Taken By Storm Part 39

eyes at Storm.

"Don't even tell me you're considering it," Tanin warned, his eyes fixed on Storm.

Burke looked over at her, and in the depths of her blue eyes he could see a plan brewing like a storm

that was about to rage and consume everything in its path.

"You know as well as I do, this meeting will go badly," Storm said and turned to Burke. "You can't meetwith the earl. We must find a way into Weighton to free Cullen. It is the only logical solution.""I can be persuasive," Burke argued."It's not about persuasion," she argued. "Besides, I still lead this group and my decision is final, and I say there'll be no meeting between you and the earl.""It's my choice," Burke said firmly.Storm shook her head. "No, it's not. Your foolish move could not only cost my group dearly but it could cost your brother as well."

He'd hear her out since he respected her opinion, but he'd be d.a.m.ned if the final choice would be hers."How so?"Storm looked to Tanin and he answered."The earl is a vindictive man-"

"Lady Alaina said the same."

"Then listen to her for she speaks the truth," Tanin said. "He has been the cause of suffering and countless deaths, and even of ones he claims to love. He had Lady Alaina's mother confined to an inst.i.tution, claiming she was insane. She killed herself after there only a month. He then married again and found a way to get rid of her when he insisted she was barren. He has gone through four wives and now looks for a fifth to give him the son he so desperately wants."

"The earl intends to use his daughter to benefit his thirst for power. Otherwise she is useless to him," Storm said. "While you may be able to convince him that your brother holds a t.i.tle of land baron, that t.i.tle does him little good here in Scotland. You are wasting your time and I will not allow it."

"It's not your decision," Burke snapped.

"Think again, Mr. Longton," she warned calmly.

Burke sent Tanin a look that begged for privacy and the man walked off, though not before making sure

Burke understood that he agreed with Storm.

He wasn't surprised when Storm stood and took a firm stance, her hands on her hips, her head held high.

He was glad she didn't wear the stocking cap that portrayed her as a young lad. He loved her wavyblack hair that shouted she was a woman and a beautiful one at that.She just wasn't any woman-she was his woman. And though the thought melted his heart, he knew he needed to shield himself for he was about to go into battle with the infamous Storm.

He came to his feet, easing his back and shoulders until he stood tall and firm. "I've made my decision,Storm. You can't change my mind.""It's not about changing your mind. It's about obeying me, which I recall you had a problem with from the beginning."

Burke opened his mouth to speak, and Storm was quick to still him with a warning.

"Think wisely, Mr. Longton, your response will affect many lives."

Burke remained silent, though it wasn't because he intended to change his mind. He merely wondered

how he would convince her that this was his choice, something he had to do. Suddenly he realized the perfect solution. He'd sidetrack her.

"I told Lady Alaina she could come to America with us."

Storm glared at him, and d.a.m.n if he didn't see the tempest rising in the blue of her eyes. He wished he had a storm coat to protect him from the squall that was about to hit.

"There is no us. Worse, you gave Lady Alaina hope."

"There certainly is an us, and what is wrong with hope?"

"Hope always disappoints. It does so right now since you are so hopeful about us."

"Hope does not always disappoint," Burke argued. "Whether you want to admit it or not, there is an us and there will continue to be an us all the way to America."

"See, you hope, and your hope will soon be dashed, and then what?"

"Let me reiterate. Hope does not disappoint. It offers encouragement and urges one to pursue his dream

and see it to fruition. I intend to free my brother and have him live with me in America. We will watch our children be born and grow together. We will be family."

"Senseless dreams," she scoffed.

He stomped over to her and grabbed hold of her arms. "A dream perhaps, but a dream I will see to fruition."

"Believe what nonsense you will, but unless you listen to me you will never free your brother and return with him and Lady Alaina to America where you will live this idyllic life."

"I will have it," Burke said adamantly. "And there will be an us."

"That's not possible," she a.s.sured him.

He took hold of her shoulders and yanked her up against him. "Yes, it is possible, Storm, for I am determined that you will be my wife."

Chapter 30.

W illiam and Philip entered the camp, forcing Burke to release Storm, for which she was grateful. For an instant, though, she thought perhaps it would have been best for him to continue to hold on to her, since she feared her trembling legs might fail her and she'd collapse, so weak did she feel.

Burke's remark had hit her hard. Did he really presume that she would wed him? He had yet to claim to love her, and here he stated that she would be his wife. The man certainly was a fool, or was he hopeful?

He was an idiot.

She spoke with William and Philip and spent a few moments with Tanin before she wandered off to find a secluded spot in the forest. She needed time alone to think.

Burke was making a mistake that he would surely regret, and yet she could not convince him of it. He was so intent on rescuing his brother that he couldn't see that he was making the wrong choice.

How did she convince him not to keep that meeting tomorrow?

How did she make him realize that he was about to do his brother more harm than good?

How did she let him know that she would never be his wife and that she would never go to America with him? And why did the thought upset her?

Hope.

There was no hope for the likes of her. Burke did not understand that and foolishly wasted time and thought on an impossible notion. She, however, was practical, and already a plan had begun to form in her mind. It was a dangerous one for sure, but if it proved successful, Cullen would be free, and she

wanted that for Burke. She wanted to see him set sail for America with his brother at his side.

It would break her heart to say good-bye to him, but she had no other choice. Whether she loved him ornot didn't matter.Love.Lord, she didn't think she'd ever love again. She really didn't think it was possible. Yet Burke had made her feel things long buried, not to mention new feelings that crept in and confused her even more.

She smiled and hugged herself. She so enjoyed making love with him. He was so very attentive and so gentle and so...

Her smile faded and her arms fell from around her. She couldn't dwell on Burke, couldn't even consider

that she loved him. It would only make their parting more difficult.

"You forever try to run away from me."

Storm startled and shook her head at Burke. "You should have warned me of your approach, and I don'

t run from you. I seek solitude."

"You run out of fear," he argued.

"Fear of what?" she asked, and then thought it too late to retract her answer for she was sure of his

response.

"Fear of my love, fear of being my wife."

She threw her hands out in front of her. "This cannot be and I will not discuss it."

"Why? Because it might make sense?" he asked and eased closer to her. "Because the very reason we

enjoy making love is that we are in love?"

"There are more important matters to discuss," she insisted, attempting to dissuade him.

"Nothing is more important than love," he said adamantly. "Which means nothing is more important than

you."

"Your brother?"

"Would my brother put me before Alaina? I know he would not. His love for her would come first, and

rightfully so."

She held her hand in front of her to guard against him, or was she guarding against herself? Was she