Authors: Aliyah Burke
turned her face toward him with his free hand. Upon seeing
her expression, he just shook his head and pulled her in close.
Pressing her head into his shoulder, he let her cry it out.
He didn’t have any idea what the problem was, but he truly
cared about this woman and wanted to marry her. Burl pulled
her in closer and rubbed her back.
After a few moments, Tempest pulled back and wiped
her eyes. “Oh, my God, I’m so sorry I did that. I don’t know
what the problem is.”
He helped her wipe the tears. “Don’t be. I’m here if you
want to talk.”
“I’m just feeling overwhelmed.”
“Anything I can help you with?”
“No. Just that the father of my son has come back into
my life and it’s
sorta
tossed me into a tailspin. I haven’t seen
him since I was pregnant with Dakota.”
Having met her son, he asked, “How’s Dakota taking
it?”
“So, so. It’s not easy, but he’s handling it.” Tempest held
his hand tightly as they sat there under the streetlight.
Pursing his lips, Burl stated, “He’s a wonderful kid.”
“I know. It has to be hard not knowing your father for
your whole life and then one day he just appears out of the
blue.” Tempest tried hard for a smile but failed.
“Come on, let me take you home.” Burl stood and
helped Tempest up too.
“I’m sorry I ruined the evening.”
“Sweetie, you didn’t ruin it. I was glad to see you and
any time I can spend with you is never a waste.” His strong
arms surrounded her in a hug and he placed a kiss on the top
of her head.
Tempest slid her arms around him in return. “I’ll make
it up to you.”
“Well, that’s something I won’t let you forget,” Burl
teased as they headed for his car.
As Burl kissed her goodnight outside of her house,
neither was privy to the hard dark eyes that watched the
exchange. Large fists bundled as the man watched the kiss.
The longer it went on, the angrier Maverick became.
Seconds before he was ready to announce his presence and put
his fist in the tall man’s face, the kiss ended.
Maverick growled. So this was the Air Force man, the
one who wanted to marry Tempest. His eyes looked
desperately for any sign of a ring on her finger. In the low light
level, he couldn’t see anything; but also her left side was not
toward him, either.
“You won’t marry him, Tempest.” His voice was low
and deadly. “You belong to me, and I’ll be
damned
if I let you
go to someone else!” Maverick was rigid with fury. Black
flames poured from his gaze and he observed the couple. It
was time to stake his claim.
Be careful,
his mind warned,
she’s
still leery of you and your motives.
Fifteen
Maverick didn’t make his move until the other man
spun around and climbed into his Nissan
Xterra
. Tempest
waved as he drove away. There was a small smile on her face
as she faced her door.
“Is that the man who thinks he’s going to marry you?”
Maverick demanded as he materialized beside her.
A scream erupted from her as her whole body jumped.
“Oh, my God!” she hollered as she took a swing at him.
Maverick blocked it even while extremely impressed with her
reactions. “What the hell do you think you are doing?” Her
hand covered her chest as she tried to calm her rapid breathing.
“I didn’t mean to scare you.”
Tempest shook her head and retorted, “What the hell
did you
think
was
gonna
happen when you jumped out of the
dark at me?”
He smiled at her reaction. “I didn’t jump out at you.”
“Whatever. One minute you aren’t here then suddenly
you are.
I
call that jumping out at me.
You
can call it whatever
you want.”
“Oh, I’ve been around,” he responded, his voice
dropping lower. “I think you were just too damn busy to
notice.” Maverick stepped closer to her.
Tempest trembled. This man was dangerous. She tried
to shrug nonchalantly.
“How could you?” His question was a low growl.
“How could I what?” Her head turned to keep an eye on
him as he prowled around her.
“Go from my arms into his.” Maverick back her up
against the wall of her house. Strong arms boxed her in. “Did it
mean so little to you?”
Blinking slowly to give herself extra time, Tempest tried
to ignore the masculine scent that seemed to permeated her
pores. “We’ve already discussed that was nothing more than
two people comforting one another. Want to tell me why you
were waiting in the dark?”
“Don’t change the subject. Is that the Flap who’s been
wooing you?” He pressed closer to her.
Dark eyes narrowed. “What the hell’s a Flap?”
Maverick ran his tongue over his teeth. “Sorry. It’s
someone
in the Air Force. Now answer my question.”
“What was your question?” Tempest was getting all
muddled by his nearness.
“That man, who dared put not only his hands but also
his lips upon you, is
that
the one Dakota was talking about?”
Shivering at the thought of him jealous, Tempest didn’t
respond. Instead, she looked everywhere expect directly at
him.
