Taming the Storm (The Storm, #3)

I’m vexed, and I’m pretty sure it’s showing in every step I take.

Not that Tom will notice. He’ll be too busy looking at Ashlee’s fake tits.

Meow.

Reaching the bar, I slam my credit card down and drop my purse next to it. “Shot of tequila, and keep them coming.”

The cute bartender raises an eyebrow at me and smiles. He takes my card and puts it by the cash register. Then, he puts a shot glass on the bar and pours the tequila.

“I thought you weren’t letting anyone buy you a drink, except for me?” Robbi’s smooth voice comes in my ear.

I turn to him.

Jesus, he looks hotter than I remember. At the sight of Robbi, some of the Tom tension in my body starts to head for the door marked Exit.

I smile at Robbi, my eyes making a quick journey over his body. I might be on a man hiatus, but I’m not blind. Robbi is lean and toned, but he isn’t ripped like Tom.

I really like the way his torn black jeans hang on his trim hips. The fitted black T-shirt he’s wearing has a skull surrounded by flames on it with Hellraiser written underneath. It shows off his defined chest and arms perfectly.

I hope Robbi is a hellraiser. That’s exactly what I’m in the mood for tonight—raising some hell.

I pick the shot up and throw it back, relishing the burn from the alcohol.

I turn back to Robbi and look at him from under my lashes, giving him a coy smile. “I bought this one myself.”

His eyes darken on me, and I like the way it makes me feel.

“A girl like you shouldn’t be buying herself drinks,” he says, leaning a little closer to me.

“Smooth.”

He throws his head back and laughs that contagious sound of his.

I imagine that sound has women dropping their panties left, right, and center.

“So, can I finally buy you that drink?” He gives me a panty-dropping grin.

“You can.” I smile.

Leaning over the bar, he lifts a hand, catching the bartender’s attention.

“Another shot?” Robbi asks me.

I shake my head. Probably not a good idea for me to do shots and get shitfaced. “A beer, please.”

“Two beers,” he says to the bartender.

I turn and lean against the bar, looking around. I see Van chatting with some girl and Sonny with his tongue down another girl’s throat. Cale is not in sight.

I scan the crowd for Tom, and I see him across the room. My stomach ties into a thousand knots, and I feel like I’m going to throw up. He’s sitting on the edge of a stool, his long legs spread out, and standing between his legs is Ashlee. She has her hand on his chest, saying something into his ear.

His eyes meet mine across the room, and the burn I feel is painful.

Finding it odd that Cale isn’t around and not wanting to watch Tom with Ashlee, I get my cell from my purse, and I check to see if Cale has texted his whereabouts.

Sure enough he has.

Taking that chick from earlier back to the hotel. Tom said he’ll make sure you get back safely. I would have come over before I left, but I saw you talking to Robbi. I didn’t want to interrupt. ;) Love ya. x





We’re staying at a hotel tonight since we have two shows at two different clubs in Pittsburgh. One was tonight’s show, and the next is tomorrow night. So, Tom decided we could do with a night off from sleeping on the bus, and this was the ideal time while we’re not in transit.

I quickly tap out a reply.

Have fun. And you wouldn’t have interrupted. I’m just having a drink with Robbi, that’s all. I’ll see you at breakfast. Love ya right back. x





Robbi holds a beer bottle in front of me. Taking it, I lock the screen on my cell and put it back in my purse.

“Thanks.” I smile.

“So…” he says.

He seems nervous. It’s cute.

I turn my body toward his. “So?”

He runs a hand through his hair and shifts on his feet. “Okay, I’m just gonna put this out there. I really like you.”

“Okay…” I bite my lip, a little unsure how to respond. I wasn’t expecting this.

“And you make me really nervous.”

I let out a laugh. “I make you nervous? I highly doubt that.”

“Seriously.” He moves a little closer to me. “I never get nervous around women, but you…I do.”

I put the bottle to my lips and take a small sip. “I’m not sure if me making you nervous is a good or bad thing.”

Lifting a hand to my face, he tucks my hair behind my ear. “Good. Really good. You’re seriously gorgeous, Lyla. It’s a little unnerving.”

“Unnerving?” I frown.

“Yeah. You could have any guy you want in this room.”

His fingers run down my jaw, and he leans in even closer. His bottle clanks against mine.

“And that unnerves me because I want you to want me, and I want it more than I’ve ever cared for before.”

He’s looking at me like Tom looks at me.

Only, his stare isn’t having the same effect on me as Tom’s does. There’s only a warmth in my stomach, not the blazing heat I get from Tom.

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