Read Online September Storm by Brenda Jernigan - Free Book Online
Authors: Brenda Jernigan
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she said.
"Good. I'll get the game and set it up while you remove the dishes."
"You've got a deal."
Adrian watched the way her pigtails swayed as she reached across the table to get his plate. Her top pulled up and he glimpsed the velvety smooth skin on her torso and, inconveniently, he recalled the way it had felt last night when she was lying on top of him. When she smiled, her magnificent eyes sparkled like aquamarines. How could that jerk--her so-called boyfriend--stand her up? His opinion of Steven grew even worse.
Adrian pulled the game out of the closet, hoping this small diversion would keep Dani's mind off the approaching storm. He sensed a frightened woman, and he tried to ignore the stab of guilt that had kept her here with him.
He removed the board, unfolded it and placed it on the coffee table. Then he started counting out the play money.
She was much better off with him and the hurricane than that shiftless, no good fiancé. After all, she'd be safe with him, Adrian thought, easing his conscience slightly.
It took Dani no time to clear the table and load the dishwasher. Normally, she dreaded this regimental routine, but tonight she found herself humming as she wiped off the counter top, placing the spices back where they went. Strangely, she seemed to know where everything belonged. Then she realized she felt much too comfortable here. This wasn't her home, she reminded herself. And Adrian wasn't her boyfriend.
"Are you about finished?"
Dani jumped at his deep baritone voice, and her humming came to an abrupt stop. Hopefully, he couldn't read her thoughts. "Just about."
"What was that tune you were humming?" Adrian asked as they went back to the living room.
"Just a little tune that floats around in my head."
"Does it have a name?"
"It's not a popular tune. I watched a Disney movie with my niece and the tune just sort of stuck."
"But it does have a name?"
Dani knew he would laugh at her childhood tune. But it was apparent he wasn't going to give up as he positioned himself on the floor opposite her. "Yes," she finally admitted.
"Well?"
" Someday My Prince Will Come ", she reluctantly told him.
Adrian laughed just as she’d known he would. Not just a small chuckle, but a hearty, stomach-holding laugh, "Ah, so you believe in fairy tales, I see."
"I do," Dani admitted softly.
"Well, one thing we know for sure."
"What's that?"
"Steven isn't your Prince, because he stood you up, and no Cinderella would put up with that." Adrian held out his hand, offering her the dice. "Here, you roll first."
"He had a good excuse." She took the dice, her fingers brushing Adrian’s warm skin, the contact making her pulse flutter. Then she thought a moment and returned the dice. "I'm a liberated woman. You can roll first." Besides, she knew it was bad luck to go first.
"If I'd been in his shoes, nothing short of death would have kept me away." Adrian rolled doubles and advanced his car six spaces. "Oriental, I'll buy it."
Dani decided to ignore his comment. "Where do you live?"
Adrian rolled again. "Doubles again." He snapped his fingers and grinned before moving his piece confidently around the board. "New York."
"You like it?" She wrinkled her nose as she pictured dirty streets and nothing but large, concrete skyscrapers.
"St. James Place, I'll buy it." He counted out the money before he answered her question. "It's all right. Let's just say it's convenient to my work."
She watched him roll again. "What do you do?"
"That's hard to explain." His eyes never left the board. It almost appeared as if he was taking this game very seriously as he completed each move. "Here it's your turn."
She wondered why he avoided the question, but she took the dice and rolled snake eyes. Frowning, she counted one, two. "Community Chest." She reached for a card and turned it over so she could read it. "Advance to St. Charles Place." She moved
"Good. I'll get the game and set it up while you remove the dishes."
"You've got a deal."
Adrian watched the way her pigtails swayed as she reached across the table to get his plate. Her top pulled up and he glimpsed the velvety smooth skin on her torso and, inconveniently, he recalled the way it had felt last night when she was lying on top of him. When she smiled, her magnificent eyes sparkled like aquamarines. How could that jerk--her so-called boyfriend--stand her up? His opinion of Steven grew even worse.
Adrian pulled the game out of the closet, hoping this small diversion would keep Dani's mind off the approaching storm. He sensed a frightened woman, and he tried to ignore the stab of guilt that had kept her here with him.
He removed the board, unfolded it and placed it on the coffee table. Then he started counting out the play money.
She was much better off with him and the hurricane than that shiftless, no good fiancé. After all, she'd be safe with him, Adrian thought, easing his conscience slightly.
It took Dani no time to clear the table and load the dishwasher. Normally, she dreaded this regimental routine, but tonight she found herself humming as she wiped off the counter top, placing the spices back where they went. Strangely, she seemed to know where everything belonged. Then she realized she felt much too comfortable here. This wasn't her home, she reminded herself. And Adrian wasn't her boyfriend.
"Are you about finished?"
Dani jumped at his deep baritone voice, and her humming came to an abrupt stop. Hopefully, he couldn't read her thoughts. "Just about."
"What was that tune you were humming?" Adrian asked as they went back to the living room.
"Just a little tune that floats around in my head."
"Does it have a name?"
"It's not a popular tune. I watched a Disney movie with my niece and the tune just sort of stuck."
"But it does have a name?"
Dani knew he would laugh at her childhood tune. But it was apparent he wasn't going to give up as he positioned himself on the floor opposite her. "Yes," she finally admitted.
"Well?"
" Someday My Prince Will Come ", she reluctantly told him.
Adrian laughed just as she’d known he would. Not just a small chuckle, but a hearty, stomach-holding laugh, "Ah, so you believe in fairy tales, I see."
"I do," Dani admitted softly.
"Well, one thing we know for sure."
"What's that?"
"Steven isn't your Prince, because he stood you up, and no Cinderella would put up with that." Adrian held out his hand, offering her the dice. "Here, you roll first."
"He had a good excuse." She took the dice, her fingers brushing Adrian’s warm skin, the contact making her pulse flutter. Then she thought a moment and returned the dice. "I'm a liberated woman. You can roll first." Besides, she knew it was bad luck to go first.
"If I'd been in his shoes, nothing short of death would have kept me away." Adrian rolled doubles and advanced his car six spaces. "Oriental, I'll buy it."
Dani decided to ignore his comment. "Where do you live?"
Adrian rolled again. "Doubles again." He snapped his fingers and grinned before moving his piece confidently around the board. "New York."
"You like it?" She wrinkled her nose as she pictured dirty streets and nothing but large, concrete skyscrapers.
"St. James Place, I'll buy it." He counted out the money before he answered her question. "It's all right. Let's just say it's convenient to my work."
She watched him roll again. "What do you do?"
"That's hard to explain." His eyes never left the board. It almost appeared as if he was taking this game very seriously as he completed each move. "Here it's your turn."
She wondered why he avoided the question, but she took the dice and rolled snake eyes. Frowning, she counted one, two. "Community Chest." She reached for a card and turned it over so she could read it. "Advance to St. Charles Place." She moved
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