Tangled Pursuit (34 page)

Dilara gracefully arose after her husband dropped a kiss on her lips and told her goodbye. She smiled at Tal, slipping one of Tal’s hands between her own and leaning against the bed. “This is a lot to take in so soon after surgery,” she said soothingly, easing her daughter’s black hair across her shoulders. Dilara took her small brush and comb from her large purse to tame her hair, making Tal very happy. As she gently pulled the comb through her hair, she asked, “How are you doing, Balim?”

Tal’s heart broke a little over her mother’s softly whispered Turkish endearment. She was grateful that she was combing her hair. “Dad tends to overwhelm everyone, Mom,” managing a faint smile.

“I warned him before he got in here to go easy on you,” she said wryly, touching Tal’s cheek and patting it gently. “There’s more, but he tried to rein himself in for your benefit.”

Tal managed a short laugh and nodded. “I could feel it around him. He’s like a racehorse in the gate, chomping at the bit to be let loose so he can run.”

“Well,” Dilara said, “he’s a man who makes things happen. Look how he’s gathered my Greek and Turkish family and rallied them around his vision for Artemis Security.”

“Oh, absolutely,” Tal said, leaning back, luxuriating in her mother’s loving gaze and care. “No question.”

“You’re exhausted.” She patted Tal’s hand. “I feel such sadness around you. What is that all about?” She tilted her head, studying Tal in the growing silence.

Tears suddenly filled Tal’s eyes and she lifted her other hand, pushing them away. She wasn’t one to cry often, not even as a child. “I hate this morphine, Mom. It’s making me an emotional wreck,” she muttered in apology. Her mother made a soft sound of understanding, taking the brush and smoothing the gleaming strands into place around her shoulders, a pleased look coming to her face. “There, you look beautiful,” she said, smiling down at Tal.

“Thanks, Mom,” she murmured, moving her fingers through her hair, so glad that it didn’t look messy any longer.

Dilara released Tal’s hand, went to her tan leather Gucci purse, and pulled out an embroidered white handkerchief after placing the comb and brush in another pocket. She gave it to Tal. Leaning her hip against the bed, being careful not to jolt Tal’s suspended leg, she watched her daughter wipe her eyes. “Tell me why you’re crying, my darling. Something is going on within you.”

Sniffing, Tal gripped the handkerchief in her hand. “Mom, I’ve fallen in love with Wyatt Lockwood.” She shrugged helplessly. “He’s been pursuing me for three years and I kept pushing him away . . .”

“Because of your loss of Brian.” Dilara nodded, giving her a sympathetic look. “But grief lasts only so long, Balim, and you begin to want to live again, to take part in life once more. Perhaps that time has come?”

Taking a ragged breath, Tal whispered, “I guess that’s what happened. It hasn’t been that long since we became intimate, Mom. Everything’s happened so fast, it’s throwing me off-balance.”

Dilara’s delicate mouth drew into a soft line. “You love him, though?”

Tal looked down at the handkerchief gripped in her hand. “Yes . . . yes, I do. But it’s so soon, Mom.” She searched her mother’s compassionate face.

Shrugging, Dilara said, “Balim, he’s been pursuing you for years. He must love you very much not to give up and walk away from you. Doesn’t that tell you something about this man’s heart? How much he’s loved you from a distance for so long? So, it’s not really too soon for him. Perhaps for you, yes. But not for him. He knew he loved you, wanted you, and was willing to wait, yes?”

“Yes,” Tal admitted, pain in her low voice. “I’ve been running through all of that, Mom. And you’re right. I was grieving for Brian. I was so frightened of ever falling in love with another military man.” She looked away, trying to think coherently through the morphine. “He and I have talked about all of this . . .”

“And I’m sure, with what has just happened,” Dilara said, smoothing her hand over her daughter’s lower arm, “that this must be tearing both of you apart. Wyatt must know you’ll be leaving Bagram soon.”

“I’m sure he’s already put that together.”

“And how long must he remain here?”

“Four months,” Tal muttered, shaking her head.

Dilara moved forward and gently enfolded her daughter in her strong arms, just holding her.

Tal slid her arms around her thin, graceful mother. Her spicy perfume was so much a part of her and right now, it was like an elixir of life to Tal. She breathed it in.

