Speed Demons Read Online Free Page B

they’d be back before the storm made landfall.
    “I better get the house in order too.” Evie walked over to the window. “God almighty, what’s she doing?”
    “What’s who doing?” Colleen sounded confused.
    “Blythe Pierce. The photographer I told you about. I swear to God she’s insane.” Evie moved fast between the furniture to reach the French doors leading to the deck. “She was going to take pictures of the bay from the deck, and now she’s perched way up in the freaking oak tree.”
    “She…she climbed up? Now? During the beginning of a storm?” Colleen gasped. “She sounds even wilder than you. Isn’t she, like, older?”
    “Older?” Evie entered the backyard, having to hang on to the door to keep the wind from slamming it back against the wall. “She’s not old. She looks like a kid up there. I’ve got to go, Colleen. Talk to you later.”
    “Okay, later. Be safe.”
    After closing her phone, Evie shut the door and ran toward the old tree. Blythe clung to the trunk six feet from the ground, snapping pictures with an impressive-looking camera. Her blond hair whipped in the strong wind.
    “Are you crazy? Get down from there!” Evie yelled as loud as she could, but Blythe didn’t seem to hear her. “Blythe! Blythe, it’s dangerous. We have to go inside.” Groaning, Evie climbed up the first set of branches and managed to reach Blythe’s foot. Not about to waste time, she took hold of a slender ankle and squeezed it hard. “Blythe!”
    “Oh, hi! Isn’t this great?” Blythe beamed down at Evie. “The waves are fantastic.”
    “And you’re crazy. Get down before you break your neck. We have to board up the house.”
    “What? Oh. That bad?” Blythe hooked the camera over her shoulder and climbed down with impressive ease. “Show me what to do.”
    “Don’t worry. It’s pretty automatic, since I have it done by remote when nobody’s here. We have to go inside first, though. Do you have everything you need from your car? I don’t have any more room in the garage, or I would’ve let you protect it in there.”
    “You think the car’s in danger?” Blythe frowned, gazing around her. “Guess the Weather Channel wasn’t very encouraging.
    “My friend’s staying home tending to their house, and my friend’s brother is bringing in his fleet of fishing boats.” Evie closed the door behind them and walked over to a panel on the wall next to the hallway. “Would you light a few of the candles, just in case the power goes out? It’ll get dark in here when the shutters lock into place.”
    A humming sound reverberated throughout the house as the shutters closed, the flickering shadows from the candles that she and Blythe lit creating a completely different ambience.
    “Cozy.” Blythe pushed herself up and onto the couch.
    “We can switch on a few lamps as well. For now we’re fine.”
    “Oh. Good.” Blythe looked relieved, which puzzled Evie, since the same woman had hung from a gnarled old oak tree happily snapping pictures only moments ago.
    “You’re a bit of a wild woman, aren’t you?” Evie asked, quite enjoying Blythe’s startled expression.
    “What? Me? No, not at all.”
    “So, I imagined you dangling out there in the storm, huh?” Evie gestured emphatically. “Looked wild enough to me.”
    “Eh, I just got a bit carried away when I saw that view with the waves crashing in.” Blythe’s cheeks colored faintly. “I’ve been known to forget everything but my camera.”
    “I could tell. You’re lucky that branch didn’t snap off. It’s a very old tree. Sure, you’re small, but still. I wouldn’t want to explain to your publisher how you broke your neck in my garden.” Evie’s lips tightened, and she heard how cold her voice became. “God knows what the press would make of that. ‘Evie Marshall involved in yet another accident with deadly outcome.’”
    “Evie. Please. First of all, I’m fine, and you didn’t tell me to climb the darn tree.