by Storm Riders
Her gaze drifted back to his eyes. Those deep green eyes that swirled and held too much wisdom. The kind eyes which had held sympathy for a five-year-old girl. The realization washed over her. She staggered back and bumped into the counter.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to frighten you—”
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She held out her hand warding him off. “It’s you!”
“Excuse me?” Landon asked.
He stepped toward her again. She slid along the counter floundering for something. A weapon. A phone. Something to make sure she wasn’t dreaming. This isn’t real. He isn’t real. There was no man that day. It was all in my mind, but there he is. I could never forget those eyes. If this is the man, how can he look the same? “You’re him. You’re the one.”
Those full lips pursed. “I’m him who?”
She shook her head and ran her fingers through her hair trying to clear her mind.
George took in a deep breath, but it was hard to focus. The closer he came, the stronger the charge in the air got. The hair on her arms was standing up. Her whole body trembled. Her stomach dropped. The sensation was stronger with him than it had been with Wyatt the night before. She clutched the counter not sure why this was happening.
“Oh, Landon, I guess you met George.”
George focused on Wyatt. He walked over to her and slid his arm around her waist. Landon came over and touched her arm. When he did, she was hit with an intense electric jolt. The breath caught in her throat and darkness grabbed her into its arms by surprise.
* * * *
She heard her name. Struggling she fought through the darkness and opened her eyes. Wyatt was above her with a concerned look on his face. He held a glass of water and lifted it to her lips. She drank in a few swallows before she waved it away. The cool liquid helped clear her head. Her insides were shaking from the sudden overload of sensation. This had only happened to her once before when she’d run into a very strong storm. Something in her had shut down from the deluge. There wasn’t a storm around, why was this happening now? It took her a moment before she got her bearings. When she did, she sat up slowly, but her head was still spinning so she had to lie back down.
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“Hey, take it easy. Are you all right?”
“I-I think so. That was weird. I’ve never had that happen to me before,” she lied.
“You should stay lying down until we can figure out what happened. We need to check you over and make sure nothing’s broken. You took a good pitch,” Landon said from behind the couch. He leaned over and pressed a cool cloth against her forehead.
“I’m fine really. I didn’t mean to scare you like that.”
“I was worried when I woke up and didn’t see you in bed.” Wyatt took her hand and kissed the back of it. What she saw was true concern and not something made up because of the quick tryst they’d had.
“The coffee smelled so good. I didn’t want to wake you and then Landon surprised me.”
“About that. Before you passed out, you insisted that you knew me. Are you positive that we’ve met before because I don’t remember you? No offense.” She glanced at Wyatt and then back at Landon. “No. I-ah- thought you were familiar, but I realize now that you’re not who I thought you were.”
“See, Landon. I told you she didn’t know you,” Wyatt smiled. “He was saying that you kept saying it’s you like you had a past life together or something.” George laughed. “Of course not.” She leaned in and kissed Wyatt. Once their lips touched, a jolt of electricity ran through her.
“Hey, Landon, what’s all the racket? Is everything oka—” George broke off the kiss and saw a woman dressed in jeans and a button down shirt standing before them. She had short dark hair with red highlights and fair skin.
Her jaw dropped when she took in the scene. “Oh, God. I’m so sorry. I didn’t realize that I was interrupting anything.”
George glanced between her and the other two. Wyatt stood up and Landon rushed after her. “Gina. Wait.”
“What was that about?” She asked Wyatt.
He seemed stunned. “You got me? Gina’s our right hand man. She watches over the place and runs it when we’re off on business.” 43
George nodded not too sure what to make of it. She sensed there was something he wasn’t telling her. I bet she’s attracted to Landon and doesn’t know how to tell him. There was shock in her eyes seeing me on the couch with the two men. Oh boy I bet she figured I slept with Landon and Wyatt had walked in on me. What have I gotten myself into? I should never have come home with him, but God it was good. “So they have anything going on? You two ever have something going on?” She bit her lip and realized she felt a little better now that Landon had left. Her head wasn’t whirling so much. She stood and waited for the room to go black again. It didn’t, but the static charge hadn’t dissipated. She took in a deep breath.
