Riding the Storm (52 page)

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Authors: Brenda Jackson

Tags: #Fiction, #Romance, #Contemporary, #Arts&Photography

BOOK: Riding the Storm
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Tara
on
the
Kids’
World
charity
benefit,
I’m
working
on
another
project
that
involves
an
environmental
agency.”

He
nodded.
“And
what
about
that
project
you
were
excited
about?
How
is
it
going?”

She
swallowed,
knowing
exactly
what
project
he
was

referring
to.
She
worked
her
bottom
lip
between
her
teeth
several
times
before
responding.
“I
haven’t
started
it
yet.”

She
decided
it
was
time
to
discuss
the
reason
they
were
there.
They
had
dodged
the
subject
long
enough.
She
met
his
eyes
and
a
shiver
ran
through
her
when
she
saw
the

desire
in
their
dark
depths.
Wanting
to
make
love
with
him
seemed
natural.
Too
natural.
It
was
a
good
thing
they
were
in
a
public
place.

Her
body
continued
to
stir
and
an
unbearable
heat
spread
through
her.
Trying
to
ignore
her
torment,
she
considered
him
for
a
long
moment,
then
spoke,
her
voice
barely
above
a
whisper.
“You
said
you
would
explain
things
tonight,

Storm.”

I
did
say
that
didn’t
I?
Storm
thought
as
his
gaze
continued
to
hold
Jayla’s.
The
only
problem
was
that
he
wasn’t
any

closer
to
answers
today
than
he
had
been
yesterday.
The
only
thing
that
he
was
certain
of
was
that
he
wanted
to

continue
to
see
Jayla.
He
enjoyed
being
with
her,
taking
her

out
and
having
fun
with
her
and
wanted
to
continue
to
do
all
those
things
they
had
done
together
in
New
Orleans.
For
some
reason,
she
had
his
number
and
he
was
helpless
to
do
anything
about
it.

“Storm?”

He
blinked
and
realized
while
he’d
been
thinking
that
he
had
been
staring
at
her
like
some
dimwit.
He
cleared
his
throat.
“Jayla,
is
there
a
possibility
for
us
to
start
seeing
each
other?”

It
was
evident
from
the
look
on
her
face
that
his
question
surprised
her.
“Why?”
she
asked,
regarding
him
as
if
the
question
were
totally
illogical.

“I
like
you.”

She
blinked,
then
threw
him
a
grin
that
caught
him
off

guard.
“Storm,
you
like
women.
I
know
that
much
from
your
reputation.”

He
didn’t
like
hearing
her
say
that.
They
weren’t
talking

about
other
women;
they
were
talking
about
her.
He
didn’t
place
her
in
the
same
category
with
those
other
women
he’d
dated
before.
To
him,
none
of
them
could
be

compared
to
Jayla.

He
watched
as
she
leaned
over
the
table
and,
with
a

curious
arch
of
her
brow,
whispered,
“It’s
the
virginity
thing,

isn’t
it?”

Storm
nearly
stopped
breathing.
He
blinked,
not

understanding
just
what
she
was
asking
him.
Seconds
later,
it
dawned
on
him
just
what
she’d
insinuated
and
he
frowned.
“Why
would
you
think
something
like
that?”

She
straightened
back
in
her
chair
and
shrugged.
“What

else
could
it
be?
I
was
your
first
virgin.
You
said
so
yourself.
So
I’m
a
novelty
to
you.”
She
picked
up
her
wine
glass
to

take
another
sip,
smiled,
then
said,
“Trust
me,
you’ll
get

over
it.”

His
frown
deepened.
“Tell
me
something,”
he
said,
leaning
back
in
his
chair.
“When
did
you
figure
that
out?”

Her
smile
widened.
“What?
That
I’m
a
novelty
to
you
or
that
you’ll
get
over
it?”

“That
you’re
a
novelty
to
me.”

She
licked
her
lips
and
Storm
felt
his
gut
catch.
“The
night
you
showed
up
at
my
place.
Seeking
me
out
was
so
unlike
how
you’re
known
to
operate,
so
I
figured
there
had
to
be
a
reason,
since
any
woman
can
basically
please
a
man
in

bed.
It
slowly
dawned
on
me
why
I
was
different.”

Storm
inhaled
deeply.
He
was
glad
they
were
sitting
at
a
table
in
the
rear
of
the
restaurant
in
an
area
where
they
were
practically
alone.
He
would
hate
for
anyone
to

overhear
their
conversation.

He
shook
his
head
slowly.
Everything
she’d
said
had

sounded
logical.
With
one
exception.
It
was
so
far
from
the
truth
that
it
was
pitiful.

He
smiled.
“First
of
all,
contrary
to
what
you
think,
Jayla,
any
woman
cannot
please
a
man
in
bed.
When
making
love
to
a
woman,
most
men…and
women
for
that
matter,

experience
various
degrees
of
pleasure.
On
a
scale
from
one
to
five,
with
five
being
the
highest,
most
men
will

experience
at
least
a
three.
In
some
situations,
possibly
a
four,
and
only
if
they’re
extremely
lucky,
a
five.”

She
lifted
a
brow.
“How
did
I
rate?”

Storm’s
smile
widened.
He’d
known
the
curiosity
in
Jayla
would
give
her
the
nerve
to
ask.
In
fact,
he’d
hoped
that
she
would.
“You
rated
a
ten.”

She
blinked,
then
a
smile
touched
the
corners
of
her
lips.
“A
ten?”

He
chuckled.
“Oh,
yes,
a
ten.”

He
watched
as
she
thought
about
it
for
a
second,
then
she
shook
her
head,
perplexed
and
confused.
“But—but
how
is
that
possible
if
a
ten
isn’t
on
the
chart?”

He
reached
across
the
table
and
captured
her
hand
in
his.

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