Chayton's Tempest (12 page)

seen in her gaze each time he touched her.

Maverick watched Tempest as they strolled through the

Rio Grande Botanic Gardens. His sharp hearing picked up the

light chime of a phone. Tempest reached into her purse and

pulled hers out, answering immediately.

“What?” her astonished voice questioned. “He’s there

now?” A nod before she said, “Tell him I’ll be there as soon as I

can.” She hung up.

“What’s up?” Maverick queried.

“I have to go. I apparently have a delivery of alcohol

waiting for me at the bar. I will drop you off at your bike first.”

It took him less than a second to respond. “That’s fine.

I’ll tag along with you. I don’t mind at all.”

Tempest wanted to argue but in truth, it would add a bit

over an hour for her to go home and back to work again. “Let’s

go,” she acquiesced in a flavorless tone.

“Right behind you,” he told her.

Driving quickly, she whipped into the back of the bar

and halted her vehicle by the door. The truck was already there

and so was Dakota. His eyes widened as he saw Maverick with

her but he remained silent about it.

It didn’t take long to unload the truck. Tempest worked

hard alongside her son. Maverick helped move the stock

around in the cellar.

Dakota had said a polite hello to Maverick before kissing

his mother and getting to work. He made no mention of having

stopped off to see his father at the hotel and Maverick didn’t

say anything about it, either. As he stood in the cellar, his father

walked up the steps. His eyes narrowed.
I’m not
gonna
let you

hurt my mom.

Maverick strode through the doorway and toward the

bar where Tempest was doing some restocking. Setting the box

on the bar, he went behind the counter.

His black eyes skimmed over the body of the woman

back there. Each time he looked at her, he saw something

more—more grace, more beauty, more elegance. More

everything.

“Here’s the last box,” he said softly.

Tempest jumped. “Oh, jeez, you scared me! I didn’t hear

you. Thanks for the help.” She spun around and grabbed the

heavy box, lifting it to where she wanted it.

“I would’ve done that.” His reprimand fell like a gentle

rain on her skin.

“That’s fine. I’ll be done soon; sorry about the delay.

I love being around you.
“No
prob
, I can wait.”

“There’s no need for that.” Dakota’s voice broke in. “I’m

more than happy to take you back to the house and your bike.”

“It’s no problem, really,” Maverick said.

“I insist.”

That time, Maverick caught the hint of aggression in his

son’s voice.
Well, I definitely have a lot of ground to make up with

this one as well.
“Sure, thanks for the offer.” Now wasn’t the

time to further piss off his child.

Maverick placed his attention on Tempest, who was

busy counting bottles. “Thanks for lunch, Tempest.”

Those brown eyes looked over at him. The smile was

hesitant but arrived on her face. “You’re welcome.” That was

all she said before she returned to work.

Maverick met his son’s gaze. “Let’s do this.”

Dakota gestured for him to go ahead. “I’ll see you later,

Mom. Love
ya
.”

“Bye,
Dak
,” she hollered as he walked out the back door.

Being in such close proximity to Maverick had been

hard. The way he kept staring at her and forcing eye

connections was more than a bit disconcerting, to say the least.

“I just don’t know what to make of you, Maverick,” she

told her empty establishment.

Shaking her head, Tempest went back to work.

Determined not to focus on that hunk of a man with whom

she’d eaten lunch and gone to the gardens.

Dakota’s black eyes burned him hotter than the sun ever

could. Maverick felt his razor-sharp gaze.

“Something you want to say to me?” Maverick asked,

meeting and holding the intense glare.

Unlocking the car doors, Dakota jerked open the driver’s

side door. “I don’t want you messing around with my mother.”

“I’m not
messing
around with your mother.”
No matter

how much I want to strip away her clothes.
Maverick opened his

door much more gently.

“See that it stays that way. If you want to know about

my childhood, ask me; leave her alone,” the young man

snapped as he climbed in the car.

Putting his large body in the car, Maverick thought

carefully about his next words. “I will leave your mother alone

if she asks me to. I know you don’t trust me, and I wouldn’t if

our positions were reversed. All I can tell you is that I don’t

want to hurt her. I want to get to know her. I want to know

both of you.” He pulled the door shut.

Dakota scoffed. “Why, do you think we’re going to be

one big happy family?”

“Anything is possible,” Maverick responded softly,

testing the waters. Eyes identical to his own widened and then

narrowed.

“So is the chance of hell freezing over,” Dakota

mumbled under his breath, unaware that Maverick could hear

him just fine.

I know you long for a father figure, Dakota. I just have to

figure out a way to gain your trust.
“Tell me about you, then.” He

chose to stay on the relatively safe path.

