Read Secret Storm for Free Online Page B

"You guys go ahead. We'll catch up with you."
    "Okay." Austin pulled Jane out the door.
    Jack watched Sara pace the living room,
arguing with her ex. Was David still her ex?
    "I told you I have a date tonight."
    He smiled through gritted teeth. That's
good to hear.
    "No, he's an old friend."
    Ugh, not so good. Did those kisses and
whispers mean nothing?
    "I know you want to talk, but I don't know
what else to say." She made a wild gesture he couldn't interpret.
"Now is not the time to talk about getting back together."
    His gut twisted. I do not like this
conversation.
    "I don't know. I don't think there is a good time."
    At least we agree on something.
    "Look, I have to go—"
    Yes, you do.
    "We'll talk later."
    No, you won ' t. Not if I can help
it.
    "What?" She pinched the bridge of her nose
and hung her head. "You can't keep doing this to me."
    I'm gonna beat that guy for hurting her.
    "David, please, I don't want to hurt you. I
understand you need to talk, and we will—"
    "No." He snatched the phone from her hand.
This conversation couldn't continue—not now, not ever.
    "What the hell are you doing? I'm not done
talking to him."
    He pressed the end button and tossed the
phone across the room. "You are now."
    Sara snarled and went after it, but he
grabbed her arm. "Let go of me." She tried to jerk free.
    "Not until you let him go." He tightened his
grip, careful not to hurt her. "I thought you told me you were done
with this guy."
    "I am, but he thinks—"
    "I don't care what he thinks."
    "Will you let me finish?" She wrenched her
arm free. "He thinks we can work it out, but I told him I needed to
learn to trust him again."
    "Why bother? He cheated once. He'll do it
again. Guys like that don't change."
    "Austin changed."
    "Austin never cheated on you." He cut her off
before she could argue. "And you know it. Austin is a good guy, but
this David is a worthless piece of shit. He knows he'll never do
better than you, and that's the only reason he wants you back."
    Her phone rang again and she dropped to her
knees to search for it, finding it on the floor of Jack's bedroom.
She grabbed it, but Jack snatched it away and turned it off,
throwing it under his bed. She turned to face him and hissed. "Why
won't you let me—"
    "Because I care about you!" He took a deep
breath and lowered his voice. "I can't stand to see him hurt you.
Do you have any idea how long I've stood by and watched you go out
with all these losers? I saw what Austin did to you. I saw how much
he hurt you."
    "Why didn't you do anything?"
    "I tried, but you always kept me at arm's
length. Every time someone hurts you, you withdraw, you run away
and hide. You never let anyone take care of you." To prove his
point, Jack reached for her, holding out his hand for her to
take.
    Sara crossed her arms over her chest and
backed away. "I don't need to be taken care of."
    "Okay, I get that. You don't need it. But
don't you ever want it?"
    "What?" She stared at him, eyes wide.
    "Don't you ever want someone to... I don't
know...." What am I trying to say? He wanted the pain and
confusion in her eyes to go away. "Sometimes when you're hurting,
you have to let someone else in to help take care of you, whether
you need it, or want it, or not."
    "Jack, I...."
    He wanted to reach for her, to touch her and
hold her, but he didn't move. If he was the man she wanted to let
in, she would have to invite him. "What do you want from me, Sara?
From anyone?"
    "I don't know." She turned away, looking
toward the front door. "What I want always comes second... if at
all."
    "What do you need?"
    "I need...." She covered her face with her
hands, her fingers splayed across her forehead as if to ease some
pounding pain. "I need to feel close to someone."
    "I'm right here." He still didn't move. "I
always have been."
    "I know." She turned to him. "I want to let
you in, Jack, but I.... Oh hell, I just want you. I have for a long
time. I know you're not what I need, but I don't care. Take me