Tornado Allie (2 page)

He tipped his head, his caramel-colored hair flopping over one eye. “When I got to middle school, my parents took me to a child psychologist who explained to them I suffered from a phobia of extreme weather.”

“That’s hard to believe. You’re always so controlled.”

“You have no idea,” he muttered, raking his fingers through his hair. “Every week the shrink made me write another paper on a weather-related topic. After a few months, I knew more about weather than my teachers. I became obsessed, but I was still terrified, even knowing the facts.”

Drake plucked his candy from his mouth and narrowed his gaze on the radar, a small crease forming over the bridge of his nose. He continued his story, although he seemed preoccupied by the burgeoning weather. “That’s when my therapist took me outside in the middle of a thunderstorm for some exposure therapy. I stood there, trembling as the cool rain poured over me like the Niagara Falls, the thunder rumbling so loudly the ground shook, and I realized my interest in the science of weather superseded my fear.” He yanked his attention away from the Doppler and smiled at her. “I didn’t experience a tornado until I went on my first storm-chasing tour at eighteen. I’ve been doing it since.”

“What an incredible story. You’re very brave.”

He shrugged. “Hardly. Just a weather geek who turned his irrational fears into a healthier obsession.” Pivoting in his seat, he faced her with a serious expression. “Even though I can’t control the weather, it helps to control my movements within the weather. Does that make sense?”

She nodded. “When I had cancer, I lost control of my life for a while. That’s one of the reasons I created my bucket list.”

“What other—” A beeping and some shouts coming through the radio interrupted him. He laughed. “I told you I’d find you a tornado.” Sure enough, the Doppler displayed a purple blob, but she couldn’t make out the hook.
Guess that’s what makes him the professional.
“Ready to have your world rocked off its axis?”

Her breath caught as she visualized a more pleasurable way for him to rock her world.
Bad girl.
The moment she’d waited for had arrived, and instead of enjoying it, she was working her way down the naughty list in her head. “You mean by the tornado?

“Yeah,” he said, his dangerous gaze returning to her mouth, “but if you need help rocking anything else, feel free to let me know.”

FOCUS.

Drake jumped out of the minivan, willing his thoughts to return to the amazing opportunity waiting for him beyond the wheat field.

Catching sight of the tornado in the distance, Allie practically skipped over to Taryn, her short blonde hair bouncing.

A couple of the male tourists gawked at Allie’s ass. Not that he could keep from doing the same, but at least he could trust himself not to hurt her. As one-third owner of this tour company, he had a duty to keep Allie safe. Yeah, usually that meant from weather-related scenarios, but he figured it applied to protecting innocent women from lecherous men. He didn’t know much about these guys other than they managed some insurance agency in Long Island.

Shit, he shouldn’t be watching her with the storm nearby. Good thing his official
Blow Me Away Storm Chasing Tours
golf shirt was long enough to cover the hard-on about to burst through his jeans. If the other owners, his friends Cole and Jack, caught sight of it, they’d never let him live it down.

From the moment he’d met Allie, he’d wanted her. In his bed. Against the wall. On the hood of the minivan. Anywhere and everywhere.

But she was his little sister’s best friend. Too innocent and fragile for what he’d demand from her. Plus, he didn’t need Taryn learning his tightly wound need for control crossed into the bedroom.

To further complicate matters, he’d signed a contract with his buddies that included a clause about not fraternizing with the paid guests. When he and his friends had started this business three years ago, they’d all agreed hooking up with women from the tour went against their ethics.

Damn ethics.

In the dozen of tours he’d led, he’d met lots of beautiful young women, several who let him know they were available for a night or two. A couple of them may have briefly tempted him before his rational side had kicked back in to remind him of why it would be a terrible idea.

When it came to Allie, his rational side was hanging by a thin thread. For the last five nights, he’d jacked off to fantasies about tying her up and tasting every square inch of her delectable body until she begged him to let her come.

He was a bastard for even thinking about all the ways he’d like to sexually torment the shy, sweet cancer survivor.

