Chayton's Tempest (27 page)

His eyes moved over her tight jeans and white shirt,

wishing they were alone so he could strip them from her

mouthwatering form and make love to her all night long. Her

flawless movement and genuine smile as she took money from

the others for their drinks made his body clench with desire.

It still cut deep when she walked away from the table

without another glance at him.
Talli’s
gasp of outrage pulled

him back from his zone on Tempest. “What,
Talli
?” he asked,

annoyed.

“Are you going to let him talk to me like that?” she

hissed.

Looking at the woman his parents wanted him to marry,

Maverick saw a lost little girl. Granted, she was hidden behind

a conniving and vindictive bitch of a woman, and that woman

was pissed at the moment.

“Let who say what?” Maverick demanded.

“That…that…that man.” Her finger pointed at Hondo.

Maverick met his friend’s gaze. There was suspicion and

disbelief in Hondo’s black eyes. “What’d he say?” His eyes

never left his friend. Maverick trusted Hondo implicitly. While

his bond was tight with all the men, he was closest to
Aidrian

“Hondo” O’Shea.

Hondo’s accented voice answered, “I just wondered

why she was drinking a Kamikaze if she were pregnant.”

Maverick swung his gaze to
Talli
. “That’s a very good

question,
Talli
. Why are you?”

Her eyes spit daggers at Hondo. “I wanted something to

calm my nerves before telling you about the baby. I was scared

of your reaction.”

Maverick narrowed his eyes. “This is your second one.

Besides, you are not having my baby.” He ate a pretzel.

“Whosever baby it is you should take better care of it and

yourself. Stop being stupid,
Talli
, and grow up.”

Anger flashed in her eyes again as she stared at

Maverick. “How can you say that? It’s your baby. You know

we slept together.” Desperation filled her eyes. “Why are you

doing this to me?”

Maverick leaned in close to
Talli
. He was aware of his

teammates watching him and he was aware of Scott talking to

Tempest again, but he had to clear this up with
Talli
before he

could do anything else. “Listen to me and listen well. When we

had sex, we used a condom, despite your attempts to get me

not to. And, I never came inside you. I didn’t find release that

night until I jacked off in the shower, so there is
no
way any of

my sperm made it into your body.” His voice was low growl.

“Stop this damn charade and stay out of my life. Go home and

tell our parents this new ploy didn’t work either.”

Her eyes grew wide, but he didn’t care. “I’m not

kidding,
Talli
. Don’t fuck with me about this. I’m not in the

mood to play these games.”

“What the hell does that bitch have over you? Why do

you want her?”
Talli’s
face scrunched up with hate and anger.

“She’s never going to forgive you for leaving her all those years

ago. Never!” she spit at him, her spittle landing on his cheek.

“Your father wants us married and we will be, even if I have to

ruin your career to do so.”

A low, menacing chuckle left him. “Well, well, well. I see

your true colors have finally surfaced. You are threatening my

career and you think I’m going to marry you to keep you from

doing that?” He wiped her spit off with a napkin.

“Don’t push me, James,” she warned. “I will be your

wife.”

 
“Not so long as there is breath in my body. But you go

ahead and do your worst. I can’t wait to see what the paternity

test says, and then I’ll sue you for slander and ruining my

career.” Maverick swallowed and flicked a hand, indicating the

men at the table. “It will be our word against yours.”

“You would rather have a
ni
…black woman than me in

your life? Out of nothing more than guilt for how you treated

her? I’ll get her to stay away from you.”

His eyes hardened. “I think you should leave,
Talli
,

before I forget you are a woman. Don’t threaten her or my son,

or I will send you to see
Wankantanka
before your time.”

Talli
gasped. “You bastard! You’ll pay for that. If I don’t

get you, James,” her eyes narrowed into tiny slits, “no one

does.” She grabbed the remainder of her drink and tossed it

into his face, then stomped out.

Maverick reached for a napkin and as he dried his face,

he looked at each of his teammates who watched him solemnly.

He had no idea who snorted laughter first; but soon, everyone

was laughing his ass off at him. It didn’t take long for him to

start in as well; but even as he did his, mind worked on ways to

protect Tempest and his son from
Talli
and her viciousness.

Tempest tried to ignore the pain that filled her heart. She

should have known better than to believe he wouldn’t be with

anyone else. But why? Why do that to her?

“I don’t know how much shinier that bar will get,” a

deep masculine southern voice said.

Jerking her head up, Tempest saw bedroom-blue eyes

looking back at her. Scott. “Right,” she muttered. Gesturing to

his near-empty glass she queried, “Need a refill?”

