Vortex

by Kimberly Packard

  “Get your head right, dude.” He wrung the back of his neck.

  “I’d say that sounds like a good idea.” Tuck slapped a heavy hand on Seth’s shoulder.

  “You change your mind? Come begging for an interview?”

  Where’s that damn bartender?

  The hand on Seth’s shoulder tightened. He held his face steady, refusing to let the man see him flinch, no matter how deep Tuck’s thumb dug into his muscles.

  “What did I tell you?”

  “That you didn’t need it for your business.” He reached for his empty beer bottle, just in case he needed something as a weapon. “But seeing that you took on two new employees, I bet your business expenses just went up.”

  The older guy leaned in. The smell of warm beer assaulted his nostrils and the ever-present toothpick twirled between his lips.

  Was the man going to use it to poke his eye out?

  “You have no business with her. You hear?”

  “Not happy I stole your waitress away?”

  “Watch yourself, boy.” Tuck spat the words out like a shot of chewing tobacco.

  “What’re you doing with her? You have the hots for her? I’ll be straight with you; Elaina doesn’t strike me as the kind of girl who’d date someone old enough to be her dad.”

  The toothpick in his mouth froze on the tip of his tongue, dangling there as the man’s face paled and his eyes hardened.

  The facade of the good-time, yarn-spinning lovable-loser storm chaser fell away.

  All the hair on Seth’s body stood on end and every nerve ending tingled, begging his body to flee.

  As if a storm was seconds away from erupting.

  The bartender slammed the bill on the bar.

  He jumped, putting two twenties in the folio without taking his eyes off Tuck.

  “Hey,” Elaina said. “What’s going on?”

  As quickly as Tuck shed his outer skin, he pulled it back on.

  He dropped his hand from Seth’s shoulder and shoved it back into his pocket. Even over the loud music, Seth heard jingling change.

  “I was just coming to tell you to take the rest of the night off,” he said to Elaina. “Get some rest, tomorrow’s sure to be one hell of a ride.”

  Elaina narrowed her eyes, but then her face relaxed. “You sure you don’t need me?”

  “Nah, kid, I got this group covered. Get out of here.”

  She turned and Seth followed close behind, fighting the urge to put a protective hand on her lower back.

  “Maddux,” Tuck shouted, loud enough to be heard over the music, but stopping just at Seth’s ears. “Watch your back out there.”

  33

  Elaina made the decision to sleep with Seth between flushing the toilet and washing her hands. She’d never been that kind of girl, but somedays she wasn’t sure what kind of girl she was. Maybe she was the kind of girl who’d jump into bed with any cute blonde with bright blue eyes.

  There was only one way to find out.

  Well, probably more than one, but the tequila gave her only one option.

  Seeing Tuck at the bar with Seth had stirred something within her. Something that hid from monsters, was afraid of clowns, and screeched at the sight of a cockroach.

  It shouldn’t come as a surprise to see them talking. It was a small storm chasing community after all. But…the way Tuck had gripped Seth’s shoulder sparked a flash of cold throughout her body, along with the desire to pull him out of her new boss’s grip.

  It must’ve had the same impact on Seth. The flirtatious sparkle in his eyes had dulled to the point that when their gazes met, she’d assumed he’d put her in a cab and send her on her way.

  “Is it me, or is Tuck the biggest buzzkill?” Elaina added a chuckle, but it felt hollow.

  “There’s a convenience store on the way back to the hotel.” He gripped her hand and pulled her past her truck to the waiting Forecast Channel van. “But take it easy, I’m serious about not holding your hair back. I don’t do vomit.”

  The passing headlights illuminated Seth’s tight face and his white knuckles glowed in the moonlight. He took the turn into the convenience store on two wheels.

  “For the record, I don’t hold hair back either.” She tried to make her words light and teasing, but they’d sounded harsh and judgmental.

  She sucked at seduction.

  With a six-pack of beer nestled between them they sat in the opened back of the SUV in the parking lot of his hotel.

