Shelter from the Storm (Finley Creek Book 2)

by Calle J. Brookes

  “Um...I...think I’d like that very much.”

  She wasn’t wearing a bra. Her breasts were smallish, but tipped with pretty little nipples. Chance brushed his fingers over the left. It tightened beneath his touch, and he laughed softly.

  Whiskey eyes looked up at him.

  “You’re beautiful. I can’t remember if I’ve ever seen anything more beautiful than you right now.”

  “You don’t have say those kinds of things to me. I know I’m not beautiful. Gabby and Mel and Jilly—they’re beautiful. I’m just ok. I know I’m not ugly.”

  “Not beautiful? Baby, that’s the only stupid thing I have ever heard you say.”

  “It’s true. I’m ordinary. They are not. Do we have to talk about this now?”

  “No. I suppose not. Let me show you how extraordinary you are. First, it’s the eyes. That’s what caught me first.” He kissed her lightly, first over one eye and then the other. “The mouth has given me fits since the first moment you spoke to me. Not always good, that. But I can’t argue that your mouth is very pretty. Not to mention the smile. That gap between your teeth is very distracting. Charming. Not to mention the small dimple in each cheek. Whenever you smile, I get the feeling that there’s a private joke in there somewhere. One I can’t wait to share.”

  Had he ever talked so much while making love with a woman? Chance didn’t think so.

  But then again, he’d never been with a woman like Brynna before, had he?

  “Chance? I’m not sure what you’re doing?”

  “I’m enjoying you.” He kissed her neck, lingered. She shivered. Her arms hooked behind his head and she pulled him closer. Chance indulged her, kissing her long and hard. He snapped the useless button on the too-big jeans and slipped them down her hips.

  Brynna wasn’t wearing any underwear. Within seconds she was naked on the blankets and he was leaning over her. “Baby, no matter what anyone has ever said, or whatever crazy idea you’ve gotten in the past, there is nothing just ordinary about you. You are so beautiful that a man loses what little brains he does have. And once he knows you’re looking at him that way, there’s only one thing he’ll ever be able to say. And that is just how perfect you are.”

  He touched her, far more reverently than he ever had any other woman and she touched him right back. Give and take, touch and kiss, it was hard for him to tell where she ended and he began.

  She was far more passionate than he would have ever expected. She was far less tutored than she claimed with her whole experienced self. Chance had to smile about that.

  She might not be completely innocent, but the way her eyes widened and she gasped for breath told their own story.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.

  * * *

  SHE’D never been touched by a man in quite the same way before. It defied every logical thought she’d ever had about sex. Brynna had always likened sex to something that a body needed, and it was best to engage in it with men that she trusted and respected.

  Chance was definitely that; but nothing could explain just how his hands made her feel. The way his kisses had her burning, had her stomach tightening and her breath catching.

  All she could think about was him—the way he tasted, the way he smelled, the way he felt.

  The way he touched her.

  That mattered, somehow, didn’t it? Brynna squirmed beneath him, wanting more. “Chance...please...I need...”

  What words? What words could she possibly use to describe what she wanted from him?

  “What?”

  “More. I need more.” She wrapped her legs around his waist, putting her body exactly in the position she needed, wanted. “Please.”

  “Protection.”

  “Ummm-hmmm. Hurry. Please hurry.”

  “Your wish is my command.”

  Brynna laughed. He handled the condom and then he was there and she felt him right where she wanted him. “Chance...I’m starting to think you might actually be attracted. Attracted.”

  He threw his head back and laughed. “Brynna Beck, I think there’s a wicked woman inside you, just waiting to break through the surface.”

  Did she think so? She certainly felt wicked with him, didn’t she?

  And then she was feeling far too much to even think.

  * * *

  WHEN they were finished, he was holding her and her heart was finally slowing back to where it should be. Brynna looked up at him.

  She had no idea what to say now.

  He leaned his forehead against hers. “No regrets?”

  Brynna closed her eyes and twined her arms around his neck. “None.”

  “Are you hungry? I promise no sweet potatoes. Or anything else you can’t have.”

  It sounded so...normal, didn’t it? Sex with her lover, and then food. Never mind that they were in an abandoned storm shelter while what had to be a tornado raged above them.

  Brynna forced herself not to dream or plan. No ties, just sex with a man she respected. That was it.

  That was all they’d promised each other. Brynna wouldn’t break her word.

  No matter how he made her heart feel.

  This moment, this time together, it was just...just...just like the eye of a storm. It would be there for a time, and then everything around it would rise up and erase it. Make it like it never happened.

  And that was the way she’d promised him this would be. “Yes. I’m hungry. I need my clothes.”

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN.

  * * *

  BRYNNA woke the third day knowing she’d made probably the biggest mistake of her adult life. Never had she felt about a man the way she felt about Chance.

  That was completely stupid, wasn’t it? Nothing could happen.

  Nothing forever, anyway.

