Winner Takes All by Laurie Winter

Author:Laurie Winter [Winter, Laurie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: fiction, sweet, Enemies to Lovers, Adventure, Reality TV, road trip, Small town, Texas
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Published: 2018-12-18T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

Day 8

The next morning, Storm awoke feeling like he’d slept with his head stuck in a vise clamp. A deep throb pulsed behind his eyes. He rested in bed for an extra few minutes, unwilling to move and cause more pain.

When he finally rose, nausea rolled from his stomach up to his throat. He couldn’t get a migraine. Not now. Rummaging through his pack, he found the plastic lunch bag his mom insisted on packing. Stored inside was a packet of dried tea leaves wrapped in cloth. When he opened the bag, a spicy scent tickled his nose. Rose might lack in many areas, but she did know natural medicine.

He descended the wide front staircase and headed straight for the kitchen. After asking their hostess for a mug of hot water, he dipped the homemade tea bag into the steaming water and inhaled. The familiar aroma of chamomile, ginger root, and lemon balm eased the pain in his head.

He hadn’t experienced a migraine in a long time. The stress of the race, along with his unresolved feelings for Colleen, made him more susceptible. His first migraine had appeared in grade school. Recently, they’d all but disappeared. Storm attributed the relief to his uncomplicated lifestyle as an organic farm consultant. The fresh air and freedom had done wonders to improve his mental and physical health.

Once he owned his own farm, he wanted Harper to learn the gift of nature. She’d witness the miracle of growing something from seed to something good to eat and use the earth’s resources to protect tender plants from insect damage and disease.

By the time he left the Safe House, the tea worked its magic. With his headache reduced to a shadow of its former self, he drove to the hot air balloon site. He crested the final hill, and a large field spread out, spotted with bright, rainbow-colored, hot air balloons. His stomach plunged, churning with nerves. An early morning fog rolled over the valley. Storm counted five balloons at various levels of inflation. He parked then joined Colleen, Brad, and Rob. The colorful balloon loomed high above, with a basket tethered to the ground by thick ropes. Roars from the propane burners echoed across the field.

“We’re the first ones here.” Colleen patted Storm’s arm. “The basket can hold four, plus the balloon operator. You can come up with us.”

“Are they almost ready to go?” The thought of ascending inside a flimsy wicker basket terrified him. He imagined falling to his death, and a cold sweat dripped down his face.

“The balloon dude just went to his truck to get something.” Rob took a slight step toward Colleen. “As soon as he gets back, we go.”

Wonder what the ‘balloon dude,’ as Rob so eloquently stated, needed to retrieve from his truck? A parachute? His last will and testament? Bile rose in his throat.

Their flight operator returned, wearing a wide smile. “Can’t forget the barf bags.” He waved the small, paper sacks then motioned toward the basket. “Climb on in.

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