by Aliyah Burke
date, but she’d staunchly refused. Nevertheless, recently there
had been a military man whom she’d been seeing off and on.
Tonight, Dakota had never seen that look on his
mother’s face. Something had spooked her and scared the crap
out of her. Anger began to burn inside Dakota. He would stand
for no one hurting her.
His hand reached for the door to her room. He wanted
to console her; but at the last second, he dropped his hand. His
mama was a proud woman. “I love you, Mama,” he whispered
to the door before he headed back to his room.
Three
Maverick woke the next morning feeling refreshed, as if
new life had poured into him. Walking down the street to grab
some breakfast, he thought about the woman at the bar.
She was someone special. All the lust he had for women,
the desire to flirt and play around had returned. Unlike Talli
who did nothing for him, this woman boiled his blood in a
wonderful way.
He’d almost lost control when she looked at him. Then
her eyes had changed, and that had gotten him wondering
about her even more. One thing was for sure, he knew where
he was going tonight.
After eating breakfast, Maverick did more sightseeing. It
didn’t take long, however, and he went down Wyoming
Boulevard toward Kirkland Air Force Base. Showing his
identification and the fact he had on a helmet and a reflective
vest, he was allowed on. It was regulation to wear them while
on motorcycles; even on bicycles, one had to be what the
military considered safe and “visible” or they could refuse to
let personnel on base.
He smiled as he rode, his mind drifting back to the
stunning smile his vixen had on her face as she’d spoken with
the waitress, Mili. Parking his bike, he took off the vest and
helmet.
His phone rang as he swung his leg off the hog.
“Maverick,” he said.
“Well, you sound tons better than when I talked to you
last,” the masculine voice on the other end said.
“Hey, Hondo.” Maverick began walking to the front
doors.
“How are you doing? Where are you?”
“I’m in New Mexico. At Kirkland Air Force Base about
to hit their B/X.”
“New Mexico? Air Force Base? You not thinking of
bailin’ on us, are you?”
“Hell no!” he blurted. “I was in Albuquerque driving
around and ended up here. Just going shopping, seeing what
these Flaps have at their exchange.”
A deep sigh of relief filled the line. “What are you doing
in New Mexico?”
Pausing outside the exchange doors, Maverick leaned
against the wall. “I had a vision that led me here. I can’t explain
it man, but I know that I am in the right place.”
“Right place for what?’ Hondo questioned. He would
never doubt Mav’s visions but Maverick knew he was curious.
“I’m not sure yet. But I felt restless at home; and when I
began to drive, I was sent here. So I am going to stay here until
I figure it out.”
Hondo paused for a brief minute. “Okay. I fully expect
to see you and your wife-to-be at the end of this month
downtime.”
Hondo’s words brought one face to mind. It took a
moment before he could see anything past her beauty and
respond, “I like being single, thank you very much.”
Hondo heard the long pause and chuckled, making
Maverick silently curse. He, James Lonetree, had never
hesitated to say that before; normally it was out before the
statement about his future wife was fully in the air.
“So did I at one time,” the black man told Maverick.
“Well, Xaria would change my mind, too, but I don’t
think you’d share.”
Silence reigned on the other end for a moment. “It’s
good to hear you joking around again, Mav. I have to go. Keep
in touch.”
“Bye, Hondo, give that wife of yours my best.” Maverick
shut off his phone and walked inside, immediately cooled by
the blasting air conditioning. Taking in the size of the place, he
grabbed a cart and began to shop, ignoring all the appreciative
looks the women gave him.
Maverick left the exchange, carrying his bags. He’d
purchased some things that might come in handy. Stowing
them in the saddlebags, he tossed on his vest and fastened his
helmet. He hated riding with one, but military rules stated one
had to have a brain bucket on along with the reflective vest if
on a bike.
Putting his bike back on the road, he drove through the
base. It never ceased to amaze him how nice an Air Force base
was. Sure as shittin’ have a hard time finding a Navy base this nice.
He drove out the gate and up Wyoming Boulevard
,
looking at the mountains to his right. Instead of returning to his
hotel right away, he journeyed through the city, getting more
of the layout of the land.
That night around seven-thirty, Maverick walked back
through the doors of B’s Quarry. It was not as busy as the
previous night and he sat in a table towards the back, where it
was darker than most places.
It didn’t take long for a waitress to approach. “What can
I get for you, doll?”
Maverick smiled up at her. It wasn’t Mili but she was
still very attractive. “I’ll take a beer; whatever is on tap’s fine.”
“You got it, handsome.” She winked and then sashayed
off to the bar.