“Look at me, Tempest,” he ordered. In case she wasn’t
inclined to listen, he used one callused hand to help her.
“Who that was is really none of your business,” she
muttered softly.
“Oh, my sweet, naive
mitawin
. This is all my business.”
“No,” she protested as his face drew closer.
“Yes,” he spoke against her lush lips. “You, Ms.
Tempest, are all my business.”
Licking her lips in an attempt to control her nerves, she
shivered as her tongue swiped over his in the process. “I’m
not.” She tried to make him understand.
“Oh, baby, you have never been more wrong. You are
my
chante
,
my heart. I’m going to be in your life, yours and
Dakota’s.”
“You don’t know me anymore; and to be honest, I’m not
sure I want you to.” Tempest pushed back from his touch and
managed to open the door to her house. “Listen, James, I think
you’re just feeling guilty for how this whole thing went down.
I’m glad that you and Dakota are beginning to work things out
between you, but like I said before, I’m not part of this deal.”
Reaching one hand out to hold her immobile, Maverick
stared down at her, observing how her skin shone in the
entryway light of her home. “
Mitawin
,
I do feel horrible about
what happened and I will continue to do my best to make up
for it. I also know you don’t believe me.” Rubbing his thumb
across her lower lip, he whispered, “You are so much more
than just ‘part of the deal’ and I will show you that.”
“Goodnight,” she said softly.
Leaning in to brush their lips together one more time,
Maverick mumbled, “Don’t lead him on. He isn’t the man for
you.
Nimitawa
ktelo
.
Mitawin
.”
Even though she didn’t understand the words he spoke,
the meaning wasn’t all that hard to decipher. “My life, my
choices.” She stepped back into her house and closed the door
gently in his face.
Tempest locked it and forced herself away from the door
because she knew she would let him in otherwise. His image
was implanted in her brain as she slipped in her bed. “Damn
you, James. Damn you for making me feel something for you.”
The next day in the mail a letter was hand delivered to
Tempest. Closing her front door on the afternoon sun, she sat
down on her couch and slit it open. Inside she pulled out a
handwritten note.
Tempest,
This isn’t a bribe. This is not me trying to buy affection, from
either you or Dakota.
I looked into it and this is some money to help repay what I wasn’t
around for, like back child support. I know I owe you both so much
more than this, for I can never repay not being around.
Don’t try to return it to me; it’s for you, Tempest.
I just wish I could have been there.
You are my
mitawin
,
and I won’t abandon you ever again.
Maverick
A cashier’s check fell upon her lap. Tempest picked it up
and almost fainted. The amount was more than she ever would
have dreamed of holding in her hand. “Oh, James. I can’t
accept this.” Tears welled up in her eyes as she held it to her
chest.
“Everything okay, Mom?” Dakota asked.
“Fine, just fine.” She sent him a shaky smile to assuage
his fears.
“You don’t look it; are you sure?”
“I’m sure.” Tempest looked at her son. “You and James
seem to be getting along; do you know where he’s staying?”
Dakota shook his head. “I have his number. Let me get it
for you.” Tempest buried the letter and remained seated as
Dakota brought her a slip of paper. “Here you go.”
Her hand shook as she took it. “Thank you.”
Instead of leaving, Dakota sat down beside her. “What
aren’t you telling me, Mom? There’s something bothering you.
I know it so don’t bother denying it.”
“I don’t know, Dakota. I’m just confused,” Tempest
admitted.
“Because of my
fa
…Maverick showing back up?”
“Yes.” She tipped her head back to lean against the
couch. “For so many years, I was able to hide behind my anger
at the injustice of it all.” Tempest paused. “But if he was telling
the truth about not knowing, then my anger at him is unjust.”
“I don’t know what he is up to, but he really does seem
sincere. And you had every right to be mad, don’t start feeling
guilty about that.” He kissed her on the cheek and stood. “I’m
off; I’ll be back later. I have to go see about my paper in
Principles of Cultural Anthropology.”
“Bye,” she said on a whisper as he left the house. For a
brief moment, Tempest sat there and just looked at the letter
that had found its way back into her hand. She closed her eyes
and ground her back teeth.
Shoving up from the sofa, Tempest grabbed the handset
off the charger and dialed the number on the paper before her.
Her foot tapped out a cadence as she waited for the person on
the other end to pick up.
When the masculine voice answered she snapped, “I
need to see you. Give me the address of your hotel and room
number.”
Thirty minutes later, Tempest stood before a pale-green
hotel door. Her hair was swept up off her neck and piled on