Covering her mouth with her palm, Allie Schwartz rocked in her seat. If the minivan didn’t stop soon, she’d lose her lunch. Contrary to her best friend Taryn’s insistence her body would acclimate to the endless hours of driving up and down the highways of Oklahoma, her motion sickness had actually grown worse.

Thank goodness it was the last day of vacation.

On the other hand…

Staring at the back of the man behind the wheel, she almost regretted having to leave tomorrow. Five days of lusting over Drake Roberts, Taryn’s older brother and the leader of their storm-chasing tour, and she hadn’t made a single successful move on him.

Not that she hadn’t tried. Sure, they’d discussed the differences between supercell tornadoes and land spouts, and they’d laughed over how they both secretly loved the movie Twister despite its flaws, but when it came down to flirting with the sexy tour guide, she’d found her tongue tied in knots.

Sitting beside her in the second row, Taryn nudged her with an elbow to the ribs. “Great view, huh?”

Still looking at Drake, Allie sighed. “Amazing.”

Her friend laughed. “I meant the one outside this vehicle.” Dropping her voice to a whisper, she added, “He doesn’t do relationships, so he’s perfect for what you’ve got in mind. Are you finally going to get the nerve to ask him?”

Allie cringed, hating that her friend knew her so well. “Don’t you dare,” she said, narrowing her gaze at Taryn. “It would be weird to have sex with my best friend’s brother. Especially since you helped write my naughty list.”

Because Drake had moved away before Allie had known Taryn, they’d never had the chance to meet, but after she’d seen his picture, she’d developed a tiny crush on him.

Six months ago, Allie had beaten her cancer into remission only to almost die from pneumonia. Taryn, rather than cry at the injustice of it all like the rest of her visitors, had given her hope, helping her create two bucket lists.

The first detailed future activities the two of them would do together, including going on a storm-chasing tour with Drake’s company. The second spelled out all those naughty sexual fantasies Allie had always secretly wanted to try. Fantasies she’d pictured trying with a man who looked exactly like Drake.

As soon as she’d gotten out of the hospital, they’d made their reservations for the storm-chasing tour. But she still hadn’t crossed off a single item from her naughty list.

Forcing her attention away from Drake, she stared out her window at the dark clouds hovering over the open field in the distance. She leaned forward in her seat as far as her seat belt would allow. “Is that an anvil at the back of the cloud to the northeast of us?”

“Good spotting, Allie,” Drake said. “We’re going to get a little bit closer to the storm before we get out to take pictures. The radar’s showing a slight rotation, but nothing to indicate the formation of a tornado yet.”

He knew how much observing a tornado meant to her. When he’d asked their tour group why they’d each paid over two thousand dollars to drive in a cramped car for six hours a day on the slim chance they’d see a tornado, she’d parroted everyone else’s answer about experiencing the rush of the chase. Although Taryn hadn’t told him anything about Allie’s medical history, he hadn’t bought her reason and had pulled her aside a few minutes later to ask for the real one. So she’d told him the truth.

Surprising her, Drake hadn’t responded with an “I’m sorry,” as if he’d caused the cancer, a phrase she’d heard umpteen times this past year from everyone from her aunt to the mail man. Instead, he’d hugged her, called her “courageous,” and promised her a tornado.

Even after everything she’d been through, she hadn’t once felt courageous. Until then.

And that was when she’d fallen hard for Drake Roberts.

Their vehicle slowed and veered off the side of the road and then came to a complete stop next to a wheat field. She thanked the stars her lunch wouldn’t make a reappearance, because she may have been out of the dating scene for a while, but she didn’t think getting carsick was the way to impress a guy.

Drake unbuckled his seat belt and shifted in his seat to face them. “This seems like a good area. Why don’t you all take your cameras and get some pictures while I check NOAA for an update and check out the NEXRAD.”

If she hadn’t worked for two years as a scantily clad weather girl for a small television news station, she wouldn’t have had a clue that NOAA stood for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration or that NEXRAD was a network of Doppler radars operated by the National Weather Service. Apparently, the embarrassment of the job had been worth it.

Thrilled for the chance to stretch her legs and stand on solid land, Allie slid the door open, hopped down to the gravel, and released the lever to drop her seat, allowing Mary and Eric, the older, married couple in the third row, to get out of the minivan.

