Stormee Waters

by Lynda J. Coker

  He released his hold. “I’d like to make this decision for you, but I won’t. Don’t be afraid, Stormee.” His bold gaze urged compliance.

  This life-defining moment threatened to choke the breath from her. Raw, unfamiliar emotions boiled in her blood, forcing a frantic response. She’d meant to just step away, run, if necessary. But when he stepped to the side to block her attempt, her hand moved with the speed and sound of a lightning bolt. The stinging slap forced his head to the side.

  Stormee blinked in horrified disbelief as he ran his fingers across the side of his face. His stunned expression slowly turned cold. No residue of the persuasive lover lingered in his taut body.

  Without a word, he turned and walked back to the SUV, his back straighter than a ruler. The car’s engine revved, and the squeal of tires as the vehicle entered the flow of oncoming traffic shot a new type of fear through her heart.

  “Miss, are you okay?” a man’s voice inquired.

  Startled, Stormee turned to see a kind-faced young man dressed in blue scrubs standing a few feet behind her. She gave him a reassuring smile. “Yes, I’m fine. Thank you for asking.”

  Idiotically, an overwhelming sense of abandonment confused her to the point of tears. She couldn’t blame him for leaving. After all, she’d struck him a humiliating blow, not just to his face, but to his very core.

  Chapter Six

  Stormee forced her feet toward the building’s entrance. She stopped at the nurse’s station and asked for directions to Nana’s room. At first glance, the room appeared tidy, even the broken aquarium sat empty and clean atop the dresser. Nana’s aquarium rocks, including her precious blues, lay alongside the fish tank packaged in a clear sandwich bag. Stormee picked them up and stuffed them into her purse.

  “Miss Waters?”

  She stared at the towering man dressed in casual black slacks and khaki shirt who filled the doorway of her grandmother’s room. “Yes, I’m Miss Waters.”

  “My name is James Scott,” he said, touching his chest with his hand. “I work for Mr. Savage. I have orders to take you to your brother whenever you’re ready.”

  Stormee’s heart jumped a beat. “Please thank Mr. Savage for his help, but if you’ll just tell me where I can find Josh, I’ll manage on my own.”

  “I’m sorry,” he replied, spreading his hands in apology. “I can’t give you that information. My instructions are to insure your safe arrival. When you’re ready, I’ll bring the car to the entrance. We should reach your brother’s location in under an hour.”

  Stormee considered her options. She didn’t need to be a mind-reader to realize this stalwart messenger wasn’t veering from his prescribed orders. Going along with his plan would get her to Josh quicker, and that was the important thing.

  “Okay. Let me tell the floor nurse I’m leaving. Why don’t I meet you at the front entrance?” Her quick stride belied the weariness she felt from yet another battle-of-wills.

  ****

  Skeeter sat on the barstool next to Dirk and watched his boss twirl a full glass of bourbon in his hand. The golden liquid tilted from side to side, touching, but not lapping over the rim. “You think another one of those will solve the problem?”

  “Nope,” Dirk replied, not bothering to conceal his bridled anger.

  “Anything I can do to improve your mood?”

  Dirk smirked. “You want to go a couple of rounds in the gym?”

  Skeeter raised his hands defensively. “Are you kidding? The last time I accepted a similar invitation, I spent a week nursing the bruises. Learning to predict your lethal moments is one of my new hobbies. Whatever has you burning, I’m not putting out the fire.”

  Dirk lifted the tumbler to his lips and took several gulps, emptying the glass. The bourbon singed a trail down his throat. “Heard from James yet?” He pushed away the empty glass and turned to face Skeeter.

  “Yeah. He should be here with Miss Waters in thirty minutes.”

  “Where’s Josh?”

  “Where else? The game room.” Skeeter chuckled. “The kid is good, he’s beaten me on every try.”

  “When Stormee arrives, bring her to the library.”

  “Sure thing, Boss, anything else?”

  Dirk stood. “Get the plane ready. I’ll be flying to Houston tonight.”

