Dark and Stormy: Sacred Hearts Coven by Felicia Starr Page B

around him for a quick hug and he held her tight and lifted them both to their feet. He could feel her wanting to turn toward the tree again, but gently guided her in the direction of the old house. He took her purse and computer bag from her.
    “You sure did pick the fanciest pair of shoes to wear for the harshest weather we’ve had in years.” He looked down at her shiny red pumps that were almost glowing in the dark.

 
     
    CHAPTER ELEVEN
     
    Wet and Cold
     
     
    REDDICK WALKED REGINA to the conference room. They were both soaked to the bone. Reddick was a little taken aback by her reaction to the storm. He had never seen her let her guard down like that. She normally exuded a fearless attitude to the world.
    “Stay here. I am going to lock up and bring you a hot drink.”
    Regina just sat there staring off into space. She didn’t acknowledge him.
    “Hey.” He lifted her chin. “I’ll be right back. I’m g oing to go grab a few things.”
    Reddick went back out to the parking lot and ran to his car. He prayed the reward would be worth the risk. He wanted to grab his gym bag before the storm got worse.
    He hurried back inside and locked up. He rushed back to the kitchen and made two hot cups of tea. He also grabbed a roll of paper towels.
    When he got back to the conference room, Regina was still frozen in the same position.
    “Here, drink this.” He put the cup of tea down on the table in front of her. “I’m going to turn the heat on and pump it up pretty high. You’re freezing and the temperature is dropping fast out there.”
    Reddick tossed a duffle bag and the paper towels on the table. He pulled out a towel.
    Reddick swiveled her chair to face him. He could see how cold she was. He felt a little guilty for enjoying what the rain had done to her mostly white dress. The fabric was thin enough that the rain made it transparent. He could see the curves of her full breasts and where the lace V’d out across her cleavage that was usually hidden away.
    Her nipples were dark enough that he could see the perfect-shaped disks tightened and erect. He wanted to be able to cause the same effect for her under better circu mstances. He imagined the hard tips entering his mouth as the softness of her breast pressed on his lips.
    He, for the second, maybe third time that day, felt his balls tingling and his underwear getting tighter as he grew. He tried to remember how much he hated the Green Bay Packers and squatted down in front of her, trying to clear his mind.
    Reddick hoped she hadn’t noticed his arousal before he lowered himself to eye level with her. He reached over and grabbed the towel from the table.
    “Here, it’s a little damp, but it’ll be better than nothing.” He wrapped it around her and rubbed both of her arms, trying to create enough friction to warm her up.
    “You need to get out of those wet clothes. You can use the paper towels to dry yourself. I’m going to double-check and see if anyone has a sweater or something at their desk. We can hang our clothes by the heating vents to dry.”
    “Okay,” Regina whispered back.
    “I’ll be back in minute. I’m going to go assess the heat and get out of these wet clothes too.” He stood up and grabbed a pair of basketball shorts from his bag. “I’ll give you some privacy and knock when I come back.”
    “Thanks,” she said softly.
     

     
    Regina sat there staring into the cup of tea. She wanted to pick it up and drink it, but she was still in shock from what just happened outside. Her legs were shaking. She told herself it was from her dress being soaked with cold rainwater. Even though she knew better, she wasn’t going to let herself be consumed by her thoughts. The memories that haunted her all these years had just almost come to life again. She knew her sister escaped the ultimate wrath of a storm, and now she too was just nearly pinned by a fallen tree.
    She worked to suppress the negative thoughts and tried to focus on the