In a few minutes, Dilara gave her a careful hug and released her. “Your young man, Wyatt . . . I thought as we sat with him in the officers’ dining room that there was something very strong and important between you.” Her eyes danced. “Of course, I don’t think your father saw the subtle signs, but women are far more sensitive about reading body language and voice intonations.” She smiled fully. Pushing some strands of hair away from Tal’s cheek, she added, “I could tell Wyatt loved you. He choked up a couple of times and I saw tears in his eyes, which he hid very quickly from us.”

“He does love me, Mom,” Tal said brokenly. “But I know it’s going to get crazy in here in a little while . . .”

“You want to see Wyatt before you leave tomorrow morning, yes?”

A lump formed in Tal’s throat and she closed her eyes and drew in a serrated breath. “I have to, Mom. I can’t leave without saying goodbye to him . . .”

Nodding, Dilara said lightly, “Then I will tell Robert, and I’m sure that Wyatt’s CO will allow him at least an hour to come here to see you. Will that be all right?”

It was more than all right. When a general made a request, few said no. Her heart lifted and she felt the dark heaviness around her begin to dissolve. “Yes, more than all right, Mom. Thank you . . .”

W
YATT KNOCKED LIGHTLY
on Tal’s door. It was nearly midnight, and he swallowed his frustration. He was sure Tal was asleep and hated to wake her up. But she was leaving at 0800 aboard her father’s Air Force Gulfstream jet. He waited a moment and then quietly slipped in the door. He halted, staring at the massive bouquets of colorful tropical flowers sitting in vases all around the room. Their fragrance was strong. There was a table filled with food, some half-eaten; other plates that had been cleaned up; and still others that had foil wrapped over the top of them.

Wyatt approached Tal’s bed. She was sleeping, and she looked so beautiful to him. Wyatt could see the weariness in her face, but at least her cheeks had their color back, and for that he was grateful. Her hair, once hanging loose and tousled, had been combed until it shone with blue highlights beneath the lamp that was still on. Someone had artfully pulled her hair up into a casual knot on top of her head and fastened it with two silver combs. He would bet it was her mother who had done it.

He smiled a little as he went silently to her right side, watching the shadows move across her classically sculptured face. After meeting her mother, Cousin Angelo, and the three Turkish uncles, he saw a little of each of them in Tal in large and small ways.

There had been a big party in her room, no question. Wyatt saw a number of gifts of candy, pistachios, dates, and other fruit from Turkey. He saw baklava, white sugar cookies, and walnut cake that he recognized from the year he’d spent in Greece with his SEAL team. There were unopened bottles of champagne and wine, as well. And there was a tall, yellow bottle of Greek retsina, which Wyatt had absolutely no taste for. He was a beer drinker, pure and simple.

He looked at the instruments, noting that Tal’s blood pressure and pulse were normal. That was excellent. It meant she’d recovered from the shock, allowing her body to fully function after her major surgery. Tal frowned in her sleep, her lips parting. Bad dream? Probably. Wyatt hesitated, not wanting to wake her, yet his heart begged him to do just that.

“Wyatt?”

He smiled down into her barely open, cloudy-looking eyes. “Hey, darlin’. Sorry to wake you. It’s almost midnight.” He grazed her cheek with his thumb, watching her respond like a cat would to a caress. There was almost a purring sound deep in her throat, and he sobered. Tal was leaving in eight hours. She was being ripped out of his life, and he wouldn’t be able to see her for at least four months. Emotionally, that staggered Wyatt, but he closed it off and shoved it deep down in his kill box. Right now, all his focus was on Tal. He didn’t want her stressed or worried about him when she left Bagram.

Groaning, she fumbled for a button near her pillow and pushed it. The bed whirred and slowly brought her up into a near-sitting position. She dropped the button and wiped her eyes. “I thought you’d be here sooner. Is something going on?”

Her voice was low and husky with sleep. He moved his fingers slowly up and down her forearm, feeling its velvet firmness. “Yeah, the shit hit the fan over at our platoon. We got called out to assist a Delta Force team. In fact, it was Matt’s team.”

Tal’s eyes snapped open.

“He’s fine,” Wyatt quickly added, seeing her instant worry. “His team got ambushed near a village by around fifty Taliban. They called us for reinforcements and the platoon answered. I led the teams in and directed fire.”

She searched his features. “Are you all right?”

He grinned lazily. “A little firefight isn’t taking me out, Tal, so get that worry out of your mind, okay? And Matt is fine. Came through without a scratch. We got back an hour ago by helo. I think he’s visiting your parents at their DV quarters right now. He’s coming over here after that to see you. You’re not gonna get much sleep before you leave.”