  “What about—”

  “James will be taking care of everything on this end,” Dirk interrupted, slicing through the air with his raised hand. “I’ll send the jet back in the morning so the two of you can escort Stormee and her family to Houston.”

  “I thought you and Miss Waters…”

  “I pay you to get results, not evaluate my decisions.” The sharp words shattered the amiable mood as Dirk strode toward the door.

  ****

  “We’ll arrive at the Shack in five minutes,” James stated as he maneuvered the car through traffic.

  His statement made Stormee wonder where the humble abode might be located in this exclusive section of Chicago’s North Shore district. Nothing but affluent estates lined the road they were on now.

  She held her breath when they turned into a gated entrance and stopped. The massive gate creaked on its hinges as it yawned open. She could just make out part of a roofline farther up the tree-lined driveway. Manicured lawns and flower beds spread out on both sides of the curving road.

  A palatial home of cream-colored stone and tall elegant windows with ornately carved ivory-colored casings sat like a jewel in the lush green landscape. Double-storied, with two adjoining wings and a towering arched portico, the place rivaled a five-star Resort. A Shack? Indeed!

  “Please follow me, Miss Waters. Mr. Savage wishes to see you in the library before you meet with your brother.”

  With a polite nod, Stormee acknowledged Mr. Scott’s instructions. She followed him up the stone steps toward the front entrance. Stepping through the door amounted to entering another world, one of unimaginable wealth and prestige. She knew Dirk had plenty of money, but this place made the scope of her estimation puny in comparison.

  The polished marble beneath her feet glistened so much it resembled crystal-clear glass. Straight in front of her, tucked under a double staircase, was a set of oversized doors that opened into an elegant dining room. Beyond the table was a wall of glass. She could only imagine the magnificent views those privileged to dine there experienced.

  “Mr. Scott,” Stormee strained to naturalize her voice. “Does this home belong to Mr. Savage?”

  “Please, call me James. The Shack is just one of Mr. Savage’s five residences.”

  “There are more?” Stormee blurted before her manners resurfaced. “I’m sorry, I don’t know why I asked such a rude question.”

  James smiled and spread his arms wide. “That’s quite all right, Miss Waters. Actually, Mr. Savage has homes in Houston, Switzerland, and Greece. His fifth home’s location is private, but I can tell you it’s my favorite.”

  Disbelief suspended her breathing as she could not imagine any home more palatial than this one.

  “Are you ready to proceed?”

  James’ casual stance indicated he was in no hurry, but delaying the inevitable would only add to her case of nerves. She answered with a half truth, “Yes.” In reality, she was nowhere near ready to meet Dirk on his own turf. The urgency of finding her brother made the risk necessary though, and one she couldn’t avoid.

  She followed James down a wide hall furnished with small sitting alcoves, artwork, and views of an English-styled garden. She could fit her whole apartment into this one corridor.

  He stopped in front of a set of double doors, opened one, and indicated she should enter. She didn’t allow herself time to retreat and stalked forward with a warrior’s gait.

  “Mr. Savage will join you shortly. Please make yourself comfortable,” he said with a courteous nod.

  “Thank you,” she replied as the door shut behind him, enclosing her in the space of her dreams. A balconied library welcomed her into its ri
ch, walnut-paneled interior. A circular, sculpted-iron staircase occupied one corner of the room. Three reading areas gave plenty of seating. Her immediate favorite was the overstuffed linen chairs perched in front of a white-columned fireplace.

  I might want to escape Dirk Savage, but if he locked me in this room, I’d gladly stay imprisoned forever. She sighed as she took in the beauty and tranquility the room offered.

  “From your expression, I’d say my library, at least, meets with your approval.” Dirk marched into the room, indicated she should take a seat in one of the linen chairs, and dropped a large manila envelope on the coffee table in front of her.

  “When we’ve finished the business at hand, you’ll be taken to Josh. And as for the preparations made on behalf of your grandmother, James and Skeeter will be assisting you with those.”

