Free Secrets from Her Past: Scandalous, Book 2 by Jules Bennett Page A

that instant downpour, Corinne turned on the faucet in the oversized tub and couldn’t wait to slip into the hot water. She knew scalding baths were not good for her skin, but hey, getting arrested wasn’t good for her career, so…whatever. God, if she didn’t make jokes about the insane charges she’d go mad and end up crying all the time.
    Rolling thunder shook the house and Corinne sighed. Please, don’t be accompanied by lightning. She just wanted to get into the bathtub and relax for a few moments. So far she hadn’t seen any lightning, so she was going to soak for just a few moments. Forget the wine, she could pour a glass when she got out. Right now she just wanted to be warmed up.
    Corinne eased down into the tub and shut off the water valves. She didn’t care that the hot water felt like prickles to her freezing skin, she was just grateful not to be shivering anymore.
    As the water enveloped her, she wondered why she hadn’t thought of bubbles. A bubble bath with wine was a must the next time she did this. Oh, and a book. Something steamy and sexy. As if she needed any help getting all hot and bothered…not with Mr. Sexy First Love living only a grassy knoll away.
    She settled her head against the curved edge of the porcelain and sighed. She could totally get spoiled staying here. Granted, she’d stayed in some of the top hotels in the world and had even owned two amazing homes with all the amenities, but there was just something about coming home that really made you feel at peace.
    Unfortunately that peace was interrupted by another rumble of thunder, this time accompanied by a bright flash of lightning. As much as she wanted to relax and stay in her tub, she also didn’t want to get fried in a bathtub.
    She pulled the plug to let the water out and climbed out of the tub. That water had felt so good, but she supposed some cozy PJs would keep her happy. Maybe something oversized and warm. Now she needed that wine and maybe a movie to go along with her lazy-bum night.
    Corinne grabbed the robe off the back of the door and wrapped up in it before heading across the hall to her bedroom. She shuffled through the suitcase she’d yet to unpack in search of her “comfort” clothes. Every woman had them and these may be the only things she owned that she’d purchased on her own and that hadn’t been made by some fancy designer who only wanted to give her clothes so she would pimp out their brand.
    Hey, that was fine with her. Free clothes, and all she had to do was drop the name of the designer? Not a problem at all, but on occasion she just wanted some sloppy lounge pants and a T-shirt.
    She moved aside the bras because, well, if she was going to be comfy they sure as hell wouldn’t fit the criteria. Finally she found an old, long-sleeved tee and a pair of grey, baggy sweats.
    If her friends could see her now.
    Corinne nearly laughed at herself as she got dressed and pulled her hair up into a topknot. She moved through the house, but when the lights flickered once, then came right back on, she decided she’d better find some flashlights, just in case.
    Seeing as how she had no idea where they would be, she opted to look in the garage first. Thankfully it was attached to the house and she didn’t have to go back out into the rain and wind, and now lightning.
    Because her father was a neat freak, everything was in its place so there was no clutter to rummage through. In no time she’d found a flashlight and headed back inside. There was no doubt in her mind that her father had a generator somewhere out there, but she’d have no earthly idea how to use it. Hopefully, if they lost power, it wouldn’t be for too long.
    She recalled as a kid how many freak storms would pop up, taking the power out for a few hours at a time. She’d always loved sitting on the porch with her parents. They would watch the storms and embrace the fact that in this great big crazy world, there really wasn’t much they could