by Jen Talty
Text copyright ©2018 by the Author.
This work was made possible by a special license through the Kindle Worlds publishing program and has not necessarily been reviewed by Stoker Aces Production, LLC. All characters, scenes, events, plots and related elements appearing in the original Special Forces: Operation Alpha remain the exclusive copyrighted and/or trademarked property of Stoker Aces Production, LLC, or their affiliates or licensors.
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Table of Contents
Burning Skies
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Epilogue
Books by Jen Talty
About the Author
Burning Skies
Special Forces: Operation Alpha Kindle World
Air Force Fire Protection Specialists
book 3
by
JEN TALTY
Chapter 1
“You worry too much, Daddy.”
Out of the mouths of babes. Jaxson Stravos, senior firefighter for the Air Force, leaned against the railing of his porch, the weathered wood in desperate need of a paint job. Just one of the hundreds of things that needed work on his modest ranch-style home in Satellite Beach near Patrick Air Force Base.
“It’s my job to worry, Buttercup.”
Elle looked up at him from her perch on the steps and rolled her eyes. “I think now that I’m ten, I’m too old to be called buttercup.”
“Don’t roll your eyes at me, young lady,” he said with a smile as he sat down beside the little girl that had forever changed his life “I do really hate it when you do that.”
“I can’t help it. It’s what ten-year-olds do.” She tilted her head and batted her thick eyelashes, her soft-blue eyes catching a ray of sunshine. Damn girl better never grow up, or he was going to be chasing off every young man with a shotgun.
He cringed at the thought.
He looped his arm around her shoulder. Her mother had only been five five, but Elle was already five two, so he suspected she would take after him, only he hoped she stopped somewhere around five ten, not six three.
“I think I’ll call my boss and see if I can take a few vacation days.”
“Miss Mauve wouldn’t send someone she didn’t trust with her own children.” Elle scrunched her nose. “Besides, it’s not like I’m two and need constant attention and in a year, I can take the babysitting course and—”
“Stop trying to grow up on me,” he said as he smoothed down her shoulder-length brown hair. “And you won’t be babysitting until you’re at least sixteen.”
“I’ll be dating by then, Dad.”
He clutched his chest. “You’re going to give your old man a heart attack.”
She burst out laughing.
“I don’t see what’s so funny.”
He glanced at his watch, then down the street which was lined with houses much like his, in need of a little tender loving care. Most had big wheels or bicycles parked on the sidewalks. He’d picked the area because it was all he could afford, but it was a decent neighborhood, in a good school district, with lots of kids, and close to work.
“You’re like fifteen years younger than Heidi’s dad. I think you’re the youngest dad on the block.”
“Actually, eighteen, but who’s counting…” his words trailed off as a young woman he’d never seen before turned the corner, pushing a little boy in a stroller.
“Do you know that girl and her child?” he asked his daughter.
“No.”
“Did anyone move into the Riley’s place?” The house had been empty for the last three months. Unfortunately, the neighborhood did have a high turnover since these were considered starter homes, and there were a number of military families in the area.
“It looked empty when I walked by there the other day with Miss Mauve.”
“Maybe she just moved in,” he said, unable to tear his gaze from the beautiful creature strolling in his direction. No woman had ever stolen his breath before, and right now, his lungs burned for the oxygen he couldn’t suck in.
The woman tucked a piece of blond hair that had fallen out of her long ponytail behind her ear in such a seductive manor that it left him breathless. She held a piece of paper in her hand, and her gaze landed at the set of mailboxes as she padded by. The closer she got, the more his palms sweated, and his pulse raced. He’d seen beautiful women before, but no one looked like the angel walking down the sidewalk. Her long, bare legs striding behind the buggy. The way her muscles flexed every time her feet hit the pavement, told him she had to be a runner.
He was a runner.
Maybe they could run together.
Maybe he should toss his libido out with the trash.
He’d date when Elle was in college. That would make him just shy of forty. Hell, lots of men started having kids at forty. Not that he wanted to, but his life would be far from being on the downhill side of things.
“Look, Mommy! A butterfly,” the little boy squealed as they passed his neighbor’s driveway.
“It’s so pretty,” she said with enthusiasm as she glanced at the paper.
“I want to get out.” The boy twisted his body, looking over his shoulder.
“When we find Mr. Stravos’s house, then you can get out. But you have to be a good boy and stay right next to Mommy, okay?”
Hearing his name snapped him back into reality. This was Mauve’s niece, and potentially his new temporary nanny.
“I promise,” the little boy yelled.
“She’s pretty,” Elle whispered.
His daughter certainly was perceptive.
“Stunning,” he said softly. If he’d seen her in a bar, or anywhere for that matter, he’d want to ask her name. And it wasn’t just about how incredibly sexy she was, but also how she carried herself with a sense of confidence that Jax didn’t see very often that made him contemplate tossing his rules out the window.
The woman’s complexion bronzed under the kiss of the sun. Her blue eyes twinkled, and she had the most adorable dimple on her right cheek when she smiled.
