She could be classy.
In fact, if she was going to be with him at all times, she needed to be classy and dignified. So she’d borrowed her mother’s boring skirt and shoes, and she’d put her hair up while wearing minimal makeup. Without her tons of mascara and lipstick, she felt naked.
But he liked her naked, now didn’t he?
A breeze filtered through her thin blouse and she shivered. She hadn’t talked to him since the night at the cabin, and he hadn’t texted her. She hunched her shoulders forward and then remembered to straighten her back. Posture was important. Plus, it pushed out her boobs.
So she dug deep for courage and walked past the wide windows of the Savings and Loan, where she unfortunately worked, to reach the front door of Senator Rush’s headquarters. Steeling her shoulders, she marched up the nicely bricked stoop and pushed open the glass-front door to an empty reception area fronted by an oak desk.
It was noon, so the place was quiet.
Her hands trembled, so she wiped them down her skirt before walking behind the counter like she had every right to do so. Several tables covered with election materials were scattered around, with two offices in the back next to a kitchen.
Low voices could be heard from the corner office. She hesitated. It wasn’t too late to run back outside. But no, Dakota Alvarez wasn’t a coward, and she belonged there, damn it. She hastened around the tables for the senator’s office.
He stood over to the side, leaning over his desk and reading a document held by a young office worker in a tight skirt. Brunette with big boobs and blue eyes—maybe about eighteen?
Dakota stood in the doorway, her breath catching.
“I like this design,” the girl said.
“Me too.” Sebastian patted the girl on the shoulder. The sleeves of his white dress shirt were rolled up to show his strong forearms, and with his black pants, he looked every bit the powerful man he’d become. “It’s beautiful, Anna,” he said, his tone a low purr.
Fire roared through Dakota until her skin ached. He was standing way too close to the girl, and he was using that voice. The one he normally used with her. “Excuse me.” Her voice came out more forcefully than she’d intended.
Both Sebastian and the girl jumped.
Sebastian recovered quicker. “Miss Alvarez?”
As opposed to my bad girl—the nickname he’d given her a while ago. She bit her lip to keep from saying it out loud. “Yes, Senator. We’re out of the flyers you wanted spread around town, and I thought I’d pick up some more.” She spoke through gritted teeth. What would he do if she leaped across the room and scratched out good ole Anna’s eyes? That’d show him.
Anna glanced at the senator and back at Dakota, obviously catching undercurrents.
Sebastian stepped away. “I don’t know if there are any more flyers. Why don’t you come back after lunch when the campaign staff is here?”
Hurt slithered through her, and her ears rang. The man thought he’d blow her off? After what she’d let him do to her the other night that still made her walk funny? “I’d also like to talk to you about the project we discussed the other night at your cabin.”
Alarm flashed in his eyes, and then his polite smile lifted his lips. “Of course.” He took Anna’s elbow and escorted her toward the door. “Anna, why don’t you go tweak the top design, and after Miss Alvarez and I figure out how the local youth can create a campaign slogan for first time voters, I’ll look at it again?”
Anna nodded and scooted by Dakota, letting out a sigh as she made it past.
Dakota swept inside, her head held high, her knees wobbling.
The senator quietly closed the door. “What the hell are you doing here?” he hissed, keeping his voice down.
She turned and put both hands on her hips. “I figured after the other night, you’d be calling me.” With presents. Big-assed presents. “You haven’t called.”
He stalked around his massive desk to take a seat. A picture of the White House in full sun took up the entire wall behind him. “I’ve announced my reelection bid, and I’m busy, which you know.”
That wasn’t all. Even now, he was glancing at his computer and not at her. She stomped her foot. “Stop ignoring me.”
He sighed and glanced up. “Dakota, you can’t be here. I’m an elected official, and I’m married.”
“For now,” Dakota snapped back.
His chin lifted, and his eyes hardened. “Meaning what?”
A chill skittered down her back. “Meaning, we could be so good together.”
He blinked and sat back in his chair. “I’ve been honest with you from the start.”
Yeah, but he had to see the real her. They needed to get back onto the same track, so she pouted out her lip. “I know, and I’m sorry, but I had to see you.”
His gaze warmed and swept down her front. “What are you wearing?”
She lifted a shoulder. “Something different.”
“No, Dakota.” He shook his head. “That isn’t you. I’ve never asked you to be anybody but you.”
Well, that was true. She smiled and suddenly felt so much better. “It seems like you’re pulling away.” Why not try honesty?
He reached into a drawer, stood, and crossed around the room to stand before her. The expensive scent of his cologne wafted around them. “It’s just the campaign, sweetheart. I have to concentrate and get all my ducks in a row.” He held out a small box.
She held back a squeal and took the box, flipping the velvet open to reveal a delicate silver necklace with a sapphire pendant. “Oh, Sebastian, it’s beautiful,” she breathed.