“Gina has a serious crush on my partner, but he doesn’t reciprocate it. Honestly she thinks the two of us are gay. We thought it was easier, at the time, it explained the two of us owning the business. And no, I’ve never been with her. Are you feeling better?”
“That’s a horrible thing to tell someone. You really should tell her the truth. And yes, I am feeling better. I think I should go though. There’s work for me to do. I need to get back home.”
Wyatt got up too and followed her back to his room. He didn’t say anything, but closed the door. She gathered her clothes, began to dress, and threw his robe on the bed.
She looked around for her keys and saw they had fallen next to the bed. She came up too quickly and the room spun a little, but she was okay. God I have to get home. I have a strong feeling, I’m missing something here. There’s Landon and the fact that I recognize him. I have to sort out what that means. It doesn’t make any sense, but I know I wasn’t dreaming.
Wyatt’s arms wrapped around her stomach. Her body reacted to him. She trembled with the jolt of current passing through her. She bit her tongue.
“Last night was wonderful. I’d love to do it again.” George turned and saw the truth in his eyes. “I thought you only did one night stands.”
He brushed the hair from her face. “Normally I do, but there’s something about you. I can’t put my finger on it.”
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“I’d like that. Maybe next time we can actually get to know more about one another before we have a wild night. Was it me or did you have a window open last night.”
“No window. It was all us. You were wonderful. There’s some kind of spark between us that I’ve never had with anyone. Please say that I can see you tonight.” He kissed her neck and she shivered.
“I’d love that, but I can’t tonight. I have some research to go through. How about I call you?”
“I’ve heard that one before. You’ll go back to your life and forget about me.” George turned in his embrace. Her gaze searched his. The jolt between them made her skin crawl and ignited the pleasure spot between her legs. Her body was tired, but her mind was alert. “There’s no way I can forget about you.” She pressed her mouth against his and bit his lip before pulling away. She saw a piece of paper and scribbled her number on it. “Call me tomorrow.”
She gripped her keys and then left the room. Heading back to the car, she wondered if she should go back into the house and track Landon down. No I was only dreaming it. He must have been in my mind. She climbed into her Jeep and revved the engine. Her thoughts wandered toward Trina. Hopefully her friend had ended up home okay or at least having fun being the middle of a cowboy sandwich. I’m sure I’ll hear all about it later. First I need to go home and clear my mind. After the amazing night I had with Wyatt, the last thing I expected was to dream about my father and the stranger who saved my life. Why did I end up putting Landon’s face on the stranger who’s been haunting my dreams since my father died? Oh well, we’ll see what tomorrow brings. Hopefully it’ll be Wyatt asking me out again.
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Chapter Eight
Landon grabbed Gina’s arm to stop her and prevent her from running out of the house. When she turned around, her eyes were puffy and overflowing with tears. He wanted to shoot himself for being the cause of her pain. He’d never intended to hurt her in any way, she was his friend as much as she was his manager. “Gina, are you okay?” She spun around. “Are you? Wyatt was in the living room with a woman and you were in your boxer shorts. You know I can understand your partner, but you? Doesn’t that disturb you? Were you and she…not that it’s any of my business, but from what you told me just yesterday...”
