Storm Warning Read Online Free PDF Page B

brother had struck a nerve, and he’d struck it hard. Her voice had been fierce and angry, but her eyes—
    Adam su cked in a long breath. “By the way, you may as well get one less room. She won’t stay in one.”
    “Then where’s she going to sleep?”
    Adam pointed at the passenger seat and stepped out of the truck. Gabe ground his teeth together. She had a knack for pissing him off and he wasn’t sure if he liked it. He took his seatbelt off and left the truck.
    “You can’t be serious.” But Gabe knew he was being completely serious.
    “She would have slept in there last night except she was passed out .” He laughed a little. “Tory’s the most stubborn, hard- headed person I have ever met. And God, I love her for it , but she needs something.”
    A good spanking. “What do you mean?”
    Adam gestured to a bench beside the main doors of the hotel. They watched the other two SUV’s pull in and park down by where they had.
    “When Tory was little , she was sitting in her backyard , watching our father work in the yard. Her m other was in the kitchen.” Adam sighed. “I’m only telling you this so you’ll understand her. Better not tell her I said anything,” h e said . “Tornado came. Our father ran off to get a picture and Tory’s mother was rushing her into the cellar. The twister snatched our father up. Then, her mother ran after him , and it took her too. Right in front of Tory.”
    “Jesus Christ.” Gabe clo sed his eyes. What horror for a child to have to witness. “Why does she make a living around them then?”
    “Now that’s something she’ ll have to tell you. It’s way too personal for me to explain. Hell, I’m not even sure I understand it myself. Her parents dying, that’s just fact. Everyone kn ows it. Everything else — well, i t’s a little harder to swallow.”
    Gabe nodded and gave Adam a friendly pat on the back. Then he went in a nd paid for the hotel rooms, making sure Tory’s was right next to his.

 
    Chapter Four
     
    Tory crossed the parking lot of the El Presidente , smiling. The bank where the team kept their account had just called to confirm a deposit of five thousand dollars. Ruthlessly, she kept Gabe’s involvement out of her mind and mentally ticked off all the things they needed for the season to make their chase easier.
    At least they had earned the money by acting as a guide and babysitting service, she mused. The café had sponsored their first year of chasing, but Tory hadn’t felt right about it. She had a change of heart when she realized how much busine ss had increased at Sam and Lou ’s. Pirates still carried their business cards with them, but Tory would no longer accept their charity.
    She was relieved that some of the financial problems were solved. If Gabe stayed the entire season, Tory might even be able to skip out on overtime at the diner during off-season. The thought put an extra wide grin on her face.
    Her smile faded when she saw Gabe stroll out of the hotel and head straight toward her. She opened th e truck door and climbed inside. L eaving the door open, she waited.
    “Hey,” h e greeted and braced tanned forearms on the opened door.
    “Hello.”
    “Wanna go grab some lunch?”
    Tory looked forward. No, she would not admit she was starving from skipping breakfast. But she did have to eat, didn’t she? And this would give her a chance to clear the air—to let him know where they stood.
    “Sure.” She grabbed her wallet from the glove compartment, and slid down onto the ground. She tensed when she landed mere inches from Gabe , but he made no point in moving.
    “That café over there work for you?” He indicated a small diner across the highway .
    “Works fine.”
    They didn’ t speak again until the waitress sat them in a corner booth .
    Once the waitress delivered their food and left them in privacy, a comfortable silence ensued while they ate their lunch. A little too comfortable.
    She hadn’ t realized how hungry