
she
was
in
heels
or
flats.
It
didn’t
matter.
The

woman
was
sensuality
on
legs.
She
was
a
mouthwatering
piece
flat
on
her
back
as
well.
All
he
had
to
do
was
close
his
eyes
and
he
was
reliving
the
evenings
filled
with
their
mind-boggling,
earth-shattering
lovemaking.