September Storm by Brenda Jernigan Page A

hadn’t begun to show through until after they were married.  Only then had he realized that she was nothing more than a gold digger and his money was just what she wanted to put her on a social register.
    After two years of separation, he still had no regrets.  He had dated so many women over the last two years, he couldn't keep the faces and names straight.
    But he wouldn't forget Danielle Kapur's face.
    Adrian pictured her with the towel and chuckled as he remembered Dani trying to be helpful by drying off his legs.  He knew she didn't have any idea what she had been doing to him.  If she'd moved just a few more inches higher, she'd have found more than she wanted to know.  He couldn't deny, no matter how much he wanted to, his strong attraction for the petite blond.  But he was better off single.  He wasn't too sure this was a good idea having Dani in the same house with him.
    On second thought, as a man of the world, he could most certainly handle one blue-eyed, blond female.  That is, after he took a cold shower.
    The icy water quickly brought him to his senses, followed by a relaxing hot shower.  He hoped he was doing the right thing by giving Dani shelter from the storm.  If he'd acted soon enough this morning, he could have called a helicopter in to pick them both up.  However, Angus had assured him that the island wouldn't get a direct hit, so Adrian had decided to stay. He told himself it was to protect his million dollar investment, but he wondered if the real reason could be that he wanted an excuse to spend more time with Dani and to find out what made the lovely Danielle tick?
    He just hoped the storm proved to be milder than their brief relationship.  One way or the other this would be one interesting weekend.
     
     
    Dani neatly wrapped the potatoes in tin foil and slipped them in the oven.  After setting the dials to bake and turning on the timer, she peeked between the boards over the small kitchen window to see what was happening. She could barely see the street lights for the rain, but lightning streaking across the dusky sky told her the hurricane would soon be here.
    Deciding there was nothing she could do about the weather, she began preparing the salad.  Even though she'd never admit it, she felt at home in this strange kitchen making their meal.  For all she knew, Adrian could be a mass murderer, she thought, and she shivered as her mind spun with all kinds of crazy notions.
    She could see the headlines now.  "I spent the weekend with a mass murderer and lived to tell the story."  Dani giggled.  She had always wanted to write the great American nove l. Maybe this would be good research.  If she survived the weekend.  She had to admit one thing, though.  In spite of having every reason to hate Adrian, there was something about him she liked.  He had been a tower of strength in the face of this storm, and she felt comfortable with him.  Rather like an old shoe.
    A chain of mistakes and coincidences had thrown them together, and for a moment, she wondered if f ate had stepped into her life. Could Adrian be her Prince Charming?  No.  She shook her head vehemently.  Did she really think that?  If so, she'd finally lost her mind.
    There couldn't be anything right about this whole situation.
    "I'll take over," Adrian said, coming up behind her as he dried his hair with a snow-white towel.  "You get your bath."
    His black hair still glistened with moisture, and he smelled squeaky clean and cuddly. There was something about a freshly bathed man that was decidedly erotic.  Stop it!  she warned herself.  "You don't have to ask twice."  Dani took off her apron and handed it to him.  He smiled, and her stomach tightened as she turned and hurried from the room to safety.
    After her shower, Dani stretched down and touched her toes.  She felt muscles she'd long since forgotten.  She had probably done more physical exercise today than she had in years. Wrapping her hair in a towel,