“I’m Mr. Stravos.” Jax stood, taking his daughter’s hand. “But everyone calls me Jax.”
“Hi. I’m Mauve’s niece, Scarlet, and this is my son, Rusty. You must be Elle,” Scarlet said, reaching out her hand, standing only a few inches taller than Elle. “My aunt talks nonstop about you.”
“Is this her great nephew, Rusty?” Elle asked with the same excitement she had when he’d given her a cell phone for her birthday.
“That’s me!” The little boy danced in the stroller, tugging wildly at the strap over his middle. “Mommy! Out!”
“Say please.” Scarlet reached over the stroller, puckering her lips.
“Please,” the boy said, grabbing her face and giving her a kiss.
God, Jax missed when his Elle had been a toddler, and so willing to show affection. Now, she sometimes pulled away. Not often, but he could see the writing on the wall.
“I’ve got some games and stuff on the porch.” Elle held her hand out to Rusty. “Can I take him to go play?”
“Sure. Just stay where I can see you and make sure he doesn’t put anything in his mouth.”
Jax watched as his daughter, who really was growing into a fine young lady, led the little boy up the steps, standing just behind him. She talked to him the entire time like she was the babysitter. He so wasn’t ready to admit his baby girl wasn’t
a baby anymore.
Nor could he ignore the nerves settling in his gut about leaving Elle with this young woman. It reminded him of the first day he’d sent Elle off to school, on the bus. Mauve had to force him not to follow the bus to school.
“I appreciate you filling in today, but I’m still working on someone covering half my shift and taking a few days off.” He mentally kicked himself for how curt he sounded. “I’m sure you have other things to do and your husband…” He knew she didn’t have one, so why did he go there?
“I’m not married.” She held up her hand, wiggling her fingers. “And until my aunt gets back, I don’t have a sitter to go look for a job, so actually, please don’t take the time off just because you think you’re putting me out. You’re not. I could use the money, honestly.”
Mauve had spoken about her niece with the adorable boy who had a deadbeat for a dad. Something about constantly being late with child support and recently taking off, without a word. What a jerk.
Yeah, Jax didn’t need this drama in his life.
He second-guessed Scarlet’s ability to handle his darling, well-behaved daughter along with her seemingly rambunctious toddler. “Maybe I should just call in sick.”
“Why would you do that?”
“My daughter, your son.” He raised his palms to the sky. “It’s a lot for one person to handle.”
“She’s ten and from what Mauve tells me, an angel. And I’ve been taking care of my son since before he was born. I think I can handle it.”
“I’ve never left my daughter with anyone but my mother and Mauve.”
“Seriously?” She adjusted her ponytail, tugging at her blonde hair, which bounced over her shoulders. “You’ve never used a babysitter? What about play dates when she was younger?”
“No to the babysitter and play dates were always at my house or Mauve was with her.” He glanced over his shoulder. Elle had Rusty on her lap as she read him a book. Jax was not ready for his buttercup to no longer need constant supervision. His mother had told him the last time she’d come to visit that he hovered too much and that her walking the few blocks to the park alone would be just fine. That the only way to let her spread her wings and find herself was to give her some freedom.
Freedom knocked up a girl he barely knew, making him a dad at twenty. Of course, he had no regrets other than Elle’s mother had passed away. He hadn’t loved Eleanor, something to this day he had residual guilt over. They’d only dated for about four months before calling it off. She had trouble with him being in the military, and he didn’t care enough about her to even question his decisions.
Then she came to him a few weeks after they’d broken up and informed him he was about to be a father. He never once questioned her decision to keep the baby and promised he’d be there every step of the way. They even tried getting back together, but the best they could do would be to co-parent. Only, Eleanor had developed an infection right after giving birth and died two days later, leaving him to raise their daughter alone.
“I’m sorry you came all the way out here, but this doesn’t feel right.”
Scarlet cocked her head, glaring at him as if her eyes were machine guns pelting bullets through the air. “First, I walked what, six blocks? And second. Doesn’t feel right? I’m Mauve’s niece, and she wouldn’t recommend me to you if she didn’t trust me.”
He arched a brow. “She’s my little girl. I don’t just trust her with anyone, willy nilly.”
“Never said you did, and as a mom, I totally understand. I have always had a hard time leaving Rusty, but really, you need to lighten up.”
“Now you sound like my mother,” he mumbled.
“Not your mother, but a mother.” She let out a long sigh. “Do you have my cell?”
He shook his head, glancing at his watch. He needed to get to work, if he was going to go, though he still held out some hope that one of the off-duty fire specialists would be able to step up and take over his shift at some point today.
“Aunt Mauve gave me your number, I’ll text you so that you’ll have mine, and you can text me or call at any time during the day and check in.” She pulled her phone and tapped away with her pretty little fingers. He’d never thought that part of the hand was attractive, or a turn on, unless they were gripping…nope, he wasn’t going there. Not when it was his babysitter.
