Lethal Temptation

by Kaylea Cross

  “Me too. I’d come down to visit a lot more, but my training schedule’s kicking into high gear.”

  “Yeah, how’s that going?” Avery asked, helping herself to a chocolate-dipped piece of pineapple.

  “Good. Hard, but good. Though ever since getting this thing, nothing really seems that bad by comparison.” She shifted the prosthetic where her right foot and lower leg used to be.

  Four years now. She would never regret her service to her country, but she did still miss her foot. Crazy to think how much her life had changed since that horrible day. She’d survived so much, including the latest blow of seeing her baby girl move down here to go to college. Tala missed her like crazy.

  “I’ll bet,” Avery said, and Tala noticed her eye kept trailing over to Mason, who was in the kitchen laughing at something Tate was saying. She thought she’d felt some sparks striking off those two, and she was never wrong about that kind of thing. Her own romantic life was nonexistent, since the only man she wanted had no clue and was usually thousands of kilometers away from her at any given time.

  “How long have you been doing biathlon?” Nina asked, cradling a glass of white wine in one hand.

  “Just over a year now. Hoping to make the para national team next season, though I’m considered kind of long in the tooth as far as biathlon goes. That’s my goal, anyway.” She hated talking about herself, though, and she was more interested in Nina and what was happening with Avery. “So, nothing more on whoever’s been stalking you?”

  Avery glanced at her from the loveseat across from the sofa she and Nina were seated on. Tala had met her twice before, and had talked to her on the phone dozens more. Avery was a levelheaded badass, and Tala was thrilled that Tate had been partnered with her. “Not yet. Hopefully soon. Tomorrow I’m following up on some leads my contact in Billings uncovered today.”

  “You’ll track ‘em down,” Nina said with absolute confidence. “But enough of that—Tala and I are dying here. What’s going on with you and Mason?” She popped a grape tomato into her mouth, eyes wide with curiosity.

  “Dying,” Tala agreed, leaning forward. “So spill.” She’d already been here when Avery and Mason arrived thirty minutes ago, and had picked up on the vibe between them almost instantly. “I’ve known Mason for years, and always hoped he’d pick someone good for a change. And you’re definitely one of the good guys,” she added with a grin.

  Avery cleared her throat and raised her wineglass to her lips. “Not exactly sure what’s happening yet,” she mumbled, taking a sip.

  It was clear enough to Tala. That boy was seriously into Avery, and Tala couldn’t be more thrilled. Avery was exactly the kind of woman Mason needed. Someone strong and independent, but also kind and patient. Someone who appreciated all his mostly good qualities, and was willing to work with the rest.

  “Okay, fair enough,” Nina said. “But you’re into him, right? Because you look like you’re seriously into him.”

  Avery shrugged, trying to downplay it. “Yeah.”

  “I love it.” Her voice was rich with satisfaction.

  Avery shot Nina a frown. “Why do you love it?”

  “Because while you’re opposites in a lot of ways, you also complement each other well. Exactly like Tate and me.” She beamed at Avery. “Plus, I think you’re good for him. And I know he’s good for you.” Her grin made it clear she meant between the sheets.

  “Definitely,” Tala agreed with a decisive nod. “He needs someone steady and solid.”

  Avery smiled at the compliment. “And do you think he’s good for me too?”

  Nina’s gaze shot to Tala, worry in her eyes. “He won’t hurt her, will he? Because Avery’s already had her heart trampled on once.”

  Avery grimaced. “Nina, jeez.”

  “Well, it’s true.”

  Tala reached out to take Avery’s hand and squeezed it in reassurance. She liked Avery, and Mason deserved to find happiness. They could make it work if they were willing to put their pasts behind them. “He’s a good guy with a big heart. Just look at how he treats his dog.”

  “I know. It’s the darkness in him that worries me.”

  Tala sobered and withdrew her hand, easing back into the sofa. “Did he tell you about what happened?”

  “Yes.”

  Tala blinked in surprise. “Then that’s huge.” Veterans didn’t talk about that kind of shit with anyone they didn’t trust. And if Mason had made the effort with Avery, then that spoke volumes about his feelings for her. This relationship had serious potential, and Tala hoped it worked out for them.

