Riding the Storm (30 page)

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Authors: Brenda Jackson

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

BOOK: Riding the Storm
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“Oh,
you’d
be
surprised.”

Storm
didn’t
think
so
but
decided
to
humor
the
old
woman.
“Okay,
then
surprise
me.
What
do
you
have
to
work
with?
Tarot
cards
or
a
crystal
ball?”

The
older
woman
met
his
gaze
and
looked
at
him
with
a

scrutiny
that
Storm
found
unnerving.
Finally,
she
responded.
“Neither.
I’m
a
palm
reader.”

Storm
nodded.
That
figured.
“Okay,
how
much
to
read
my
palm?”

“Twenty
dollars.”

He
sighed
as
he
reached
into
his
pocket
and
pulled
a

twenty-dollar
bill
while
wondering
why
he
was
wasting
his
time.
He
glanced
at
his
watch.
He
still
had
a
good
thirty
minutes
left
before
Jayla
was
ready
and
having
his
palm
read
was
just
as
good
as
anything
else
to
pass
the
time
away.

He
sat
down
next
to
the
woman
on
the
bench
and
stretched
out
his
hand
to
her.
“Okay,
what
does
my
palm
say?”

He
watched
as
the
woman
took
his
hand
into
her
frail
one
and
studied
his
palm.
Moments
later,
when
she
lifted
her
gaze,
the
intensity
in
the
depth
of
her
dark
eyes
almost

startled
him.
She
smiled
sympathetically.
“I
can
see
why
you’re
confused.”

He
frowned.
“Meaning
what?”

“You
are
about
to
make
unexpected
changes
in
your
life
and
although
you
yearn
for
peace,
turbulence
is
in
your
future.
Keep
your
sights
high,
be
patient
and
let
destiny
take
its
course.”

Storm’s
frown
deepened.
He
had
just
gotten
a
promotion
three
months
ago,
so
what
changes
was
the
woman
talking
about?
He
had
thought
about
moving
out
of
his
present

house
and
buying
a
larger
one,
but
what
problems
could
a
decision
like
that
bring
on?
There
had
to
be
more.

He
lifted
his
brow.
“Is
that
it?”

She
stared
at
him
and
sighed
deeply.
“Trust
me,
son.
That
will
be
enough.”

He
shook
his
head,
a
part
of
him
found
the
entire
thing

outright
amusing.
“Ahh,
can
you
be
a
little
more
specific?”

“No,
I’ve
told
you
everything
you
need
to
know.”

He
slowly
stood.
He
couldn’t
wait
until
he
and
his
brothers
had
their
next
card
game
so
he
could
tell
them
about
this
experience.
Knowing
them,
they
would
probably
find
the
whole
thing
hilarious.
“Well,
it
was
nice
getting
my
palm
read,”
he
said,
not
knowing
what
else
to
say.

She
shook
her
head
slowly.
“I
wish
you
the
best
of
luck.”

Storm
looked
at
the
woman.
She’d
said
it
like
she
had
truly
meant
it.
“Thanks,”
he
said
before
walking
off,
not
sure
just
what
he
was
thanking
her
for.

“Tell
her
you
like
the
red
one.”

He
turned
back
around
and
lifted
a
brow.
“Excuse
me?”

The
old
woman
smiled.
“Tell
her
you
like
the
red
one
the
best.”

Storm
frowned,
not
understanding
what
she
meant.
He

decided
it
would
be
best
not
to
ask,
so
he
nodded,
turned
back
around
and
kept
walking.
Moments
later,
when
he

returned
to
the
dress
shop,
he
saw
Jayla
standing
at
the

checkout
counter
waiting
for
him.
His
face
lit
into
a
smile
as
he
walked
over
to
her.
“Did
you
find
anything?”

“Yes,”
she
answered
excitedly.
“I
found
two
really
nice

outfits
and
they’re
both
beautiful.
I
want
you
to
pick
out
the
one
you
like
the
best.”

He
watched
as
she
turned
and
grabbed
two
dresses
off
the
counter,
one
blue
and
the
other
red.
Storm
blinked
twice

and
his
throat
suddenly
went
dry
when
he
remembered

what
the
old
woman
had
said.
Tell
her
you
like
the
red
one.
He
stared
at
the
two
outfits
that
Jayla
was
holding
up
in

front
of
her.

“Well,
which
do
you
like
the
best,
Storm?”
she
asked,
looking
from
one
dress
to
the
other.

“The
red
one,”
he
replied
promptly,
feeling
somewhat
dazed,
like
he
was
a
participant
in
The
Twilight
Zone.

Jayla
didn’t
notice
his
consternation
as
she
handed
the
red
dress
to
the
smiling
saleswoman
behind
the
counter.
A

huge
grin
touched
her
lips.
“I
like
the
red
one
best,
too.”

Later
that
night,
Storm
had
to
admit
that
he
definitely
liked
the
red
dress,
especially
on
Jayla.
His
tongue
had
nearly
fallen
out
of
his
mouth
the
moment
she
had
stepped
off
the
elevator
to
meet
him
in
the
lobby.

Instantaneous.
Immediate.
A
jolt
of
mind-wrenching
desire
had
shot
straight
to
his
groin.
There
was
nothing
like
an

eye-catching,
incredulously
sexy,
tight-fitting
dress
on
a

woman
who
definitely
had
sleek
and
delectable
curves.
Her
silver
accessories
made
her
look
sophisticated,
elegant

and
hot,
all
at
the
same
time.
The
dress
was
short,
really

short,
but
then
she
had
legs
that
transformed
the
dress
from
provocative
to
mind-blowing.
Her
breasts
sat
high
and

looked
full,
lush
and
ready
to
tumble
out
of
the
low-cut

neckline
at
any
given
moment.

“I
had
a
lot
of
fun
tonight,
Storm,
and
I
like
your
cousin
Ian.”

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