September Storm

by Brenda Jernigan

  "I have trouble believing it myself. Do you know where Dani has gone?"

  "She went out to eat. You'll probably find her at Rio Rio Cantina since that's her favorite. It's about halfway down the River Walk on the right."

  "Thanks,” Adrian said. “I'm sure I'll find her." He started to turn.

  The short young woman with the bobbed hair gave him a peculiar look. "I've no doubt you will."

  He had to admit the River Walk wasn't Broadway, but the dark cooling water and lush green trees were a paradise all their own. His steps quickened as he crossed the footbridge over the river to look for the restaurant.

  He saw Rio Rio Cantina just ahead. High on the balcony, he glimpsed a bright fuchsia jacket worn by a woman with long blonde hair. His stomach tightened. It had to be Dani. But she wasn't alone. Damn.

  He wasn't sure why he expected her to be by herself. Of course, she'd be with Steven. A village idiot could have figured that out. It didn't take her long to find him, Adrian decided as he asked the waiter for a table upstairs toward the back. They found the perfect table. Dani's back would be to him, yet he would be able to hear everything they said.

  He'd just see how happy she really was!

  Dani cleared her throat and placed her hands on the table in front of her. "I was looking forward to our reunion at the beach last weekend. What happened?

  Steven reached across the table and took her hand in his, rubbing his thumb over her knuckles--a sure sign she wasn't going to like what he was about to say. She was just realizing everything Steven did was a song and dance. He'd mastered the angelic look and used it with perfect timing.

  "I really wanted to come, but at the very last minute Kevin and Joe, two guys I worked with, told me they had rented an Italian Villa and they wanted me to have one last fling with them."

  He let her hand go, leaned back, and shrugged, then fixed his baby blues on her. "Well, baby, I couldn't turn down an offer like that. You know.” He shrugged again. “It was the last hurrah. I knew you'd understand."

  Dani carefully picked up a glass of tea and took a sip. Her eyes never left his face. In the past, her eyes would have been brimming with tears by now, and she'd be hurt that he’d wanted to spend more time with his friends than with her. But that was in the past. Slowly, she set the glass down.

  "You're right." Dani smiled and tilted her head to the side while she watched Steven relax again with male satisfaction. "I understand perfectly. Did you have a good time?"

  "We had a blast!"

  "I'm glad you did,” Dani said. “Because I enjoyed my weekend, too." She leaned forward in her chair. "And I didn't want to feel guilty that you couldn't make the trip."

  "Really?” Steven gave her a strange look. “What did you do?"

  Nonchalant became Dani’s middle name. "I had the pleasure of spending the weekend with another man."

  "You did what?" Steven jerked the napkin out of his lap. "How could you?"

  My, my, my, Dani thought. Evidently, when the shoe was on the other foot, it seemed to pinch Steven's toes.

  His face turned beet-red.

  "It was easy." Dani grabbed her purse, then stood. "I think I've lost my appetite . . . for food." She raised a meaningful brow. "And for you."

  Steven stormed to his feet. "You bitch!" He gave her a none-too-gentle shove.

  Dani took a step back, but Steven caught her arm. He'd completely lost his composure, that shallow façade he wore for her, she realized as she jerked away from him. A chair tipped over, crashing to the floor, and Dani caught a glimpse of someone looming threateningly over Steven.

  Dani gasped, her eyes wide.

  Chapter Nine

  "Bitch!"

  The words came at Adrian loud and clear. He jumped to his feet so fast his chair fell backwards. In two swift moves, he advanced toward their table. Steven looked up at him, startled.

  Adrian's knuckles connected with the jerk’s jaw with a satisfying crunch, and the jerk flew backwards, landing on the floor in an undignified heap.

  "Don't you ever make the mistake of touching Dani again!" Adrian stepped over Steven, took a startled Danielle by the arm, and escorted her out through the patrons and down the stairs as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened.

  Once they were out of the building, Dani came out of her stunned silence. She shook his hand off her arm. "What are you doing here?" she demanded as she smoothed out her rumpled clothing.