With a huge sigh, Dakota nodded. “Okay. I’m in college

here at the
University
of
New Mexico
. I’m double majoring in

African-American Studies and Anthropology.”

Maverick was impressed, and then the thought of how

much money it was probably costing them made his stomach

churn with disgust, disgust at himself and both sets of parents

for not allowing them the chance to be together.

For the rest of the ride back to where he’d left his bike,

Dakota talked to him and Maverick listened. He asked a few

questions here and there, but for the most part remained quiet

and learned about his son.

As Dakota pulled into the driveway, they both noticed

another car was there. A very pretty black woman was leaning

against its door. Maverick noticed the possessive smile that

crossed his son’s bronzed features. “I take it you know that

lovely woman,” Maverick observed.

The second smile Maverick had been blessed to see

crossed Dakota’s face. “That I do. That is my Shelia.”

One black eyebrow arched. “Your Shelia?”

A faint blush appeared on Dakota’s dark skin. “My

Shelia. She is an amazing woman.” He got out of the car and

headed over to where she remained waiting.

Maverick climbed out slowly, his gaze watching the easy

way Shelia moved into his son’s embrace. They made a very

attractive couple. Her skin was dark brown and her hair was in

short, springy curls. She had big brown eyes and delicate facial

features.

The slam of the car door brought their attention back to

him. A smile was on her face as Shelia nodded at something

that Dakota told her. Then she patted him on the arm and

approached Maverick.

“Hello,” she said in a melodious tone. “I’m Shelia.”

Taking the soft hand in one of his, Maverick smiled

back. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Shelia. My name’s

Maverick.”

“It’s nice to finally meet Dakota’s father.” At the slight

raising of one eyebrow she laughed, a gentle soothing sound.

“Please. I can see the resemblance, especially with the eyes;

although yours seem much more haunted.”

Maverick took a really good look at the woman before

him. Her eyes were wise beyond their age. “It is an honor to

meet the love of my son’s life.”

This time she blushed. “You have an amazing young

man as a son.”

He nodded. “I’m beginning to realize that myself. It was

a pleasure to meet you, but I have to get going.” Lifting his

head, he placed his gaze upon the suspicious one of his son.

“Thanks for the ride.”

Maverick sent Shelia another smile and bowed over her

hand before he headed to his bike. He waved one time prior to

revving the engine and driving away, leaving the young couple

alone.

Dakota walked over and slipped his arms around Shelia.

How perfect she felt in his embrace.

“I like him,” she said quietly.

That statement gave Dakota pause. Shelia rarely made a

quick decision about anyone. It had taken her over a year to

accept his proposal for a date. “Why do you say that?”

Shelia turned in his arms so she could look up into is

eyes. “He’s clearly devastated by what has occurred. Whatever

drove him and your mother apart, it was not of his doing.

That’s a man who has seen much death, loss, hopelessness and

suffering, but none of that compares to what he’s feeling as he

faces the fact he’s let the two of you down.”

Dakota tilted his head down and stared back at her.

“Are you sure about that? I don’t want him to hurt my mother

again.”

Shelia blinked slowly. “What do you think? What do

you feel when you talk to him? There’s no maliciousness in

him.” She paused. “Not when it comes to you. I can sense he’s

a hard man, but his emotions regarding you and I would guess

your mother are genuine, unfeigned, and they scare him.”

He nodded, amazed by her perception. “You are one

hell of a woman, Shelia.” His lips brushed lightly against hers,

stirring to life the embers that never seemed to die with her in

his life.

“I know,” she replied with a teasing smile. “But, you’re

not so bad yourself, Dakota Falcon.” Her body arched against

his and for a moment they forgot they were outside in view of

everyone.

Dakota remembered and pulled Shelia into the house

after him and down the hall to his bedroom where they

stripped one another of clothing and proceeded to make love.

Back in his hotel room, Maverick pressed the number on

his phone that would connect him to the person he sought.

“Hello?” He sank back down on the bed as the familiar voice

reached his ear.

“Hey, man,” Maverick said.

“
Mav
, what’s up?” Hondo asked. “How are you doing

down there in
New Mexico
?”

 
“I need some advice.” he admitted as he reached for a

cigarette and lit up.

“What’s going on?” Hondo questioned. Maverick rarely

requested assistance.

“I need to find a way to gain someone’s trust.” Maverick

took a long drag of his smoke.

“A woman?”

“Yeah. I’m at a loss at how to proceed here.”

Hondo sat down heavily. This was not common

Maverick behavior; women were never a problem for him.

“You know I have to ask this. Who is this woman to you?