Read Online Firestorm by Brenda Joyce - Free Book Online Page B

said in a softer tone. “We’ll all go in together.” Damned if he’d leave her out here alone with Randolph.
    â€œHe’s right,” Randolph said. “We’ve been out here too long. At any second, Marcy will come running.”
    But Storm was furious. “No, Randolph. I refuse to be ordered around. He went behind my back and spoke to Paul and ruined my riding, and now he turns up here telling me what to do? No!” She was shouting, the effort making her breathless and dizzy.
    Brett reached out and grabbed her arm. “Your shoes can always be put on for you, Storm. I would be most delighted to do so.”
    â€œBrett!” Leanne and Randolph protested at once.
    â€œGet your hands off me!” Storm cried.
    â€œPut on your shoes.”
    She slapped him as hard as she could.
    The crack was loud in the silence of the night.
    Brett hadn’t released her arm. He stared at her, momentarily stunned, then pulled her into a close embrace, with a fierce grip on both her arms, pressing her against his own hard body. He began to throb against her. Her face had become pale as she stared back at him, and he had the insane desire to kiss her, brutally, until she begged for more.
    â€œI can’t…breathe…” she whispered, a strangled sound. And then, suddenly, she went limp in his arms.
    â€œMy God!” Randolph cried. “What have you done?”
    â€œShe’s fainted,” Brett said with forced evenness. He swung her into his arms and strode purposefully toward the house, bypassing the doors leading to the salon, heading instead toward Grant’s library. Only one light was burning, and the doors were unlocked. Randolph reached ahead to open them, and Brett entered, setting his burden carefully on the sofa. “Damn stays,” he said angrily, and with nimble dexterity, he unhooked the back of her gown and loosened her stays.
    â€œDamn you, Brett,” Randolph exclaimed.
    Brett was kneeling at Storm’s side, lightly stroking her pale face. “She doesn’t need stays,” he said. Then, with an awful premonition, he asked, “Where’s Leanne?”
    â€œI don’t know. I’ll go get Marcy and some smelling salts.”
    But before he hurried away, the door burst open, and Marcy, Grant, and Paul rushed in. “Good God, what happened?” Marcy cried.
    â€œWhat the hell happened?” Paul roared, taking in his cousin’s disheveled appearance—shoeless feet, unfastened gown.
    â€œShe fainted,” Brett said calmly.
    â€œLeanne said she was in the garden with her clothes undone, and now she’s fainted,” Paul said furiously. “Who’s the culprit? I’ll kill him!”
    â€œRelax,” Grant said. “Let Brett explain.”
    â€œShe took off her shoes, Paul, because her feet were hurting her,” he said dryly. “I don’t think she realized how inappropriate it was. I loosened her stays after she fainted.”
    â€œShe’s not used to corsets,” Marcy said worriedly, stroking her hair. “Grant, go put a stop to Leanne’s vicious gossiping.”
    Grant nodded and left just as Randolph returned with the salts. Storm moaned. Brett, still kneeling, reached out without thinking to stroke her face. Her skin was incredibly smooth. Marcy was instantly there, shouldering him aside and flashing a warning look. “Fetch me a brandy, Brett,” she ordered.
    Brett rose reluctantly. He had trouble taking his eyes off the beautiful girl. Paul Langdon shoved past him, and he faded into the background. Shortly thereafter, Storm and Paul left for the evening without once returning to the salon.

Chapter 4
    Sunlight poked through the flowery chintz curtains of Storm’s bedroom window and woke her. Instantly, she remembered the fiasco of the night before and wanted to die from humiliation. Even lying there in bed, her face began to burn. Oh, God. How could she