  Stormee stiffened. “What arrangements? I don’t remember asking—”

  “Before you object,” Dirk interrupted, widening his stance and placing both hands on his hips. “Carefully read the documentation I’ve just handed you. Nurse Abbot informed me that just prior to the staff finding Nana on the floor in her room, she’d had three male visitors who, when checking in, identified themselves as close relatives. I asked for permission to have my assistant view the facility’s surveillance tapes. He then ran an identification analysis and we’ve confirmed that the men who entered Nana’s room prior to her injury are not relatives.”

  He crossed both arms over his chest and shifted so he faced her. “We’re still in the process of determining their connection with your grandmother and the possible motive for their visitation. Since there are no cameras inside your grandmother’s room, we cannot say with certainty they are responsible for her injury or the ransacked condition of her room, including the broken aquarium. And Nana could not give Nurse Abbot a coherent account of what transpired.

  Dirk waved a hand toward the envelope. “Also included inside are the instructions for removing your grandmother to a safe location until this matter can be further investigated. I just finished talking to Nana a few moments ago. Though I doubt she fully comprehended, I did explain everything over the phone, with Nurse Abbot as a third party witness to the conversation. All provisions have been approved by your grandmother. I realize you hold legal guardianship and can undo these arrangements, but I don’t think you want to cause her unnecessary anxiety. The preparations will not only benefit Nana, but you and Josh, as well.”

  Stormee’s thoughts whirled, and her stomach clenched. “I—I don’t understand,” she sputtered.

  He moved to stand behind the chair facing hers, glaring down from his superior height. “You’re not going to risk Nana’s safety because of your dislike of me, are you? Be assured”—he paused to rub his fingers across his cheek—“your rejection was quite clear.”

  “I’m sorry.” Stormee ducked her head, too embarrassed to explain or justify her actions to a man who wanted no such declaration from her.

  “Apologies between us are unnecessary. When I leave this room, our association will end. As for the arrangements, the information and paperwork are in the packet.” He prolonged the silence for several more seconds before striding toward the door.

  She wanted to say something, anything to delay his withdrawal, but the lonesome click of the door’s latch stole the opportunity. Shocked to the core, Stormee felt the humiliation of Dirk’s dismissal. He’d tossed her aside with no more effort than he’d tossed the envelope on the table. And with that dismissal came an inexplicable sense of loss that drenched her like a cold, soaking rain.

  Wasn’t this what I wanted? Then why is the pain in my chest radiating from my heart? Did I just lose something vital before I even attempted to understand it?

  Misery forced a sob from her throat. Tears gathered on her cheeks and soft, tremulous sighs filled the companionless room.

  ****

  Four hours after leaving Stormee standing in the library of his Chicago home, Dirk sat in his jet and gazed at the moon’s reflection on the clouds outside the plane’s window. The meager light mirrored the murkiness of his mental state. He picked up the report he’d laid in the seat beside him and began to read it again for the third time. Facts laid out in precise detail painted a melodrama of events, each pointing toward a dangerous outcome—one that put the woman he wanted to forget under a threat he couldn’t ignore.

  A strange, unfamiliar fear crept through him like a mist that chilled, but left no trace. He’d always been good at his profession because the more dangerous the situation, the higher became his ability to stay detached. Still, how did he detach his heart from Stormee Waters? He thumped his forehead with the palm of his hand. Like her name, she’d set him adrift in a raging sea. As lethal as a rogue wave, the swift and total rejection might yet drown him. How did a man separate himself from a young woman who, with one less-than-powerful slap, knocked him to his knees?

  Anger twisted his gut. He’d scared her with the intensity of his feelings. In the process, wiping out any chance of winning her trust or affection. The least he could do now was to respect her wishes and back away.

  Chapter Seven

  Stormee hit the send button on her computer’s email program, transmitting the final Make My Man Texas Sized magazine article to the senior editor’s desk. Without the help of additional interviews, she’d agonized, sweated, and finagled to finish the cover series. At last, she need no longer think about Dirk Savage.