  Avery shifted on the loveseat and stared into her wineglass. “Just trying not to get ahead of myself.”

  Nina shrugged like it was no big deal. “Falling for someone is always scary. It’s a leap of faith. If your gut says it’s right, then it’s right, and all you have to do is make the jump.”

  The words hit Tala hard. She liked to think she was brave, but the reality was, she was too chicken to make her own jump. Too afraid of being rejected and ruining everything.

  Avery gave Nina a bland look and Tala shook her head. “Is she always like this?” Tala lifted her chin at Nina.

  “Honestly? Yeah. She’s our little miss ray of sunshine. Can put a positive spin on pretty much anything.” She playfully touched the tip of Nina’s nose.

  Nina wrinkled it and leaned away. “It’s a gift. But I’m not a dog. You don’t get to boop my nose. Boop his,” she said, nodding at Ric, who was sitting at Avery’s feet with his chin resting on her knee, gazing up at her with hopeful, mismatched eyes.

  “This one’s in love with you already,” Tala said with a grin, and she had a feeling his master wasn’t far off that mark either. “I can’t believe how attached to you he is. Usually he’s stuck to Mason like Velcro.”

  “It’s because he knows I’m weak and will feed him treats,” Avery answered, sneaking a cucumber slice to Ric. “Anyway, did you guys get to see Rylee after you got into Missoula?”

  The mention of her daughter filled Tala with warmth. “Yes, she came with Nina to the airport to pick me up. We dropped her off at campus on the way through town. She’s coming up here this weekend to spend a couple days with me, and I can’t wait.”

  “She’s a great kid.”

  “She is.” Having her move so far from home had been a huge and painful adjustment. Tala was mostly rolling with it, but it wasn’t easy, especially after her daughter had been drugged by the same psycho that had killed her roommate, and nearly killed Nina weeks ago.

  Thankfully the bastard was now dead. Tate had taken him out and saved Nina. Tala had been relieved, but the empty nest thing was real, leaving a hole in her heart and her life. It sucked. Her job and rigorous training schedule were the only things keeping her sane at the moment.

  “And she’s got a knack for astronomy too,” Nina added with a smile.

  “Maybe that has something to do with her favorite professor,” Tala said on a laugh. Her stomach let out a loud growl and she glanced toward the kitchen. “I traveled all day, and at this rate I’m gonna freaking starve to death before they get food to us. Back in a minute.”

  She got off the sofa and strode for the kitchen, the tiny hitch in her gait from her prosthesis barely noticeable as she headed for Tate and Mason. “You guys working in here, or just talking?”

  They both whipped around to stare at her with identical guilty expressions, bottles in hand. Tate’s a beer, and Mason’s a root beer. “Both,” Tate said. “Everything’s under control.”

  “Good, because my stomach’s about to eat itself from starvation. Need a hand or something?” She raised an eyebrow.

  “No, we got it.” Her brother whipped back around, and soon the kitchen was a flurry of activity.

  Avery came up beside her, a smirk on her face. “Love how you just snap them into action.”

  “Must be a military thing,” Nina mused, watching the boys work as she stuffed a piece of chocolate-dipped fruit into he
r mouth.

  “More like a big sister thing,” Avery said. “There’s nothing Tate wouldn’t do for her. If she told Tate to stand on his head, he’d do it without even asking why.” She shook her head. “It’s adorable how much he hero worships you,” she murmured to Tala.

  “Well, that goes both ways,” Tala said with pride. “My brother’s awesome. And now he’s got an awesome girl,” she added, wrapping an arm around Nina’s shoulders.

  Within minutes, the guys had the meal ready. Having successfully completed her supervision, Tala gave Avery and Nina a wave. “Get in here and grab a plate before I eat it all.”

  Avery went to stand in line behind Nina, but Mason had already filled her a plate and handed it over with a private smile that made Tala bite back a snicker. “Enjoy,” he murmured to Avery.

  “I will.” She took the plate without reacting, trying to play it cool. But the pink in her cheeks gave her away, and Mason sat next to her at the table. Right next to her, so that their shoulders touched. If he thought he was being subtle, he was mistaken.