  Her cheeks matched the hot-pink jacket she wore, and Adrian liked the effect. He hadn't planned to embarrass her back in the restaurant like that; he’d just wanted to see which way the wind blew. Then that SOB had shoved her, and all bets were off. The thought of the man laying hands on Dani made Adrian want to go back and hit him again!

  "Listen." He slid his hands in his pocket. "I guess I've ruined your dinner. Let me make it up to you. We can go somewhere else and eat. “Unless you want to go back and take care of your friend."

  Dani shook her head. "That's over." Still, she stared at him as if he were a ghost. "There's a little restaurant up the walk that will be nice--and quiet. We can go there, I guess." She watched him intently. "You still haven't answered my earlier question."

  Adrian's fingers tightened on her elbow and they started forward. Dani wondered if she were dreaming. She couldn't believe Adrian was here in San Antonio. Had he really come to see her?

  "I found your purse," he said in that deep voice she remembered. “I wanted to return it.”

  "You found it!" Dani looked up at him as they walked, admiring his strong chin. She couldn't perceive something as small as her purse hadn't been washed out to sea. "Where?"

  He didn't get to answer the question because she nudged him toward the doorway of Café Olé. "Here's our restaurant."

  "Two?" the hostess asked.

  Adrian nodded and said, "A table outside if you have it."

  They waited only a minute before they were shown to a small, checkered-covered table beside the river.

  After they ordered, Dani asked, "Where is my purse?"

  Adrian grinned. "Back at the hotel. After being the butt of enough jokes today about carrying a purse under my arm, I decided it was best to leave it until I found you. We'll go and get it after we eat." His smile faded as he propped an elbow on the table. "Why did that jerk shove you?"

  The waitress came over with their drinks. After she left, Dani's eyes shifted her gaze from the glass of tea to Adrian. "I told him I spent the weekend with you."

  Adrian leaned back in his chair and gave her an odd look. "That wasn't a good idea. Especially if you want to marry the man."

  "I don't."

  "You don't?"

  The surprised look on Adrian's face was priceless, Dani thought with satisfaction. "Guess I wised up and realized I'd always be second choice with Steven.” Dani shook her head. “I don't want that. Not anymore."

  "You don't deserve to be second in anyone's book."

  "Thank you," Dani said. She wanted to ask if she'd ever be first with him, but she wouldn’t push.

  As they ate dinner, Adrian filled her in on how he'd found her purse and what changes they planned for the house. He kept saying they as she didn’t believe he owned the house. Dinner ended much sooner than Dani would have liked. She didn't want to say goodbye so soon. "Let's take a walk along the River, and I'll show you my city."

  "Sure." Adrian placed his napkin on the table and politely helped her up, taking her hand as they strolled along the dark, lazy river.

  "Is this your first time here?"

  "Yes, it is," Adrian admitted. "My business partner recently took a trip down here."

  Dani started to ask what kind of business, but remembered all too well their earlier discussion. However, this Adrian looked so different from the man at the beach. His black shirt made him appear so suave and debonair. Tonight, she really could picture him in a boardroom taking charge.

  Maybe the beach house did belong to him. Maybe he was a big time playboy who had spe
nt the weekend with her because he’d had nothing better to do.

  No. She wouldn't ever let herself think that way. She wanted him to be different.

  "This is a beautiful place. I can see why you like it so much." Adrian's comment interrupted her thoughts.

  "It is pretty and growing fast. We have our own basketball team, and I've heard a rumor we're going to build a big amphitheater.”

  "You know, I've never been to a concert." Adrian pulled Dani aside to let a couple pass them on the narrow walkway.

  She was too aware of his presence as he stood behind her. He possessed a lethal attraction she'd never expected. She couldn’t explain the deep compelling fascination she felt for him. "You're kidding. Why not?" She took his hand again and they moved on.

  "I don't know." He shrugged. "I just never thought about going."

  "Well, it's lots of fun. Or it can be, if you can get a good seat."

  "Good seats wouldn't be the problem," he said confidently.

