Page 85 of Through the Storms

“Yeah, apparently, they’d run into each other and hit it off. They were over there snickering like schoolgirls.”

“Lana?” Oakley’s eyes widened. Nobody would accuse Lana of behaving like a schoolgirl, although she had a playful side when she wasn’t focused on her work. “Hmm, that’s cool. She could use more friends. So that’s what you call weird?”

“No. That’s not it.” Britt glanced around before she leaned in toward Oakley. “I think the newlyweds might have had a spat. He stomped in and ordered a box of doughnuts and started stuffing his face. I thought he was going to eat the entire dozen.”

“That’s some stress eating.” The barista handed Oakley a to-go cup. “Come on, let’s go out to the van. I want to check the satellites.”

“Luckily, she showed up before he went into a diabetic coma.” Britt followed Oakley. “Then they started pawing at each other. Left the doughnuts and headed toward the elevator.” Britt wriggled her brows. “They seemed much happier when they returned. Everyone’s getting it, except me.”

“Really?” Oakley pushed Britt’s shoulder. “The newlyweds and Lana and I are hardly everyone.”

Britt raised her eyebrows and grinned.

“What the hell does that mean?”

“Something’s up with Chloe and Riley. There’s a huge dark cloud over Riley’s head this morning.”

“And your mind immediately goes to sex?” Oakley strode through the automatic hotel doors.

“Let’s just say Chloe lookedreallyrelaxed but uptight.”

“Seriously?” Oakley turned to Britt. “How does one look relaxed and uptight at the same time?”

They arrived at the van, and Oakley climbed into the passenger seat. “Fire her up,” Oakley said to Britt.

Britt went around the other side and climbed behind the wheel. She turned over the van, and the electronics dotting the dash came to life. “Maybe that wasn’t the best way to describe it, but something’s going on with those two. This entire trip they’ve been glued at the hip, but today they seem to be making every effort to avoid each other.”

“And this has all been going on, when?” Oakley moved the cursor across the screen and brought up the latest images.

“While you were in an orgasmic stupor.”

Oakley shot Britt a look but didn’t respond.

“Riley came down around seven, right when Lana was leaving.”

“Lana didn’t leave until seven?” Oakley’s voice rose an octave.

“I told you she was chatting with Chloe. Geesh, were you listening?”

“Yes, but I just assumed…never mind.” Oakley waved it off. “Back to Riley and Chloe. What happened?”

“As soon as Riley saw Chloe, she made a beeline toward the restaurant at the other end of the hotel, and Chloe shot out the front door and disappeared. I haven’t seen either one since.”

“Hmm.” Oakley stared at the screen. “Hmm, shit.”

“Is that a hmm about Riley and Chloe, or are you seeing something?”

“The first hmm was for them, and the second was for this.” Oakley pointed at the screen. “The Storm Prediction Center issued a high alert for the next three days.”

“Magenta, seriously?”

“It’s right here.” Oakley pointed at the screen. “The entire area around Oklahoma City. Look.”

Britt leaned over in her seat. “Shit. That’s brutal.”

CHAPTER 33

Riley leaned against theside of the hotel and watched as the others gathered around the vans. She cupped her hand against her forehead to block the sun from her eyes. Nobody seemed to be getting in.