STORM
A Bad Boys of Dry River Novel
Book 6
Susan Fisher-Davis
Table of Contents
Title Page
Storm (The Bad Boys of Dry River, Wyoming, #6)
DEDICATION
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Epilogue
More books by Susan
Erotic Romance
STORM Bad Boys of Dry River, WY Book 6
Copyright © 2018 Susan Fisher-Davis
First E-book Publication: March 2018
Cover design by Amy Valentini
Edited by Amy Valentini/Romancing Editorially
All cover art copyright © 2018 by Susan Fisher-Davis
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.
All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.
PUBLISHER: Blue Whiskey Publishing
Susan Davis
www.susanfisherdavisauthor.com
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DEDICATION
As always, to my editor, cover artist, and most of all, my friend, Amy Valentini. I could never do this without you. You have taught me so much and I will be forever grateful. You’re the best!
To my betas, Toby, Sandra, Dedee, and Rhonda. You ladies are the best and I love all of you.
To my husband, Rob. You are my rock.
To my author friends. You are the best people I know.
I appreciate your support more than you could possibly know. You know who you are and you know I love you!
Last, but certainly not least, to all of you reading this. I wouldn’t be doing this without you. I never thought when I got into this writing thing that I’d have so many of you pushing me for more books. I’m working on them for you, I promise. You are not just my ‘fans’, you are also my friends.
I love each, and every, one of you.
Enjoy Storm!
Chapter One
“Daddy, can Santa bring me a mommy?”
Storm Bateman sighed. “No, Mandy. We’ve talked about this. Santa only brings gifts.”
“But a mommy would be a gift for me. Santa is supposed to bring you what you want.”
“Why the hell do I get into this conversation every time?” Storm mumbled under his breath.
“Daddy! You said a bad word,” Amanda Bateman chastised her father making him cringe.
Storm glanced in the rearview mirror to gaze at his four-year-old daughter who was scowling at him in the mirror, her little arms folded across the buckles of the car seat safely holding her in place. She couldn’t understand why Santa couldn’t produce a mommy out of his bag of goodies and he had no idea exactly how to explain the reason. “I’m sorry. It slipped out.”
“That happens a lot, Daddy.”
Storm glanced away so she wouldn’t see his smile. She was far too wise beyond her years. “Well, sometimes it helps to say a bad word or two.” He shrugged. “It makes me feel better but I’ll try not to say them around you, and you are not to repeat them. Okay.”
“I know, Daddy. Nana told me not to say them just ’cause you do.”
Storm grunted then covered it with a cough. He continued to drive slowly on the snow-covered road. Their home was only a few more miles up the road but with the way the snow was coming down, the roads were bound to get worse in a hurry. Ahead, he could see taillights flashing, and here he thought he was the only idiot out in this shit. He swore under his breath when he saw a car sitting down in a ditch alongside the road with the emergency flashers going. Storm slowed the truck down and pulled to a stop beside the car.
He turned to look at his daughter. “I’ll be right back.”
When she nodded, he put his flashers on and grabbed his flashlight from the glove compartment. Pulling on his leather gloves, he then opened the door and stepped out of the truck into the foul weather. It was bitterly cold. The snow swirled around him, slapping him in the face as he looked around. He tugged his cowboy hat low over his forehead, pulled the collar of his sheepskin coat up around his ears, and gingerly made his way to the stranded car. Grumbling under his breath how damn cowboy boots weren’t made for walking on ice or through snow, he knew he’d be lucky if he didn’t fall and bust his ass. He tapped on the window of the snow-covered car. There was no response.
“Hello?” He tapped harder. After a few more seconds of silence, he pulled on the door handle and opened the door. There was no one inside. Storm straightened up and glanced around. Where had they gone?
He moved his flashlight beam around but saw nothing other than snow. It was too cold to be out so he hoped someone had picked them up and they weren’t trying to walk somewhere in this, because they’d surely die of exposure. The wind was howling and whipping around him, dipping the temperature to well below zero. Sighing, he started to close the door when he saw faint footprints in the snow heading away from the car.
Son of a bitch! Whoever it was, they’d decided to walk instead of staying in the safety of the car. Knowing he could never live with himself if he didn’t at least look, he began following the prints in the growing snow depth.
“Daddy? Where are you?” Storm heard Amanda yell from behind him.
He spun around and trekked back to the truck and his daughter, who was peering out of a partially downed window. “I’m right here, Mandy.”
She gazed up at him with moist eyes the same dark color as his. “I couldn’t see you, Daddy. You were leaving me.”
Storm opened the door and leaned inside the truck to smooth his palm along the top of her silky hair. “No, baby. I wasn’t leaving you. I would never leave you.”
“Promise?” Her little bottom lip trembled and he felt his heart break a little.