He released her and ran his fingers over his chin feeling the stubble. “She came home with Wyatt last night. I went into the kitchen, when I heard someone in there, I thought it was Wyatt and I had something to talk over with him and found the woman making a cup of coffee. Nothing’s going on between me and her. I appreciate your concern, but this is honestly none of your business.” She wiped her eyes and glared at him. “Right. After all these years, you don’t trust me enough to tell me the truth. You just expect me to believe both of you are gay. I’ve seen all the women Wyatt has brought home. You’ve had a few here too but I’ve turned a blind eye. This is a good job, so I’ve been managing this place and I keep my mouth shut when I see odd things. Twisters that turn away from the farm. Both of your horses vanishing and reappearing out of thin air. I’ve never asked you about any of it. I’ve kept your secrets. Why don’t you trust me enough to start telling me the truth for once?” 46
Landon hung his head. He hadn’t realized how lax they had become around Gina.
They were lucky to have her working for them. Staring at her now, he saw the feelings she had for him displayed on her face. He’d always looked past it by telling himself she would get over it. “My life and Wyatt’s is complicated. You and I-I respect you, but I don’t have feelings for you. I’m sorry. I appreciate everything you do for us, but there are some things that I can’t discuss with you.”
Tears fell down her cheeks. The hurt in her eyes and her struggling for control cut him to the quick. “Fuck you then and Wyatt. You can have your girls and your horses.
I’m through with both of you.” She tore out of his grasp. Landon headed after her when he heard footfalls behind him. Then he remembered Wyatt was in the house with a strange girl.
“Yo, Landon. What’s up with Gina?”
Landon faced his partner. “Wyatt, what the hell was going on with your girl in the kitchen? I’m getting tired of you bringing home strays. Now Gina’s pissed off and I don’t know if I can talk her into coming back. She knows something is up.” Wyatt’s eye widened. “She wasn’t a stray. And it doesn’t matter what Gina thinks.
We should’ve told her the truth a long time ago.”
“What’s that supposed to mean? Where’s the response I normally get ‘oh she’ll deal with it?’” Landon crossed his arms over his chest surprised he was actually hearing a grown up response. “What the hell has gotten into you? The new chick you brought home somehow get inside your head?”
Wyatt shrugged. “I don’t know, man. There’s something about her. I can’t put my finger on it. Something happened last night which I can’t explain. My power—” Landon put up his hand. He didn’t want to hear any more bullshit from Wyatt.
That was all he needed after Raul and now Gina. “Who cares about your power! Maybe whatever happened to you was Raul’s way of showing you that you have to be more careful. You know they’re about to drag your ass to Heaven and punish you for all your showing off. Do you think I want to lose another partner? I don’t want you to end up like Paul.”
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Wyatt shook his head. “Lan, it’s not like that. Something about this woman. You felt it too. I know you did. She touched me and—” Landon slammed his fist against the wall not able to control his anger anymore.
“Damn it. I don’t fucking care. No more showing off. Write off the bitch you fucked last night. Find those storm chasers and wipe their memories. I don’t care what it takes. I don’t want Raul in my kitchen again. Is that understood?” His fellow Rider hung his head. “Fine.”
Landon hated pulling rank, but he was not going to stand by and watch Wyatt get into any further trouble. He’s had over a hundred years to pull it together. If he isn’t going to do it on his own, then I’ll make him do it. Landon sighed and stared at the empty hall. The intercoms around the house were filled with banging and the whinnying of horses. The day had begun a while ago. He looked out the window and saw Whirlwind galloping close to the house. Tempest was with her. He didn’t intrude on the pair’s time together.
Cars had pulled up in the driveway and others were getting ready to ride. He saw Gina talking to one of the regular riders who boarded her horse with them. They were laughing together. The sun glinted off Gina’s hair. She was an attractive woman, but he didn’t share her feelings. He never had. Sure he’d brought a few women home over the past six years, but they were always discreet. He hadn’t realized how much Gina knew about them and that worried him.
What worried him more was Raul and what he had in store for Wyatt. Landon had lost Paul, his old partner, to showing off. He was pulled into Heaven and killed by the angels. It was only a few months later when Raul appeared with Wyatt to work with him and be his new partner. They’d hit it off right away and he considered him a friend.
He’d better go off and find those storm chasers. If not we both could be screwed and I don’t want anything to happen to him.
