But then he emerges from the bathroom, unreasonably attractive in a pair of hiking shorts that show off the high curve of his ass and a snug black T-shirt. He props himself up in thedoorframe and continues to rub his hair with the towel. “Still thinking Kansas?”
“Somewhere between Dodge City and Wichita is probably our best bet.”
“We can grab lunch in Dodge and decide from there. Could get crowded today.”
I make a face, but he’s right. There’s a higher-than-usual chance of tornadoes in the area we’re targeting. Combine that with a good road network and fairly flat elevation, and a chaser convergence is all but guaranteed. Navigating around a hundred other chasers is less than ideal and can quickly turn dangerous, but it’s also the kind of forecast that might get me somethingNature Shotsworthy.
Wes tosses the towel into the bathroom and prowls over, holding out his hand. He pulls me easily to my feet when I take it and instantly wraps me in his arms. “Forgot to say good morning,” he breathes into my ear before lowering his mouth to mine.
Despite the confident way he moves in, there’s the slightest hesitation before his lips touch mine. Maybe I’m not the only one with questions, which weirdly helps me relax. I give in to the pleasure of the kiss, melting into him as it deepens into white-hot need. It’s as if the years we’ve spent bickering have been a kind of foreplay building in the background, and now that we’ve broken the seal, all that pent-up desire is rushing out.
Not that we have time to indulge in it right now.
Squeezing the dip of my waist with a rueful grin, Wes reluctantly lets go. “We should get on the road.”
I grab my coffee and nod with an awkward jerk of my head. “We can eat in the car,” I say, refusing to look at the bed and all the bad but wonderful ideas it represents.
“Good idea.” I’m not the only one a little breathless. Wes shoves his hands in his pockets, almost as if he needs to physically prevent himself from reaching for me.
“Sloane,” he calls when I’ve got my hand on the door, one foot already in the hallway. He waits until I turn to look at him, grins his wicked grin, and gestures to my—his—sweatshirt. “You look good in my clothes.”
By the timewe roll into Dodge City, we’re far from the only chasers in town. I try to hide my excitement when I spot a few of the research trucks with their distinctive government agency logos and roofs full of equipment parked near the back of the gas station we pull into.
“Always a good sign when those guys are in the area.” Wes pumps a fist in the air before grabbing his phone. “Let me see if anyone I know is around.”
“How’d you end up making friends with the meteorologists?” I ask curiously. The researchers tend to keep to themselves for the most part.
“Did some work on one of their projects last year.”
I blink back my surprise. No one said a word last season. Wild Wes and a methodical research team aren’t exactly the type of pairing I’d expect, but then again, he hasn’t been nearly as wild as his reputation implies since we’ve been on the road together.
Or maybe he’s just on his best behavior with me.
Unease settles into my thoughts. Kissing Wes was so natural, soright, that my doubts faded easily into the background. Now that we’ve been back in the car for a couple of hours, I can’t help wondering what the hell I was thinking. In all the years I’ve known him, he’s never had a girlfriend so much as a series of hookups, flings, and rumors.
But this isn’t the time—or place—to have a heart-to-heart. I take a long drink of water, shove my worries aside, and pocket my keys after locking the car.
Jealousy curdles in my stomach when Wes beelines for two attractive women and introduces me. Chloe is wearing a National Weather Service jacket, the deep navy color suiting her dark hair and olive complexion. The rest of her clothes are similar to mine, hair piled in a messy bun and her smile friendly. Haley is a petite and curvy blonde in a faded University of Oklahoma hoodie, a long braid falling over one shoulder.
“Wes has told me so much about you. I’ve been meaning to get in touch,” Chloe says warmly and then holds up her left hand, sunlight sparkling off her engagement ring. “Your work is gorgeous. I’m not sure I can afford you, but any chance you’re free to come to Oklahoma in September? We’re not planning anything too fancy, just a small thing at a local park.”
Finding out that Wes has been shamelessly plugging my wedding work sends the little green monster in my head slinking back into her cave. Especially when he props one elbow on my shoulder, effectively using me as an affectionate armrest.
I glance up at him, relaxing under the warmth of his gaze, and pull up my admittedly busy calendar. My website says I’m fully booked, but there’s usually room to squeeze someone inif they can be flexible. “September might be tough, but if you’re okay with something other than a Friday or Saturday night, I can probably make it work.”
Chloe lets out a squeal of delight, earning a laugh from her friend. Haley gives her a playfully chiding look before turning to me with mock seriousness. “Don’t let her monopolize you with wedding talk.”
“Oh, I don’t mind. Always happy to help another chaser out if I can,” I add with a wink.
I’ve never shot a wedding for another storm chaser, but Chloe doesn’t need to know that. Government employees aren’t exactly raking in the cash, and all of us out here rely on their forecasting. I can afford to cut her a deal, and besides that, it would be a nice break from the glitz and glam weddings.
“Heard about the new job,” Wes says to Haley, offering a friendly smile. “LA is a big step up. Congrats.”
She makes a face and exchanges a look with Chloe. “Yeah, it’s a huge opportunity, but I doubt I’ll be able to get as much time off for chasing. The schedule is crazy.”
There’s an echo of my own frustration with trying to balance chasing season with my bank account. I offer her a sympathetic smile. “If only tornadoes paid the bills, right?”
“Ain’t that the truth.” Haley laughs, something melancholy lingering in her smile. “You guys after anything in particular this year?”