Where he sat, Maverick had a clear line of sight to the
bar. At the moment, that young man was back there and took
the order from the waitress. A side door opened by the
women’s restroom and Maverick watched his gorgeous
bartender walk through it.
He licked his lips as his obsidian eyes took in her
appearance. She wore a pair of low-rider jeans that should have
been outlawed, the way they cupped her lower body. A white
dress shirt was tied off at her waist. Its sleeves were torn away
and he could envision the bra that was beneath it.
Her manner of dress left her midsection bare and he
eagerly lapped up the view. He noticed the white canvas shoes
on her feet and no socks. Her hair was completely off her neck
and face with the exception of the wisps plastered to her skin.
She was delectable looking and he wanted to get to know her
better. All of her.
She turned around at the door and reached in to lift out
a big case of alcohol. He wanted to go help her, but the young
man behind the counter beat him to it. The smile she bestowed
upon that lad made Maverick sick.
Get a grip, Mav; you can’t be jealous over a woman who
hasn’t said more than five words to you. Taking a deep breath, he
tipped the waitress when she left his beer. Holding the cold
mug in one strong hand, he observed the woman make trip
after trip, carrying more boxes out of that room.
Wanting to go help her, Maverick had to force himself to
remain in his seat. She didn’t look stressed; in fact, she seemed
quite content with doing physical labor. When she was
finished, her five-seven frame slid behind the counter just as a
group of men came in the door. All of them hollered greetings
to her.
“Tempest,” he muttered to himself while listening to her
respond. “Her name is Tempest.”
It was a good thing Tempest didn’t have a box in her
hands the first time she’d come up from the cellar for she
would have dropped it when her dark eyes landed on the tall
man sitting alone off to the side. He was back.
So in order to regain some semblance of control, she’d
brought up the cases one by one as opposed to two at a time
like she usually did. Tempest knew her son noticed but, bless
his heart, had the brains to keep his mouth shut.
The trio of men that had come in through the door after
she’d finished were part of her Wednesday night regulars. It
didn’t take long for them to seat themselves around the bar.
“Evening, gentlemen,” Tempest said with a smile as she
automatically began preparing their drinks for them.
“Hey, darling,” the largest of the three, Frank
Witherspoon, said. “How are you doing?”
Tempest sent him a blinding smile. She slid his double
shot of José Cuervo Gold across the shiny teak bar top. “Not
bad. And yourself, how’s your wife doing?”
“Ready for you to come over for another dinner.” He
flopped down a twenty and waited for the change.
“I’ll wait for the call.” Her hands mixed a Lynchburg
Lemonade and pushed it across to another customer. “And
you, Mr. Miles Homer? How are you doing?”
The pale, freckled-faced man grinned at her. “Very well,
my dear. Going to ask my woman to marry me this weekend
when she flies into town.”
Putting the change in front of her friend, she nodded.
“Congrats! Let me know how it turns out.”
“Sweetheart, you will be handling the bachelor party
and possibly the reception!”
Tempest arched a brow. “I will, will I? At his answering
nod, she smiled. Without breaking her momentum she fixed
Oscar Hewitt a single shot of Black Label with club soda and
lemon twist.
“Excuse me!” a man shouted from down the bar after
she handed Oscar his drink.
With ease, Tempest moved down the bar and talked to
the man waving the bill. As the night progressed, the joint
filled up and music played. Tonight’s selections were more
country than anything else.
Maverick left his solitary seat and headed for a barstool.
He had to be closer to her—no reason, just a need. The young
man was down at this end of the bar and Maverick just waved
him away holding up the beer that he had in his hand.
His eyes strayed back to the beautiful woman who
worked endlessly and effortlessly behind the bar. She was an
amazing bartender, filling orders and carrying on
conversations with those around her. Watching her work was
like observing a masterpiece. There was no showing off, but
everything was flawless and without hesitation.
“Dak,” her voice reached over the crowd, catching the
younger man’s attention. When he looked over at her, she
finished with, “Can you bring up some more popcorn, pretzels,
and nuts, please?”
“Sure thing,” he hollered back. Sliding the current drink
he was working on to the customer, he made change and went
to the side door where Maverick had first seen her come from
this evening.
There was movement beside him and Maverick saw a
woman slip on the stool. She was dark blonde with a very
curvaceous figure. “Hey,” she said with a wink.
“Evening,” he returned as he reached for a handful of
nuts.
“Haven’t seen you in here before.” Her blue eyes
traveled blatantly over his body.