  "Oh, really." She could tell him a different story because she'd stood in many a line trying to get a front row seat.

  "I've a friend who owns Premiere Tickets and Tours. He's a genius and gets me all the good tickets I want."

  “I thought you’d never been?”

  “No, not to a concert but plenty of basketball games.”

  She grew more impressed with each passing minute, but then there was so much about this man she didn't know. She found herself wondering if she would really like to find out. "How about letting me borrow your friend the next time the Rolling Stones come to town."

  "I'll see what I can do." He flashed her a devastating smile. "Listen, it's a pretty good walk to the hotel. You want to take a cab?"

  "I've a better idea." She stopped and pointed toward the river and the long boat coming toward them. Before she could call out, Lopez, who always tried to put on a good show for his paying customer, shouted. "Hey, Bud. Those Levi's you're wearing?" Many of the passengers laughed at the joke.

  Adrian chuckled in good humor, too. "Afraid not. Can't afford them."

  "Do you have room for two more?" Dani asked. "We need a lift to the Holiday Inn."

  "Always for the lovely Danielle." Lopez grinned.

  The boat glided to the side and Lopez held up his hand to her. She grasped his arm and carefully stepped into the boat.

  Adrian started to follow, but Lopez held up a hand much like a crossing guard. "All full."

  Dani swung around just in time to see Adrian's brows snap together as he gave Lopes a withering look.

  "Just kidding, señor." He grinned and the crowd cheered at his antics.

  "There's a comedian in every bunch," Adrian told him when both his feet were in the boat.

  "And this one gets paid, too," Lopez finished, hamming it up for the crowd.

  The cool air felt good on Dani's face as the boat glided down through the water. There wasn't much room so she had to sit very close to Adrian who had to put his arm around her so they'd be more comfortable.

  Not that Dani was complaining. She was much too comfortable. She leaned back and rested her head on his shoulder as she listened to the trickling water and, of course, Lopez’s joking with the crowd. Thousands of tiny lights entwined on the tree branches glittered through the limbs that arched over the river, reflecting their glow in the dark water below.

  Everything was perfect. Too perfect. They had gone from strangers to lovers to now. And she still didn't know what they were to each other. What did that mean? Everything had happened so fast that she felt like she was walking on an ice-covered lake, knowing that if she hit a thin spot, she'd go under and drown.

  "Are you a tourist, too?" One of three young women sitting across from them asked.

  Dani had noticed how they'd watched Adrian since he'd taken his seat. She didn't blame them. He was something to look at. Even she'd noticed how his pinstriped trousers hugged his long legs. Blatant sensuality seemed to go hand-in-hand with Adrian. He smiled at the girls, and her heart contracted.

  This sort of thing had happened many times in the past with Steven. He'd always eaten up the attention. He'd even gone out of his way to impress whichever lady it was at the moment. Dani stiffened, waiting for the same thing to happen again.

  "Actually, I'm not a tourist," Adrian replied.

  "Then you're from San Antonio?" one young lady asked. "Good. Can you recommend a great nightclub?"

  "Afraid not. I'm not from here."

  "But."

  "I didn't come here for sightseeing. I came to see a woman." He squeezed Dani's arm. "Dani, can you tell these young ladies a place to go?"

  Hell would have been her first choice, since they had been making eyes at Adrian, but her heart was too busy soaring. He hadn't flirted with the girls at all, so she politely suggested several clubs they could try.

  Adrian felt completely at home in San Antonio though the laid back city didn't compare to the hustle and bustle of New York. It felt much too good to have Dani in his arms again, for him to worry about locale. Her hair carried the faint scent of white gardenias, and he found he wanted to rest his cheek on top of her head.

  Danielle Kapur could become a habit.

  The sightseeing barge bumped the side of the landing as Lopes said, "Danielle, this is your stop."

  They stood and Adrian helped Dani up to the sidewalk, then followed her out of the boat. Once on the walkway, he turned back to Lopez. "Thanks for the ride."

  "For the lovely, Danielle, anything." The Mexican grinned.