Filled with nervous excitement, she inhaled the ozone scent of the approaching storm and searched the sky underneath the ominous wall cloud for a sign of a forming tornado.

The driver’s window rolled down, and Drake stuck his head out, catching her gaze with his pale blue eyes and a grin. “Allie, want to help me analyze the data?”

An opportunity to spend time alone with Drake and play with thousands of dollars’ worth of meteorological equipment?

Are tornadoes measured on the Enhanced Fujita Scale?

Hell, yes.

Taryn gave her a wink before she and everyone else vacated the van and crossed into the field to check out the developing storm. At the moment, Allie only had eyes for Drake as she climbed into the front seat and wiped her damp hands on her khaki shorts.

Nothing to be nervous about. They were just two weather enthusiasts hanging out together.

Yeah, if one of those weather enthusiasts wanted to rip the other’s clothes off and use her tongue to lick a trail from his neck to his—

“I have a good feeling about this storm.” Drake fiddled with the screen in front of him, enlarging the map of the area. “See this here?” He tapped the screen. “Even the crew outside might not see a tornado forming. The dual-pol radar can differentiate between precipitation and a debris ball, which shows up as purple on the reflectivity image. When the red outbound velocities meet the inbound velocities in green, we’ll have a strong rotating column of air, and when we see the signature hook, you’ll get your tornado.”

She didn’t completely understand, but she nodded anyway. “I noticed you said when and not if. How do you know it will happen?”

“Because I promised you a tornado,” he said, squeezing her naked thigh and letting his hand linger, the heat of it awakening the nerves of her male-touch-deprived skin. “And I never disappoint.”

Air rushed out of her lungs, leaving her breathless and dizzy. The innuendo in his comment begged for a flirtatious response, but as usual, her mind went utterly blank. By the time she’d come up with a snappy response about testing the veracity of his statement, the opportunity had passed, and Drake had removed his hand from her leg to play with the Doppler.

She made a living as a television news producer, for Pete’s sake. Verbal communication was as natural to her as breathing. And it wasn’t as if she were a virgin. She didn’t have a huge amount of experience, but she’d had a couple of long-term relationships.

Her throat grew dry, one of the mild side-effects of the condition Allie had contracted on day one of her vacation. Taryn had laughingly dubbed it “Drake-a-titis.”

Allie grabbed a cherry sucker from her purse, unwrapped it, and stuck it in her mouth. Because it had decreased her nausea, she’d spent months of chemo treatment sucking on the candy. At least this was one symptom she could treat.

Unfortunately, there was only one cure for the heavy ache in her breasts and the subtle tingling between her thighs, and there wasn’t a chance in hell she’d ever find the courage to ask Drake to help her with it.

He turned his head toward her and suddenly stilled, fixated on her mouth. It sent delicious shivers down her spine, and the subtle tingling morphed into a full throbbing. She swallowed and cleared her throat, breaking the eye contact to rummage through her purse again. When she pulled out another sucker, he continued to stare at her. “Here you go.” She awkwardly handed him the candy, immediately kicking herself for not using the opportunity to get him to kiss her.

A slow smile split his face as he took it from her trembling hand and then unwrapped the lollipop. “Right. That’s exactly what I need. Thanks.” He blew out a breath and muttered something she didn’t hear, returning his attention to the data in front of him before popping the candy between his lips.

She slouched in her seat and looked out the window, pretending to check out the sky. Gah, she was so out of practice on the flirting front. “So…” Maybe she should just straight-out tell him she was attracted to him and wanted to hook up for a one-night stand. That way if he rejected her, she’d be on a plane back to Chicago in twenty-four hours. “What got you into chasing storms?”

He leaned closer, and she caught his tantalizing scent beneath the cherry candy. It reminded her of the sweet smell in the air right after a rainstorm. “I’ll let you in on my secret. I used to be terrified of weather. Not only tornadoes. Thunder and lightning too. When the weather turned bad, I’d hide under my bed until my parents would slide me out by my ankles. I spent many nights asleep under that mattress. Ask my sister.”

She couldn’t imagine a strong man like Drake fearing anything. She admired the way he always moved and spoke with confidence. “What changed?”

He tipped his head, his caramel-colored hair flopping over one eye. “When I got to middle school, my parents took me to a child psychologist who explained to them I suffered from a phobia of extreme weather.”