“Thank God he’s okay. I worry about him and Alexa.” She shook her head. “A lot.”

“Alexa, from what I understand, flew in here late this afternoon off several missions. She had dinner with your parents,” he told her. “Has she visited you yet?”

Tal smiled a little, tucking her fingers into his. “I swear, Wyatt, if she smells Greek and Turkish food in the air, my little sister will find it. Yes, she landed at 1600 and came straight over here to see me. And of course,” Tal said, sitting back against her pillows, “she’s always been the darling of our family. So full of life, laughter, and smiles. All the uncles and my cousin deluged her, hugged and kissed her. They fuss over Alexa. She doesn’t look like a combat pilot, so they worry more about her than Matt or me, who look like we can take care of ourselves.”

He studied her. “Taking nothing away from Alexa, you’re a ground warrior. It’s a lot more dangerous for you than it is for her. Do your relatives realize that?”

Shrugging, she said, “I don’t think so.” Then, changing the subject, she said, “How do you like my hair? My sister helped me with it. Do you like my new ’do?”

“Yeah, makes you look like a young woman going to college,” he teased. “I thought your mom might have arranged it, but I was wrong.”

“My mom combed and brushed my hair because it was so messy. Alexa has all those girly things in place. She takes after Mom. She put my hair up. I can remember when I was twelve, my mom was trying to get me to sit down and learn how to use makeup.” She laughed a little and shook her head. “Alexa, who was ten, was always sneaking into her dresser drawers, where Mom had her makeup. She was always putting on lipstick, trying some of the gold or silver barrettes that our mom loves to wear in her hair. I was the tomboy, Wyatt, never the fashion model.”

“I happen to think that tomboys are very courageous and fearless,” he murmured, leaning over, cupping her jaw, guiding her mouth to his. Wyatt saw the regret in Tal’s eyes. She honestly thought she was less feminine than Alexa, but he was going to show her how wrong she was. Her mouth opened eagerly to his and he felt her fingers slide upward across his chest.

She tasted of honey, and Wyatt smiled, wondering just how much baklava she’d eaten earlier. And he tasted coffee, as well. More than likely, her beloved Turkish coffee. He heard purring in the back of her throat as he gently held her in place, nudging her lips open even more, tasting her more deeply. Tal smelled wonderful, and there was a new scent, perhaps cinnamon, in the strands of her hair. Everything about this woman of his smelled so damned good to him. Wyatt ached to take her, hold her, love her until she fainted from the pleasure he knew he could give her. But none of that was possible right now. He had to be careful not to jostle or move Tal too much, or her leg would take off like a mean banshee, causing her a lot of hellish nerve pain.

Sliding his hand up her warm, firm cheek, he eased from her mouth, hearing her breathing changing, growing shallow, her fingers digging into his shoulder, letting him know that she wanted him. He smiled a little. “I like what I see in your eyes. You’re hungry, darlin’, and it’s not for all that good food that’s in this room.”

The doors to his heart swung wide, and he heard Tal’s whispered laugh against his cheek as she clung to him. Sliding his arm slowly beneath her neck, Wyatt moved as close as he could to her. He hadn’t taken a shower after that firefight and he smelled sweaty; he was dirty and his uniform was dusty as hell. He’d come straight off the patrol and headed out for the hospital, seeing the order from General Culver to visit Tal. That was one order he was definitely going to follow. What the general didn’t know was he needed no one to tell him to come visit the woman he loved with all his heart. Wyatt was sure that Robert Culver had talked to his OIC and cleared the path for him to be here as soon as he could, and not have to cut through red tape to do it. He had a helluva lot of respect for her father. He was a man who paid close attention to every detail.

Closing his eyes, Wyatt eased her against him, being very, very aware of that leg of hers. Tal couldn’t move much one way or another, but he could lean a long way forward and practically cover her with his tall, wide body. He felt Tal relax and sag fully against him, her brow pressed against his jaw, her hand moving slowly across his chest. “I love you, Tal,” he rasped, kissing her hair, her temple. “And we’re going to get through this together. I just want you to get out of here. Home is a damn good place for you to recuperate. You’ll be completely safe there. And turning in your commission is the right thing to do now. Your father said he had a staff of nurses and anyone else you might need coming in to help you.” He squeezed her gently, feeling her trust him fully with herself.