Read Online September Storm by Brenda Jernigan - Free Book Online Page A

her thimble, then shook the dice again.
    "Tell me something about yourself, other than you're engaged to Steven."
    Dani knew she could do better than two.  She threw the dice.  "I live in San Antonio and work for an advertising agency."
    "That sounds like interesting work."
    "Oh, it is."  She looked up at him.  "I love it." She counted out the six spaces.  "Community Chest again."  Pulling a card, she read.  "Go directly to jail.  Do not pass go.  Do not collect $200.  Damn!"  She put herself behind bars.  "I work for a company called The Art Group. We've grown a lot in the last year, and if I land the account I'm working on, it will be the largest account we've ever had.
    "And you do good work."
    "Of course, I do."
    Somewhere lightning struck a transformer, and the house was pitched into darkness.  Dani gasped. 
    "I guess the storm has arrived."  Adrian's calm voice eased her fears a little.  "It got here quicker than I thought it would," he continued. "Just a minute, and I'll get us some light.  I had anticipated this and put out several large candles."
    Dani heard him striking a match in the bleakness.
    "Here's one for you."  He gave her a candle, and she set it on one of the end tables.
    "And one for me."  He placed his on the other table.  Then he proceeded to light a couple of hurricane lamps.
    "Okay.  That solves our problem for now.  Let's finish the game."  He hurried back over and took his seat on the floor.  “Wouldn’t you know the generator nor the shutters never arrived.  I heard they were on back order.”
    They played for another hour until all the property had been bought and the stakes grew higher.  Dani had most of the deeds, but Adrian had the ones that counted-—the ones with hotels!  Luckily, she'd missed his prime real estate the last few times around, but it was her turn again.
    Dani rolled an eight.  She moved her thimble to Park Place, which Adrian owned and where he’d established a hotel.  "That's just great!  You have wiped me out," she complained as she counted out her money to him.
    "Just remember, Dani,” he paused and gave her a wink, “when it comes to things I want, I'm always a winner.  I always go after the things I really want."

 
    C hapter Five
     
     
    Dani didn't doubt Adrian’s statement for a minute.  Masculine strength settled into the carved lines of his chin and jaw.  She sensed a powerful man sitting across from her.  One with a good head for business, if this game held any indication.  "Just what do you do for a living?"
    The amusement died within his searching eyes, and he regarded her with gravity before he spoke.  "You can ask me anything but that."
    "Why?"
    Adrian leaned back and studied her. "Because it's the first question women always ask.  I don’t want to be judged by what I do for a living.  I could be the biggest son of a bitch around, but have a high-power job, so everyone would accept me because of the money I make." Adrian's knitted his brows, and his face closed as if he guarded a secret.  "Does that make any sense?  No one would ever bother to look at the person within."  He pointed to his chest, then shrugged.  "Let's just say, I get tired of all the phoniness.  Maybe I’m nothing more than a house sitter, but a damn good one."
    Well, she’d most certainly hit a sore spot. And she really didn't understand why he was making an issue of it.  It was only human nature to ask what someone did for a living.  Besides, they had to talk about something.
    Evidently not his employment, however.
    Dani gave him a doubtful look, but agreed that he did have a point.  Adrian was probably unemployed--that's why he wanted to avoid the subject.  She'd try to remember in the future.
    A loud thump hit the side of the house, and Dani flinched as the wind ripped away one of the protective sheets of plywood which had covered the front window.  "Look, you already have most of my money,” she finally said. Maybe we should put