Page 95 of Surviving Love
One afternoon after working at the bookstore, I was walking home and noticed dark clouds gathering overhead. The weather report had mentioned a big storm might hit Southern California later that afternoon, but I hadn’t taken it seriously because it never seemed to rain when they said it would. It never seemed to rain atallin California. However, when thunder rumbled overhead, I decided to walk faster.
The hairs on the back of my neck stiffened when a bolt of lightning flashed above me, and fat drops began to hit the sidewalk and top of my head. I picked up my pace, and when there was another flash, I actually bolted down the street. By the time I reached my house, it was really beginning to pour. Within seconds, I was drenched, my white T-shirt sticking to my body.
My hand shook as I tried to hurriedly get the key in the lock. Eventually I managed it, and I pushed open the door. Stumbling inside, I slammed the door shut just as the living room lit with another flash of lightning. The thunder that followed rattled the windows and shook the floor.
“Jesus,” I panted, watching as hail began to pummel the grass out front. The sound of the hail banging on the roof was deafening, and I stared out the window, feeling uneasy. At one point, I realized I was dripping all over the wooden floor. “Gah.” I headed into the bathroom to grab a towel. I rubbed my head, trying to dry my hair, and went back out to look at the storm some more.
When my doorbell rang, I jumped. What fool would be out in the middle of a thunderstorm? I wondered if maybe it was a neighbor who’d been caught off guard by the storm, like I’d been. I tossed the towel over a chair and hurried to the door. My mouth fell open in shock when I found Jack standing on my porch.
His blond hair was plastered to his head, and he was grinning. “I told you I’d come find you.”
I blinked at him. “Jack?”
There was a crack of thunder, and he glanced up. “Mind if I come inside?”
“Oh, of course.” I stood aside and motioned for him to come in. I was so surprised to see him, I didn’t know how to react.
He came inside, water dripping from the end of his nose. He grimaced. “I’m getting your floor wet.”
I grabbed the towel from the chair and pushed it into his hands. “Here. Use this.”
“Thanks.” He rubbed his face and head, then moved on to his arms. He watched me as he dried off, his gaze alert. “I can’t tell if you’re happy to see me or not.”
I swallowed hard. “I… I’m mostly shocked.”
“Not the answer I’d hoped for.”
Grimacing, I said, “Of course I’m happy to see you.”
“That’s better.” He gave a tentative smile. “I wanted to surprise you, but I guess that might have been a mistake.”
He was getting the wrong idea because I was being so stiff. Frustrated with myself, I took a step toward him. “It’s really good to see you. It’s weird, but good.”
“Okay.”
My stomach fluttered when he ran his gaze down my body. I became more aware of my damp shirt clinging to my body, and my face warmed at the lusty gleam in his eyes. “What are you doing in LA?”
“I planned on telling you I was here for business,” he said softly. “But the truth is, I’m mostly here to see you.”
“Really?” I felt breathless as he moved closer.
“First off, how’s your mom?”
I blinked at him, thrown by the question. “Oh, uh… she’s doing surprisingly well.”
“I’m glad to hear that.”
“She’s a tough old bird.” I smiled weakly.
“Like mother, like son.”
“Are you mocking me?”
He frowned. “Not at all. You surprised me with how tough you were on the show.”
“Okay.” He looked just like I remembered, rugged and handsome. He smelled good too, and I just wanted to put my arms around him and inhale.
He licked his bottom lip, looking up at me from under his brow. “I never really had a chance to say goodbye to you. You had to leave the show so abruptly.”
