Where There's a Will (Whiskey River Book 1) Read Online Free Page A

was destroyed. They died when it collapsed on them.”
    “God, I’m sorry, sweetheart. I can’t imagine how awful that must have been.” Her mother had slept through a tornado? He could draw his own conclusions about that. Ryder took both her hands in his. “You don’t have to relive it. Especially not now, considering we’re waiting out a tornado watch.”
    As if on cue, the warning sirens sounded, meaning one or more tornadoes had actually been sighted. They had kept the radio on low, tuned to the local weather, and now it was echoing the warning.
    Addison jerked and would have pulled away, but he held on and drew her closer. “Don’t think about it. We’ll talk about something else.” Anything else.
    Addison shook her head. “Maybe I need to talk about it. I never have. Oh, I did with Adam after it first happened, but neither of us has brought it up in years.”
    Ryder squeezed her hands, gently, and waited.
    “The Barrels Breaker was a turning point for me. I was only eight, but I knew from that moment I’d get out of that house, out of that neighborhood. I would make a success of my life. Do something worthwhile. And I’ve worked ever since to do it.”
    “And now you’re going to be a lawyer. Your family must be proud of you.”
    “Adam is. Our mother left us years ago. Just before Adam turned eighteen. We pretended she was still there for the few months until his birthday. We were scared to death Child Protective Services would find out and split us up. Once he turned eighteen, Adam was able to become my legal guardian.” She sighed heavily. “You’d think after all that I wouldn’t be such a coward about tornadoes.”
    “You, a coward? In what universe?” She smiled but didn’t look convinced. “You’re one of the strongest, bravest people I know, Addison.”
    Ryder was amazed at all she’d been through, and become the woman she was now. Smart. Brave. Hard-working. His gaze fell to her lips, skimmed her face. This beautiful woman he hadn’t been able to get out of his mind since she’d come to work for him. He’d tried. Oh, man, had he tried. He’d dated a lot of women. Beautiful, smart, ambitious women. But they were never right for him. Because they weren’t Addison.
    He remembered what she’d felt like in his arms, just a short time before. What the hell was wrong with him? Why had he thought it was a good idea to stop things almost before they began?
    “Ryder? Why are you staring at me like that?”
    He cupped her cheek. Her skin was soft, so soft. “Damn, you are so beautiful.”
    Thunder boomed, the wind whistled and rattled windows. They could hear it even in their makeshift shelter. Addison paled. Ryder knew she was thinking of that long ago tornado, wondering if this time, the storm would take her.
    He pulled her into his arms and she buried her face against his neck. He said the first thing that came to mind. “It’s okay. I’m here.” Brilliant, Counselor. What the hell can you do in the face of a tornado?
    Addison put her arms around his neck. He looked down and she was staring at him, her eyes deep pools of jade. And then he kissed her.
    *
    N O ONE HAD ever really been there for her. Not really. She knew Adam would come if called but he knew she was strong enough—capable enough to handle herself and often just let her get on with it.
    But not Ryder.
    Damn. It was impossible to remember all the reasons why she wasn’t going to kiss him when his mouth moved over hers with such surety. He was in command and the storm and this tiny cramped closet dropped away until the only thing left was Ryder.
    His tongue curled around hers and she shifted to her knees to change the angle of the kiss. He moaned his approval, putting his hands on her waist and pulling her onto his lap. She framed his face with her hands, feeling the beginnings of his five o’clock stubble and the strength of his jaw underneath.
    She lifted her head, looking down at him in the dimly lit closet. Saw