“That’s hard to believe. You’re always so controlled.”

“You have no idea,” he muttered, raking his fingers through his hair. “Every week the shrink made me write another paper on a weather-related topic. After a few months, I knew more about weather than my teachers. I became obsessed, but I was still terrified, even knowing the facts.”

Drake plucked his candy from his mouth and narrowed his gaze on the radar, a small crease forming over the bridge of his nose. He continued his story, although he seemed preoccupied by the burgeoning weather. “That’s when my therapist took me outside in the middle of a thunderstorm for some exposure therapy. I stood there, trembling as the cool rain poured over me like the Niagara Falls, the thunder rumbling so loudly the ground shook, and I realized my interest in the science of weather superseded my fear.” He yanked his attention away from the Doppler and smiled at her. “I didn’t experience a tornado until I went on my first storm-chasing tour at eighteen. I’ve been doing it since.”

“What an incredible story. You’re very brave.”

He shrugged. “Hardly. Just a weather geek who turned his irrational fears into a healthier obsession.” Pivoting in his seat, he faced her with a serious expression. “Even though I can’t control the weather, it helps to control my movements within the weather. Does that make sense?”

She nodded. “When I had cancer, I lost control of my life for a while. That’s one of the reasons I created my bucket list.”

“What other—” A beeping and some shouts coming through the radio interrupted him. He laughed. “I told you I’d find you a tornado.” Sure enough, the Doppler displayed a purple blob, but she couldn’t make out the hook. Guess that’s what makes him the professional. “Ready to have your world rocked off its axis?”

Her breath caught as she visualized a more pleasurable way for him to rock her world. Bad girl. The moment she’d waited for had arrived, and instead of enjoying it, she was working her way down the naughty list in her head. “You mean by the tornado?

“Yeah,” he said, his dangerous gaze returning to her mouth, “but if you need help rocking anything else, feel free to let me know.”

FOCUS.

Drake jumped out of the minivan, willing his thoughts to return to the amazing opportunity waiting for him beyond the wheat field.

Catching sight of the tornado in the distance, Allie practically skipped over to Taryn, her short blonde hair bouncing.

A couple of the male tourists gawked at Allie’s ass. Not that he could keep from doing the same, but at least he could trust himself not to hurt her. As one-third owner of this tour company, he had a duty to keep Allie safe. Yeah, usually that meant from weather-related scenarios, but he figured it applied to protecting innocent women from lecherous men. He didn’t know much about these guys other than they managed some insurance agency in Long Island.

Shit, he shouldn’t be watching her with the storm nearby. Good thing his official Blow Me Away Storm Chasing Tours golf shirt was long enough to cover the hard-on about to burst through his jeans. If the other owners, his friends Cole and Jack, caught sight of it, they’d never let him live it down.

From the moment he’d met Allie, he’d wanted her. In his bed. Against the wall. On the hood of the minivan. Anywhere and everywhere.

But she was his little sister’s best friend. Too innocent and fragile for what he’d demand from her. Plus, he didn’t need Taryn learning his tightly wound need for control crossed into the bedroom.

To further complicate matters, he’d signed a contract with his buddies that included a clause about not fraternizing with the paid guests. When he and his friends had started this business three years ago, they’d all agreed hooking up with women from the tour went against their ethics.

Damn ethics.

In the dozen of tours he’d led, he’d met lots of beautiful young women, several who let him know they were available for a night or two. A couple of them may have briefly tempted him before his rational side had kicked back in to remind him of why it would be a terrible idea.

When it came to Allie, his rational side was hanging by a thin thread. For the last five nights, he’d jacked off to fantasies about tying her up and tasting every square inch of her delectable body until she begged him to let her come.

He was a bastard for even thinking about all the ways he’d like to sexually torment the shy, sweet cancer survivor.

Cole sauntered up to him, his video camera in one hand and his digital SLR camera hanging off his neck, and pounded him on the back. “Good of you to join us. I’ve got the video of the formation. Want to see the playback?”

“No. I’ll catch it later.” At the end of the tour, they’d watch all the footage and review their photographs to see if any were worth selling. Cole could make the ordinary appear extraordinary through the lens of his camera. He wasn’t only a photographer and videographer. He was a damn gifted artist, and someday he’d probably leave their asses behind for an overseas job with National Geographic.

