Storm Warning - By Kadi Dillon Page 0,2

maneuvered the truck onto the highway.

“Yes,” she folded her arms. “It will.”

They pulled into the expensive hotel Adam had talked about. Even though she secretly longed to be able to spread out on a big fluffy bed, her pride wasn’t ready to accept it.

What if this guy was only out looking for a thrill? What if he insisted on staying on the team? With him manning the purse strings, he would hold all the power. He would take over, completely leaving Tory out of the circle. How had control slipped so quickly away?

While Adam checked the team in, she thought of all the possible things that could go wrong while carrying a high-maintenance, sophisticated man like Gabe Wills around. A few minutes into her brood, Adam slid back into the truck and handed a card key to Tory.

“In case you change your mind,” he said with an irritating grin.

“I won’t.” She put the card key in the glove compartment, shutting it with a pop.

Once everyone had gone into their rooms, she leaned back in her seat. She wasn’t being unreasonable, she told herself. She was grieving in a way. This was no longer going to be her team, her project. She’d lost—failed, and it was mortifying.

On a muttered oath, she slid into the driver’s seat and started the engine. She needed time to herself, she thought as she pulled out onto the highway.

She braked at a stop light and waited for it to turn green. She should be happy right now. She was finally in Lincoln, where Vance lived. They weren’t serious—Tory had no desire for serious—but they always had a blast when they could carve out a little time together.

She gunned the engine and switched lanes.

Restlessly, she glanced at the clock on the radio. It was only four o’clock. She grumbled something bad temperedly and forced her eyes away from the neon green numbers. They could do an early dinner, she thought. Maybe go for a drive later.

After fumbling out her phone, she dialed Vance’s number.

“Hello.”

“Hi. It’s Tory.”

“Tory.”

Since he said it like a question, she answered it in kind. “Yes. You know—your super-hot girlfriend slash rival storm chaser, Victoria Fairchild?”

“I know who you are, baby. You caught me in the middle of a nap.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. Do you want to call me back?” She fiddled with the air conditioner as she waited at a crosswalk.

“No, no it’s cool.” He coughed viciously into the phone. Struggling with disappointment, she pretended it was a real cough all though it sounded anything but genuine.

“Are you all right?”

“Yeah, baby. I’m real sick. I know you’re supposed to be in town today, but I’m afraid we’ll have to wait until tomorrow to be together.”

The idea of spending the entire night alone wasn’t an appealing one, but one more day wouldn’t kill her. Vance was more like a convenient friend with benefits. Only now wasn’t convenient. “All right, tomorrow. It’ll have to be early. We’re planning on heading out at nine, but I can push it back a few hours.”

“Great. We can go to that little candy shop you like. I can get a new tattoo—”

Tory listened to him rattle on about the new design he’d drawn for a tattoo on his chest—some kind of Viking helmet in honor of his own storm chasing team. His brother—Charlie—was supposed to get one to match. She wanted to gag.

“Sounds hot,” she said, turning the truck into a gas station parking lot. “Listen, I’m going to run, but I’ll call you in the morning. Feel better, okay?”

She clicked the end button and tossed the phone onto the floor board. With a moan of frustration, she turned the truck around and drove back to the hotel.

She had never counted on anyone for a good time, she thought angrily. Why should she start now? Surely there was something she could do in this town. Her team would be busy catering to Mr. Big Shot. They probably wouldn’t even notice she wasn’t there. She would make her own fun, she decided as she pulled the truck into a space and slammed it in Park.

When she reached the stairs, she walked up them slowly. As petty as it was, it was a blow to her pride to come here, to a hotel he paid for.

“Finally get your head out of your ass?” Adam asked when she knocked on his door. He stepped aside, holding the door open for her. He had just stepped out of the shower and hadn’t yet pulled his