Storm Warning

CHAPTER Two





Figuring Tory out was going to be one hell of a ride, Gabe decided as he strolled into a smoke-filled bar on the strip. It would at least take his mind off his troubles. The club annoyed him. The noise annoyed him. The people in the noisy club annoyed him even more.

Adam would be showing up later to do “damage control.” Everyone else had taken the night off. Jack and Joel—the unstoppable twins—still had numbers to run and equipment to clean. Kary was staying in her room waiting for her husband’s phone call. And Frankie—Gabe laughed to himself, picturing the balding man with a full beard—was nowhere to be seen.

He spotted Tory instantly. Billy had shown him a wallet-size photograph of her standing in a field with a tornado behind her in the distance. Well, Gabe mused as he made his way to the bar, it hadn’t been distant enough.

He could almost feel the wind from the twister as he’d gazed at her picture. And the tornado wasn’t the only thing that’d had his pulse jumping. Tory was beautiful. Her hair was up in a ponytail in the photo, but now at the club she wore it down in beautiful tawny waves flowing everywhere. It looked as though she had just run her hands through it. Messy and beautiful chestnut, rich and thick—the kind of hair that made a man want to run his own hands through it.

He sat down next to her at the bar and smiled lazily. She didn’t even seem to notice him. She sat nursing a beer and staring blindly at the dance floor.

He ordered her another beer and one for himself. “Hi, there.”

Her eyes snapped to his and he felt his heart rate increase. They were even more vivid in person, he mused. Velvet brown. Her full sculpted mouth was unpainted and curved into a sorry attempt for a smile.

“Hi.”

Her voice was more lyrical with one syllable than most women’s in a full conversation. He mentally fumbled as he searched for something to say.

“Haven’t seen you around here,” he said, attempting to block out the audacious images her bedroom voice provoked. He could photograph her, he thought, studying her features. She would look perfect at any angle.

A nude. Classy, with her long dark hair spread out over crisp white sheets. Rose petals. He shifted on the bar stool when the image became a little too clear.

“That’s because I’m not from here.” She picked up the beer he had bought her and tipped it toward him. “Thanks.”

“You here with someone?”

She hesitated, then sighed. “No, I’m here alone.”

“Why?”

She shrugged and tapped on the bar. The bartender set a shot in front of her. She chugged it without a second thought, then went back to her beer. “Boyfriend’s sick.”

“That’s rough.” Gabe thought that any man who’d give up a night with her was a sorry individual.

He looked down at her hands, pale and pretty against the roughly scraped surface of the bar. They were small with short, unpainted nails gently rounded at the tips. Her fingers were long and thin, making them seem delicate. From the information he’d already gathered about her, she was anything but. Right now, her fingers tapped restlessly on the wood, making Gabe want to still them with his own.

She rapped the bar for another shot. He brought his gaze back up to her face.

“How many of those have you had?” he asked, noticing the rosy shade of her cheeks against the pallor of her skin.

She shrugged. “Not enough.”

“Six. But who’s counting?” the bartender winked at her. “You enjoy all you want, Hun.”

She smiled at him, then turned back to Gabe. “I don’t know him, but he’s so sweet.”

Since her words were slurred, Gabe scooted the beer away from her. “You may need to be cut off. I think you’ve probably had enough.”

“No, no. I really haven’t.” She tapped the bar again. “I can hold my liquor.”

The bartender smiled and set another shot down in front of her. Gabe snatched it up and knocked it back.

Her brows drew together and her mouth came to a beautiful pout. “That was a really shitty thing to do,” she accused and signaled for another.

“Let’s dance,” Gabe suggested, rising from the stool.

“I don’t like you.” She frowned again. “Know. I meant to say I don’t know you.”

He had to smile. Both were true, he knew. If she didn’t like him now, he couldn’t wait to see her reaction when she realized who he was.

“Dance with me anyway.”

“No. I—” She trailed off and stared over his shoulder toward the dance floor, her chocolate eyes going wide with distress.

