Brenda Jackson - Riding the Storm

BRENDA JACKSON

RIDING the STORM

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

To my family and friends.

And to Jayla Tiona Hall, this one is for you when you are old enough to read it.

Through wisdom a house is builded, and by understanding it is established.

Proverbs 24:3

Contents

Acknowledgments

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Epilogue

One

J ayla? What are you doing in New Orleans?

A gasp of surprise and recognition slipped from Jayla Coles lips when she quickly turned around. Her gaze immediately connected with that of the tall, dark and

dangerously handsome man towering over her as they stood in the lobby of the Sheraton Hotel in the beautiful French Quarter.

There stood Storm Westmoreland. The man had the

reputation of being able to talk the panties off any woman who caught his interest. According to what shed heard,

even though Storm sported a clean-cut, all-American-kind- of-a-guy image, he was a master at providing pleasure

without promises of forever. The word was that he had the uncanny ability to turn any females fantasy into reality and had created many memories that were too incredible to

forget. Many women considered him the Perfect Storm.

He was also a man who, for ten years, had avoided her like the plague.

I arrived in town a couple of days ago to attend the

International Organization for Business Communicators

convention, she heard herself saying, while trying not to be captivated by the deep darkness of his eyes, the sensual

fullness of his lips or the diamond stud he wore in his left

ear. And if all that werent bad enough, there was his skin tone that was the color of semi-sweet chocolate, hair that

was cut low and neatly trimmed on his head and the sexiest pair of dimples.

He was dressed in a pair of khakis and a pullover shirt that accentuated his solid frame. His chest was broad and his butt was as tight as she remembered. He always looked

good in anything he wore. Her heart accelerated at the

memory of her mischievous teenage years when shed

once caught him off guard by boldly brushing up against

him. She had thought shed died and gone to heaven that day. And just like then, Storm was still more than just

handsomehe was drop-dead, make-you-want-to-scream, gorgeous.

What about you? she decided to ask. What are you doing in New Orleans?

I was here for the International Association of Fire Captains meeting.

She nodded, doing a remarkable job of switching her

attention from his strong male features to his words. I read about your promotion in the newspapers. Dad would have been proud of you, Storm.

Thanks.

She saw the sadness that immediately appeared in his

eyes and understood why. He hadnt gotten over her

fathers death, either. In fact, the last time she had seen

Storm had been at her fathers funeral six months ago. He did, however, on occasion call to see how she was doing. Adam Cole had been Storms first fire captain when he had joined the squad at twenty, over twelve years ago. Her

father always thought of Storm as the son hed never had.

She would never forget the first time her dad had brought him to dinner when she was sixteen. Storm had made quite an impression on her. Not caring that there was a six-year difference in their ages, shed had a big-time crush on him and would never forget how she had gone out of her way to make him notice her. But no matter how much shed tried, he never did. And now as she thought back, some of her

tactics had been rather outrageous as well as

embarrassing. Thank goodness Storm had taken all of her antics in stride and had rebuffed her advances in a genteel way. Now, at twenty-six, she was ten years older and wiser, and she could admit something she had refused to admit then. The man was not her type and was totally out of her

league.

So, how long will you be in The Big Easy? he asked, breaking once again into her thoughts.

Ill be here for the rest of the week. The conference ended today, but Ive made plans to stick around until Sunday to

take in the sights. I havent been to New Orleans in over five years.

He smiled and it was a smile that made her insides feel

jittery. I was here a couple of years ago and totally enjoyed myself, he said.

She couldnt help wondering if hed come with a woman or if hed made the trip with his brothers. Everyone whod lived in the Atlanta area for an extended period of time was

familiar with the Westmoreland brothersDare, Thorn,

Stone, Chase and Storm. Their only sister, Delaney, who

was the youngest of the siblings, had made news a couple years ago when she married a desert sheikh from the

Middle East.

Dare Westmoreland was a sheriff in a suburb of Atlanta

called College Park; Thorn was well-known nationally for

the motorcycles he raced and built; Stone, who wrote under the pen name of Rock Mason, was a national bestselling

author of action-thriller novels and Chase, Storms fraternal twin, owned a soul-food restaurant in downtown Atlanta.

So how long do you plan on staying? she asked.

My meeting ended today. Like you, I plan on staying until Sunday to take in the sights and to eat my fill of Cajun

food.

His words had sounded so husky and sexy she could

actually feel her throat tighten.

How would you like to join me for dinner?

Jayla blinked, not sure she had heard him correctly. Excuse me?

He gave her what had to be his Perfect Storm sexy smile. I said how would you like to join me for dinner? I havent

seen you since Adams funeral, and although weve talked briefly on the phone a couple of times since then, Id love to sit and chat with you to see how youve been doing.

A part of her flinched inside. His words reminded her of the promise he had made to her father before hed died that if she ever needed anything, he would be there for her. She didnt relish the thought of another domineering man in her life, especially one who reminded her so much of her father. The reason Storm and Adam Cole had gotten along so well was because theyd thought a lot alike.

Thanks for the offer, but Ive already made plans for later, she said, lying through her teeth.

It seemed that turning down his offer didnt faze him one bit. He merely shrugged his shoulders before checking his

watch. All right, but if you change your mind give me a call. Im in Room

Thanks, Ill do that.

He looked at her and smiled. It was good seeing you

again, Jayla, and if you ever need anything dont hesitate to call me.

If he really believed she would call him, then he didnt know her at all, Jayla quickly thought. Her father may have thought of Storm as a son, but shed never considered him a

brother. In her mind, he had been the guy who could make her all hot and bothered; the guy who was the perfect

figment of a teenage girls imagination. He had been real, bigger than life and for two solid years before leaving

Atlanta to attend college, he had been the one person who had consumed all of her thoughts.