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

control. Not the weather, not other people, and sometimes not even themselves.
    Boy, hadn’t she proven that fact a few times since she’d been back? Her emotions where Dylan was concerned were certainly out of her control.
    When she got back into the living room, she looked through the movies, but decided to forgo that plan and go sit on the porch for old times’ sake. Granted, in the past she’d always had her parents with her, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t do it alone. Storms still fascinated her.
    She laid the flashlight on the small accent table just beside the front door and stepped out barefoot onto the concrete porch. Wind blew the rain and a slight mist sprinkled her face. She smiled as she tipped her head up, welcoming the refreshing rain and the sweet smell only it could provide.
    Glancing over to Dylan’s house, she saw he only had one small light on in the living room, but as she squinted and looked closer, she saw him sitting on his porch swing. Apparently he hadn’t grown out of his love of the storms either.
    And now she was faced with the same question she’d been asking herself since she’d come back to town and discovered him right next door. Did she stay, or did she go?

Chapter Seven
    Dylan couldn’t believe the wind that had kicked up. Trees were really blowing and those small ones on the edge of his property were practically lying down from the gusts blowing through.
    And all the rain pelting in onto his porch didn’t bother him in the least. Dylan absolutely loved the rain, love thunderstorms.
    He glanced across the yard, and through the sheets of rain he could see someone else who had loved storms once upon a time.
    A bolt of lightning streaked across the sky and a rumble of thunder soon followed. The storm was definitely moving closer and as much as he loved to be outside watching it, he also didn’t want to be struck in some freak accident.
    Dylan started to go inside, but stopped when Cori darted across the yard toward his house.
    “What the hell are you doing?” he yelled as she bounded up his porch steps and shook off water from her body.
    “I can’t find any batteries for the flashlights. I searched the garage and the junk drawer in the kitchen.” She rubbed her hands up her arms and actually shivered. “Sorry to bother you, but could I bum a few?”
    Dylan grabbed her arm and jerked open his storm door. “Get inside and dry off before you freeze.”
    “I don’t need to go inside,” she yelled, yanking away from his grasp. “I just need a few batteries. I only found one candle and I’ll need more light than that.”
    Dylan physically picked her up in a fireman’s hold and marched into his bathroom and grabbed a towel from the shelf beside the antique clawfoot tub.
    “Here.” He thrust the towel in her face. “Dry off and I’ll go find some batteries.”
    “Why would I dry off if I’m just going back home?”
    He turned, meeting her gaze. “You’re not going anywhere. I’m getting the batteries for my own flashlights and you’re going to light some candles once you’re dry.”
    Cori stood with her mouth wide open, water dripping from the ends of her hair and her lashes. Her T-shirt had plastered itself to her body, molded against her breasts and caused her perky nipples to stand at attention. Apparently she’d forgone the bra for this little visit…not that he was complaining.
    “I’m not staying, Dylan,” she said, patting her face. “I need to get back home.”
    “Why? The storm is moving closer and it’s insane to be running back and forth when there’s lightning flying through the sky.”
    “I could’ve been back home by now if you’d just given me the batteries.”
    Dylan laughed. “Yeah, you could’ve, but you’re not. So dry off, I’ll go grab some clothes and then you can light the candles. I’ll set out the matches on the kitchen counter.”
    Before she could argue further, he stalked out. That damn body of hers was mocking him.