“Please,” he answered. As he pulled out his wallet and

opened it a picture fell out onto the bar, sliding to land before

Tempest.

“Your family?” she asked as she picked it up.

The love she saw in the photo almost brought tears to

her eyes. Scott stood beside a beautiful black woman who had a

stunning smile. Each of them were holding a child, he had a

boy and she was holding a younger girl. Both children were

beautifully complexioned and the boy had his mom’s eyes

while the girl had the same blue her daddy did.

“Yes. They are my pride and joy.” His voice echoed that

statement. “My wife,
Lex
and our children,
Brodie
and

Dyandra
.”

“You have a beautiful family,” she said, handing back

the photo.

“Thank you.” Scott placed the picture back in his wallet

and handed her some money. “Your son is very handsome. I

see a lot of his father in him.”

Brown eyes slashed back to clash with his blue ones.

“And how well do you know his father?”

“I trust him with my life,” Scott answered without a

second’s hesitation. “Your son has that same look on his face

that screams of steadfast loyalty no matter what.”

“I see.”

“You don’t see his father in him?” Scott asked.

The thought of lying to the man sitting before her

crossed her mind; but for some reason, Tempest heard herself

agree. “I do. I see a lot of his father in him.”
And it scares the hell

out of me.

“It’ll all work out,” Scott said.

“What are you talking about?” Tempest questioned the

handsome blond.

A shout further down the bar grabbed her attention; and

as she moved to take care of him, Scott followed her with his

eyes as he drank more of his drink.

Against her better judgment, Tempest found herself

glancing back down the bar at the man who had faith in

Maverick. James
Chayton
Lonetree
. Whatever he went by, it

didn’t matter, for there was one thing that didn’t change and

that was who he was to her. The father of her child.

Scott watched her unerringly with his piercing eyes.
Not

a man I want on my bad side, even if he is using crutches.
She

shivered slightly as she imagined the damage he or his friends

could dole out should a situation call for it.

Tempest smiled at her son as she passed him and found

herself standing before Scott again. His eyes remained locked

with hers and Tempest noticed a flicker cross his face. She

doubted she would have even registered it if one eye hadn’t

twitched. Without a word, she grabbed a glass, filled it with ice

and poured a drink in it.

“Drink this.”

“I’m fine,” he said.

“It’s ginger ale. You look nauseous.” She pushed the

glass to him. “Drink.” His hand shook slightly as he reached

for it.

Tempest made eye contact with
Mili
, who was at the bar

getting more drinks. “
Mili
,” she said.

The woman met her gaze with one eyebrow raised.

“Yeah, Boss?”

“Watch the bar for a few. I have to discuss something

with this man.” She gestured to Scott.

“Okay,”
Mili
said without hesitation.

Tempest took Scott’s glass. “If you will just follow me,

we can continue this discussion in my office.”

Scott slid off his stool and used his crutches to follow

her. As soon as Tempest closed the door behind her, she

commanded, “Lay on the couch until it passes.”

Scott sat on the cocoa sofa and leaned back, closing his

eyes. “Thank you.”

Setting the drink down on the end table within his reach,

she asked, “Can I get one of your friends for you?”

“Tyson.” Scott opened his eyes. “Please.”

Tempest reached out and touched his shoulder. “Be

right back.” She dimmed the lights on her way out.

Striding across her business toward the table with the

extremely handsome men, Tempest sent
Mili
a look saying she

wasn’t finished yet. Her eyes landed on the rugged face of

Maverick. His eyes were focused totally on her, his predatory

gaze scorching.

Damn you, James!

She felt all of their eyes on her as she reached the table.

After a mental shake, she glanced at Tyson. “I need a word,

please. If you would come with me.” Tyson rose immediately.

“Thank you,” Tempest said before nodding to the others who

watched avidly.

She knocked softly then opened her office door. “I’ll

leave you both alone.” She made room for Tyson to get into her

office and shut the door on them.

As she made her way across the room, Maverick got up

from his chair and moved toward her. Swallowing, she

changed course at the last minute. The words she’d overheard

had been so difficult to hear.
I don’t want to hear excuses from

him.

Unfortunately, the man she was trying to avoid realized

her motive and readjusted. His callused fingers grabbed her

wrist, not hard, but enough to halt her. Her body reacted

violently—a good or bad violent she wasn’t sure. The only

thing she was sure of was the surge of lust that shot through

her.

“Let go of me!” she hissed.

Maverick tightened his hold. “Hear me out, Tempest.”

“No! You listen to me. You need to leave me alone. I like