Read Online Taken by Storm by Kelli Maine - Free Book Online Page A

said, laughing.
    He had no idea what she’d said, but agreed anyway. “Yeah. Sure.”
    She pulled the top of a fat, white wildflower off of its stem and set it in the water. They watched it float. “I have to tell you something,” she said, suddenly serious.
    “What?” Her blue eyes grabbed his and held on. It was like being punched in the stomach. “What?” he asked again.
    “I… um…” She blew out a big breath and shoved her hair away from her face. “Why is this so hard?”
    “I don’t know. Just tell me.” Playfully, he punched her arm and smirked. “It’s me.”
    She smiled and bit her lip. “It is you. That’s the thing. I don’t feel like your friend anymore.”
    No. No, no, no. He couldn’t lose Maddie.
    He gripped her arms and held her tight. “What are you talking about? You’re more than a friend to me, Mads. You know that.”
    She could barely look him in the eye. “What if I want to be a lot more?”
    It took him a minute to understand what she was saying, then he thought he’d misunderstood. He’d been in love with Maddie for as long as he could remember, but she never thought of him like that. He was her best friend. Her younger brother.
    Wasn’t he?
    “More, how?” he asked. The question sounded stupid, but he didn’t know what else to say. He needed to be certain.
    Maddie looked up at him and saw right through him as always. She took his face in her hands, rose up on her toes and kissed him.
    His arms immediately found their way around her and held her to his chest.
    Finally.
    He never thought it would happen, but now that it was, he wondered why it had taken so long. It was obvious they belonged together. Nobody knew her like he did, and nobody knew him like Maddie.
    His Maddie.

    How could he think he could seduce her and get her back? Did he forget how addicted he was to being with her like that? With her breathless and ready to bend to his will? Jesus, it was all he could do to keep control of himself, and he wouldn’t take her unless she was his. Not again.
    Never again.
    MJ shook his head and turned away from the window. He had to find Rachael and figure out what the plan was. He had to get the hell away from here.
    After throwing on a pair of worn jeans and a blue GSU T-shirt with holes in it, MJ wandered downstairs. Rachael had to be there somewhere. She didn’t answer his knock on the guest bedroom door, and she didn’t have a car to get around. He knew she wasn’t with Enzo, because his grandfather was locked away alone in his office.
    He passed the living room. It was empty, the TV dark on the wall above the fireplace. She wasn’t in the library or the sunroom either. Heading to the kitchen, he figured he’d check outside. That’s when he heard her voice.
    “Shannon, it’s not like that. You don’t understand.” Hearing Rachael’s words edged with temper, MJ peeredaround the corner into the kitchen. She stood against the counter with her back to him. “I never should’ve told you, I guess. I thought you’d understand.” She gripped the edge of the counter with one hand. “No. I’m not coming back.” She shook her head fiercely. “Because, Turtle Tear
is
my home now.”
    MJ waited until she hung up her phone before entering the kitchen. “Hey, Rach. Hear any more from my dad?” He almost choked on the word. It sounded awkward, but he’d gotten it out.
    Rachael’s eyes darted around the kitchen as she tip-toed to the entryway and glanced down the hall. She turned back to him with a small, secretive smile. “Yes. He’s in Miami wrapping up some business. He doesn’t want you with Enzo for one more second than you have to be. Have you thought about coming to Turtle Tear with me?”
    This was perfect. He wanted out and Rachael would take him. MJ put a huge smile onto his face, making his dimples—his dad’s dimples from what he’d been told his entire life—dent his cheeks. “Consider me there, Rach. Thanks.” He hooked an arm around her