Storms and Dreams (Becoming Jane Book 3) by Alexis Adare Read Free Book Online Page A

sure, let me just check with Julie.”
    “Please do, I’ll wait.”
    “What are you doing?” I hissed.
    “If I have to go to this insufferably boring dinner party, I’m going to bring my own entertainment,” he said, covering the phone with his hand.
    “What?”
    “I want you to go with me. It’ll mean cutting our time here a bit short, though.”
    “Well, that’s okay. I mean, are you sure?”
    “Definitely,” he said, caressing my cheek.
    Holy shit. I thought. From “My girl” to dinner party date in one morning.
    “Tom? Tom are you there?”
    “Yes, Roger, right here. Sorry. What’s the verdict?”
    “Julie says that’s fine. Bring your date. We’ll see you tomorrow at eight.”
    “Great. Thanks, Roger, and thank Julie for me as well.”
    “Take care.”
    Thomas ended the call, set the phone on the counter and rolled to face me. Propping his head up on one arm, he reached over me for a muffin, and pulled a piece from it, pushing the soft cake against my lips. I took the piece and chewed hungrily.
    “So we’re going to a party,” I said.
    “Looks that way,” he said, musing as he chewed on a piece of muffin. “This is a really good muffin, by the way. Scrumptious.”
    “Thank you.”
    “You’re welcome,” he said, swallowing. “I don’t have a tux here, we’ll have to shop.”
    “Oh well, twist my arm. Like all women, I hate shopping of course.”
    “I can’t wait to take you shopping,” he said, beaming at me.
    “Oh psshh,” I said. “I’ve got my own money, tiger. You can go with me but, you don’t need to sponsor the trip.”
    “We’ll see,” he said. “It’s my fault our weekend is being cut short after all.”
    “I told you it’s fine.”
    “Still, I thank you. I’ve known Julie for years, actually. I would hate to disappoint her. Roger, I couldn’t give a toss about.”
    I laughed and stole a bite of muffin.
    “I’ll make it up to you,” he said.
    “Like you made up the phone call to me just now?”
    “Absolutely. I promised. And I always keep my promises.”
    “I thought you meant after the phone call, you cad!” I said, pushing at his chest. “Not during!”
    “Yeah, but it was more fun that way,” he drawled. “Although, you are loud, I nearly had to push the mute button.”
    “Oh my god,” I said, my head falling onto his chest.
    This man is going to be the death of me.
----
    S ay something . My head shouted at me. For the love of God say anything!
    I was covered once again in his dress shirt. He still wore his trousers, and little else but a smile. A smile that had been trained on me for what felt like an eternity. We’d sat there, eating our breakfast, sending an escalating series of furtive glances and grins over the kitchen table at each other. At first the silence was natural, we were eating after all, but cups had been emptied and napkins laid down. We still stared, and smiled. I glanced up at the clock on the opposite wall. We’d been at this stupid smiling contest for about fifteen minutes now. Enough was enough.
    “Our first awkward silence,” I said, laughing nervously as I sipped my coffee.
    “Oh, you think so?” he asked archly.
    “Yes. You don’t?”
    “I don’t know. I thought it more, stimulating, than awkward.”
    “Oh come on,” I said, setting my coffee down.
    “Well alright, I’ll concede it’s not the most comfortable silence we’ve enjoyed together.”
    “No,” I said, shaking my head with a laugh.
    “Come here,” he said. Scooting back his chair from the table, he beckoned me to sit on his lap. “What’s on your mind?”
    I stood up and crossed to him, taking a seat on his lap with my arms draped around his shoulders. I ran a hand over his chest, his skin soft, smooth and warm, his muscles twitching under my touch.
    “Tell me,” he said. “Is something troubling you?”
    “No, nothing. I’m not troubled,” I said, my gaze lowering to follow the movements of my fingers as I traced circles on his