Page 19 of Storm

She nodded, and he closed the door softly, leaving her alone to watch as he approached the other driver, who was waiting by the side of the road, clutching his paperwork. Storm’s posture was confident, his movements precise, and even from a distance, she could see how he handled the situation with a cool, unshakable authority that was both reassuring and captivating.

Twenty minutes later, Storm climbed into the driver’s seat, her purse and cell phone in hand. He gave them to her without a word before starting the engine. The silence in the truck was heavy but comforting, broken only by the faint hum of the heater. Every few minutes, he glanced her way, his dark eyes checking her carefully, as though making sure she wasn’t falling apart.

Brook sank deeper into the seat, her body and mind finally starting to relax. She didn’t know what she’d done to deserve someone like Storm showing up when she needed him most, but for now, she let herself feel safe.

When they finally pulled up to the clubhouse, Storm moved with his usual calm efficiency, but there was an extra layer of gentleness in his actions. He opened her door, reaching in to unbuckle her seatbelt and lift her effortlessly from the seat, cradling her as though she were made of glass before setting her on her feet. His arms were strong and steady, a reassuring anchor in the whirlwind of her emotions. Without a word, he guided her inside, his large hand resting lightly on her back as they moved through the common area.

Storm exchanged a few brief words with some of the club members they passed, his tone firm and no-nonsense, but Brook barely processed what he said. Everything around her felt muffled, distant. Maybe she was in shock—her mind still caught in the chaos of the crash. All she knew was that she was profoundly grateful Storm was there, his presence grounding her when everything else felt like it was about to spiral out of control.

When they reached a small, cozy apartment, he closed the door firmly behind them and turned the lock with a decisive click. He crossed to the couch, grabbed a soft, well-worn blanket, and draped it gently over her shoulders. Then he crouched in front of her, bringing his dark, steady eyes level with hers. His gaze held a quiet intensity, a silent promise that nothing would harm her here.

“You’re safe,” he said, his voice low and soothing, the words wrapping around her like the blanket, adding an extra level of security that she desperately needed. “And I’m not going anywhere, okay?”

The tight knot that had been coiled in her chest since the crash loosened slightly, and for the first time, she felt her lungs expand fully as she exhaled. Relief washed over her in waves.

“Thank you,” she murmured, barely above a whisper. “I’m sorry if I ruined your plans or whatever you were doing.”

Her eyes flicked over him, taking in the fitted navy-blue Henley that stretched across his broad chest and the dark jeans that hugged his muscular frame. Some of his tattoos peeked out of the bottom of his sleeves, which she found she liked. He looked impossibly good—more polished than usual. A sudden zing of jealousy sparked through her, irrational but insistent. Had he been on his way to meet someone? A date, maybe?

Storm settled onto the couch next to her, close enough that their thighs brushed. The warmth of his presence wasimmediate, calming. He took her hand in his, his thumb gently stroking over her knuckles as he spoke. “I’d just come from a meeting at my bank about the loan for the house I’m buying,” he explained, his tone even and reassuring. “I was headed to your office to try and catch you before the end of the work-day. I wanted to ask you to dinner and a movie to celebrate my offer being accepted.”

Her mouth fell open slightly, surprise flickering across her face. “You were coming to see me?”

His dark eyes stayed locked on hers as he nodded, and a warm flutter spread through her chest. In the three days since their lunch date, she hadn’t been able to stop thinking about Storm. She’d worried when they didn’t exchange numbers, worrying that perhaps he wasn’t as interested as she’d hoped. But now, knowing he’d been seeking her out, those doubts melted away.

“I’m sorry I ruined it,” she said softly though her words were tinged with regret.

Storm didn’t reply immediately. Instead, he reached over and scooped her up with effortless strength, settling her onto his lap. She gasped softly, startled by the ease with which he lifted her, but being surrounded by his warmth and solidity quickly calmed her. Compared to him, she felt small—a rare and oddly comforting sensation.

“You didn’t ruin it, sunshine.” His arms tightened around her, his hold protective as he continued in a low rumble, “Scared me a bit. I didn’t like seeing you out there on your own with that asshole yelling at you. That fucker needs his ass kicked.”

A soft smile touched her lips, and she leaned her head against his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart. “Thank you for saving me.”

He didn’t respond with words, but he didn’t need to. Instead, his arms tightened around her more securely, his embrace asilent reassurance. He reclined against the couch, reaching for the remote, and turned on the flat-screen TV. The cheerful opening notes ofBlueyfilled the room, and Brook blinked, her heart lifting a little. He couldn’t have known it, but it was one of her favorite cartoons—light, playful, and exactly what she needed to decompress from the chaos of the day.

Storm rested his chin lightly on the top of her head, his steadiness grounding her in ways she didn’t realize were possible. For the first time all day, she felt truly at ease, safe in the quiet warmth of his company.

It didn’t take long before her eyes felt too heavy to keep open and she let herself fade to sleep in the security and comfort of Storm’s arms.

Brook woke up, still safe in Storm’s arms, her thumb lodged in her mouth and a blanket covering her. She blinked several times, trying to quiet the swirl of emotions inside her. Storm’s breathing was shallow and even, so she was pretty sure he had fallen asleep, too. She was happy to have a moment of privacy to think about everything that had happened over the past few hours. The accident had been minor, and yet she’d completely panicked. If Storm hadn’t shown up, she wasn’t sure what would have happened. It wasn’t worth thinking about what that man could have done. But then Storm took over and cared for her in such a gentle way that surprised her.

Needing to use the bathroom, she tried to scoot off his lap, but he tightened his arms around her. “Where are you going, sunshine?”

A smile tugged at her lips, and she tilted her head to look up at him. His eyes were closed, but then he opened them just slightly and peered down at her.

“I need to go to the bathroom.” Her voice was small, and heat crept up her cheeks.

“I guess I’ll allow it.” As he loosened his grip and winked, she awkwardly stood. “Do you need help in there, baby?”

What?

Help in the bathroom?

What would she need help with?

The idea definitely did something to her, and she was suddenly glad to be on her feet. It would be really embarrassing to leave a wet spot on his jeans.

“No. I’m good.”

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