He thought back to the woman he’d discovered in the kitchen. It seemed she knew me, but I don’t remember her at all. Who is she? She has to be really something if Wyatt is spouting off about her. The sex must have blown his mind and that’s saying something for him.
He normally moves on after the next day and never calls his one-night stands. I can’t remember how many notches he has in his belt. He glanced at the clock. Time was ticking away and 48
he had errands to run for the day. He hoped he’d be able to talk to Gina before she decided to leave, but he knew that she needed space to process everything that had been said. He would hate to lose her as a friend as well as an employee.
Landon walked back to his room, dressed, and got ready for the day. Once he was outside about to get into his truck, he saw something underneath his front tire. It was a wallet. He flipped it open to see the driver’s license inside and recognized the woman he had seen earlier in the house. The one who had been with Wyatt. He read her name Georgiana Morlan. Female. Age 30. She wasn’t that far away. Next to that was her ID
card from University of Oklahoma. Shit. I should just give this to Wyatt, but I sent him after those storm chasers. I might as well bring this over to her. It’s the least I can do after scaring her half to death.
He programmed the girl’s address into his GPS and then tucked the wallet into his pocket. The automated voice told him he had twenty miles to his destination. That wasn’t too bad and then he could swing by the new feed store which was out that way.
He had wanted to check out their prices. He left the ranch and saw that Wyatt’s Jeep was still there. He’d better be going out and finding those storm chasers. If he doesn’t, I’m going to kick his ass.
As he drove, he pulled out the wallet and studied the picture of the woman on the license. She looked zombie-like in the photo, but there was something about her eyes.
He glanced at the picture again. She definitely looked better even after just waking up than she did in the picture. The way she peered at him was eerie. It was like she really did know me. She can’t be recognizing me though. I’d remember her. All of this is crazy. Wyatt has me all wound up and I can’t think about him now. I have to get this woman off his back, fix what I said to Gina, and make sure Wyatt stays in line. Who knows when the next storm will blow in? Have to be ready for that.
Finally he pulled up outside of an old farm house. Paint peeled on the front porch pos
ts. The fence was in disrepair. An old tractor sat in the backyard rusting. A few of the shutters were missing. There was a hole in the screen door. The porch swing was in working order and it appeared to be fairly new. On the side of the house about five hundred feet away was a storm cellar. He could see from the dip in the front yard that a 49
twister had once torn up the ground, but it seemed to be an old scar. Wonder if it was one of mine?
He sighed and got out of the truck. He headed up the stairs and knocked on the door. He waited a few minutes, but he didn’t get a response. He pulled open the screen door and knocked again on the front door. He heard heavy foot falls and then the door opened. The same woman who fainted in his kitchen answered. What did she ever see in Wyatt? She appears intelligent.
“Hi. Can I help you?”
“Ahh…George, right?” Landon asked.
Her eyes widened. “Holy crap. It’s you. Again.”
He glanced down. “Yeah. About this morning. I wanted to apologize for what happened. I didn’t realize that you weren’t Wyatt and I didn’t mean to scare you.” She waved her hand. When she did, the air stirred. He glanced toward the horizon, but didn’t see any clouds. There was a charge in the air current that he couldn’t place all of a sudden. I’m losing it. It has to be something natural. We don’t have an answer for everything.
“No. I didn’t mean that. I mean…Shit.” She bit her lip. He thought it was kinda cute. “What I’m going to say is going to sound insane and I swear I’m not. I’ve been going over it in my head ever since I got home. I can’t concentrate on anything else. I know you.”
“I’m sorry, but we’ve never met before this morning. Unless it was some drunken night a long time ago and if so, I apologize. I came out here to give you back your wallet.” This is wild. He shifted his weight feeling uncomfortable and hot. His skin tingled. The power of the storm stirred inside of him. He dug into his pocket and pulled out the wallet. Landon handed it to her.