  “So, how’s the business plans coming, you guys?” Tala asked as she helped herself to some veggies and oven-roasted chicken parm. Rifle Creek Tactical was a great idea, and both Mason and Braxton would be solid business partners for her brother. She just hoped Tate stayed on as a detective here until the business took off, because startups were always risky.

  “Couple of snags to get past, but otherwise good,” Tate answered, passing Nina the chicken. “Mase has been working on the possible programs and price points.”

  “Speaking of,” Mason began, “if the idea of managing the place is still too much, maybe you’d be interested in doing some cross-country skiing courses through the winter instead? I was thinking we could combine it with a winter/mountain survival component. We could even market a class specifically geared for women, since they might be more comfortable with you instructing them than any of us.”

  The offer surprised Tala. Tate had asked her several times if she wanted to be part of it, but she hadn’t thought about it seriously because it was still early stages, nothing had been finalized, and she lived in Canada. Taking on a managerial role remotely wasn’t an option, yet moving down here meant upending her entire life. Not to mention the strict immigration procedure for trying to get a Green Card.

  “I’d love to teach a class like that, as long as I could make it work with my training schedule.” It would also allow her to see Rylee, and she was all about finding excuses to make that happen.

  “Great. I’ve been interviewing architects for the main lodge project. Got some blueprints today if you wanna see ‘em.”

  “Love to. Have you shown them to Brax yet?”

  “No, I was gonna wait until I heard from him.”

  “Why don’t we call him now?” Finding excuses to contact Braxton was something else she was all about, and this one had landed right in her lap. “It’s just about time for reveille over there.”

  “We woke him up early last week and he wasn’t too happy about it,” Tate said, helping himself to one last scoop of potato casserole.

  “He won’t mind,” Tala said, eager to see and talk to him. They were on friendly enough terms, but this way with everyone else around, it wouldn’t seem weird or desperate if she called him to say hi. “Here, we’ll use my phone for a video call.”

  She pulled it out and dialed the number, which she’d memorized by heart within minutes of getting it last year. Until then they’d mostly resorted to email, and had only seen other in person twice when Braxton had come to Kelowna with his unit for mountaineering training at SilverStar.

  The ring tone filled the dining room. “H’lo?” a sleepy male voice answered.

  And there he was. Gorgeous, quiet, serious Braxton. The man who had been there for her during her darkest hours. The man who had literally held her life in his hands, and refused let go until the medevac crew had flown her back to base.

  She’d already had feelings for him before that day. Not surprisingly, they’d become a thousand times more intense since.

  “Hey, it’s me,” Tala said, her heart thudding as his shadowy face came into view. She’d love to wake up to that face every day, but that was a secret she could never tell, for a lot of reasons. He was one of her brother’s best friends, for one, and things could get hella messy if they crossed the line. “You still sleeping?”

  “Yeah.” Covers rustled in the background as Braxton sat up in his bunk. “Time is it?”

  “Time to rise and shine,” Tala said cheerfully. “I’m in Rifle Creek at Tate’s place, and the gang’s all here. Say hi to everyone.” She turned the phone so he could see them all.

  “Hey, Brax,” Mason said as the rest of them waved.

  Braxton lifted a hand and blinked sleepily at them, his bare, solidly muscled chest and shoulders visible above the covers. A chest she’d been fantasizing about for over four long years now. Yum. “Hey. What are you guys doing?”

  “Just finished dinner. How are things there?” Tate asked.

  “All right.” He squinted at the camera. “I hear Mase, but I can’t see him.”

  Tala angled the phone more. “There.”

  Mason put on a cheesy smile. “Morning. And say hi to Avery.” He slung an arm around her shoulders and pulled her in tight to his side. Claiming her in front of them all.

  Tala grinned at him in approval. Way to go, Mase.

  Avery smiled too, her face flushing. “Hey, Braxton.”

  Braxton stared at her for a moment, then the sleepiness seemed to clear from his dark brown eyes, a slow grin curving his mouth. “Hey. Anything new with you guys, Mase?”

