“My goodness. That was close, wasn’t it?” Dixie asks, her thick mascara-coated lashes blinking in wonder. She stares out of the window while chewing on pink bubble gum. “More days are like this than not recently. It freaks me out. Good thing we have you storm chasers, right?” Her eyes widen, which has meholding in a chuckle from how comical her lashes appear to be now. “What do you think will happen with this storm? Think we will get a tornado?”
I can’t see the clouds, so I can’t say for sure. It’s too dark out, but if I had to try to guess, no. I think the cap is too strong. It won’t allow the warm air to mix with the cool air, keeping the storm stable and less severe, but no one ever really knows. We do our best with the information we have. Weather is unpredictable and can change in an instant.
“It’s always a possibility,” I say, my eyes skimming over the menu.
I’m not even hungry anymore.
“All we can do is listen to the weather alerts and be ready for the worst,” Millie recites what we say word for word, since so many ask the same question every day.
The lights in the diner flicker. Conversation dies down. The loud, boisterous noise of conversations, silverware scraping across the plates, and children laughing all come to a brief halt.
The wind howls, smashing the rain against the glass. Food sizzling on the grill mixes with the TV’s broken connection. The sky lights up with electrified rods, showcasing purple hues around the clouds.
One of the worst tornadoes I’ve ever seen had a dark green sky. When I see that color, I know to run and get to safety as soon as I can. Purple, though? This is just a nice thunderstorm I can fall asleep to.
Dixie blows out a breath and slumps her shoulder. “Oh my goodness, that’s great news. I’m not one for running, definitely not in heels. I get bigger tips when I wear three inches or higher.”
Millie peeps down and over the table. “Cute shoes, though. Love the studs on the back.”
Dixie poses, kicking up her back foot, the heel nearly touching her backside. “Thanks, girl. I got them on sale.”
Millie pushes her glasses up her nose. “I love a good sale. Especially when it comes to books.”
“Right?” Dixie has her pen and pad ready. “Do you need more time to order your food? I’ve talked your ear off. That’s my fault. I become…”
Her chatty voice fades, the ache in my chest lessening to the point where I can inhale without my soul wanting to be ripped from my body. The bell over the door rings, and I lift my head up to see who it is.
Only to hold my breath.
It’s Oklahoma and a few other men standing at the entrance.
Oh my god.
No, no, no. This can’t be happening.
He doesn’t scan the diner. He doesn’t see who is here. Oklahoma’s powder blue gaze lands on me as if he knows where I’m sitting. He’s soaking wet from the rain. He must have changed since the last time I saw him because the white shirt sticks to his muscular body.
His skin is tan from hours spent in the sun, and it peeks through the soaked cotton, leaving nothing to the imagination.
My lips wrap around the straw to take a sip of sweet tea. My throat is dry, but my lust is high, and the longer he stares at me, the more I want to drag him to one of our vehicles and get whatever this is between us out of our systems.
“Isn’t that the guy from earlier?” Reina’s voice snaps me out of my dirty thoughts.
“Yep. That’s him. Bad manners and all,” I mumble with all the disappointment I can muster.
As if he can hear me, Oklahoma frowns at the same time his friend pats him on the shoulder.
“Oh, Oklahoma Richards?”
Right. Dixie is still here. We still haven’t ordered yet. Oklahoma is good at interrupting…everything.
“You know him?” I hate that she seems to know more about him than I do.
“Mmm-hmm. He is such a sweetheart. He comes in here every Thursday evening with a massive to-go order that he takes back to his rescue ranch. He’s also one of the best steer wrestlers in the country. He lost his riding partner a few years ago, though. Horrible accident. Oklahoma retired and now focuses on rescuing animals who need it. He still runs his ranch, but the rescue is a big part of his life now. He must have been in a bad mood or something if you’re saying he was rude. That’s unlike him.”
“Aw, he saves animals? That’s so sweet.” Millie holds her hands over her heart and pouts her lips.
It doesn’t take much to impress Millie. She’s the sweetest out of all of us, trusts everyone, loves everyone, and would do anything for anybody.
