Chayton's Tempest (38 page)

“And what brings you to Albuquerque? Or more

specifically my bar? Is something wrong with James?”

Xaria
shook her head. “No.
Mav’s
fine. I wanted to meet

you and give you my number in case you needed anything.”

“Thank you…I think.” Tempest didn’t understand why

this stranger would do this.

Xaria
laughed. “You’re wondering what the hell I’m

doing.” She reached out and set her hand on Tempest’s arm.

“We’re family and we are there to support one another,

especially when the men are deployed.”

“That’s great, but I’m not married to him. So I’m

wondering.”

“You mean the world to
Mav
, so you are our family.”

Xaria’s
green eyes held hers unwaveringly. Her words

were said with such conviction, Tempest realized she meant

every word.

“Look, I know you are working, but I’d love to get to

know you better.”

Tempest felt drawn to
Xaria
. She didn’t have many

female friends. Never had. This woman, however, seemed very

likable, so Tempest acted on that.

“We close in two hours. If you don’t have a place to

stay, I have an empty room you can use.”

A brilliant smile crossed
Xaria’s
face. “Wonderful. I’d

love to take you up on that.”

“Great.”

Xaria
sat at the end of the bar, nursing her drink. A man

next to
Xaria
began hitting on her. Tempest got back to work as

the man was rebuffed gently but firmly. In fact, Tempest

watched her turn down numerous offers without blinking.

When they closed up, Dakota chatted with
Xaria
while

Tempest went through her nightly routine.

“Do you have a car?” Tempest asked.

“No, I took a taxi.”

Tempest arched a brow as she waved goodnight to
Mili
.

“So, you have a hotel room.”

“No.” She gestured to her bag. “I have my stuff right

here.”

“Okay. Let’s get going.” Tempest double-checked the

lock on the front door.

Together, everyone headed out the back. Tempest set the

alarm and then unlocked her vehicle.

“I’ll see you later, Mom. I’m going to Shelia’s.” He

kissed her. “A pleasure to meet you, Mrs. O’Shea.”

“Likewise, young man.”
Xaria
opened the door and

climbed in Tempest’s ride.

“Night,
Dak
,” Tempest said as she opened her door and

got in. “So tell me about you,” she said to
Xaria
as she started

her vehicle and headed for home.

“I lead ice expeditions.”

Tempest coughed and looked to her passenger. “What?”

A husky chuckle filled the interior of her Envoy. “Yes. I

do ice trekking and lead expeditions. Mostly in Antarctica.

That’s how I met
Aidrian
. He came to get tips.”

“That’s very cool. And way romantic.”

Another round of laughter. “Well, it didn’t start off that

way, but I must say it all turned out for the best.”

“I didn’t get to talk to him much, but he seemed very

nice.”

“I like to think so,”
Xaria
said lightly.

Tempest pulled into her drive and once inside showed

Xaria
the guest room. “If you need anything, please, let me

know.”

“I will. Thank you for your wonderful hospitality.”

“My pleasure. Can I get you something to eat or are you

seeking bed?”

 
“I’d love to chat some more.”

The sun was coming up before they knew it. Tempest

felt like she’d found a sister at last. “Guess I should make

breakfast.”

Xaria
yawned. “Wow. I’m sorry; I didn’t mean to keep

you up so late.”

“No problem. I had a great time.”

It was true.
Xaria
was a lot of fun to be around. She’d

answered questions that Tempest had wondered about. She’d

filled her in on the other wives, telling her they’d really wished

they could have made it out to meet her.

“If you’re tried get some rest, I can make something to

eat later.”

Xaria
yawned again. “That sounds like a plan.”

They slept until afternoon. Tempest made brunch and

then they went shopping with
Mili
. Dinner was she and
Xaria

at The Owl.

Xaria
left Monday afternoon and had given Tempest the

number of all the wives on the Team, telling her they were all

available to her. Tempest had given
Xaria
her numbers as well

and hugged her as she dropped her off at the airport.

_

Maverick felt a wave of sadness as the other members of

his Team were welcomed home with their wives’ open arms.

Tempest.

His entire body longed to be with her. He waved his

hand at his friends and climbed on his bike. He rode to his

apartment and lit a cigarette as he dropped his bag on the floor.

He grabbed a beer from the fridge and sat down on his

couch. It bothered him that Tempest wasn’t with him, more

than he’d ever thought it would.

He needed her like he needed air to live. How would he

convince her of that? Without another thought, he picked up

his phone and called the other half of his soul.

