Page 73 of Finding Storm

I might not answer her call, make her sweat it a bit.

Not knowing the full details will kill her. Not that there’s a lot to tell. It’s not like anything has happened with Nick.

Except the I think he was about to kiss me thing earlier. And the hair-tucking thing a few minutes ago.

“Nice to meet you, Nick.”

The way she says his name catches my attention. It was definitely pointed.

Wonder what that was all about?

I glance at Nick, but he’s watching Pen as she walks away, a furrow in his brow.

Huh.

If I didn’t know better, I’d think they’d met before.

But if they had, Pen would have told me.

Although she was questioning if she did know him from somewhere.

Weird. It’s not like Pen’s ever been to LA. And Nick hasn’t been here to Lake Havasu before, so I can’t see how they would have met.

Nick’s eyes move to mine. He smiles, but it doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “You’ve not eaten your cookie,” he says.

“What? Oh, yeah.” My eyes go down to it before coming back up to his face. “Make me a promise before I do?”

His eyes twinkle. Like literally fucking twinkle. “Sure.”

“Don’t tell Gran I ate a cookie before dinner, or she’ll kick my ass.”

He chuckles. “Your secret is safe with me.”

Smiling, I pick my cookie up and take a bite of the sugary goodness, enjoying the feel of the sprinkles dissolving on my tongue.

The friend made me.

I could see it in her eyes. She recognized me, but she couldn’t figure out where from. Won’t take her long to realize.

For fuck’s sake.

I was enjoying my anonymity. Actually enjoying it is putting it mildly. I was fucking loving it.

I like Stevie not knowing who I am. Just having her get to know me. The real me.

Part of me thinks it won’t matter to Stevie when she finds out who I really am, but then who really knows for sure?

I didn’t think my family would keep something as big as what had really happened the night Jonny died, but they did. So, Stevie could completely change the way she is with me when she finds out I’m Storm Slater.

I probably should just tell her. Get it over and done with. Before her friend tells her. But I’m a selfish bastard, and I want to keep riding this Nick wave and enjoy having her treat me just like I’m any other regular guy.

I’m not ready for the disappointment I’ll feel if she turns out not to be the person I think she is.

The kind of person who won’t give a shit whose son I am, what I do for my job, or that my life details are a regular in the tabloids.

I’ve had enough disappointment today to last me for a while. I’m not in the mood for more.

It’s crazy to think that, this morning, I was in LA, doing an interview, finding out a long-hidden secret, and feeling like my world was about to fall apart. And, tonight, I’m in a B&B in Arizona, spending time with this crazy, beautiful girl who makes me feel things I’ve never felt before.