  Elaina scratched at the label on the beer bottle. The decision to sleep with Seth was an easy one; it was the execution that caused her to be aware of how his arm brushed against hers when he brought his bottle to his lips.

  They sat in silence, watching silvery clouds drift across the moon.

  As much as she wanted to make the first move, her muscles tightened as if her body was pulling in on itself.

  He brought the bottle back to his mouth. If he squeezed the neck any tighter it would break in his hands.

  “So,” Elaina said, popping the bottle from her lips.

  “So,” Seth answered. “The suspense is killing me. What did you do to end up working for him?”

  She frowned as she took another sip. “You automatically assume I did something wrong? Nice.”

  “That’s not what I…Look we were having fun back there. Can we go back to that? Maybe pretend the part from Tuck showing up until I just spoke didn’t happen?”

  She studied his profile. The handsomeness that’d earned him a spot on TV seemed translucent under the moonlight, as if it covered his true self. She leaned in, her face just inches from his cheek.

  The faintest stubble of dark blonde hair covered his tanned face, but there was more. There was a man who hid behind a self-assured smile, but tucked beneath the surface was a scared boy. Elaina saw deep intelligence, the kind often dismissed if it came with strong cheekbones.

  Seth turned toward her, his lips nearly touching hers. “What’re you doing?”

  “I’m seeing you.”

  “Considering how close we are, I can’t imagine you’re seeing anything other than me.”

  She shook her head and shifted her body toward his. “You’re afraid.”

  His throat bobbed as he swallowed.

  She could feel conflict swirling around inside him.

  His muscles tensed, as if he wanted to move away from her, but his gaze drifted to her lips. “I’m afraid you’ll hurt me.”

  “I won’t, I promise.”

  A sad smile slipped across his lips. “An easy promise to make, a hard one to keep.”

  Seth’s mask cracked a bit. Enough for her to peek inside and see how skittish he was.

  It reminded her of the night she’d found Nimbus. A thunderstorm had raged overhead. Elaina had been outside the science building, watching the web of lightning trace across the sky when she’d heard a whimper.

  A wet, shivering ball of yellow fur cowered behind the steps. Nim hid from her the first few days she brought him home. It was only after she’d given him some space that he’d come to her.

  Guess men and dogs aren’t really that different.

  She scooted back, reclining against the side of the SUV. Her skin cooled the minute she moved away from Seth.

  “I don’t like that I’m working with Tuck, but it’s the only way Heath and I can finish our research.” The declaration was an offering. A treat.

  Seth shifted and leaned against the opposite side. His outstretched legs brushed up against hers and a shiver blew through her body.

  “What happened to Dr. Pierce?”

  “Well, if my voodoo doll actually worked he’d be bleeding out of every orifice.” Elaina drew in a deep breath. Was she really about to tell a guy who went on TV for a living about Pierce’s betrayal? “He was stealing our research for his own paper.”

  “Weren’t you listed as co-authors or contributors?”

  “Nope.”

  “Did you guys quit the program?”

&n
bsp; “Not officially. We’re just not returning his emails, or his texts. Or, his calls, really.”

  “You’re ghosting your professor?”

  Elaina chewed on her lower lip. “Couples use it all the time for the non-confrontational, passive-aggressive form of breaking up. I thought I’d try it for quitting professors as well.”

  Seth shook his head and laughed. “You’re even more bad ass than I thought.”

  She pumped an imaginary fist.

  “But why Tuck?”

  “We need a few more storms; and a little spare change wouldn’t hurt since we’re not performing our graduate student duties right now.” A cloud of worry crossed his face. “I can handle Tuck.”

  He studied her for several seconds before reaching over the backseat and pulling a laptop out of a backpack. He scooted next to her and pulled up a video file, fast-forwarding through people talking and tornado debris before pausing it. “A few weeks ago we ended up in Townsend.” He paused and studied her face. “You know that town.” It wasn’t a question.

  Elaina nodded. “EF1 from earlier this season. Heath and I drove through town after it passed.”