Cole sauntered up to him, his video camera in one hand and his digital SLR camera hanging off his neck, and pounded him on the back. “Good of you to join us. I’ve got the video of the formation. Want to see the playback?”

“No. I’ll catch it later.” At the end of the tour, they’d watch all the footage and review their photographs to see if any were worth selling. Cole could make the ordinary appear extraordinary through the lens of his camera. He wasn’t only a photographer and videographer. He was a damn gifted artist, and someday he’d probably leave their asses behind for an overseas job with National Geographic.

Today’s tornado was perfect. Sometimes it was difficult to make out the details because of the rain, but luckily the precipitation stayed in front of it, allowing his tourists a clear glimpse of the long snakelike funnel that appeared almost white against the charcoal sky.

He caught a quick peek at Allie.

Big mistake.

The two insurance agents had her sandwiched between them. A strained smile on her face, she kept her gaze on the tornado while she nodded at the men. This tornado meant more to her than just a moment to boast about to her friends, like so many of the others who came on these tours. She’d survived cancer, and out of everything she could’ve chosen to do in celebration of her life, she’d picked this experience.
His
tour
. That had to mean something.

No way would he allow these two clowns to ruin it for her.

He looked around and spied Taryn over by Jack, the rigidness of her spine and the fists on her hips indicating she was mad at the technology expert. His sister had one hell of a temper, and thankfully it wasn’t directed at him this time. But she was oblivious to her best friend’s current situation.

He stalked to Allie and stepped directly behind her, listening as the two guys explained the basics of tornadoes, information found in the tour’s welcome packet. How could he get rid of them without making a scene?

Ignoring his gut that told him once he touched Allie, he’d have a hell of a time letting go, he wrapped his arms around her waist and tugged her into his chest. “Sorry I left you alone, babe.” He buried his nose in the side of her neck and fought the urge to nibble on that silky cherry-scented skin. “I promise it won’t happen again.”

She momentarily stiffened before relaxing against him. She turned her head around and peered up at him with an electric smile he felt all the way to his cock. “I missed you. Alex and Tony were telling me that based on the size of the tornado, it’s obviously an F-0.”

“Actually, Alex, Tony, the size of the tornado has no bearing on the categorization of the strength. The Enhanced Fujita System is a wind estimate based on damage. Even this tube tornado can do significant damage.” Enjoying the feel of Allie in his arms, he decided he couldn’t pass up an opportunity like this. With a back-and-forth motion, he lazily massaged her abdomen over her T-shirt. Spurred on by her small gasp, he slipped his hand underneath and brushed his fingers across her hot flesh.

Her stomach rippled under his hand as she surrendered in his hold, her breath growing rapid and shallow. His cock hardened at her natural submission. He needed to get rid of these guys pronto. “I’d be happy to give both of you a complimentary book on extreme weather which will explain it in detail. If you give Cole your information right now, he’d be happy to set it up for you. Just tell him Drake said to prepare a Blow Me
Package for you when we return to the hotel.”

Whether they bought it or not, he didn’t care. They thanked him and headed over to Cole. His friend would no doubt rib Drake for cock blocking the guys, but frankly, Drake didn’t give a shit what he thought, because at the moment, the woman who’d starred in his dreams every night this week was pliant in his arms, and judging by her breathing, she was enjoying it every bit as much as he.

“Thanks for getting rid of them,” she murmured as she began to pull away. He didn’t give her a chance before he yanked her back.

If she’d protested even a little, he would’ve released her. Instead she surprised the hell out of him by resting her head against his chest and wrapping her arms in front of her to take one of his hands.

Was there a chance his sister’s friend wasn’t as innocent as she appeared?

He nuzzled her ear. “I didn’t want you to miss out on your tornado.”

She shivered. “Is that the only reason?”

It was on the tip of his tongue to tell her the truth. That his territorial caveman act wasn’t an act at all. That he wanted far more from her than a couple of hugs and handshakes.

But he couldn’t do it. They lived in different states, and he was starting his new job at the end of the month. She deserved more than a kinky one-night stand. Even though he’d make it a night she’d never forget.