“I promise.” He kissed her forehead and then her nose, making her giggle.
“I love you, Daddy.” She smiled at him and his heart hit his stomach just as it did anytime his beautiful little girl looked at him.
Storm shook his head, hating having worried her. “I love you too, baby girl. You know that, right?”
“Yes, Daddy.”
Storm kissed her forehead again. “I’ll be right back, okay? Don’t be scared. I think someone may be lost in the snow, and they need our help.”
When she nodded, he close
d the truck door and again followed the footprints. They were getting harder to see with the snow quickly filling them up. Sighing in frustration, he trudged back to his truck, got in, and drove slowly along the road, looking for any clue that someone was out there in this. He wasn’t having any luck and was about to give up, again thinking someone must have picked them up when Mandy yelled out from the backseat.
“Daddy, stop! I saw something back there.”
Storm stopped the truck and turned around to look at his daughter. “Are you sure?”
“Yes. I think they were sleeping in the snow.”
Storm softly swore. Sleeping in the snow! He sure hoped not as he backed the truck up.
When he was back almost to the point where he’d started, he drove forward again. It was then his headlights highlighted something on the side of the road. Stopping the truck, he climbed out and trudged to what looked like a bundle of clothes. He crouched down and reached out to touch them. There was a body beneath the clothes. Storm gently shook them. When there was no response, he rolled the person over and let out a groan. Damn it! Chloe Baxter.
Storm growled, scooped her up, returned to the truck, and put her in the front passenger seat. After putting the seat belt on her, he closed the door, and moved around to his side. Climbing in behind the wheel, he leaned her back against the seat, put the truck in gear, and drove slowly toward home.
“I have to put the heat on high for a minute, princess.”
“Okay. Is she dead, Daddy?” Mandy asked him.
“No. She’s just sleeping and needs to get warmed up.” He didn’t mention that if they’d been any later, she’d probably be dead from hypothermia. Chloe’s coat was soaking wet and although she wasn’t too far from her car, the cold weather and snow had made it a difficult trek. Storm shook his head. Why the hell was she out walking in this? Chloe should know better.
“Okay, then I’ll whisper,” Mandy said, lowering her voice.
Storm smiled. “Okay,” he whispered back and glanced over to Chloe. Great. Just fucking great. He blew out a breath and then concentrated on getting them safely to the ranch.
Once he pulled up to the side of his log home, he let out a breath. It always felt good to come home. The lights glowing inside were a welcoming sight. He opened his door and strode around to the passenger side. When he opened the door, Chloe’s limp body leaned out the door with only the seat belt keeping her from falling out. Carefully, he unbuckled it and lifted her out.
Looking at his daughter over the seat back, he told her, “I’ll be right back, Mandy.”
She nodded so after shutting the door, he quickly carried Chloe inside the house to the spare bedroom. After placing her on the bed, he quickly made his way back to the truck to get his daughter. He unbuckled her from her car seat, lifted Mandy out, and set her on the ground. She walked anytime she could, and he allowed it. Although, there were times when she seemed to prefer her daddy to carry her everywhere and he allowed that too, because it won’t be too much longer before she won’t want that anymore.
Mandy walked beside him, carrying her stuffed bear, Boo. She never went anywhere without it. She grabbed ahold of Storm’s coat and walked beside him up the steps to the porch. Storm opened the door and they moved into the warm kitchen. Storm strode straight to the spare bedroom and moved to stand alongside the bed. He quickly removed his hat and coat, dropping them on a nearby chair, and then stared down at Chloe.
Now what?
He blew out a breath, knowing he had to get her out of her wet clothes. He glanced down to his side when Mandy tugged on his hand.
“I’m sleepy, Daddy,” she said softly rubbing Boo against her cheek.
Storm smiled and scooped her up. “Then let’s get my little princess to bed.”
By the limpness of her body against his, he knew she was asleep before he reached her bedroom just down the hall. Her bedroom was pink and white. Storm remembered the day she told him she wanted it pink. He almost got sick. But he painted the walls pink with white trim. The white canopy bed, dresser, and chest of drawers made the room fit for a princess. He undressed her and put her pajamas on her. After pulling the covers up to her chin, he tucked Boo in beside her, kissed her forehead and left to attend to his unconscious guest.
When he entered the room, he saw Chloe had rolled to her side and was shivering. Storm strode to the bed and rolled her to her back so he could unbutton her long coat. Pulling her upright, he removed it and narrowed his eyes when he saw she was wearing a wedding gown. On her feet were white stilettos. Most definitely, not fit for walking in snow. Working quickly, he lowered the zipper, pulled the damp dress down, and did everything he could to keep his eyes off her ivory demi-cup bra. He swallowed hard when his gaze fell on her long, shapely legs. Damn! He’d always been a leg man and he knew just how long hers were.