“So are you.” He freed the necklace and motioned for her to turn around for him to clasp the beautiful piece around her neck.
“Thank you.” She turned and levered up on her toes to place a kiss on his chin.
He smiled and patted her back before returning to his desk and reading his computer. “I’ll give you a call,” he said absently.
Dakota lost her smile. “Okay.” She opened the door and walked right into the senator’s mother.
Marylee Rush stepped back. “Oh, my.”
“I’m so sorry.” Heat climbed into Dakota’s face. “I was here, um, looking for more flyers.”
Marylee’s gaze sharpened, and she glanced at her son and then back at Dakota. “I’m sure the senator is too busy to worry about flyers, dear.”
“Um, of course.” Dakota ducked her head and brushed by the woman, taking a moment to notice her sensible but designer shoes and handbag.
“Wait a minute.” Mrs. Rush's cultured tone stopped her cold. “Why don’t I walk you out?”
“Mother?” Sebastian protested. “I could use your help here.”
The smile Mrs. Rush flashed was all teeth. “I’m sure you could, Sebastian. I’ll be right back.” She pivoted and led the way through the tables like a general on the march, skirting the reception desk and clipping right outside.
Nausea dropped into Dakota’s stomach, but she followed in the wake of the woman’s expensive perfume. The kind of perfume Dakota would someday wear. In fact, next time she was with the senator, she’d mention that she needed perfume.
Yeah. She knew the senator better than his own mother did, now didn’t she? With a smile tickling her lips, Dakota followed Mrs. Rush outside onto the brick stoop. “You didn’t have to walk me out. I’ll be back after lunch for more flyers.”
Mrs. Rush rounded on her and leaned in, her eyes a fiery blue. “No. There’s absolutely no need for you to return later. My son and his wife appreciate your help with the flyers, but you’ve done quite enough.”
Dakota took a step back. “But I—”
“You nothing.” Derision twisted the older woman’s mouth. “Your assistance is now over. Do you understand me?”
Dakota’s mouth gaped open. Suddenly, in her mother’s sensible clothes, she felt like a fool.
Her jaw tightened, and her shoulders shot back. Tears clogged in her throat, but she ruthl
essly swallowed them down. If she married the senator, she’d have to learn to deal with women like Marylee. Without another word, she turned and sauntered down the steps, making sure her ass swayed just enough.
The woman might think she could control Sebastian as well as Dakota, but she was freakin’ crazy. The senator cared about Dakota, probably more than even he knew.
Now all Dakota had to do was prove it to both of them. Whether his mother liked it or not, Dakota Alvarez would be wearing the man’s ring within a month.
Damned if she wouldn’t.
<<<<>>>>
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Rising Storm story
Storm Season: Ginny & Jacob – the Prequel
by Dee Davis
Rising Storm
Storm, Texas.
Where passion runs hot, desire runs deep, and secrets have the power to destroy…
Nestled among rolling hills and painted with vibrant wildflowers, the bucolic town of Storm, Texas, seems like nothing short of perfection.
But there are secrets beneath the facade. Dark secrets. Powerful secrets. The kind that can destroy lives and tear families apart. The kind that can cut through a town like a tempest, leaving jealousy and destruction in its wake, along with shattered hopes and broken dreams. All it takes is one little thing to shatter that polish.
Rising Storm is a series conceived by Julie Kenner and Dee Davis to read like an on-going drama. Set in a small Texas town, Rising Storm is full of scandal, deceit, romance, passion, and secrets. Lots of secrets.
Look for these Rising Storm books!
Click to purchase.
Tempest Rising by Julie Kenner, Coming September 24, 2015
Ginny Moreno didn’t mean to do it, but when she came home to Storm, she brought the tempest with her. And now everyone will be caught in its fury…
White Lightning by Lexi Blake, Coming October 1, 2015
As the citizens of Storm, Texas, sway in the wake of the death of one of their own, Daddy's girl Dakota Alvarez also reels from an unexpected family crisis ... and finds consolation in a most unexpected place.
Crosswinds by Elisabeth Naughton, Coming October 8, 2015
Lacey Salt's world shattered with the death of her brother, and now the usually sweet-tempered girl is determined to take back some control—even if that means sabotaging her best friend, Mallory, and Mallory's new boyfriend, Luis.
Dance in the Wind by Jennifer Probst, Coming October 15, 2015
During his time in Afghanistan, Logan Murphy has endured the unthinkable, but reentering civilian life in Storm is harder than he imagined. But when he is reacquainted with Ginny Moreno, a woman who has survived terrors of her own, he feels the first stirrings of hope.
