Ryder on the Storm: Emerald Seer I by Violet Patterson Read Free Book Online

better if they’d slept in one of the spare bedrooms instead of on either side of her, but, since they didn’t try anything she let it go. Storm woke to the smell of pancakes and bacon. She opened her eyes to Shane’s sleeping form, the pillow damp from his drool. Of course Dan would be cooking breakfast, his claim to fame with the ladies as he told it. Storm slipped backward out of bed and pulled on the lounge clothes from the day before. She probably should have been shocked that the guys had stripped her down to bra and panties but her stomach rumbled in response to the scent of bacon so the thought evaporated quickly.
     
    In the kitchen, Dan had laid out plates and silverware, the same ones she’d used as a child. Pancakes were stacked on a serving plate in the middle of the breakfast bar and he was dumping slices of bacon onto another plate.
     
    “Coffee is just about ready. There are also some berries draining in the sink, I got a medley for you. Is Shane still sleeping?”
     
    “Yes, drool and all. He will have to wash that pillowcase. I am not okay with boy smell where I sleep.” Storm grabbed a slice of bacon simultaneously spearing a pancake as she slid onto the nearest stool. “This is delightful Dan, really. Thank you.”
     
    “My pleasure. You’ve had a rough go of things lately. This is what friends do, darlin’ and I am your friend.” Dan poured a cup of coffee, added some creamer and set it next to her. “Is there anything else I can do? When Shaner gets up we can unload but is there anything you want us to take away while we have the truck? I mean, are you going to keep all this?”
     
    “I don’t know Dan. I think I am going to have to just go one room at a time. Maybe I’ll get one of those Pod things and just shift stuff in there as I decide to get rid of it. I don’t know. This hasn’t really settled in yet, I guess. I really appreciate everything you two have done. I owe you.”
     
    “No, you don’t. We both love you, always have. We are here for you, anything you need, just ask.” Dan reached over and touched her hand, his gaze intense. Storm wanted so badly to feel something when she looked at him, to return the affection he clearly felt for her. It just wasn’t there. She couldn’t conjure it. She’d tried.
     
    “Alright! Bacon and pancakes! Good call, bro!” Shane emerged in boxer briefs, his hair a tousled mess. Storm withdrew her hand from under Dan’s and smiled broadly.
     
    “I was just thanking Dan for all you two have done for me. I owe you both.”
     
    “And I was just telling her that she doesn’t owe us anything.”
     
    “Damn straight, Storm! We do this out of love!” Shane leaned over and pecked her on the cheek. “Face it, kid, you are stuck with us for the long haul!”
     
    Storm smiled, this is how her life should be. Laughter and friends over breakfast after a night on the town, easy like a Sunday morning, just like the Commodores said. Was it the Commodores? It felt good to relax. They were good for her. Breakfast felt easy, they recanted old times, the many antics of their childhood and adolescence. When they were full the trio set to cleaning up and ended up in a dish soap fight which in turn ended in a sticky, wet mess on the kitchen floor. Storm extracted herself from the small scrum, steadying herself at the breakfast bar, her hair dripping with soapy water.
     
    “Okay, okay! You two start unloading the truck; everything is labeled so it should be easy. I am going to clean up this mess. Then we will get cleaned up and go out to eat, my treat!”
     
    “Yes, ma’am, we are on it.” Dan bowed comically and slipped on his way out. Shane made to follow him and then remembered his lack of clothing.
     
    Storm set to wiping up the mess, those boys sure could put away some food. Normalcy, she stopped to relish the thought for a moment and then slid the last dish in the dishwasher. Everything went white, Storm fell to her knees. Shit, not