Today’s tornado was perfect. Sometimes it was difficult to make out the details because of the rain, but luckily the precipitation stayed in front of it, allowing his tourists a clear glimpse of the long snakelike funnel that appeared almost white against the charcoal sky.

He caught a quick peek at Allie.

Big mistake.

The two insurance agents had her sandwiched between them. A strained smile on her face, she kept her gaze on the tornado while she nodded at the men. This tornado meant more to her than just a moment to boast about to her friends, like so many of the others who came on these tours. She’d survived cancer, and out of everything she could’ve chosen to do in celebration of her life, she’d picked this experience. His tour. That had to mean something.

No way would he allow these two clowns to ruin it for her.

He looked around and spied Taryn over by Jack, the rigidness of her spine and the fists on her hips indicating she was mad at the technology expert. His sister had one hell of a temper, and thankfully it wasn’t directed at him this time. But she was oblivious to her best friend’s current situation.

He stalked to Allie and stepped directly behind her, listening as the two guys explained the basics of tornadoes, information found in the tour’s welcome packet. How could he get rid of them without making a scene?

Ignoring his gut that told him once he touched Allie, he’d have a hell of a time letting go, he wrapped his arms around her waist and tugged her into his chest. “Sorry I left you alone, babe.” He buried his nose in the side of her neck and fought the urge to nibble on that silky cherry-scented skin. “I promise it won’t happen again.”

She momentarily stiffened before relaxing against him. She turned her head around and peered up at him with an electric smile he felt all the way to his cock. “I missed you. Alex and Tony were telling me that based on the size of the tornado, it’s obviously an F-0.”

“Actually, Alex, Tony, the size of the tornado has no bearing on the categorization of the strength. The Enhanced Fujita System is a wind estimate based on damage. Even this tube tornado can do significant damage.” Enjoying the feel of Allie in his arms, he decided he couldn’t pass up an opportunity like this. With a back-and-forth motion, he lazily massaged her abdomen over her T-shirt. Spurred on by her small gasp, he slipped his hand underneath and brushed his fingers across her hot flesh.

Her stomach rippled under his hand as she surrendered in his hold, her breath growing rapid and shallow. His cock hardened at her natural submission. He needed to get rid of these guys pronto. “I’d be happy to give both of you a complimentary book on extreme weather which will explain it in detail. If you give Cole your information right now, he’d be happy to set it up for you. Just tell him Drake said to prepare a Blow Me Package for you when we return to the hotel.”

Whether they bought it or not, he didn’t care. They thanked him and headed over to Cole. His friend would no doubt rib Drake for cock blocking the guys, but frankly, Drake didn’t give a shit what he thought, because at the moment, the woman who’d starred in his dreams every night this week was pliant in his arms, and judging by her breathing, she was enjoying it every bit as much as he.

“Thanks for getting rid of them,” she murmured as she began to pull away. He didn’t give her a chance before he yanked her back.

If she’d protested even a little, he would’ve released her. Instead she surprised the hell out of him by resting her head against his chest and wrapping her arms in front of her to take one of his hands.

Was there a chance his sister’s friend wasn’t as innocent as she appeared?

He nuzzled her ear. “I didn’t want you to miss out on your tornado.”

She shivered. “Is that the only reason?”

It was on the tip of his tongue to tell her the truth. That his territorial caveman act wasn’t an act at all. That he wanted far more from her than a couple of hugs and handshakes.

But he couldn’t do it. They lived in different states, and he was starting his new job at the end of the month. She deserved more than a kinky one-night stand. Even though he’d make it a night she’d never forget.

A cool, light rain fell as he reluctantly released his hold. “It’s my job to protect my guests.”

She moved beside him, giving him the same tight smile she’d given the insurance agents. “You did your job. They’re not going to bother me again. I’m sure you need to check on the other guests, and I want to enjoy this moment.” Her soulful brown eyes locked onto his, and he realized at once he’d made a colossal mistake. “Alone.”

He took a step closer, lifting his hand to touch her face before dropping it to his side. “Allie, if things were different—”

The rain went horizontal, and his blood ran cold.

The winds had shifted. The tornado was being pulled into the core.

“Get back in the minivan,” he said in a firm voice. She opened her mouth to speak, and he cut her off. “Now. We have to get out of here.” Obviously realizing the seriousness of the situation, her eyes widened, and she ran toward the vehicles.

