Passion Storm

Passion Storm

by Diane Escalera

Passion Storm

Copyright © 2016 by Diane Escalera

Editing by Piper Denna

Cover Design by Leah Kaye Suttle

Formatted by Polgarus Studio

All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.

Passion Storm

A looming hurricane has nothing on the storm raging inside…

Karina Valdez loves a good adventure, but jetting off to the Bahamas with a complete stranger is taking it to the extreme. She can’t believe her meddling best friend entered her in a radio dating contest. Even more shocking? Karina won! A tropical getaway she can do. Making a love connection with a hot local bachelor, not so much. Especially when she’s not looking for a man.

Meteorologist Andrew Romano is psyched over winning the radio contest. He’s ready to settle down and get married, prove once and for all that he’s not a player. The contest will surely help his chances—he’s been matched with his perfect woman. Too bad she doesn’t want him. To make matters worse, an erratic storm has shifted direction and is whirling toward them. Andy will do whatever it takes to win over the elusive beauty and keep her safe. He can handle a hurricane. But what about the other storm waiting to be unleashed?

Dedication

To my daughter, Leilah: Your passion and fearlessness are such an inspiration to me. I’ve never known anyone more determined to live life on her own terms. It’s a beautiful thing!

Acknowledgements

A special thank you to my editor, Piper Denna: Your steadfast support is something I can always count on. Thank you for making my words shine. Can’t imagine doing this without you.

To all the wonderful readers: I truly hope you enjoy this story. Thank you so much for spending a few hours in my world. You make it all worthwhile.

Please join my Mailing List at DianeEscalera.com and be the first to know about upcoming releases, news and special events.

Table of Contents

Dedication

Acknowledgements

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

About the Author - Diane Escalera

Other Books by Diane Escalera

Chapter 1

Oh no she didn’t! Karina Valdez made a mad dash for the bathroom with her cell phone in hand. She plopped on the bowl and angrily speed-dialed her soon-to-be-ex best friend.

This better be good, a woman’s sleepy voice grumbled.

Wait till I get my hands on you!

Good morning to you too, her friend said. She yawned, then giggled. You’re not taking a tinkle on my time, are you?

Just shut up, Jac-que-line, Karina enunciated through gritted teeth. What’s wrong with you, huh?

"My, my, we woke up hostile. What did I do now?"

Karina held her forehead and blew out a breath. This time, Jackie had crossed the line. You know exactly what you did. How could you? Do you know how embarrassing this is? Everyone’s gonna think I’m desperate.

What are you talking about?

She had to ask? I’m talking about the radio contest!

The line went silent for a short spell. How did you find out?

Kent from the morning show! Karina yelled.

What did Kent tell you? Jackie asked, her tone revealing the stupid smile Karina knew she had on her face.

That I won the contest, you— Argh! I could kill you.

Jackie let out a shrill laugh and dropped the phone. Karina heard the thump and rolled her eyes. It took a few seconds before she came back on the line. You won, Karina? Omigod! Congratulations, she said, as innocent as could be.

Congratulations? Karina repeated, shoving a chunk of blond hair behind one ear. Did your mama drop you on your head?

Lighten up, girlfriend.

Lighten up? What the hell were you thinking?

Aw, come on. It’ll be fun. Think about it. You get to go to the Bahamas for free.

Karina couldn’t believe her ears. Totally missing the point here. I don’t want to go to the Bahamas.

Puh-leez. You’ve wanted to go forever.

Okay. She had her there. Karina did fantasize regularly about taking a little trip to the island. "I wanted us to go."

Maybe we still can. If you don’t like your date, you don’t have to go with him, Jackie tried to rationalize. The contest rules say you can take a friend instead. Like me!

You’re not a friend.

Jackie laughed. You’re just saying that now because you’re pissed. You know you love me.

No, Jackie. I hate you! Karina abruptly ended the call.

She stayed on the commode and seethed. The deejay’s words replayed in her head. At first she’d thought it was a prank call. She’d nearly cursed the guy out. His fault. He didn’t have to call so early in the morning and interrupt her last fifteen minutes of sleep. The last fifteen set the stage for the day. She liked it to be quiet, pleasant. Not irritating, like Kent and his exaggerated enthusiasm. But he wasn’t the one who’d ruined her day. Oh no. That honor belonged to Jackie.

What the heck had her best friend gotten her into? She didn’t want to go on vacation with some stranger. Why couldn’t Jackie and everyone else butt out of her life? Why were they always trying to fix her up? A girl could be single and happy. She didn’t need her mother, sisters—the whole darn world—badgering her to settle down, get married, have kids. She was only thirty-one, for God’s sake. They made her sound like an old maid.

Karina liked her independence, enjoyed coming and going as she pleased. She wasn’t selfish. She just liked things the way they were: uncomplicated. What part of that couldn’t they understand?

A thrill-seeker by nature, she loved adventure. Eventually she’d slow down. Maybe even get married. But she would decide when. She would decide with who. Until then, she planned to live life on her terms, her rules.

