Riding the Storm (66 page)

softly,
“I
also
see
the
man
who
is
the
father
of
my
baby.”

Jayla
watched
Storm’s
expression
and
knew
the
exact

moment
it
dawned
on
him
what
she’d
said.
For
a
moment,
he
continued
to
gaze
at
her,
his
dark
eyes
clouded
with

uncertainty,
hope.
“Did
you
just
say
what
I
think
you
said?”
he
asked
breathlessly.

She
smiled.
If
there
was
any
doubt
in
her
mind
that
he

wanted
a
baby,
their
baby,
it
evaporated
when
she
saw
the
look
of
sheer
happiness
in
his
eyes.
“Yes.
After
taking
my
physical,
I
told
the
doctor
that
I
had
changed
my
mind
about
the
insemination
procedure
and
she
said
it
was
a
good

thing
since
I
was
already
pregnant.”

Jayla
chuckled.
“By
my
calculations,
I
got
pregnant
in
New
Orleans
but
I
still
can’t
figure
out
how
that
happened
when
I
know
for
certain
that
protection
was
used
every
time
we

made
love.”

Storm
laughed.
“Yeah,
but
a
condom
can
only
hold
so

much,
sweetheart.
When
a
man
is
driven
to
have
multiple
—”

Jayla
placed
a
finger
to
Stone’s
lips
and
grinned.
“Okay,
I
get
the
picture.”

He
swept
her
into
his
arms
and
chuckled.
“I’m
glad
that
you
do
and
I
guess
you
know
what
your
pregnancy
means,”
he
said
as
he
moved
toward
his
bedroom.

“What?”

“There’s
no
way
we’ll
have
a
June
wedding,
even
if
you
wanted
one.
We’re
getting
married
as
soon
as
possible.”

She
laughed.
“How
soon?”

“Tomorrow
isn’t
soon
enough
for
me.”

“What
about
in
a
month?”

“Umm,
that’s
negotiable,”
he
said
as
he
placed
her
in
the
middle
of
his
bed.

When
he
stood
back,
Jayla’s
gaze
swept
over
him.
When
she
saw
the
magnitude
of
his
arousal,
she
inhaled
deeply.
“I
have
a
feeling
I
might
not
be
able
to
move
in
the
morning.”

He
smiled
as
he
began
removing
his
clothes.
“I
have
a
feeling
you
just
might
be
right.
And
I
have
a
feeling
that
if
you
weren’t
pregnant
now,
you
would
very
well
be
in
the
morning.”

Jayla
smiled
and
her
gaze
met
his.
“And
you’re
sure
you’re
okay
with
becoming
a
father,
Storm?
It’s
a
lot
for
a
devout
bachelor
to
take
on
a
wife
and
child
at
the
same
time.”

His
smile
widened.
“But
I
won’t
have
a
ordinary
wife
and

child,”
he
said
coming
back
to
her,
completely
naked.
“They

will
be
extraordinary
because
they
are
mine.
And
I
promise
to
take
very
good
care
of
them,
Adam’s
daughter
and

grandchild,
just
as
I
believe
he
knew
that
I
would.”

He
leaned
over
and
slowly
peeled
the
dress
from
Jayla’s
body.
Then
he
quickly
removed
her
shoes
and
panty
hose.
Finally,
he
removed
her
thong.
“I
really
like
that
dress,
but
I
like
you
naked
a
lot
better.”

He
then
joined
her
on
the
bed.
“Do
you
know
what
is
about
to
happen
to
you,
Jayla?”

She
laid
a
hand
against
his
cheek.
“No,
tell
me,”
she

implored
softly,
seeing
the
dark,
heated
look
of
desire
in
his
eyes.
It
was
a
look
that
sent
sensuous
shivers
all

through
her
body.

He
smiled.
“You’re
about
to
be
taken
by
Storm.”

Jayla
smiled.
She
was
definitely
looking
forward
to
that
experience.

Epilogue

A
month
later

“Y
ou
may
kiss
your
bride.”

As
the
Westmoreland
family
looked
on
in
the
backyard
of
his
parents’
home,
Storm
smiled
as
he
turned
to
Jayla
and
captured
her
mouth
in
the
kind
of
a
kiss
that
everyone

thought
should
have
been
saved
for
later,
but
one
he
was
determined
to
bestow
upon
his
bride
anyway.

“At
least
he
has
his
own
woman
to
kiss
now,”
Dare
whispered
to
Thorn.

“It’s
about
damn
time,”
Thorn
Westmoreland
replied,
grinning.

Finally,
Storm
tore
his
mouth
away
from
Jayla
and
smiled.
He
then
leaned
over
and
whispered
something
in
her
ear
and
whatever
he
said
made
her
blush
profusely.

“Umm,
I
wonder
what
he
said
that
made
her
blush
like
that,
considering
the
fact
she’s
already
pregnant,”
Stone

whispered
to
Chase.

Chase
shrugged.
“You
know
Storm.
Nothing
about
him
surprises
me.”