Gabe’s gaze flicked over to where she was looking. Vance, he thought and ground his teeth together. He despised the man just from what little Adam had said about him. “All the more reason to dance with me. Throw it back in his face.”

She shot an angry look to him. “How would you know?”

“It’s written all over your face.”

She lifted her chin and turned back to the bar.

“He may lie to me and cheat, but that doesn’t mean I do.”

He could see her fighting for control in the way her shoulders bunched and tensed. His palms itched in need to soothe, so he tucked them in his pockets. She was drunk enough to not give a damn if she made a fool of herself, yet she kept it together. He had to admire her for that.

“Tory.” He waited until her gaze came back to his. “Dancing isn’t cheating. One dance,” he added when she only looked at him with those big, vulnerable eyes. He could see her arguing with herself and suppressed another smile. He held out his hand and waited.

“I guess you’re right.” She straightened and placed her palm in his.

He felt the tremor run through her when he slowly, deliberately closed his fingers around hers. He led her onto the dance floor, pulled her into his arms.

To his amazement, she fit perfectly. Trying to ignore the jolt his own system suffered as her small body pressed comfortably to his, Gabe laid his hands on her waist. A saxophone wailed from the band on stage, but Gabe paid little attention to the music.

The top of her head barely grazed his chin. He bent his head, needing to feel the silky texture of her hair. Past the alcohol, he smelled a spicy feminine scent that suited her perfectly. He wondered if it would smell the same on his sheets as it did on her skin.

“What’s your name?” she asked while he rocked her in his arms.

He pulled his head back, looked into her flushed face, and smiled. He could tell her now, he thought, but he wasn’t quite ready to let her go. “Do you really want to know?”





He smiled that charming, devious smile he’d been flashing her the entire time. Her already jumbled system took another delicious jolt.

“No, I guess I don’t.”

She knew she was staring, but she couldn’t tear her gaze away. The man was gorgeous. She let her gaze drop to his mouth. It was full and firm and she had no trouble picturing what those lips could do to hers. As if he heard her thoughts, he smiled.

All the alcohol in the bar couldn’t be responsible for what she was feeling now. She was floating. She closed her eyes and let the sensation take her. Tonight, she told herself, is for me.

Couples danced around them, but Tory paid them no mind. Low lights and disco balls lit up the dance floor, but she only saw the handsome man who held her comfortably in his arms.

She’d been so lonely before he’d whisked her away. And to make matters worse, Vance had flat out lied to her, telling her he was sick when he was sitting just across the room, surrounded by fancy women with big breasts. She would never be what he wanted, really. She was just little Tory from Oklahoma—and she wanted the charade to end.

When the song ended, she slid herself out of his arms feeling stronger than she had felt a few minutes ago. “Thanks for the dance and the drink. It was nice to meet you.”

He nodded and smiled again. It made her uneasy, she thought as she made her way over to the bar. He smiled at her like he knew her. Maybe she had had too much to drink.

Just as she slid back into her seat, a hand clamped down painfully on her arm. She whirled around and stared straight into the face of an enraged Vance Johnson.

The look in his eyes sent chills up her spine, but she straightened and tried to make herself look taller.

“Outside,” he said in a completely awful voice, then he released his brutal grip.

Tory lifted her chin slightly and opened her mouth to speak.

“I said outside.”

“Fine.” She stumbled through the crowd of people toward the back door.

What did she have to be ashamed of? She’d only danced with someone. He’d been sitting in that booth for two hours with several different women all over him! She bit down on her fury as she bounded out of the door and stopped in the alley to wait for him. She would end this pathetic excuse of a relationship now.

He came out a moment later and slowly made his way over to her. His white t-shirt ripped across his muscled chest. His bald head that she’d once found sexy now seemed hilarious as it shone in the glow of a street light.

“You needed to speak with me?”

He backed her into the wall, caging her in with his massive arms.

“Did you really come here tonight just to embarrass me? Huh,” he roared. “You think you’ve proved a point by letting that a*shole paw all over you?”