Despite his urge to carry her off and take her somewhere safe, he had a job to do. Another sixteen lives depended on him, including his sister’s.

“I need everyone to return to the van,” he shouted over the roar of the winds. The distant tornado wasn’t distant anymore.

Cole quickly herded the panicked guests to the vehicles. They had a few precious minutes to outrun the twister.

A tug on his arm surprised him. Out of breath, Allie gazed up at him with worry. “I can’t find Taryn.”

“Maybe she’s already back in the van.”

She shook her head. “I checked all three of them. She’s not there and neither is—”

“Jack.” The last time Drake had seen Taryn she was yelling at his best friend. He scanned the fields and spotted a small structure. He could think of only one reason for Jack and Taryn to have gone inside, especially after witnessing in the past few days the heated way his friend had gazed at Taryn when he’d thought no one was looking. “Allie, tell Cole to get his van out of here and head west.” He fished out the extra keys from his pocket and handed them to her. “Get Mary and Eric, and you drive Jack’s vehicle. Follow Cole. I’ll find Taryn and Jack and meet up with you.”

She looked as if she wanted to say something, but she smartly ran for the minivans. He clenched his fists as he headed toward the shed. He’d better not find Jack fooling around with Taryn, because if the tornado didn’t kill Jack, he just might.

While Drake had honored their agreement not to get involved with the guests, Jack had to go and risk everyone’s life because he couldn’t keep it in his pants.

With Drake’s sister.

Gritting his teeth, he crossed the wheat field, the rain and wind battering him as he cursed under his breath. Out of nowhere, Allie appeared at his side, and his anger at his friend immediately morphed into fear. “I thought I told you to take the van and get out of here.” The rumble of the wind grew louder, and the ground shook as the tornado approached.

“Taryn is my best friend. I’m not leaving her behind,” she shouted over the noise. “Where is she?”

He pointed at the wooden structure located about a hundred feet ahead of them. “I’m guessing she and Jack are inside that shed.”

If they couldn’t get out in time, they’d have to take shelter there, but he wouldn’t trust it to withstand winds over seventy miles an hour. It was a gamble. One he didn’t want to take with Taryn and Allie’s lives.

He grabbed Allie’s hand, and they dashed the remaining distance to the building.

There was always a risk when chasing storms. He knew it and made certain the participants of the tour knew it. They signed three different waivers printed in bold. Yet despite the risks, he never thought he’d ever find himself or the participants in any real danger. He took all the necessary precautions, and in the years he’d chased tornadoes, they’d never come this close. He’d assumed science and technology would give him the ability to keep them safe. He never thought his obsession with storms would lead to injuries of the ones he cared about the most.

The guilt of placing his sister and Allie in the tornado’s path soured his stomach. When they got out of this alive—and there was no other option—he’d make it up to both of them. He’d do whatever it took to ensure Taryn’s happiness, even if it meant giving his blessing to date his best friend. As for Allie, if he had the chance, he’d hand her the world on a silver platter. She deserved happiness after everything she’d been through.

He’d played by the rules and honored the company’s damn non-fraternization clause of their contract, but if they got out of this situation safe and sound, he was going to make his move.

As they got to the front door, it flung open, and Taryn stormed out with Jack hot on her tail.

Seeing Drake and Allie, they stopped, Taryn flushed and Jack looking like a kid who had gotten caught with his hands in his girlfriend’s cookie jar.

A sound similar to a train whistle warned of the impending danger.

“What is that?” Taryn covered her ears.

“The finger of God announcing its presence,” Jack said, his long black hair blowing in every direction. He grimaced. “Do we have time?”

“I don’t think we have a choice,” Drake said. “Let’s go.”

As they raced to the van, the sky darkened to an eerie onyx tinged with green and the storm raged, cloud-to-cloud lightning cracking over their heads, letting Drake know they weren’t going to escape the twister’s wrath.

The air had grown so thick it was as if he was wading through the ocean against eight-foot waves. The pressure squeezed him like a vise, making it difficult to take a deep breath. He tightened his grasp on Allie’s hand, worried the wind would blow her away from him.

His ears popped almost continuously. Bits of wheat, grass, and earth slapped at his skin. His eyes and mouth were dry and gritty. He slid his tongue over his gums, disgusted by the amount of dirt it collected.

