Deadly Storm Read Online Free PDF Page A

like that one,” Emma said. “Everyone will picture Daisy Duke, and she’ll be expected to wear short shorts.”
    “Got it,” Finn said, widening his eyes behind Emma’s back to comic effect.
    “I’ll get the napkins,” James said. “That should be everything.”
    It only took James a few minutes to collect the napkins, and he was almost on his way back to the dining room when the bottle of steak sauce on the counter caught his attention. He picked it up and glanced at it, shifting his gaze around the room. Where is Mandy? James figured she was probably in the bathroom until he saw a hint of movement on the patio out of the corner of his eye.
    He jerked his head, realizing the movement wasn’t from the storm – or just the storm – but it was from Mandy. She was standing on the patio table and struggling with the umbrella, which he’d forgotten to take down before coming inside. The wind was whipping around her wildly, and she was having trouble maintaining an upright position.
    The rain was coming down in a torrent, and Mandy was so wet her hair was stuck to her face. Still, she refused to abandon her task.
    James slammed the napkins down on the counter and raced to the glass door, pushing it open and stepping outside. He was instantly doused. “What the hell are you doing?”
    A bolt of lightning illuminated the sky, followed almost immediately by a horrendous clap of thunder.
    “I … the wind will lift the table,” Mandy said, wiping the rain from her face. “It could go through the doors.”
    “Then you tell me,” James said, reaching up and hitting the button so the umbrella collapsed. “You tell me, Mandy. You don’t risk yourself.”
    “I can survive a little rain,” Mandy protested angrily. “I … oomph.”
    One of the lawn chairs flew up, hitting her on the shoulder and causing her to topple to the side. James moved quickly, catching her and cradling her against his chest. He carried her into the house, pulling the door shut behind them and then lowering her to the floor. He immediately started checking her over. “Are you okay? Do you need to go to the hospital?”
    “I’m fine,” Mandy said, embarrassed. “I … .”
    James pushed Mandy’s sopping hair out of her face and forced her gaze to him. “I don’t care about losing the glass doors. I don’t care if that umbrella flies off and we never see it again. I care about you. Don’t do that again.”
    “I didn’t mean … .”
    “I know,” James said. “Mandy, I can survive a lot in this world. I cannot survive losing you.”
    “I’m sorry.” Mandy’s lower lip quivered, causing James to tug her into his arms.
    “I love you more than anything in this world,” James murmured, kissing the top of her head. “Don’t you ever risk yourself for something that can be replaced.”
    “The umbrella was just so expensive,” Mandy said.
    “Money is nothing,” James said, kissing her forehead. “You’re everything. Don’t do it again. You scared the life out of me when you fell.”
    Mandy rested her head against his chest, sighing heavily. “Okay.”
    “So … where are the napkins and steak sauce?” Grady asked, appearing in the hallway.
    If looks could kill, the one James scorched Grady with would have dropped him in his tracks.

Four
    “How was your weekend?”
    Mandy lifted her eyes from the file she was perusing Monday morning and smiled at the court stenographer, Heidi. The boisterous woman seemed excited, so Mandy decided to indulge her. “Pretty boring. How was your weekend?”
    “I’m so glad you asked,” Heidi said. She was practically fluttering she was so excited. “Clint asked me to move in with him.”
    Mandy smiled, Heidi’s enthusiasm proving too infectious to ignore. “That’s great.”
    In addition to being Heidi’s boyfriend of the past few months, Clint was also one of the courthouse security guards. He’d initially boasted a crush on Mandy, but when he finally realized he didn’t have a