  Adrian gave a thin smile and, not thinking, spoke his thoughts. "Just as long as it's a ride, my friend." He turned to Dani and found her with that breath-taking smile of hers. "Let's go to my room and get your purse."

  "I've heard that line before," she chuckled and reached for his hand.

  And I've used the line many times, he thought as they stepped into the elevator, but he was going to be a good boy this time. No sense complicating matters anymore than he already had.

  Lazily, he watched Dani as they rode up the elevator. She carried a subtle sophistication he liked. Her hair hung just below her shoulders, like shimmering gold. Her lashes lowered, casting shadows on her cheeks. Damn, she was beautiful! Dani reminded him of a rare orchid that stood out from the rest of the flowers. Perhaps, waiting to be picked.

  The elevator jerked to a halt. Thank goodness. Because he had thought of doing something real stupid just before the doors opened. He took her elbow and escorted her down the hallway to his room.

  Dani couldn't help feeling jittery standing in front of Adrian's hotel room, then reminded herself how silly she was being. After all, she'd already spent a weekend with him. She'd just get her purse and go.

  She spotted her gold bag on the edge of the bed and immediately went to retrieve it. "You don't suppose there are still crabs hiding in here?" She joked, trying to sound light-hearted.

  "I can assure you that I disposed of all the sea life." Adrian chuckled.

  Dani liked to hear him laugh. He just didn't seem to do enough of it, and she found herself wondering what Adrian was like in his everyday world. Perhaps he wasn't the carefree person he'd seemed at the beach. If only she could get him to talk about himself.

  Dani pulled out her wallet, the one her mother had given her for graduation, and checked her license and credit cards. "You don't know how much trouble this has saved me." She smiled at him. "Thank you. Everything looks good, considering what it went through."

  Much better than I do, she thought.

  Digging deeper, she removed her checkbook. "I can't say the same for this thing. She flipped several pages. "The ink in the register has all run together. But it could be worse."

  Adrian put the room key on the nightstand and sat on the bed. "If you'll excuse me, I need to make a phone call," he said.

  "Sure." She stuffed everything back in her purse. "I'll check out your view." Dani moved out onto the small balcony overlooking the river, clutching her purse to her chest like
a life preserver.

  Though her gaze wandered over the water, her ears were tuned to Adrian's voice. She couldn't believe how fast her heart beat when he was near her, nor the giddy feeling that invaded her stomach like a swarm of bumblebees. She needed to get back her feeling of indifference. She needed control!

  Adrian's phone conversation bore into her thoughts. "What time will the plane be here?"

  She speculated on what the airlines were saying on the other end. Would she have him just for the night? Maybe he wouldn't be able to get a flight and would have to stay another day. She hoped so.

  "Seven o'clock. Good, I'll be there."

  So much for maybe.

  Dani sighed, realizing she'd have to say goodbye again. She wasn't very good at goodbyes. Except for Steven. For once in her life, she thought she'd handled him very well. Now that she'd taken the final step, she felt pretty stupid for not doing it earlier.

  Grasping the rail, she pushed all thoughts from her mind as she stared down at the decorated trees. She liked to pretend they were full of fireflies, and they had all come just to make the trees pretty. A gust of wind whipped up from the water cooling her flushed face and brushing her hair back. She sighed again.

  She sensed Adrian was close even before he put his hands on her shoulders. "Hand me your purse before you drop it over the side, and I have to go after the thing again." She passed it to him over her shoulder, then felt Adrian turn and toss it behind him to the bed.

  "I like your city," he said, drawing her back against him and wrapping his arms around her.

  "It is pretty." God, she was content. "But nothing like Sea Horse Island. I'll never forget that place."

  "I have to agree with you. Maybe someday you'll get to go back there."

  She laid her hands on top of his, thinking she was ready right now. "Maybe."

  "Have I ever told you that you look like a vision in the moonlight?" he whispered, his breath warming her ear. "The first time I saw you, I didn't think you were real."

  Her breath lodged somewhere in her throat.