  Not that she wanted forever. She didn’t. Not yet. Not until she was closer to thirty. Thirty was a good age to be serious about a man, wasn’t it? That would give her time to build the career she wanted. To buy the house she wanted.

  To learn about the world more, to learn about men more. To know she was making absolutely the best decision for herself that she could.

  Chance Marshall would never be the best decision for her.

  He was too wild. Too harsh. Too broken by loss. She couldn’t fall in love with him. Even if she believed falling in love over a few days was possible—which she didn’t.

  No matter that she’d seen people fall that way before. It had been coincidence or anomalies, that was all.

  She did not love Chance Marshall. That was ridiculous.

  Sex was one thing, wasn’t it? But emotional attachment?

  She would not let herself get emotionally attached to a man who could never make a future with her.

  The sex had been a mistake, hadn’t it?

  What was she supposed to do when she made a mistake?

  Not make the same mistake twice, that was what. Deal with the consequences of that mistake and learn. Learn not to repeat that mistake.

  She’d always been considered a fast learner, hadn’t she? Maybe not where social situations were concerned, but in other ways she certainly had been. Not this time.

  Brynna snorted. Next time she was lost in Oklahoma with a hot guy, she would not have sex with him. No matter how much she wanted to.

  That was a vow she’d probably be able to keep.

  Chance checked the outside as soon as he was awake. “It’s cleared. We can leave now.”

  “And do what?” A part of her didn’t want to leave their little shelter. They had been safe there.

  Out there, outside, uncertainty waited.

  As did her family.

  “I’m ready whenever you are.” She’d already washed herself up in her little makeshift shower. She’d redressed in some of the clothing he’d found for her that first day. She was as ready as she would ever be, wasn’t she?

  Out there, whatever this was with Chance ended. Their interlude would come to its inevitable end.

  She’d just have to dea
l with that, wouldn’t she? They couldn’t stay sheltered down there forever.

  The storms were over. It was time to get back to reality.

  Her family was waiting.

  * * *

  CHANCE knew something was on her mind, but he didn’t push. Instead he led the way back to the highway. Brynna would talk when she was ready.

  If she never was, well, he’d deal.

  They’d made each other no promises.

  So why did her silence bother him so much? “Bryn, you ok?”

  “Of course. What are you going to do when we get to Finley Creek?”

  “Check on Elliot. Gabby. Then find the sons-of-bitches who did this to us.” His thoughts darkened as he looked at her. The clothes draped her thin body, her hair was a wreck, though she’d tried with the cheap plastic comb he’d found on the second day, and there were healing cuts on her cheek and down her arm.

  Not to mention those on underneath the baggy shirt. She hadn’t deserved what had happened to her, and he was going to make those bastards pay.

  No matter what he had to do.

  But he had to find them first, didn’t he?

  As soon as he had Brynna safe, he was going to do just that.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN.

  * * *

  HE’D spent two damned days combing the countryside for that little bitch. No sign of her.

  He wanted to believe she and Marshall were dead, but that wasn’t likely. The guy was like a damned cat, nine fucking lives. No, Marshall was out there with the girl. Probably fucking her over and over again, enjoying himself, while he was getting rain drenched and tired.

  He and Walker were damned near exhausted, but Golden Boy wouldn’t let them stop looking. Said it was all their asses on the line if they didn’t find that girl or Marshall.

  Said it would be all over. All of the last fucking twenty-four years of work would be for nothing. Because of that girl.

  They had her laptop, but only the computer guy was privilege to that information. And he’d told him the girl had found a lot. Found enough to get all of them fried.

  Just another reason to find her.

  Walker was cursing as he pulled into the only gas station for miles. “I need to piss. Grab a coffee or something. Some damned food.”

  “This is ridiculous. Guy and girl are probably off somewhere screwing. Not like they’ve run to the cops or anything. We’d have heard by now.”

  No, the only thing they’d heard was the reports of the girl’s being missing. She’d become a damned media sensation, which just increased the pressure didn’t it?

  Once he found her, he was going to enjoy punishing her for every damned minute he’d had to search the Oklahoma countryside for her.

  Oh, he was going to make her pay.

  “Call Golden Boy. Let him know we’re still out here. Searching. See if he’s heard anything.” It rankled, taking orders from the man who’d replaced his friend all years ago. But someone had to organize what needed done. And he wasn’t as good at it as the younger guy who’d assumed control.

  Golden Boy was a fucking manipulative cold son-of-a-bitch, but he got things done.

  Kept their little racket going.

  The guy hadn’t even been twenty when they’d first started working together. But he’d grown even colder, harder, and more evil over the past two decades. And now he had power, and wanted so much more. He’d get it eventually, too.

  Nothing much scared him, but that damned politician certainly did.

  Why else was he doing what he was told, still?

  No. He’d find her on Golden Boy’s orders, but when he had her?

  How she died was entirely up to him. And he was going to enjoy every minute of her suffering.

  Walker made the call.

  Now all they had to do was wait.

  The Damned Billionaire was about to join them.