Her underwear was dry but he was sure the gown was ruined. Storm didn’t know anything about wedding gowns, but he’d bet this one had been very expensive. He lifted her against his shoulder then pulled the blankets back and laid her down, sliding her long legs under before pulling the covers up to her chin, and tucking them in around her. Her blonde hair was damp on the ends and her long eyelashes cast shadows on her pale cheeks. A pert nose sat above a sexy pair of Cupid’s bow lips. She sighed against the pillow, and his groin tightened. Oh hell no!
He left the room and grabbed some extra blankets from the hall closet. Walking quickly to the mudroom, he tossed them into the dryer, setting it on high for fifteen minutes. Then he walked down the hall to his bedroom and headed for the shower. His jeans were wet from being out in the snow, so he needed warming up too.
As the hot water slid down over him, his mind kept going back to Chloe. She sure had a fantastic body. Tight and toned, he wouldn’t mind hopping into bed with her but he just didn’t need the hassle. He saw a woman in town for his sexual needs. Sarah was a good woman and the sex was...well, it was okay. No skyrockets but good enough and she didn’t expect anything more from him than just sex. The one woman he’d fallen in love with and married had left him and their daughter four years ago. Storm had decided a long time ago never to make that mistake again.
He turned the water off and dried off with a fluffy black towel, which matched the color scheme of the bathroom. Large black tiles with white swirling through them covered the floor. The walls were white and the black pedestal sink, tub, and toilet gleamed. He walked naked into his bedroom. The large king size bed sat centered on one wall, a large dresser and mirror sat opposite it. Sliding glass doors centered between glass panels made up one entire wall and opened out to a currently covered swimming pool. A fireplace, with wood ready for a match to be set to it, filled the corner opposite the bed. When he’d built the house six years ago, he’d put a fireplace in every bedroom of the house because the electricity easily could go out in the winter. There was a generator for emergencies but a fireplace was good to have too, and cozier. He pulled on a pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt then walked back to the mudroom to retrieve the blankets.
Storm returned to the room he’d put Chloe in, blankets in hand. He wrapped the warm blankets around her then stared down at her. She was too beautiful to be anywhere near him. He just didn’t need her back around him. He’d done his best to stay away from her before and had actually been relieved when she left town.
Sighing, Storm left the room, entered his own, and walked to his bed. Pulling the blankets back, he got into the bed. Chloe’s face arose in front of him. She was so beautiful...and so off limits. What was she doing back in Dry River anyway? The last time he’d seen her was at Dakota and Megan’s wedding reception.
His thoughts returned to the one night they’d... No. He wasn’t going there.
The snow was getting heavier as the night went on and more was expected. She was lucky he and Mandy had come along. She should have stayed with her car. What was she thinking trying to walk out in that kind of weather? He grunted and shook his head. He’d quit trying to fig
ure out women years ago. He supposed he’d find out what was happening with her tomorrow. With the weather as it was, she was going to be staying here for a while.
CHLOE JERKED AWAKE and quickly glanced around the room. Where was she? The last thing she remembered was getting her car stuck in a ditch, and then trudging through deep snow heading for Kendra’s home. Sitting up, she tossed the blankets back and let out a gasp when she discovered she was wearing only her bra and panties. Who had undressed her?
She moved her gaze around the room once more, taking in the dark mahogany furniture. The bed was a four-poster queen size, and a large dresser sat along one wall. Closet doors lined another wall with a door leading to a bathroom and there was a fireplace next to a row of windows. Another door, one she assumed lead out of the room sat on the other wall. Sunlight poured in from the two large windows.
Chloe noticed a robe lying across a chair sitting in a corner. She quickly snatched it up and put it on, even though it was far too big for her. Then she tiptoed to the door, and opened it slowly. Peering out into the hallway, she listened. It was quiet. Was everyone still asleep? A big question, of course, was who was everyone? Glancing over her shoulder, she searched for a clock and saw one on the bedside table. Eleven.
Sighing, she opened the door further and stepped into the hallway. It was then she heard a child’s laughter followed by a deep masculine laugh. She headed toward the sound and stopped in the doorway of what was obviously the kitchen. It was a large room with black appliances, and mahogany hardwood floors with matching cabinets. The marble countertops were charcoal and a large table sat centered in the room on top of an oval braided rug. A man stood with his back to her at the stove. For some reason, that butt covered in tight jeans looked strangely familiar. She placed one bare foot on top of the other as she pondered it.
“Hi.”
Chloe looked down at the beautiful little girl standing in front of her. She squatted down and smiled at her. “Hi. I’m Chloe Baxter. What’s your name?” she asked even though she was sure who the little girl was. Damn. Was this really happening?
Storm Page 1