Calm Before the Storm by Larissa Ione, Coming October 22, 2015
Marcus Alvarez fled Storm when his father’s drinking drove him over the edge. With his mother and sisters in crisis, Marcus is forced to return to the town he thought he’d left behind. But it is his attraction to a very grown up Brittany Rush that just might be enough to guarantee that he stays.
Take the Storm by Rebecca Zanetti, Coming October 29, 2015
Marisol Moreno has spent her youth taking care of her younger siblings. Now, with her sister, Ginny, in crisis, and her brother in the throes of his first real relationship, she doesn’t have time for anything else. Especially not the overtures of the incredibly compelling Patrick Murphy.
Weather the Storm by Lisa Mondello, Coming November 5, 2015
Bryce Douglas faces a crisis of faith when his idyllic view of his family is challenged with his son’s diagnosis of autism. Instead of accepting his wife and her tight-knit family’s comfort, he pushes them away, fears from his past threatening to undo the happiness he’s found in his present.
Thunder Rolls by Dee Davis, Coming November 12, 2015
In the season finale …
As Hannah Grossman grapples with the very real possibility that she is dating one Johnson brother while secretly in love with another, the entire town prepares for Founders Day. The building tempest threatens not just Hannah’s relationship with Tucker and Tate, but everyone in Storm as dire revelations threaten to tear the town apart.
… Season 2 coming in 2016. Sign up for the newsletter so you don’t miss a thing. http://risingstormbooks.com
And coming this spring, a two episode mini-season before Season two launches in September, 2016!
Weather the Storm
Rising Storm Episode 7
By Lisa Mondello
Coming November 5, 2015
Click here to pre-order.
Secrets, Sex and Scandals …
Welcome to Storm, Texas, where passion runs hot, desire runs deep, and secrets have the power to destroy… Get ready. The storm is coming.
Bryce Douglas faces a crisis of faith when his idyllic view of his family is challenged with his son’s diagnosis of autism. Instead of accepting his wife and her tight-knit family’s comfort, he pushes them away, fears from his past threatening to undo the happiness he’s found in his present.
* * * *
Tara hesitated. “You heard what the doctor said. We’ve got to start working on a strategy for helping him cope.”
Bryce quickly glanced at the calendar on his desk. With so many people using electronics to plan their days, he still preferred the old-fashioned daily planner where he could give it a quick glance and know exactly what he was doing.
Bryce tapped the blotter on his desk. “I have an appointment in the afternoon.”
“You’ll have to change it.”
He glanced up at his wife. Tara had never been a demanding woman. She knew the importance of his job as a pastor. But the expression on her face told him she was serious. And he knew she was right. He should be there. But he wasn’t sure he could face it. Tara was stronger. She could handle the meeting. Later, when he’d had more time...
“I have a full schedule tomorrow, Tara. Can’t we deal with all of this when the next session starts?”
Her agitation grew right before his eyes. “You’re going to have to fit us in your schedule, Bryce.”
The tone of Tara’s voice startled him. She knew his time was always filled with meetings, prayer for people who’d lost someone or something. His congregation depended on him for counsel and he took that responsibility seriously.
“Tara?”
“Change it. I mean it. You move your schedule around all the time for other people. You miss dinner with your family to go counsel people in crisis. You…I know your position in the church is important. But we’re important too. Whoever it is you’re seeing tomorrow can rearrange their schedule for you this time.”
Guilt washed through him. He loved his wife. But he couldn’t do it. He just wasn’t ready. “Tara, you of all people should know what a difficult time this is for the people of Storm. Jacob Salt was a fine young man known to this entire community. People in this town are hurting.”
“Look around, Bryce. People in this house are hurting too.”
She turned and left the office, leaving him staring at a void that she used to fill.
1001 Dark Nights
Welcome to 1001 Dark Nights… a collection of novellas that are breathtakingly sexy and magically romantic. Some are paranormal, some are erotic. Each and every one is compelling and page turning.
Inspired by the exotic tales of The Arabian Nights, 1001 Dark Nights features New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors.
In the original, Scheherazade desperately attempts to entertain her husband, the King of Persia, with nightly stories so that he will postpone her execution.
In our version, month after month, each of our fabulous autho
rs puts a unique spin on the premise and creates a tale that a new Scheherazade tells long into the dark, dark night.
For more information about 1001 Dark Nights, visit www.1001DarkNights.com.
On behalf of Rising Storm,
Liz Berry, M.J. Rose, Julie Kenner & Dee Davis would like to thank ~
Steve Berry
Doug Scofield
Melissa Rheinlander
Kim Guidroz
Jillian Stein
InkSlinger PR
Asha Hossain
Chris Graham
Pamela Jamison
Kasi Alexander
Jessica Johns
Dylan Stockton
Richard Blake
The Dinner Party Show
and Simon Lipskar
Table of Contents
Book Description
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
Take the Storm: Episode 6 Page 9