A cool, light rain fell as he reluctantly released his hold. “It’s my job to protect my guests.”

She moved beside him, giving him the same tight smile she’d given the insurance agents. “You did your job. They’re not going to bother me again. I’m sure you need to check on the other guests, and I want to enjoy this moment.” Her soulful brown eyes locked onto his, and he realized at once he’d made a colossal mistake. “Alone.”

He took a step closer, lifting his hand to touch her face before dropping it to his side. “Allie, if things were different—”

The rain went horizontal, and his blood ran cold.

The winds had shifted. The tornado was being pulled into the core.

“Get back in the minivan,” he said in a firm voice. She opened her mouth to speak, and he cut her off. “Now. We have to get out of here.” Obviously realizing the seriousness of the situation, her eyes widened, and she ran toward the vehicles.

Despite his urge to carry her off and take her somewhere safe, he had a job to do. Another sixteen lives depended on him, including his sister’s.

“I need everyone to return to the van,” he shouted over the roar of the winds. The distant tornado wasn’t distant anymore.

Cole quickly herded the panicked guests to the vehicles. They had a few precious minutes to outrun the twister.

A tug on his arm surprised him. Out of breath, Allie gazed up at him with worry. “I can’t find Taryn.”

“Maybe she’s already back in the van.”

She shook her head. “I checked all three of them. She’s not there and neither is—”

“Jack.” The last time Drake had seen Taryn she was yelling at his best friend. He scanned the fields and spotted a small structure. He could think of only one reason for Jack and Taryn to have gone inside, especially after witnessing in the past few days the heated way his friend had gazed at Taryn when he’d thought no one was looking. “Allie, tell Cole to get his van out of here and head west.” He fished out the extra keys from his pocket and handed them to her. “Get Mary and Eric, and you drive Jack’s vehicle. Follow Cole. I’ll find Taryn and Jack and meet up with you.”

She looked as if she wanted to say something, but she smartly ran for the minivans. He clenched his fists as he headed toward the shed. He’d better not find Jack fooling around with Taryn, because if the tornado didn’t kill Jack, he just might.

While Drake had honored their agreement not to get involved with the guests, Jack had to go and risk everyone’s life because he couldn’t keep it in his pants.

With Drake’s sister.

Gritting his teeth, he crossed the wheat field, the rain and wind battering him as he cursed under his breath. Out of nowhere, Allie appeared at his side, and his anger at his friend immediately morphed into fear. “I thought I told you to take the van and get out of here.” The rumble of the wind grew louder, and the ground shook as the tornado approached.

“Taryn is my best friend. I’m not leaving her behind,” she shouted over the noise. “Where is she?”

He pointed at the wooden structure located about a hundred feet ahead of them. “I’m guessing she and Jack are inside that shed.”

If they couldn’t get out in time, they’d have to take shelter there, but he wouldn’t trust it to withstand winds over seventy miles an hour. It was a gamble. One he didn’t want to take with Taryn and Allie’s lives.

He grabbed Allie’s hand, and they dashed the remaining distance to the building.

There was always a risk when chasing storms. He knew it and made certain the participants of the tour knew it. They signed three different waivers printed in bold. Yet despite the risks, he never thought he’d ever find himself or the participants in any real danger. He took all the necessary precautions, and in the years he’d chased tornadoes, they’d never come this close. He’d assumed science and technology would give him the ability to keep them safe. He never thought his obsession with storms would lead to injuries of the ones he cared about the most.

The guilt of placing his sister and Allie in the tornado’s path soured his stomach. When they got out of this alive—and there was no other option—he’d make it up to both of them. He’d do whatever it took to ensure Taryn’s happiness, even if it meant giving his blessing to date his best friend. As for Allie, if he had the chance, he’d hand her the world on a silver platter. She deserved happiness after everything she’d been through.

He’d played by the rules and honored the company’s damn non-fraternization clause of their contract, but if they got out of this situation safe and sound, he was going to make his move.

As they got to the front door, it flung open, and Taryn stormed out with Jack hot on her tail.