 
“Hello?” Tempest’s voice came across the line loud and

clear.

“Hello,
mitawin
.”

“James,” she said on a sigh. “Back safe?”

“Every part in working order,” he responded.

She chuckled. “That’s always a good thing.”

“Could be even better if you were with me,” he said,

testing the water.

“Is that a fact?”

“That most definitely is a fact. I miss you, Tempest.” He

took a long drag of his cigarette.

“Another fact, James?” she asked.

“I’d never lie to you,
mitawin
,
” he said frowning.

“If you say so.”

Pots clanged in his ear. “What are you doing?”

“Cooking.” More noise. “I’m sorry, James, but I have to

go. Glad you made it home safely.”

“Wait,” he blurted, unwillingly to let her go.

“Yes?”

“Do you miss me?”

She sighed. “We aren’t teenagers, James. I don’t have

time for this.”

“I know we’re not teens, even if I feel like one. I don’t

know how to handle this.”

Silence reigned.

Finally she spoke. “Handle what, James?”

What
was
he doing? What did he want? “Courting you.”

“Is that what you’re doing?”

“Yes. I mean…” He stumbled, overwhelmed, by the

feelings swarming him.

“James,” she spoke softly and he heard no censure in her

voice, only her gentle tone. “What are you talking about? You

live on the other side of the country. I have a hard enough time

having a relationship with Burl and we’re in the same state.

Same city, actually.”

 
“You are
not
having a relationship with him!” he

thundered.

He could almost hear her grind her teeth. “I’m not

arguing with you about this.”

“Good. That makes two of us.” He ground out the butt

of his smoke. “I’m not sharing you.”

“Sharing me?
You’re
not sharing me?” Her words were

sharp and cold. “I’m not yours, James. You need to get that

through your thick skull.”

He made a fist and tried to relax it. “No, Tempest. You

do. You belong to me, just like I belong to you.”

A sharp, exasperated breath left her. “Don’t get all

Tarzan on me. I don’t do that.”

“If that’s what it takes to get you to realize what I

already know! By God, if carrying you off over my shoulder

and beating my chest gets the point across, then damn it, that’s

exactly what I’ll do!”

“That’s totally ridiculous behavior.”

“Damn it, Tempest! Why are you fighting destiny? You

are
mine
!” he growled into the receiver.

Click.

Tempest hung up on him. Amazed and speechless,

Maverick looked at the phone in shock.

“Fuck!” he yelled, tossing it across the room.

That hadn’t gone as intended. He’d expected her to just

agree like he longed her to do.

Putting his head in his hands, he groaned in dismay.

There was no way Harrier would let him leave again. A

situation was brewing in which they had to remain near. Very

near.

Muttering in Lakota, he went to his phone and called her

again. No answer. He growled deep in his throat and tried her

cell. His cell was immediately sent to voicemail.

Tossing the phone beside him he lit another smoke.

His phone rang and he scrambled to answer it.

“Tempest?”

 
“No,” a female’s voice bit off sharply. “Why would she

be calling?”

“No reason you need to concern yourself with why,

Mother. What do you want?” he retorted just as sharply.

Tempest was confused. Part of her longed for Maverick

to mean what he said. She wanted him to toss her over her

shoulder. She wished he
would
go “caveman” on her and take

her away.

It was so much easier to ignore his demands when he

was so far away. However, that didn’t stop the longing.

A few nights later, after cleaning up from her light

dinner, her doorbell rang.

Wiping her hands on the towel on her shoulder,

Tempest opened the door and froze. Out of all the people she

would have imagined showing up at her house,
he
was

nowhere on the list.

“Hello, Tempest. May I come in?”

At least he got my name right.
She didn’t know what to

say. Tempest stepped back and silently waved him in.

Slow steps took him past her into her sanctuary.

Tempest remained silent as her visitor sat down on one end of

a couch.

His dark eyes stared at her, moving up and down her

body as if trying to memorize her.

“What do you want?” Tempest questioned, finally

finding her voice.

“Did you get my letter?” His voice was frail.

“Yes. James gave it to me. What. Do. You. Want?”

“I needed to see you again. The brief glimpse I got of

you in Little Creek wasn’t enough. You are my daughter.”

“No!” she snapped. “No, I’m not. You gave up your

parental rights. I’m nothing more than your niece at the very

least, one you’ve ignored for over twenty years.”

His face tightened with shame and pain. “It was the

biggest mistake I ever made.” His words were barely spoken