“Passing through town.” Maverick looked up as
Tempest walked past him to attend to some people at the far
end of the bar.
“Where are you from?” she asked as one hand dropped
to rest on his leg.
Maverick looked at her hand and moved it back to her
own leg. “Around.”
Not easily deterred, she fluttered her lashes at him. “Buy
me a drink?”
While it was on the tip of his tongue to flat out refuse,
the little voice in the back of his head told him that Tempest
would have to get the drink. “Sure.”
She giggled. “Wonderful.”
Maverick pulled out some money and reached out with
his hand to get her attention. Tempest acknowledged him with
a wave, indicating she would be right there.
Shit! Why is he at the bar? Placing a smile on her face,
Tempest finished up with her patron and moved down the bar
toward where he sat. Next to him…next to him was Nikki, who
rarely paid for her own drink.
“Evening,” Tempest said with a smile.
“Evening,” Maverick’s deep voice resonated through her
entire being.
“What’ll it be? A refill?” she asked, pointing at his beer.
“No, Tempest,” Nikki interrupted. “He’s buying me a
drink.”
“Of course he is.” Her eyes hardened as she looked at
the devilishly handsome man for a moment before turning her
attention to the woman beside him. “And you would be
having…?”
Nikki licked her lips and leaned closer to Maverick’s
body, her eyes were full of lust as she looked over her man of
the moment. “I’ll have,” she paused to glance toward Tempest.
“I’m gonna have me a Slow Comfortable Screw,” she purred.
“Of course you are,” Tempest said, shaking her head.
She circled around and reached for the bottle of sloe gin,
unaware that motion showed off her tattoo to the man behind
her.
Spinning back around, Tempest ignored Maverick and
placed an ice-filled Collins glass before Nikki and quickly
mixed her drink. “There you go.” Silently, she took the money
from Maverick and made change. Never once did she touch his
hand, opting to leave the money on the counter instead. “Sure
you don’t need a refill or anything?” she asked him.
Maverick shook his head. It had been one hell of a shock
to see his name tattooed across her lower back. The artwork
was amazing, and it showed that the name, Maverick, was very
painful to her. He wanted to know the whole story.
“If you’re sure,” she said with a shrug. She noticed
Dakota had returned and for a moment, there was a lull at the
bar. Her son was filling orders for the waitress.
Before she could move away from him and down the
bar, he said, “You are an amazing bartender. How long have
you worked here?”
Her eyes narrowed, filled with uncontrolled rage. “Why
are you so interested in my life?”
Maverick could easily tell she was struggling to remain
polite to him. That threw him off. He wooed women, pleased
them, but they weren’t mad at him. “You are very beautiful.”
His response was so automatic it made her skin crawl.
Tempest didn’t even notice Nikki walk away, having gotten
her first free drink. One full lip lifted in a snarl as she stared
into his onyx-like eyes. He had a half-grin on his face, like a
man who knew he was handsome and charming. Like a man
who had no problem using his charm to get him what he
wanted.
Tempest sneered. “I can’t believe you actually think that
is going to work with me!”
“Sweetheart,” he drawled. “I don’t know you and have
no idea what is going to work with you. I would love to get to
know you, however.”
For a moment, Tempest stood there rigid with fury. Her
chest rose and fell with each breath she struggled to inhale. Her
hands wrung the rag in her hands as she fought valiantly to
maintain command of her unrestrained emotions.
Maverick couldn’t understand what her problem with
him was. She looked at him like he were less than a damn leper
and now she seemed furious about something. He was just
having some fun. I thought bartenders were supposed to flirt.
“You don’t get to know me. I learned all I wanted to
about you,” she hissed as her hands clutched the edge of the
teak bar.
Narrowing his eyes, Maverick drew back and stared at
her. She knew him? “What are you talking about? I don’t know
you.” What was going on?
Neither of them noticed the young man had moved up
behind them. “No, you chose to forget me.” Tempest stood up
straight and shot him a glare that froze the air around him.
Standing, Maverick reached across the bar for her. The
action prompted two bouncers to materialize beside him, one
on each side, and caused the young man to step between them.
“What are you talking about? We’ve never met.”
Scorn filled her face as she waved off the men. Stepping
as close as the bar allowed her to, Tempest placed two shaking
hands down on the shiny surface. “So that’s what you told
yourself, to alleviate your guilt? Fine, weave whatever bullshit
story you want. I could care less that you say you don’t know
me. But I know you, James Chayton Lonetree, AKA Maverick. I
know you…and I hate you.” She spun around and walked
through the door behind the bar closing it with a finality that
snapped him out of his shock.