She tried to catch her breath—to shout back, but he shook her.

“How do you think that makes me look?”

“How do you think I feel watching you drool all over those bimbos like the dog you are?” she yelled back.

He brought his hand across her face—hard. She staggered and would have fallen, but he grabbed her again. Tears of pain and humility welled up. Vance had never physically hurt her before. He must have had too much to drink, she cried inside. He must be drunk.

“Don’t you ever speak to me like that again.”

“Or what? You’re twice my size, but you still feel threatened enough to hurt me?” she challenged. She brought her knee up as hard as she could and smashed what he was so proud of. On an oath, he released her and fell to his knees. She didn’t think, she ran back through the partially open door and dove into the crowd of people.

Keys, she thought wildly, lunging through the packed dance floor. She had to get them and leave. Where was the hotel again? How long would it take her to get there? What would Vance do if he caught up with her? Those questions were swirling in her mind as she shoved past the people who were in her way.

She stopped abruptly at the bar and tried to catch her breath. “I need my keys.”

“Sorry, you had too much to drink. By law—”

“I need my keys now!”

“Tory.” She turned around quickly to see Adam standing behind her. She pressed her back against the bar, willing herself to disappear. Could this get any worse?

“I need my keys,” she said quietly. “I need my keys now.”

Adam’s face went from anger to shock in an instant. He grabbed her by the arms.

“What the hell happened?”

She shook her head. “I need my keys. Tell him,” she shot her finger toward the confused bartender, “to give me my keys!”

“Hey, I think she went—”

Tory’s gaze flew to the man beside Adam— the man she’d danced with.

“What the hell happened?” Adam demanded again.

She could feel her heart pounding violently in her chest. She looked past her brother’s face and into the crowd of people as they parted—and she saw him. Vance was making his way purposely to the bar. She could feel the blood drain from her face.

“Oh God,” she whispered. “No. No, no.”

“Tory!” Adam gave her a small shake.

“We have to leave,” she told him and suddenly found her strength. She twisted out of his hold and turned to flee—and ran smack into a hard chest.

“What happened, Tory?” the man she danced with demanded.

“I think I know what happened.” Adam said with strained control as Vance walked up to the three of them.

“Adam.” Vance greeted him, then shot a hateful look at Gabe. “We need to talk,” he said to Tory and reached for her.

“You’re not touching her,” Adam informed him even as she cringed back. He pulled her behind him. She bumped into the man again and jerked back. Adam must know him, she thought dizzily. He reached out and steadied her, but didn’t let her go.

“You’re not telling me what I can do to her,” he bit out. “Tory, now.”

“Go to hell,” Adam suggested. “Gabe, get her outside.”

“Gabe,” Tory said dully and grabbed a hold of the bar for balance.

“The only place that little whore is going is with me,” Vance said about two seconds before Adam’s fist connected with his face.

Mortified, Tory squealed as Vance staggered backwards. He hit the edge of a tall chair and tripped. Adam stalked toward him with his fist bunched at his sides.

“Adam, don’t!” Tory rushed over to her brother and tried to push him toward the exit. “Adam, please stop. Please! Let’s just leave.”

Vance picked himself up off the floor slowly.

“Adam, come on,” Gabe said from behind them. “This isn’t the place.”

“Take it outside,” the bartender called.

“He isn’t worth it,” Tory said, clinging to her brother. She felt as though she was holding on to a brick wall. “Please. I want to go back to the hotel.”

“I’m sure you do. Hope you paid good money for this whore,” Vance aimed a sneer at Gabe. “She’s a freak in the sheets.”

Tory’s mouth dropped open, but before she could say another word, Adam jumped on Vance, knocking him to the ground again. A table broke, the sound of the glasses smashing echoed in the room that had gone silent.

“Adam!” Tory jumped in as well and tried to tear her brother away. People were cheering, the bartender was yelling. It was complete chaos.

“Get out of here, Tory!” Adam ordered between grunts and curses.

“Adam, stop! You’re going to kill him!”