  Jealousy singed a painful trail across her heart where a terrible regret throbbed with constant regularity. For the millionth time, she wanted to stand herself in front of a firing squad and end the agony.

  Four long and empty weeks had passed since returning from Chicago. Weeks without his teasing grin, his take-charge demeanor, and the absolute certainty that he wanted to posses her, heart and soul.

  A gorgeous, charming, and wealthy man offers himself to me, and what do I do? Hit and Run. What’s wrong with me? As her thoughts condemned her cowardice, she puffed out a long, weary breath.

  If the answer were obvious, she wouldn’t be here agonizing over a man whose photos filled the city’s society pages as he escorted an endless array of beautiful women to Houston’s gala affairs. Of course, she’d tortured her wounded feelings by reading every minuscule word. And how could she not study the beautiful women clinging to his arm with proprietary intent? The result, an ongoing crash course in heartbreak.

  Stormee rolled her shoulders and stretched tired muscles. A quick glance at the clock put her mind back on track. Nana expected her visit at five-thirty. That left twenty minutes to shut down her computer and clear her desk.

  ****

  Stormee entered the rose garden of the upscale assisted living facility and found her grandmother enjoying a glass of iced tea under the shade of a large, red patio umbrella.

  Though still somewhat disconcerted by Dirk’s aggressive handling of Nana’s situation, Stormee couldn’t help but agree with the results. Client safety and security were top on the priority list in Nana’s new residence.

  Still, looking over her shoulder and eyeing every stranger with suspicion were now part of Stormee’s daily routine. Something only time would lessen, she supposed. She took a cleansing breath and paused a moment to shake off any residual anxiety. Nana’s grasp on reality wasn’t always sharp, but somehow, she could zero in on the least problem in Stormee’s countenance.

  “You look beautiful today, Nana. Isn’t this a new outfit?” Stormee settled in one of the garden chairs next to Nana’s.

  “Yes.” She smiled at Stormee and slid a hand along the sleeve of the attractive blue jogging suit. “Rascal though he may be, he certainly knows what looks good on a lady, don’t you think?”

  “Who? Did someone give you this as a gift?” Stormee raised her brows and smiled.

  Nana growled under her breath. “If you don’t grab that man, Stormee Waters, you’re not half the woman you want to be. Why isn’t he with you when he comes to visit? Did you two ar
gue?”

  “I’m not sure I understand who you’re referring to.” Stormee scooted her chair back a little and adjusted the strap on her purse.

  “Those rosy cheeks tell me otherwise. Don’t let your prudish tendencies make you run from a man who can give you everything you need, and I’m not talking about money.”

  Stormee couldn’t ignore the censure in Nana’s pursed lips. Ducking her head, she brushed at a supposed piece of lint on her slacks. “Nana, Mr. Savage is nothing more than an acquaintance who’s been kind enough to assist me in the past. We don’t share any other connection.”

  “Nonsense!” Huffing a puff of air, Nana palmed her hands upward, as if beseeching a higher authority. “He wants a connection, all right. I’m not so senile I can’t see that for myself. You’re the one with her head in the sand. What did you do to cool his ardor? Why is he so reluctant to talk about you?”

  Stunned, Stormee groped for a reply as Nana reached for one of her hands and clasped it between her frail palms. “Stormee, you’re a sweet child. Mr. Savage may seem too dominant, even dangerous. But weren’t the big cats what you most liked on our trips to the zoo? Didn’t you wonder what having such a strong animal tamed to your touch would be like? Don’t be afraid to step into the lion’s den. If you don’t grab the chance, you’ll agonize over your cowardice for a lifetime.”

  Heat rose in Stormee’s heart, gushed through her veins, and lit the fires of her imagination. She stared at her grandmother while wave after wave of regret washed over her. In truth, she’d dreamed about entering the lion’s cage, not all the way, but at least, reach a hand through the bars. Her anguish nearly overcame her control at the realization she’d destroyed her opportunity. “Nana, I’ve offended him in the most awful way. I don’t know what he would do if I tried to approach him now.” Anxiety lent an edge of fear to her confession.