Page 1 of Through the Storms

CHAPTER 1

The front door bangedopen, and Lana Monroe flinched. Coffee splashed out of her nearly full cup. If not for her quick reactions, it would have soaked the front of her blouse; instead, it sloshed harmlessly to the table, missing her computer by a few inches.

“Damn it,” Lana said under her breath. She kept her focus on her computer screen, refusing to reward Oakley’s chaotic entrance. After eight years, Oakley still didn’t understand how disruptive her loud arrival was to the much quieter Lana.

“Hey,” Oakley Pierce said as she entered the kitchen. “I’ve got a surprise.”

Unbelievable.Hadn’t Oakley noticed the coffee splashed all over the table? Likely not. Lana pretended to be engrossed in her work and didn’t respond.

Oakley bounded to the table like an exuberant puppy. How many times had Lana asked Oakley to curb her need for immediate gratification? Lana let her gaze travel across thecomputer screen, even though her concentration had been broken. Slowly, she counted to ten, not wanting to give in too soon.

Used to the drill, Oakley impatiently shifted her weight from foot to foot, but she didn’t speak. Lana had at least taught her well. Maybe not so well since Oakley hadn’t learned the fine art of entering a room without causing a commotion.

After a few more beats, Lana looked up. “Did you say something?”

Oakley greeted her with an enormous smile. “Sorry. I know you hate it when I burst in on you, but I have a big surprise.”

Damn it.Why did Oakley have to be so damned cute? Despite everything, Lana still wasn’t immune to Oakley’s infectious smile and boundless energy. The twinkle in her mischievous brown eyes made Lana forget her irritation and spilled coffee.

“Hey, what happened here?” Oakley pointed at the mess on the table.

Lana scowled at the brown puddle and looked up at Oakley. “Grab me a towel since you’re partly to blame.”

“Me?” Oakley opened her mouth in mock surprise before she rushed to the counter for a roll of paper towels.

“Wet one of those,” Lana said. “I don’t want it to leave a film.”

“Got it.” Oakley turned to the sink. “After it’s cleaned up, can I show you my surprise?”

Lana’s heartbeat quickened. Could this be it? A proposal? Was Oakleyfinallyready to settle down? Over the last few months, Lana had been less subtle with her hints that it was time they made a more permanent commitment to their relationship.

Oakley swept the towel across the table one last time and held her hands over her head. “I win.” Her eyes lit up. “Now can I show you?”

Despite herself, Lana smiled. Oakley truly was a gem or at least a diamond in the rough. Her heart was in the right place,although her methods sometimes could use refinement. “You seem extra pleased with yourself this morning.”

“I am.” Oakley beamed. “You have to see this before I head out this afternoon.”

Lana sighed. It was the season she saw little of Oakley—tornado season. Maybe that was why Lana was so edgy today. They could go for weeks seeing little of each other.

“When do you leave?” Lana tried to keep the sadness from her voice. For some reason, the time apart seemed to be getting harder not easier.

Oakley’s jaw tensed. It was nearly imperceptible, but to Lana, it flashed like a neon sign. Then Oakley’s grin widened. “I’ve got a couple hours.” She wriggled her eyebrows. “I canshowyou the surprise, and then I canshowyou how much I’ll miss you.”

“You can, can you?” Lana smirked and got to her feet. They were nearly identical in height, so they stood face to face. “Are you sure you’re up for the challenge?”

Oakley returned Lana’s smile with her crooked grin. While Lana was often described as having classic beauty, Oakley had something else—charisma. Lana had witnessed Oakley’s charm get her out of many situations that a mere mortal would never escape. Hell, Lana had succumbed to Oakley’s charms more times than she’d like to admit.

Oakley licked her lips and moved closer. Lana’s gaze dropped to Oakley’s mouth, and involuntarily, she licked her own lips.Damn.Oakley was about to play her like a fiddle if Lana didn’t back away.Ugh.Too late, she was already thinking in bad clichés.

With a light touch, Oakley put her hand against Lana’s cheek. “How did I score such a beautiful woman?” She shook her head. “Sometimes I’m afraid I’m gonna wake up and this will all be a dream.”

Even though it sounded like a pickup line, Lana knew Oakley meant it. Despite Oakley’s bravado, at times, Lana saw glimpses of her fear that lay just under the surface. At thirty-four, Oakley still hadn’t outgrown some of her youthful insecurities.

“I don’t think you need to worry.” Lana mimicked Oakley’s gesture and put her hand on Oakley’s cheek. “Besides, I’d be more concerned you’d wake up and find you weren’t in Kansas anymore.”

Oakley’s laugh filled the kitchen. It was loud and unapologetic. “Stop. You know I’m a sucker for weather jokes. Besides, we’re in Oklahoma.”

Lana shrugged. “You’ve seen one state in Tornado Alley, you’ve seen them all.”