Gabe locked his arms around Adam and yanked him off of Vance with an ease that had Tory blinking. The bartender pulled a bruised and bloody Vance to his feet. “Get the hell out of here before I call the police!”

“Let’s go.” Gabe shoved a still raging Adam out the door.

Outside, the blessed quietness both soothed and confused her. Her head spun sickly, but she resisted the urge to wretch in the bushes. Adam took three livid steps away from her, then stopped. Gabe was looking at her through narrowed eyes. She folded her arms and waited for the inevitable. It was her fault, after all.

“Could you be anymore stupid?” Adam whirled on her like she knew he would. His temper was every bit as hard as hers, despite the fact that neither one of them knew the other existed until eight years ago.

Tory lifted her chin. She was desperately afraid she would cry in a minute. “Can’t we talk about this later?”

“No, first off you know what an a*shole he is,” he fumed. “He’s been cheating on you for the three years that you’ve known him and you still follow him around like a lost f*cking puppy! Even him hitting you didn’t wake you up. Well? Don’t you have anything to say? Are you going to see him again?”

She could only shake her head.

“Answer me!”

“No!”

“Good,” he said quietly. “Because if I see him again, I’ll kill him.” He fished a set of keys out of his pocket and tossed them to Gabe. “Take her back, will you? I’ll drive the other truck.”

With that he walked away.





Tory stared after him for a moment. Gabe didn’t say a word. He could see the control she was trying to hold on to so desperately struggling to slip.

She wrapped her arms around herself and turned a fiery glower to Gabe. Without a word or sound, she marched to the truck.

Gabe let out the breath he had caught when her blazing brown eyes warned him and followed her to the SUV. He climbed in and started the engine.

She sat in the front passenger seat, staring out the window, looking small and vulnerable. Gabe fought the urge to reach out to her. He knew she wouldn’t welcome any comfort from him at the moment.

“You knew who I was, didn’t you?” she asked him in a weak voice. He knew that if he could see her face, there would be tears there. Otherwise, she would have been looking right at him with those fierce, beautiful brown eyes.

He considered lying, but almost as soon as the thought crossed his mind, he squashed it. She would know sooner or later. “Yes.”

She made a scoffing sound that sounded more like a sniffle than a retort, but he didn’t comment. Her pride was already hurting enough, he figured.

“Of course you did. You knew my name without me telling you—which foolishly, I just realized—and you didn’t bother to give me yours.”

“You said you didn’t want to know my name,” he pointed out.

Her head whipped around and he knew he had said the wrong thing.

“How dare you throw that in my face?” Her voice was stronger now. “You—Mr. Wills—are an a*shole.”

“And here I thought I was on my best behavior,” he said dryly. Under the glow of a street light, he saw the bruise on her cheek and wanted to turn the truck around. Vance was going to pay, he told himself. No man had any business physically abusing a woman.

“I guess I should congratulate you though. You did a wonderful job.” She held a hand up to her forehead and closed her eyes.

“A wonderful job with what?”

She laughed so hard that it shocked him.

“What’s wrong with you?” he snapped when she kept laughing.

“It’s just that—” She stopped to catch her breath and wiped tears of hilarity from her face. “It’s just that Vance was so angry… because he thought you were in to me! It’s really pathetic actually that I went through all this for nothing! Well, I hope you at least got your entertainment.” She took a deep breath and smiled at Gabe. “He may be amused by all this tomorrow. I sure am.”

She had a point. Vance had seen her dancing with him and had been jealous, which inevitably led to their fight.

“He beat the shit out of you and you’re amused?” he asked her coolly.

“Yes, I guess I am. He only got one hit, by the way.” She looked back out the window. “Vance can be a really nice guy. Adam hates him anyway.”

“Yeah, how nice of him to pound your face in, then try to kill your brother,” he commented dryly.

Tory cracked her window and settled back against the seat. The smell of rain came into the cab and the hum of the motor filled the silence.

“I don’t like you,” she whispered before her breathing became heavy and she fell asleep.