  Seth hit play on the video.

  The little girl stood in the parking lot of the grocery store. Her eyes unblinking as she watched. “I’m waiting for the angel.” The small voice was filled with assurance. She just knew an angel had saved her that day, even though most days Elaina felt closer to the other end of the spectrum.

  “She was talking about you.”

  “The grocery store was hit. Shelves and food everywhere. She wouldn’t leave her bear and got separated from her grandmother.”

  “I’m not worried you can’t handle Tuck, or that you’d get hurt with him. I worry you’ll lose your humanity with him.”

  She wanted to argue, but her throat closed up tighter than an interstate in a tornado warning. Was she already losing her humanity?

  Leaving her mom alone in the hospital so she can finish her degree? Forcing Heath to follow her down an unknown path?

  Her chin trembled and a hot tear slid down her cheek. If Seth didn’t do vomit, he probably didn’t do crying drunk girls either.

  Dammit.

  It was already lost.

  Her humanity.

  She’d left her mother back in Oklahoma City to chase after a past that was only an apparition.

  “Hey, c’mere.” Seth pulled her into a hug and the rest of her tears streamed silently down her face. “What else is it?”

  She took a deep breath. “My mom. She had a stroke a couple of weeks ago. They have her in a coma, but—” Elaina hiccuped. “I shouldn’t be out here, I should be there. I’m a monster. I left her all alone.”

  He pulled away from her, framing the sides of her face in his warm palms, and thumbing away the tears. “You’re not a monster. A monster is someone who’d rather get high than raise her son.” Pain drifted across his handsome features like a dark cloud.

  “That’s why your grandparents raised you.” For so long, she’d thought her real mom was someone worth missing. What if she’d been saved from a horrible childhood of an addict mom?

  Sitting there in the dark van with Seth, she could see his scars were still visible, barely healed. Easy to break open.

  He nodded. “I see you too, Elaina.” He twirled one of her long curls in his finger. “I see a smart, fearless woman with more compassion than she’d ever admit to. And, truthfully, you scare the shit out of me.”

  Elaina blinked as her blood thundered in her ears. She could swear that her hair had nerve endings, because chills flashed through her when he touched it. “Is that good?” she asked, her body drawing to his like a gathering storm.

  “Is what good?” His lips were just nearly touching hers.

  “Scaring you.” She closed her eyes, wanting every cell to feel the kiss.

  “No. Yes.” He paused. “Very definitely, yes.”

  When his lips finally met hers, lightning crackled across her vision. She cooled and warmed simultaneously, as if a warm and cold front were battling. She knew what happened when fronts collided, and if his kissing skills were any indication, it would be one hell of a storm.

  They both wiggled, and their feet kicked the inside of the car as they slid down.

  Seth covered her, but his weight wasn’t crushing. Instead it was enveloping, comforting. A feeling she never wanted to end. He lifted only long enough to pull her T-shirt over her head before tugging his off. The cool night air only intensified the storm inside her.

  Elaina’s long hair dangled off the bumper, giving her a light, floaty feeling. Or, maybe the tequila was finally kicking in.

  “Well, Seth, I guess this is why you’re not returning my calls.”

  A woman’s voice sliced through the silent parking lot.

  Seth froze with his lips on her neck, a string of curses took over when the kisses ended.

  Elaina opened her eyes. Standing before her, upside down, was a woman. Her strawberry blonde hair was blow-out perfect. Long, thin legs covered with leather pants so tight they might’ve been body paint grew out of a fitted sweater and ended in black patent heels.

  “Here I thought I was the only girl you screwed in the back of the news van.”

  34

  If Seth squeezed his eyes tight enough, he could will the scary monster standing in front of him away.

  His ex stood before them like the self-satisfied succubus she was.

  Her outfit was ridiculously out of place for rural Kansas. Hell, those leather pants and hooker heels would’ve been out of place in the newsroom. It wasn’t her ‘screw me’ outfit.

  This was her ‘screw you’ outfit.

