Page 82 of Meant to Be
Chapter Sixteen
When it wastime to pick Sydney up from work that evening, the sky darkened, threatening a storm. Mitch studied the clouds as he made his way to the medical center. The ominous cover indicated he should gather his candles and flashlights. It wasn’t raining, yet, and the wind only brushed at the tops of the trees, but Mitch recognized a powerful spring storm when one was building. He just hoped it would hold off until he got Sydney safely into his place.
“Wow, it’s dark.”
Sydney walked beside him, and it was all he could do to keep from taking her hand. He mentally reprimanded himself for wanting to indulge in even this small gesture.
“Storm’s coming. We should hurry.”
Once she was settled into his truck, he drove through the streets of Charlotte Tavern. The rain started to fall in plump droplets. The wind picked up, tossing leaves and other plant debris in the road. By the time they reached his house, the storm was in full swing, including lightning and thunder so loud it sounded as if it were right on top of them.
He pulled behind Sydney’s car parked in his carport and rushed out to open the door on her side of the truck. He didn’t have a side door to the house, so they would have to run to avoid getting soaked.
“That came up fast.” She looked up, the rain dotting her face.
A light streaked across the sky, followed almost immediately by the boom of thunder. She startled. Instinct had him wrap an arm around her.
“Let’s run for it.” He had to raise his voice to be heard over the pounding rain and continued rumble of thunder.
She nodded. Her wide eyes and smile made her appear exhilarated. They’d had thunderstorms at Princeton, but he couldn’t ever remember being caught outside with her in one.
“One, two, three…” Mitch took her hand and made a run for the porch.
She was laughing when they finally reached the door and shook off the water. “It’s like running in a deluge.”
“You’ve never run in the rain?”
“Not like this.” She inhaled. “It’s so clean and fresh… and charged.”
He knew it stormed up north, and he’d wondered how she’d avoided getting caught in midst of a downpour.
Just then, another bolt of lightning streaked across the sky. She looked toward it, starting slightly when the thunderous crack followed.
Mitch studied her and then he took her hand and led her to the two plastic outdoor chairs, protected from the storm by the cover of the porch roof. She looked at him for a moment and then, with a smile, sat to watch Mother Nature’s show with him.
He’d always loved storms. The energy, wildness, and power. Most women he’d been with didn’t. A few had been afraid to sit on a porch to watch them, but even the ones who weren’t didn’t appreciate the brutal beauty. The trees bowed and swayed, like they were dancing in an animated movie. Lightening streaked through the sky in a natural firework show, backed with thunder that shook the house. He looked at Sydney, her eyes wide, not with fear, but with a gleam that suggested she was delighted at nature’s show. He found himself as mesmerized by her as she was by the storm.
She turned to him, her smile beaming. “I’ve never watched a storm before.”
How was it they’d spent four years together in college and he hadn’t shared this with her? “I love storms.”
“Really?” She seemed incredulous, and he found himself wondering how much else they didn’t know about each other.
He nodded and stood. “We might lose power. I should gather supplies just in case.”
“Let me help.” She stood too.
Since she’d come to Charlotte Tavern, Mitch had done everything he could to avoid her pull on him. He worked to control the impulse to touch and taste that washed over him when she was near. Standing on the porch, with the rain pelting, lightning flashing, and thunder rumbling, he let go of control. He reached out and pulled her into a tight embrace as his lips found and drank from hers. Her body melted against his, as if it had been made to fit it. She responded without reserve. Her mouth opened against his and invited him in.
The air around them was charged with energy and power. It surged through him and poured from him into the kiss. A soft moan escaped from her, adding fuel to an already-raging fire. He wanted to strip her naked and surge into her right there on his front porch. Thunder cracked, and she jerked, clung, and kissed him harder, as if the storm was raging through her too. And that was all it took. He was going to scandalize all of Charlotte Tavern and take her right there on his front porch. His hands began their ascent under her dress, wanting to verify she wanted him as desperately as he wanted her.
“Mitch.”
God, don’t talk.He covered her mouth more fully with his own.
“Mitch, your phone.”
His head lifted, and he finally heard the chirp of his cell phone.
