Riding the Storm (51 page)

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Authors: Brenda Jackson

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

BOOK: Riding the Storm
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while?”

“I
have
plenty
of
live
plants
and
they
make
beautiful
gifts.”

Storm
nodded.
He
didn’t
recall
seeing
a
live
plant
in
Jayla’s
home
and
thought
one
would
be
perfect,
especially
in
her
bedroom
for
her
to
look
at
and
remember.
“Good.
I
want

you
to
pick
out
the
biggest
and
prettiest
one,
and
this
is
the
person
I
want
it
delivered
to,”
he
said,
handing
her
a
slip
of
paper.

She
took
it
and
glanced
at
the
name.
She
then
looked
at
him
and
smiled.
“How
much
do
you
want
to
spend?”

A
huge
grin
touched
his
lips.
“The
cost
isn’t
important.
Just
add
it
to
my
account.
And
make
sure
it’s
delivered
this

afternoon.”

She
nodded
and
smiled
as
she
quickly
began
writing
up
his
order.
“She
must
be
very
special.”

Storm
sighed
heavily.
There.
He
had
heard
someone
else
say
what
he’d
been
thinking
all
day,
so
the
only
thing
he

could
do
was
smile
and
agree.
“Yes,
she
is.”

Jayla
blinked
at
the
man
holding
the
huge
potted
plant
in
front
of
him.
The
plant
was
almost
larger
than
he
was.
“Are
you
sure
you’re
at
the
right
address,
sir?”

“Yes,
I’m
positive,”
the
older
man
said,
peeping
from

behind
the
bunch
of
healthy
green
leaves
of
a
beautiful
and
lush
looking
areca
palm.
“It’s
for
you.”

Jayla
nodded
as
she
stepped
aside
to
let
the
man
bring
the
plant
inside,
wondering
who
on
earth
could
have
sent
it.

When
the
man
had
placed
it
down,
he
turned
to
leave.

“Wait,
I
need
to
give
you
a—”

“The
tip’s
been
taken
care
of,”
the
man
said.
And
then
he
was
gone.

Jayla
quickly
pulled
the
card
from
the
plant
and
read
it.

Whenever
you
look
at
this,
think
of
me.

Storm

Jayla’s
heart
skipped
a
beat.
No
it
skipped
two,
possibly
three.
She
blinked,
then
sank
down
on
her
sofa.
Storm
had
sent
her
a
plant,
a
beautiful,
large,
lush
green
plant
and
for
the
first
time
in
a
long
time,
she
was
at
a
loss
for
words.

Nine

“T
hanks
again
for
the
plant,
Storm.
It’s
simply
beautiful.”

“You’re
welcome
and
I’m
glad
you
like
it.”

“And
thanks
for
bringing
me
here,
tonight.
Everything
was
wonderful.”

“You’re
welcome
again.”

Then
she
glanced
around
Anthony’s,
the
stunning
and

elegant
antebellum
mansion
that
had
a
reputation
of
fine
service
and
delicious
food.
Being
here
reminded
her
of
New
Orleans,
and
she
wondered
if
perhaps
that
was
the
reason
Storm
had
chosen
this
place.

She
glanced
back
over
at
Storm
and
their
gazes
met.
He’d
been
watching
her,
something
she
noticed
he’d
been
doing
all
evening.
He
had
arrived
at
her
house
promptly
at
seven
and
since
she’d
been
ready,
she
had
only
invited
him

inside
long
enough
for
her
to
grab
her
purse
and
a
wrap.

At
least,
that’s
what
she
had
assumed.

The
moment
he
had
stepped
inside
her
home,
he
had

pulled
her
into
his
arms
and
kissed
her,
making
her
realize
that
although
she
wished
otherwise,
there
was
definitely

something
going
on
between
them,
something
that
had
not

ended
in
New
Orleans.

She
regarded
him
with
interest
and
although
she
knew
that
she
should
broach
the
subject
of
why
they
were
here,
she
wasn’t
ready
to
do
that
yet.
Tonight
was
too
beautiful
to

bring
up
any
unpleasantries
just
yet.
“So,
how
are
things

going
at
work?”
she
asked,
after
taking
another
sip
of
her
wine.

In
New
Orleans,
he
had
told
her
that
he
had
made
the

transition
from
lieutenant
to
captain
rather
well,
but
hadn’t

gone
into
much
detail.
Because
her
father
had
been
a
fire
captain
for
years,
she
was
familiar
with
all
the
position

entailed.
She
was
well
aware
that
today
firefighters
needed
more
training
to
operate
increasingly
sophisticated

equipment
and
to
deal
safely
with
the
greater
hazards
that
were
associated
with
fighting
fires
in
larger,
more
elaborate
structures,
as
well
as
wild
fires.

In
her
eyes,
all
firefighters
were
heroes,
but
she
knew
being
a
fire
captain
also
required
strong
leadership
qualities.
A

captain
had
to
possess
the
ability
to
establish
and
maintain
discipline
and
efficiency,
as
well
as
direct
the
activities
of
the
firefighters
in
his
company.

“Work
is
fine,
and
how
are
things
at
Sala
Industries?”
he
asked
rousing
her
from
her
musings.

She
smiled.
“Things
are
great.
In
addition
to
working
with

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