He heard his sister’s shout and fought against the wind to turn his head in her direction. She’d fallen to her knees, but before he could react, Jack hoisted her off the ground and took her hand.

As they approached the van, the rain stopped and, oddly, the air smelled like freshly baked bread.

The wind’s roar grew louder. He’d once taken a boat ride near the Niagara Falls. This tornado sounded similar to that giant waterfall. He didn’t feel any of the excitement he’d felt standing near one of nature’s greatest wonders—only fear, knowing they were too late to outrun the cyclone.

They struggled to open the doors of the van and jumped into the vehicle. Half-dollar-sized hail battered the windshield. Drake punched the gas. He’d driven no more than a block before the outer winds hit. Helpless, he said a silent prayer, knowing they were at Mother Nature’s mercy.

The tornado lifted the front of the minivan into the air. They hovered above the ground for a moment before crashing back down. The winds pitched them back and forth, tilting the vehicle on its sides, and then it spun them in circles.

Taryn and Allie screamed in the backseat. His breath stalled in his chest, and his heart accelerated into a triple-time beat. A cold sweat broke out on his forehead as he wrestled the wind for control of the van.

He should’ve never allowed Taryn and Allie to come on the storm-chasing tour.

A lifetime later, the twister tossed them to the side of the road and continued its journey into another field. The winds slowed, and the noise quieted to a low rumble.

He took a deep inhalation to steady his nerves and tore his fingers from their tight grip on the steering wheel. “Is everybody okay?”

“Yeah, man, I’m golden,” Jack said. “That was one hell of a ride. Too bad we didn’t get the chance to record it. Taryn, you kosher?”

“I think so. I’ll let you know as soon as my heart starts beating again. What about you, Allie?”

Allie didn’t respond.

He didn’t think it was possible, but his heart raced even faster. Was Allie injured? Why wasn’t she answering? He swallowed down the lump in his throat and jumped out of the van.

He didn’t bother to assess the damage to his vehicle, but there was no missing the dent in the driver-side passenger door. His stomach plummeted to his feet.

He’d never forgive himself if she’d been harmed.

Sliding open the door, he held his breath.

Allie snapped her head to the left, her eyes wide.

Thank God she was conscious.

He exhaled and raked his gaze over her, assessing her for injuries. She had a small scratch on her cheek, grass in her hair, and she was covered in dirt, but he didn’t see any bruises or blood.

He released her seat belt and took her hand. “Are you okay?”

She blinked several times and parted her lips but didn’t speak.

Was she in shock? All the information he’d learned in his emergency medical care class about the condition came rushing back to him.

He placed his thumb over the pulse point in her wrist, relieved to discover it strong and steady. Her complexion was rosy, her skin was warm, and her pupils looked normal and responsive.

She wasn’t in shock, at least not the physically dangerous kind. So, why then was she not responding?

He dug into his pocket and pulled out his cell. “I’m calling 9-1-1.”

She reached out and tugged on his shirt. She pressed her lips together, but a giggle escaped. Then as if someone had replaced the oxygen with nitrous oxide, she tossed back her head and laughed so hard, tears rolled down her cheeks.

Taryn moved closer to her. “I think she’s lost it.”

“Maybe we should check for a head injury,” Jack said.

Drake stared at her for a long minute. She was the most beautiful woman he’d ever known. When his sister introduced them a few days ago, it was as if he’d been punched in the gut. For a few moments, he hadn’t been able to breathe.

This was the friend Taryn had told him about? Honestly, he still thought of his sister as a child, so her friends were automatically lumped into the same category. But Allie was all woman. Had her beauty been limited to her outer appearance, he wouldn’t have given her another thought, but hers went bone-deep. It hadn’t taken more than a brief conversation with her about her experience with cancer to see her strength and her enthusiasm for life. She hadn’t allowed her illness to break her spirit, and she hadn’t let a little tornado break her either. He admired her for it.

Shaking his head, he smiled and laughed right along with her, releasing all the stress of the last ten minutes. The more he laughed, the more relaxed he became. Apparently, laughter was contagious, because Jack and Taryn joined them.

They’d survived the tornado without anything more than a couple scratches and dents. If he’d learned anything today, it was that he’d better seize his opportunity before he lost his chance. Life was short. It was time to put his promise into action. Tonight, he’d do everything in his power to make Allie his.