After the Storm by M. Stratton

dinner and talk long into the night. He had to do something to make her understand that she couldn’t just talk to whomever she wanted. She had to be taught a lesson.
    He smiled. A slow lesson. He would draw this out. Make it last. Go further than he had ever gone before. He closed his eyes tipped his head back and breathed in deeply. It was time to start playing.

CHAPT ER FIVE
    Lexi spent much of the next day relaxing, and even though her brain was tired, it wouldn’t stop thinking about everything she and Noah had talked about. It was amazing how much they had in common, especially their love of growing up near Chicago. If her grandmother hadn’t left her this house she would be living in Chicago now because she wouldn’t have stayed in La Jolla.
    Noah might be a major rock star but he was just a man and she was so comfortable around him. She hadn’t spent that much time alone with a man, who wasn’t a family member, in years. The amazing thing was she hadn’t thought about that fact until much later. Even though he flirted with her like there was no tomorrow, she enjoyed it. She’d forgotten how much fun it was.
    As Lexi pulled into the back parking lot at Golden Ages , she tried to get Noah out of her head. She had the feeling it wasn’t going to be dull today and she had to have her wits about her. This was the first day all the acts for the talent show would be together. They’d do a quick run-through of the show to see how long it would be and what order everyone should go in. She had to get there early to round up the Troublesome Trio, otherwise, who knew how long it would take.
    After searching all over she found them sitting on the half wall on the outside of the building watching a plumber work on a drain. Lexi closed her eyes in a prayer that one of the ladies hadn’t done something to stop the line up again . She stopped in front of them effectively blocking their view. “Good afternoon ladies, is there anything I should know?”
    “Yeah, you should know that you are blocking our view. Move it or lose it,” Leigh said as she waved her away and tried to look around her.
    “Now, honey, what could we have possibly done? Why don’t you have a seat next to me, we are paying the nice man by the hour, after all,” Marie added as she patted the space next to her.
    Lexi sighed and sat down. “You know rehearsals for the talent show are going to start soon.” She looked over to where the plumber was working.
    “Yes dear, we know.” Evelyne waved her hand at Lexi. “Joe’s been working on this for a little over an hour, it should be cleared soon. Don’t get your shorts in a wad,” she sassed. “Did you know that if you have a favorite plumber you can ask for them to come out? How did we just find out about this?”
    “Yes, I had heard that.” She closed her eyes, hoping they would listen to her. “Of course, you have to keep in mind that if you continue to have issues and harass your requested plumber they will request to never be sent back to any of the addresses you frequent.”
    “Really, Lexi, I don’t know where you get these ideas.” Marie gave Lexi the “mom” look that would have quelled lesser women.
    “Don’t pull that look on me Marie, you know it doesn’t work. I know the three of you too well.”
    Leigh sat up straighter. “Oh, I just love how he handles his snake. That’s it, baby, shove it in and slide it back out.” She rocked back and forth. “Slower, then faster, change the tempo.” She moved her hand up and down demonstrating.
    “Yes, that snake sure is taking a pounding,” Evelyne giggled.
    Lexi just lowered her head and shook it at the three of them, wondering how long before the line was clear so that they could focus on the talent show. Out of the corner of her eye she noticed Marie walking toward the building. “Marie, where are you going?”
    “Oh, I think I need some water. I’ll be right back.”
    Lexi narrowed her eyes and watched Marie. Something