It’s not like she lacked direction. She had a responsible job, gave back to the community. She considered herself a good daughter, sister and friend. Hell, she even had relationships with men. She just didn’t want to settle down with any of them.

If her past relationships were any indication, she’d only be settling anyway. Granted, the sex had always been hot. At the end of the day, that’s not what sustained a relationship.

Karina finished her business. She stood and stared at her reflection in the mirror hanging above the pedestal sink. Did she have a sign on her forehead? Everyone needed to get off her back.

Huffing back into the bedroom, she found her roommate sitting on her bed. What’s all the commotion? Tino threw his stocky frame across the mattress and looked up at her.

The hell with it, she said, dropping down next to him. I’ll be late for work. She clutched her face in her hands. I hate Jackie.

What did she do now? Tino tried to tickle her side.

Knock it off. I’m not in the mood, she said, swatting his hand away. Wait a minute. She pierced him with suspicious eyes. I bet you knew about the radio contest. You know everything she does.

Uh-oh. Tino rolled over and hid his face. Don’t tell me you won?

She punched him on the back, which hurt her more than him. Traitor.

I swear I had nothing to do with it. All Jackie. I told her it would come back and bite her in the ass.

"Why didn’t you tell me?"

What can I say? She threatened me with physical harm.

For the first time this morning, Karina laughed. She ran her eyes over the length of her roommate’s muscled body and laughed some more. That girl has you whipped.

Tino lifted his head. He waggled his brows and flashed his teeth. I wish she’d whip me, he said, patting his butt. Real hard.

Be serious for one second in your life. I’m having a crisis.

My bad. He lost the grin and gave her his full attention. Okay, why is it a crisis?

First off, I made a complete idiot of myself with that guy from the radio station, Kent what’s his name. Second, I lost my best friend because now I can never speak to her again. Third, I have to go on a date with a complete stranger who is probably some nasty thing who can’t get women. Fourth, I’m supposed to go with Mr. Nasty to the Bahamas. Would you like me to continue?

First, Tino said, sitting upright. "I met that Kent guy at a club one night and he’s pretty much an idiot so you’re even. Second, Jackie will be here like a Chihuahua begging you to take her back. And you will because you know you can’t live without the mutt. Third, that stranger could turn out to be someone you might want to do the nasty with. And fourth, if you do the nasty here, it’ll be even betta in de Bahamas."

She glared at him with her mouth hung open. Has anyone ever told you that you’re mental?

Me? Mental? Nah.

You. Mental. Yah.

Where’s adventurous Karina, the girl who’ll try anything once? Wasn’t it you who said, ‘Live for today, tomorrow will take care of itself.’ Somebody needs to walk the walk.

Karina leered at her roommate. She hooked a hand on her hip and said, "You’re useless. Why don’t you just walk out of my room?"

* * * *

Andrew Romano couldn’t stop smiling. What a fantastic way to start the day. He won the radio contest! Not just any contest. Nope. This contest was going to hook him up with his dream woman.

If his buddies saw him now they’d laugh. Collin and Marcus couldn’t understand Andy’s need to settle down. They were true players who lived for one thing: scoring. Not Andy. He just wanted a wife. A soul mate.

Collin and Marcus made fun of the whole soul mate thing. They’d mate with any soul. Too bad their playboy reputation had rubbed off on Andy. Maybe this contest would help him shed the misleading label.

He’d tried to explain it to his friends. He wanted lasting love, a bond that would withstand the test of time. Some of his exes had been suitable wife material. But none were the one. He needed to get it right the first time, because for him, there wouldn’t be a second time.

At thirty-five, he felt a sense of urgency. Hence he had registered the same day he’d heard about the radio contest. Who could resist the offer? A blind date with a compatible, single female. An all-expense paid vacation with her to the Bahamas. Sure, he could go to the Bahamas anytime he pleased. After all, he was a prominent meteorologist with a leading television network. Too bad that success didn’t translate to his love life.

His luck was about to change. Yep. Why else would he have won the contest? We loved your essay, Andy. You sound like a man on a mission. The deejay’s words were spot-on. Man on a mission. Lord, he’d poured his soul into that contest entry. Good thing he had.

The radio station had taken the task seriously. For weeks the contest had been heavily promoted, and the deejays had bragged at how they were going to marry off two of South Florida’s most eligible listeners. The response had been outrageous. Everyone wanted a chance at love. In the end, he had been chosen.

His father had to be smiling down from above. Thanks, Pop. Andy looked up to his soaring ceiling. He felt excited. He also missed his dad. Just like that, his father had died unexpectedly from heart failure. It happened three years ago. The void still hurt like hell.

They’d had a true father-son relationship. His dad had lived for two things: family and his jewelry business. Andy had been the only child, but he’d never felt alone. His father had been like a big kid, a prankster with a great sense of humor. Even at the height of Andy’s sorrow, he’d laughed at some of the memories. Exactly what his father would have wanted.

Poor Mom. Andy couldn’t remember feeling more helpless. He’d tried to be her rock. He really had. His mother had put on a tough facade. Underneath, she’d been