Riding the Storm (6 page)

when
she’d
filled
out
the
questionnaire
for
the
fertility
clinic.
If
the
clinic
filled
her
request
to
the
letter,
the
donor
whose
sperm
she
would
receive
would
favor
Storm
and
her
baby
would
almost
be
his
clone.

She
shook
her
head,
not
believing
what
she’d

subconsciously
done.
When
she
blinked
again,
she
noticed
that
Storm
had
caught
her
staring
at
him,
lifted
his
brow
in
question
and
then
stared
back
at
her.

Jayla’s
heart
thudded
in
her
chest
as
she
watched
as
he

crossed
the
room
back
to
her
with
a
plate
filled
to
capacity.
“Okay,
what’d
I
do?”
he
asked
sitting
down.
“You
were

staring
at
me
like
I’d
suddenly
grown
an
extra
nose
or

something.”

This
time,
Jayla
had
to
force
herself
to
smile.
“No,
you’re

fine.
I
just
couldn’t
help
but
notice
how
much
food
you
were
piling
on
your
plate,”
she
said
instead
of
telling
him
the
real
reason
she’d
been
staring.

He
chuckled.
“Hey,
I’m
a
growing
boy.
All
my
brothers
and
I
eat
like
this.”

Jayla
took
another
sip
of
orange
juice.
She
had
met
his
brothers
a
while
back
and
remembered
all
four
of
them
being
in
excellent
shape.
If
they
routinely
ate
that
much
food,
they
must
also
work
out…a
lot.
“Your
parents
must
have
had
one
heck
of
a
grocery
bill.”

“They
did,
and
while
we
were
growing
up
my
mom
didn’t

work
outside
of
the
home,
so
it
was
up
to
my
dad
to
bring

home
the
bacon.
And
not
once
did
he
complain
about
the
amount
of
money
being
spent
on
food.
That’s
the
way
I
want
it
in
my
household
if
I
ever
marry.”

Jayla
lifted
a
brow
after
taking
another
sip
of
orange
juice.
“What?”

“I
don’t
want
my
wife
to
work
outside
of
the
home.”

Jayla
gazed
at
him
as
she
set
down
her
glass.
She
had

heard
that
very
thing
from
several
people
who
knew
him.
It
was
no
secret
that
when
Storm
Westmoreland
married,
he
would
select
a
domestic
diva.

“I
have
deep
admiration
and
respect
for
any
woman
who
works
inside
the
home
raising
her
family,”
she
said

truthfully.

His
features
showed
signs
of
surprise.
“You
do?”

“Yes,
raising
a
family
is
a
full-time
job.”

He
leaned
back
in
his
chair
and
studied
her
for
a
moment
before
asking,
“So
you
would
do
it?
You
would
be
a
stay-at-
home-mom?”

“No.”

He
sat
up
straight.
“But
you
just
said
that
you—”

“Admired
women
who
did
it,
but
that
doesn’t
necessarily
mean
that
I
would
do
it.
I
believe
I
can
handle
a
career
and
motherhood
and
chose
to
have
both.”

“It
won’t
be
easy.”

Jayla
chuckled
as
she
pushed
aside
her
plate.
“Nothing

about
being
a
parent
is
easy,
Storm,
whether
you
work
in

the
home
or
outside
the
home.
The
most
important
thing
is
making
sure
the
child
is
loved
and
well
taken
care
of.
Now
if
you
will
excuse
me,
I
think
I
will
try
some
of
that
fruit.”

Storm
watched
as
she
stood
and
crossed
the
room.
Wasn’t
it
just
yesterday
that
he
had
decided
to
stay
away
from
her
because
she
was
too
much
of
a
temptation?
When
he
had
walked
into
the
restaurant,
he
had
sensed
her
presence

even
before
he
had
actually
seen
her.
Then
he
had
glanced
around
and
his
gaze
had
locked
in
on
her
sitting
alone
at
a
table,
drinking
her
orange
juice
with
a
huge
smile
on
her

face,
completely
oblivious
to
anyone
and
anything
around

her.
Even
now,
he
couldn’t
help
but
wonder
what
had
put

her
in
such
a
good
mood.

He
took
a
sip
of
his
coffee,
thinking
she
evidently
didn’t

want
him
to
know
since
she
hadn’t
shared
whatever
it
was
with
him.
Electricity
shot
through
him
as
he
continued
to

watch
as
she
put
an
assortment
of
fruit
into
a
bowl.
He
liked

the
outfit
she
was
wearing,
a
fuchsia
sundress
with

spaghetti
straps
and
a
pair
of
flat
sandals
on
her
feet.
She
had
gorgeous
legs,
and
her
hair
flowed
around
her

shoulders,
emphasizing
her
beauty
from
every
angle.
She
looked
the
very
image
of
sexiness
and
at
the
same
time
she
looked
comfortable
and
ready
for
the
New
Orleans

heat
that
was
normal
for
a
September
day.

“The
food
in
this
place
is
good,”
she
said
returning
to
the
table
and
digging
into
the
different
fruits
she
had
brought
back
with
her.

He
lifted
his
dark
head
and
his
stomach
tightened
as
he
watched
her
slip
a
slice
of
pineapple
into
her
mouth
and
relish
it
as
if
it
were
the
best
thing
she’d
ever
eaten.
She
chewed
very
slowly
while
his
gaze
stayed
glued
to
her
mouth,
finding
the
entire
ordeal
fascinating
as
well
as

arousing.

“So,
what
are
you
plans
for
today?”

Her
question
reeled
him
back
in.
He
set
his
fork
down
and
leaned
back
in
his
chair.
He
met
her
gaze,
or
at
least
tried
to,
without
lowering
it
to
her
mouth
again.
“Take
in
the

sights.
I
checked
with
the
person
at
the
concierge’s
desk
and
he
suggested
I
do
the
Gray
Line
bus
tour.”

Jayla
smiled
brightly.
“Hey,
he
gave
me
the
same
suggestion.
Do
you
want
to
do
it
together?”