Page 10 of Rain Delay

“No, but so far, the property hasn’t sustained any significant damage even during the worst storms.” I pulled my phone out of my pocket and searched through the apps, making sure the one I want is still active. “We can close the remote control shutters once it starts getting bad. There’s also a standby generator but it won’t power everything all at once. It’ll keep the appliances working but we won’t be able to sit here binge-watching Netflix with all the lights on and the AC cranked.”

“I wasn’t expecting a generator at all, so that’s good to know,” he said. “I’m glad you’re here because I wouldn’t have known about the shutters either or how to close them if I did.”

“I imagine my dad would have let you know once he heard about the storm.”

“They’re enjoying themselves in Tuscany. I’m sure Marathon weather isn’t high on their priority list.”

“By the way, I spoke to him today so you don’t have to keep the fact that I’m here a secret anymore.”

“My mom called me while I was at the store, but I couldn’t talk to her too long anyway. But she did mention that you’d spoken to your dad.”

The corner of his mouth kicked up.

“What?”

Those silver-blue eyes met mine and my stomach did that crazy flip-flop thing again. Why the hell can’t they pick one color or the other? As if the man isn’t attractive enough, he has to have mesmerizing eyes and eyelashes I couldn’t achieve with the best mascara. It’s really not fair.

“She told me to be nice.”

“Nice?” He nodded. “What does that mean?”

He shrugged then rubbed his chin with long, blunt-tipped fingers. “I’m thinking she means that I should be nice to you. I didn’t read more into it than that. Why? What do you think it means?”

“Just that, I guess.” I cleared my throat. “I’m gonna take Finn out to run around for a while since he’ll be cooped up inside once the storm starts.”

Thankfully there’s enough of a grassy area for him to explore so I don’t have to take him in the sand again. All I can say is thank God for the outside shower because the two of us would have made a hell of a mess if we had to get cleaned up inside earlier.

“Why don’t you relax and I’ll take him out?” Rusty stood. “You had a long trip here and it’s been a forever since I played fetch with a dog.” He placed his left hand on his right shoulder and rotated his arm. “Plus it will be good for me to throw.”

He’s killing me. But at least if he goes outside I won’t have to look at his long, lean yumminess.

Deciding to keep things light—needingto keep things light—I said, “Please don’t hurt my baby with your million-dollar arm.”

He grabbed Finn’s ball from the tote and whistled. “Come on, buddy.” They walked toward the patio door and wind gusted in as he pulled it open. Finn walked out onto the deck but Rusty glanced back at me and said. “That’s multi-million-dollar arm, and don’t worry, I won’t.” Then he winked and closed the door behind him.

That should have sounded cocky, but instead it came out playful, like he was making fun of himself and dare I say, flirting with me. I’d rather be stranded here with the arrogant asshole I’d met before instead of this hot man with a sense of humor who is good to my dog.

The storm brewing outside has nothing on the one raging within me.

Chapter Five

Rusty

A loud rattlewoke me from a sound sleep. I sat up in bed and placed the book I’d been reading before I conked out on the pillow next to me. The noise sounded again and I looked toward the window in a futile attempt to see what’s happening out there.

Ivy had closed all the shutters when the wind kicked up earlier. If it weren’t for the lamp on the nightstand, the room would be completely black. At least the power hasn’t gone out. Yet.

I got out of bed and pulled on a shirt then headed downstairs. Finn lifted his head from Ivy’s lap as I approached.

“Sounds nasty out there,” I said to Ivy.

She took a sip of wine and nodded. “He kept pacing in the bedroom so I decided to come down here. These shutters don’t seem to make as much noise. Which is funny because the windows in the bedroom are smaller than these.”

I nodded to acknowledge her words.

“Have you seen the weather report lately?”

“About an hour ago they said this is the first of two storms that are hitting. This is basically just a thunderstorm. The one coming tomorrow is the actual hurricane.”

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