Or with small children around.
He honestly didn’t know how single parents dated. The few times he’d had sex, as in maybe five or six times a year since his daughter had been born, had been when he’d been pulled away on a special assignment, but one-night stands just weren’t his thing.
“There. Just sent it to you.”
His phone buzzed in his back pocket, sending a tingle to places a nanny shouldn’t have any control over. He pulled it out and stared at the number flashing in his text messages.
“Here.” She took the phone from his fumbling hands.
He’d never been rendered useless around a woman before. He tried to tell himself he was just off kilter because this young woman was stubborn. Not that he could actually call in sick, but she wasn’t going to take no for an answer.
She stared at him for a long moment. “Does your daughter have a smart phone?”
He nodded.
“Considering how uptight you are, I’m assuming you track her phone. If not, I can give access to track mine.”
“I don’t know,” he said.
She reached out, curling her soft fingers around his biceps. “We’ll be fine, and if there is a problem, I’ll call you.”
“We’re on call for the local fire department, so if we get dispatched, I won’t be able to answer. Let me give you the number of my buddy’s wife.” He took his phone and quickly sent her the contact information for Claire Jackson and Lexi Anders. “Both have kids. Lexi helps run a Marina not far from here, so she might be more accessible than Claire if you can’t reach me.”
“You’ve never left your daughter with your friends’ wives?”
He thought about that for a moment. “A few times, but they aren’t babysitters, they’re moms… yeah. I get where you’re going with that one.” He waggled his finger. “Point taken.”
“Good, now is there anything I need to know? Allergies? Foods you don’t want her to have? Medications? Is there a park nearby that we can walk to?”
He held up his hand. “I wrote a list of things. It’s on the kitchen table. She’s just learning how to use the stove, but she needs supervision, and I’m sure she’ll want to make mac & cheese, especially if Rusty is allowed to eat it.”
“Rusty will eat anything you put in front of him, including a mud pie.”
“I ate a few of those when I was a little boy.” He dug into his pocket and handed her a set of keys. “These are to the house and my car, if you need it, but I’d rather you didn’t take my daughter—”
“Stop worrying.” She took the ring, dropping it into her purse. “I don’t have a car seat for Rusty, so we won’t be going anywhere if we can’t walk there.” She pointed toward his SUV. “How are you getting to work?”
He couldn’t help the smile that spread across his face. He rarely indulged himself in anything that wasn’t related to his daughter and her future, except his Harley. “I’ll show you.” He held out his hand. “But I need the keys to my car to get the garage door opener.”
She retrieved them, setting them in his palm.
He curled his fingers before she had a chance to pull away. The soft skin of her palm sent a shockwave through his body. “Sorry,” he mumbled, releasing her hand. Quickly, he turned, clicking the button and opening his SUV. Reaching inside the driver’s door, he tapped the black object hanging from the visor. The garage door rattled, opening slowly, revealing his dark-blue Harley. The Florida sun hit the gas tank, making it shine bright.
“Wow,” she said, stepping into the garage, running her fingers over the leather seat. “This is a limited anniversary edition.”
“Yo
u know your bikes.”
“I grew up on the back of one. My dad loved his Harley.”
“He still ride?”
She shook her head. “He was killed in action when I was sixteen.”
His heart clenched. One of his biggest fears was leaving his daughter alone in this world. He’d contemplated not reenlisting all the time, but each time his family reminded him that life was filled with risk. His father had been a SEAL, and he’d seen some serious action. No matter the danger, the world needed men and women like his father—like her father—in this world.
“I’m sorry,” he said softly.
“Rusty was named after my dad. I just wish he could have met his grandson.” She peered around the corner at the porch. “Rusty never sits still that long unless it’s on the front of a motorcycle.”
“So you have a motorcycle?” he asked.
“I wish but I can barely afford my car. My dad’s Navy buddies show up every once in a while and take me and Rusty out on theirs.”
“I’ve got a ton of kid helmets. When I get back from work, I’d be happy to take him for a ride.” He told himself he was only offering to make a little boy happy.
“I don’t know. I don’t think I can trust you with my kid,” she said with a smirk.
“Again, point taken,” he said, snagging his helmet. “Buttercup, Dad’s leaving. Come give me a hug and a kiss.”
“Stop calling me that,” Elle said.
He laughed, pushing his bike onto the driveway.
“Mommy! I want a ride!” Rusty held onto the railing with one hand and Elle’s hand with the other as his tiny little legs navigated the lopsided steps.
“Sorry, buddy, Mr. Stravos has to go to work.” Scarlet scooped up her kid, smacking her lips against his cheek as he scrunched his face, wiggling his body, trying to get down. “And if we don’t kick his butt to the curb now, he’ll never leave.”
That caught a chuckle from Elle.
“But Mommy, I want to go now,” Rusty wailed.
“When I get back, little man, deal?” Jax held out his fist.
Rusty immediately clenched his hand and pounded Jax. “Deal.”