  Sometimes he wished the Damned Billionaire and Golden Boy would just kill each other and end it all. They hated each other that much, though he wasn’t certain the two had ever met in person. Funny how that was.

  Then he and Walker could divide up what was left and go their separate ways.

  That would work best for all of them, wouldn’t it?

  Too many top dogs around and there was bound to be a dogfight sooner or later, wasn’t there?

  CHAPTER TWENTY.

  * * *

  CHANCE didn’t see where they had much choice. Once they reached the highway, they would have to go in the direction they had originally been headed.

  Toward the small gas station they’d almost made it to before. He’d checked his phone periodically; there wasn’t any more signal now than there had been days ago when they’d first been out in the countryside.

  But there would be a way to contact his brother at that gas station.

  He estimated they’d walked close to three miles in the storm from where the intersection was before they’d found the cellar. The gas station had been visible from there.

  It shouldn’t take them that long to walk there.

  But it would be on that highway. Anyone coming up the road would be able to see them. It wasn’t a very busy highway, but there could be traffic.

  Even traffic of the kind they didn’t want.

  Chance wasn’t stupid; those assholes could still be out there. Waiting.

  They had wanted Brynna enough to organize what they had done. What was there to say they wouldn’t keep trying? They knew who she was, where she lived, where she worked—it was just a matter of time before they tried again, wasn’t it?

  If it was him, he’d stick close to where his target had last been seen and he would wait. Take her out before she made it back to civilization.

  Now would be a damned good time to try again, wouldn’t it?

  They kept walking.

  A car passed. He almost waved it down, but one look at his companion changed his mind. He’d rather they walked to help.

  Anyone could have been in that car.

  “You let them go on by.”

  “Yes. I don’t want to risk those men being in the car.”

  “Don’t you think that’s a bit illogical? Wouldn’t they be gone by now?” She was frightened, wasn’t she? Chance reached out before he thought about it. He wrapped her hand in his and pulled her closer.

  He kissed her, then pulled back. In the bright light of the day, he could see the pale gold flecks in her eyes and the tiny freckles on her nose. Carrot-topped and freckled, and oh so pretty.

  Those men would still be out there looking for her. Would stalk her and come for her when she was least expecting a threat. Would her father and sisters be able to keep her safe?

  His father hadn’t kept his family safe, had he?

  There was no way in hell he was going to let her face those men alone. That meant he was going to stick to this girl-woman like glue, for as long as he had to.

  They kept walking.

  Eventually they were close enough to see the intersection in the distance. Chance’s pace picked up, and she followed. “We’ll be there soon. We’ll make a call from that gas station and Elliot will hop on up here to get us. You’ll be home in a few hours.”

  “A bubble bath. I want a bubble bath. Mel and I share a bathroom now. She has flower-smelling bubbles. I normally don’t like them because the scent lingers. But today, I’m going to use as much as I can. I want to smell nice again.”

  “I’m going for a hamburger. And I’ll probably never eat green beans again.”

  “Me, either. I want spaghetti with purple sauce.”

  “Purple?”

  “It’s tomato free. You make it from carrots and beets and seasoning. It doesn’t taste that much different from the real stuff. Or at least Mel and Jilly said it doesn’t. Mel makes me a big batch of it at a time, then we freeze it in zipper bags to use later.”

  “Mel makes it for you?”

  “I’m not very good in the kitchen. Mel is. She loves to cook. Your mom taught h
er some, too. Your family was a big part of my childhood, Chance.”

  “I know. And I’m glad they had your mom and dad. They were good friends.”

  “They were.” She threw her arms around his waist and hugged him. She grinned up at him, the slight gap between her teeth charming him once again. She’d used the baking soda in the cellar to brush her teeth three times a day. Brynna had such a beautiful smile. “I’ve forgiven you for dumping that pancake batter over my head.”

  He laughed. “Good. Although where your sister bit me scarred. I’ve never forgotten that day.”

  “Sure you did. You didn’t remember me at all, did you?”

  “I did. It was the hair.” He touched it lightly. “So orange.”

  “I know. Of all of us Becks, I’m the only one with orange hair.”

  “It’s beautiful, Bryn. You are. Don’t ever forget that.”

  “We need to keep walking.”

  They were a quarter of a mile from the gas station, maybe one hundred feet before they were back at the intersection where it all began.

  He’d heard the sounds of helicopters overhead and he knew they were search teams. Hunting for victims of the storms. He’d seen it countless times. He could see them in the distance, but they were too far away to help them. Even if they could. He and Brynna were walking on their own, uninjured and unthreatened. The search and rescue teams had to look for injured and in distress first.

  A large truck rolled up behind them.

  Chance turned, his instincts rising.

  Another truck pulled in directly in front of them.

  “Bryn…” Chance’s hand tightened on her. He held his gun in his other hand. “When I tell you to run, I want you to take off. Run straight through that field until you reach the town.”

  “Who are they?”

  “Just get ready.”