The Charming Storm Chaser - Page 6

As Kane climbs into the truck, the producer clears his throat. “What are you waiting for, Gannon? Get in the truck.”

I do as instructed and Kane grins at me in the rearview mirror. “It’s going to be weird having you back there. I feel like a chauffeur.”

I adjust the seat and position the camera toward Kane’s gorgeous face. “Just pretend I’m not here.”

“Impossible,” he says, laughing. “This whole situation is bizarre. Did you know there’s a whole caravan of cars following us? One has nothing but meteorologists studying radar maps, looking for the next storm—something I prefer to do myself, by the way. Another holds the navigation team. It’s their job to get us in and out as efficiently as possible. And then, apparently, there’s another camera van?” He sighs. “Maybe this was a dumb idea. I’ve been doing this for years with nothing but a cell phone and internet access. This just feels… it’s all manufactured bullshit, you know? And—”

“Um, Kane?” I interrupt.

“Yeah?”

“We’re rolling now,” I say, pointing to the camera.

Redness creeps up his neck and into his cheeks. And there’s something so endearing about it.

Celebrities… they’re just like us. Who knew?

“Do we really need to be taping 24/7?” he asks.

I shrug. “The more hours of tape we have, the more the editing team has to work with.”

“Let’s take a break,” he suggests.

I’m tempted to point out that we haven’t even been on the road for ten minutes yet, but I nod, turning off the camera.

“That’s better,” he says. “Want to chat or listen to music? We could try an audiobook or a podcast?”

I can’t help but laugh. “You’re one of those people who can’t stand awkward silences, aren’t you?”

His face stretches into a toothy grin. “Guilty as charged.”

I’ve only been in Kane’s presence for a few minutes, and it’s already clear that he’s just as charming as the rumors say.

And we haven’t even seen a storm yet.

As soon as we do, and I see his face light up like Christmas morning, I know I’ll be a goner. So, with great reluctance, I say, “How about a podcast? Do you like true crime?”

This is going to be a long two weeks.

Chapter 5

Cami

For the first few days, I’m mesmerized by the beauty of the American countryside as Kane drives us from state to state in search of stormy weather. But once you’ve seen one field of leafy, green tobacco plants, you’ve seen them all.

I’m so bored that I’m tempted to count the cows in the fields we pass. So far, there hasn’t been a major storm system to film. We’ve captured a popup rain shower or two, but nothing severe.

By the end of the fourth day, I’m tired of listening to True Crime podcasts, so I cave into Kane’s suggestion that we talk. It’s a dangerous activity, especially since my stomach flips every time he holds open the door of the truck for me.

He’s notorious for having issues with commitment and breaking hearts…

No matter how many times I remind myself of that fact, the more time I spend with him, the more I like him.

We’ve crossed over from Illinois to Kentucky when Kane announces that he’s hungry. He buzzes the rest of the caravan on the radio and tells them that we’re ready to stop for dinner. After a few minutes of chatter, it’s decided that the entire caravan will stop at a diner in Lexington, Kentucky. It supposedly has the best chilidogs and hamburgers.

As we drive past horse farms, with their rolling hills and lush, green grass, I gasp. “Kentucky is gorgeous.”

“Heaven is a Kentucky kind of place,” Kane says, smiling at me in the mirror. “Daniel Boone said that.”