Chayton's Tempest (22 page)

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Authors: Aliyah Burke

BOOK: Chayton's Tempest
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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

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