The Grumpy Storm Chaser - Page 9

“Colby Raynes? That good-looking grump on TV?”

My face splits into a smile. “The one and only. But he’s not so grumpy in person. You’ll like him. We’re going to make our way to Mercury Ridge this afternoon. Give Cressida a heads-up so she can prepare her cross-examination questions for him.”

Betty Lou laughs. “I’ll let her know.”

Chapter 7

Colby

Petra cries as we drive through Mercury Ridge. Big chunks of the town are destroyed, but miraculously, the casualties seem to have been low. It always amazes me how so many people can survive a tornado even as their entire house is pulverized.

I pull the truck to the front of the firehouse and Petra jumps out. “I have to check on everyone,” she yells over her shoulder, disappearing into the crowd. My heart aches for a moment at the sudden loss of her before my brain takes control, assuring me that she hasn’t left me. We’re at the same place, and she’s just desperate to find her loved ones. I pull the truck to an out-of-way spot and park.

As I walk toward the firehouse, I spot a curly-haired brunette holding a clipboard. What the hell is she doing here?

“Marjorie!” I run toward my sister, taking in her disheveled appearance. There are bits of twigs in her hair and there’s a bandage on her face. “Are you okay? What are you doing here?”

Her face lights up when she sees me. “Colby! You told me you were going to Tennessee!”

“He accurately predicted where the action would be,” a familiar voice says behind me. “Guess you really are as good a forecaster as me.”

I spin on my heel to see Oz wearing his patented smirk. Like my sister, he’s holding a clipboard. Anger flashes through my veins at the sight of him, but then I spot Petra over his shoulder. She’s talking to a redhead who’s holding an orange cat in her arms. Her smile radiates goodness and light, and I can’t even be mad at Oz right now. Maybe it’s time to let our longstanding feud finally die.

Then he exchanges a look with my sister, and I realize that they’re here together.

The anger flashes back to the surface in an instant. “What have you been doing with my sister?”

He takes a step back. “Whoa! Calm down. It’s not like that!”

“What’s it like?” I snarl.

“Come on, man. You know Marjorie’s too classy to fall for a dumb daredevil like me.”

Marjorie steps between us and smacks my chest with her clipboard. “Grow up, Colby. There’s a lot of people that need help here. Grab a clipboard from Cressida Griffin and get to work.”

My cheeks burn with embarrassment. There’s nothing worse than getting a dressing-down from one’s little sister, but she’s right. There will be time later to get to the bottom of whatever’s going on between Oz and her. Right now, people need help. “Who’s Cressida Griffin?”

“I’m Cressida Griffin.” A pretty woman steps forward and hands me a clipboard. “I also happen to be Petra’s best friend, and I have some questions for you.”

Petra runs forward and launches herself between me and Cressida. “Let’s save the cross-examination for later. Mercury Ridge needs us right now. Put us to work.”

Epilogue

Colby

One year later

I tap my foot nervously, staring at the walls of Cressida Griffin’s office. Her North Carolina license to practice law hangs in a thick wooden frame behind her desk next to her college and law school diplomas. She stares at me from across her desk. In her crisp black suit, she’s all business—and rather intimidating.

She slides a document across her desk. “Are you sure about this?”

“You’re kind of scary, do you know that?” Oz mutters.

Cressida grins. “Thank you.”

I scan through the document, just to make sure it’s identical to the one I previously reviewed. “I’m sure,” I say, signing my name in blue ink and sliding the document over to Oz.

“I’m sure, too,” he says, signing his name next to mine.

Cressida shakes our hands in turn. “Congratulations, gentleman. You’re officially business owners and partners. I hope Mercury Ridge Storm Chaser Tours is a huge success.”