  “Yep. All good things,” he answered, hugging Avery to him. “Got some blueprints I wanted to show you. An idea for the main lodge.”

  Braxton opened his mouth to say something but Tate’s phone rang, covering whatever it was.

  “It’s my banker. Must be back from his trip,” Tate said, looking up at the others. “Hopefully calling with good news.” He walked away as he answered, his voice trailing off as he moved to the next room.

  “They approve the sale?” Braxton asked, wide awake now.

  “Hope so,” Mason said, craning his neck to see Tate.

  “How are things there, Brax?” Tala asked.

  A light came on in the background, illuminating his handsome face, and the crooked smile he gave her had her insides curling. “Pretty quiet right now.”

  “That’s good.” She worried about him constantly over there.

  Tate walked in, his expression giving nothing away. Tala hated it when he did that, because even she couldn’t tell what he was thinking. “Well?” she demanded. “What did they say?”

  Tate slid his phone away, a smile spreading over his face. “Congrats, boys. Soon as Mase and I sign the final papers, we’re the proud owners of Rifle Creek Tactical.”

  Mason whooped, hugged Avery and jumped up to grab Tate. He slung an arm around Tate’s shoulders, then faced Tala’s phone. “So, Brax. When you comin’ back, man? We need you down here to help us get this thing up and running.”

  Braxton grinned, his teeth bright against his tanned skin. “Workin’ on it.”

  Mason looked at Tate. “What are we waiting for? We’ve been on pins and needles waiting for him to get back from his trip and make a decision. Call him back and see if he’ll agree to let us sign tonight.”

  Tate grinned. “Now?”

  “Why not?”

  Tate shrugged. “All right. Hang on.” He called the banker back, spoke for a few moments, then ended the call. “It’s a go. We’re meeting at his place in twenty minutes.”

  Mason let him go and held out a hand for Avery. “Come on. Let’s go do this.”

  She placed her hand in his, smiling. “Okay.”

  “Tal, keep Brax on the line. I’ll text you when we sign,” Tate said, hooking an arm around Nina’s waist as they all headed for the door.

  And just like that, Tala fo
und herself alone with the object of all her romantic fantasies still on the screen.

  BRAXTON’S HEART DID a slow, painful roll as Tala’s face came back into view a second later. Her chocolate-brown hair was loose and shiny around her shoulders, and he could see the golden flecks in her big brown eyes. “Hey,” he murmured. “They all leaving?”

  “Yep, already heading out the door. It’s just you and me.”

  He wished he was there in person to make the most of that.

  She got up and walked somewhere. He recognized the old logs and white lines of chinking in between them in the walls of Tate’s living room, from the original cabin built well over a hundred years ago. “So, when are you coming home?”

  “If all goes well, a few more months. Maybe by spring.”

  “Oh.” Her face fell a little. “That long?”

  His heart tripped, that stupid bit of hope that refused to die flaring to life again no matter how hard he tried to snuff it out. Did she miss him just because they were friends? Or was it something more? Did she ever lay awake at night thinking of him, dreaming about them being together? If she had, she’d never given any indication of it.

  Realizing he was staring, he cleared his throat. At least the other guys were out of the tiny room they were all bunking in, so they had a little privacy. “Right now, I’m supposed to get a couple weeks’ leave over Christmas. I was planning to come down there to see the guys if it all works out.” He wished he could reach through the screen and touch her. “Will you be there?”

  She nodded and sat. There was a fire going somewhere close by, because the light of the flames flickered over her face. She was so fucking gorgeous he could only stare.

  It had been way too long since he’d seen her in person. They’d become pretty close since she was wounded. She was one of the few of people he considered a real friend, along with Tate and Mason.

  Mostly they kept in touch via email or text, and she’d occasionally send him a cute picture of her amputee teddy bear, Mr. Stumpy on his latest adventure. They didn’t talk on the phone or video call much. That might be for the best, since he wasn’t exactly a conversationalist, but he loved getting to hear her voice and see her face. He missed her so damn bad, and had thought so many times about telling her how he truly felt the next time he was back home and could get out to Kelowna to see her.