  “What the hell, Julia?” He scooted in front of Elaina, giving her a bit of privacy. “Why are you here?”

  “I’ve been trying to call you for weeks.” She intentionally deepened her voice and used a fake southern drawl covered up her Long Island twang, but it still seeped out. Like using a Band-aid to triage a nicked artery.

  “I’ve been ignoring you for weeks.”

  Elaina shuffled behind him, pushing past to escape the back of the van. “I, uh, should leave you two alone.” Her voice was so small, so broken, so unlike her.

  Seth reached for her hand, but it slid out of his grasp.

  Elaina slid out of his grasp.

  He tried again, and this time caught her elbow. “Please, listen, it’s—”

  “What? It’s not what I think?” Tears clung to her thick lashes. “Actually, it is what I think. You’re exactly who I thought you were. I’m just furious for telling myself I was wrong.” She jogged away.

  The darkness wrapped a comforting arm around her shoulders and tucked her away.

  As much as his brain told him to run after her, his heart said it wouldn’t be a good idea. She needed space. He needed to have a good answer as to why his ex had showed up with her talons newly sharpened. Seth needed to be sure when he did talk to Elaina, he meant it.

  “She’s cute, spunky,” Julia said, grinding the heel of one of her stilettos into the pavement. “And it seems like she has all her teeth. I’m sure that’s a rare find out here. But she does look familiar…”

  He took a deep breath and ran his hands through his hair. Hair that just minutes ago, Elaina was tugging. “Again,” he said through gritted teeth. “Why are you here?”

  Julia paced the parking lot. Her gaze darted up, her hand cupping her chin. A femme fatale version of The Thinker. Stone and all. “Oh wait, I do know her. She’s that psycho fan.” She dropped her arms and took several steps toward him. “Oh Seth, sweetie. You’re so lucky I got here when I did. I probably saved you from a really uncomfortable situation, restraining orders, boiled pets. Maybe even crabs, too.”

  “Where were you when we started dating?” he grunted. Seth closed the back of the van, wishing his hotel room was more than fifty feet away. Fifty lightyears away would be a good starting place. He faced Julia. Somehow he’d avoided making eye con
tact over the past six months.

  On the surface, she looked the same. Her long, reddish blonde hair had an effortless wave women paid lots of money for. Her light blue eyes sparkled under the parking lot lights, made up in her usual heavy-handed eyeliner and mascara, but the overhead illumination called attention to the feathering of lines radiating from the corners to her temples.

  She’d tried to freeze herself at thirty, but her forties were thawing her out.

  From where Seth stood, she was melting wrinkle by wrinkle.

  “You didn’t come all this way because you miss me.” He softened his tone. Being combative when trying to have a conversation with her was like fighting fire with gasoline. “We both know the station wouldn’t have sent you to say hi. And, being in the field with an unstable frontal boundary moving in, sits just slightly above watching a hairy guy get his back waxed on your bucket list.”

  Julia laughed and ducked her head. That simple gesture chilled her enough to glaciate five years back on her. “Would you believe me if I told you I’d already knocked that one off my list?” She shook her head. “The stuff rookie reporters cover in tiny markets. But you’re right, the suits sent me. They like what they’re seeing.”

  “Me getting punched, you mean. Or, was that just you?”

  She laughed again, this time her sincere one. Unselfconscious and light.

  What kind of woman would she have become if she’d chosen a different profession?

  “Actually, that episode endeared you with viewers. This is a new Seth Maddux, someone who doesn’t take himself too seriously.” Julia pushed off the car and took two steps toward him.

  Her perfume rode to his nose on a breeze.

  “Someone who isn’t afraid to throw himself into any situation to get the story.” Her chest heaved and cheeks flushed.

  Their gazes collided, but all Seth could see was a petite brunette with forest green eyes. Was Elaina still crying, or had she made a voodoo doll with blonde hair, throwing it up and down, causing Seth to feel like he was being tossed around in a twister?

  “Someone who no longer gives a damn.” Her nostrils flared and her gaze darted to his lips.