by Aliyah Burke
they moved towards her silver SUV.
“Something like that.” More like I don’t want to be that
close to you. One they were in her vehicle, Tempest wasn’t sure
this was any better. He dominated the interior with his size and
presence alone.
“Where are we going?” Maverick asked, sensing her
discomfort.
“Do you like Mexican?”
“Sure do.” He wiped his palms on his jeans.
Tempest kept her own counsel as she drove them to the
restaurant. She could feel her heart softening toward him and
she wasn’t sure she liked that. Her anger had suited her just
fine over the years.
Once parked, they walked into the restaurant side by
side, Maverick putting his hand on the small of her back. The
greeter smiled at them both as a waitress appeared to lead
them to a corner booth that was pretty private.
Tempest watched him as he looked over the menu. I
want to know your game, James Lonetree. He really was a very
handsome man with beautiful yet extremely masculine facial
features, perfect skin, and teeth. His hair was gorgeous and
thick. Not to mention the man had more muscles than she
could ever dream of a man having.
“You know you can ask me a question if you have one,”
he said without glancing away from the menu. “Unless you just
want to stare.” That time he did look up.
“I don’t know what you are talking about.” She forced
herself to meet his gaze directly as she spoke.
Maverick held her gaze. One eyebrow rose but he didn’t
dispute her. Seconds before he opened his mouth to speak, the
waitress returned to take their order. He gesticulated for
Tempest to order first.
Maverick’s dark eyes never left her as she ordered her
food. Watching her, he compared how different she was now to
how she’d been as a child. Tempest had grown into a very
stunning woman. And from what he’d seen, she was one hell of
a mother.
“And you, hon, what can I get for you?” The waitress
grabbed his attention again. Maverick placed his order and
then glanced back across the table at Tempest. She was waiting
with a bland expression on her face.
Maverick realized in that moment it was going to be
very difficult to gain this woman’s trust. Not to mention her
affection.
The meal was delicious but the company was merely
polite. Nevertheless, the lunch had been a step in the right
direction, he believed. Although, Tempest had been very tightlipped
when he’d asked her questions about herself. When the
questions had been about Dakota, she’d been a tiny bit, more
open in her responses. Maverick wasn’t ready for the date to
end, so he’d suggested they’d go for a walk. He’d refused to
take no for an answer and insisted that they do something like
this. Her agreement had been reluctant despite the longing he’d
seen in her gaze each time he touched her.
Maverick watched Tempest as they strolled through the
Rio Grande Botanic Gardens. His sharp hearing picked up the
light chime of a phone. Tempest reached into her purse and
pulled hers out, answering immediately.
“What?” her astonished voice questioned. “He’s there
now?” A nod before she said, “Tell him I’ll be there as soon as I
can.” She hung up.
“What’s up?” Maverick queried.
“I have to go. I apparently have a delivery of alcohol
waiting for me at the bar. I will drop you off at your bike first.”
It took him less than a second to respond. “That’s fine.
I’ll tag along with you. I don’t mind at all.”
Tempest wanted to argue but in truth, it would add a bit
over an hour for her to go home and back to work again. “Let’s
go,” she acquiesced in a flavorless tone.
“Right behind you,” he told her.
Driving quickly, she whipped into the back of the bar
and halted her vehicle by the door. The truck was already there
and so was Dakota. His eyes widened as he saw Maverick with
her but he remained silent about it.
It didn’t take long to unload the truck. Tempest worked
hard alongside her son. Maverick helped move the stock
around in the cellar.
Dakota had said a polite hello to Maverick before kissing
his mother and getting to work. He made no mention of having
stopped off to see his father at the hotel and Maverick didn’t
say anything about it, either. As he stood in the cellar, his father
walked up the steps. His eyes narrowed. I’m not gonna let you
hurt my mom.
Maverick strode through the doorway and toward the
bar where Tempest was doing some restocking. Setting the box
on the bar, he went behind the counter.
His black eyes skimmed over the body of the woman
back there. Each time he looked at her, he saw something
more—more grace, more beauty, more elegance. More
everything.
“Here’s the last box,” he said softly.
Tempest jumped. “Oh, jeez, you scared me! I didn’t hear
you. Thanks for the help.” She spun around and grabbed the
heavy box, lifting it to where she wanted it.
“I would’ve done that.” His reprimand fell like a gentle
rain on her skin.
“That’s fine. I’ll be done soon; sorry about the delay.
I love being around you. “No prob, I can wait.”
“There’s no need for that.” Dakota’s voice broke in. “I’m
more than happy to take you back to the house and your bike.”
“It’s no problem, really,” Maverick said.
“I insist.”
That time, Maverick caught the hint of aggression in his
son’s voice. Well, I definitely have a lot of ground to make up with
this one as well. “Sure, thanks for the offer.” Now wasn’t the
time to further piss off his child.
Maverick placed his attention on Tempest, who was
busy counting bottles. “Thanks for lunch, Tempest.”
Those brown eyes looked over at him. The smile was
hesitant but arrived on her face. “You’re welcome.” That was
all she said before she returned to work.
Maverick met his son’s gaze. “Let’s do this.”
Dakota gestured for him to go ahead. “I’ll see you later,
Mom. Love ya.”
“Bye, Dak,” she hollered as he walked out the back door.
Being in such close proximity to Maverick had been
hard. The way he kept staring at her and forcing eye
connections was more than a bit disconcerting, to say the least.
“I just don’t know what to make of you, Maverick,” she
told her empty establishment.
Shaking her head, Tempest went back to work.
Determined not to focus on that hunk of a man with whom
she’d eaten lunch and gone to the gardens.
Dakota’s black eyes burned him hotter than the sun ever
could. Maverick felt his razor-sharp gaze.
“Something you want to say to me?” Maverick asked,
meeting and holding the intense glare.
Unlocking the ca
r doors, Dakota jerked open the driver’s
side door. “I don’t want you messing around with my mother.”
“I’m not messing around with your mother.” No matter
how much I want to strip away her clothes. Maverick opened his
door much more gently.
“See that it stays that way. If you want to know about
my childhood, ask me; leave her alone,” the young man
snapped as he climbed in the car.
Putting his large body in the car, Maverick thought
carefully about his next words. “I will leave your mother alone
if she asks me to. I know you don’t trust me, and I wouldn’t if
our positions were reversed. All I can tell you is that I don’t
want to hurt her. I want to get to know her. I want to know
both of you.” He pulled the door shut.
Dakota scoffed. “Why, do you think we’re going to be
one big happy family?”
“Anything is possible,” Maverick responded softly,
testing the waters. Eyes identical to his own widened and then
narrowed.
“So is the chance of hell freezing over,” Dakota
mumbled under his breath, unaware that Maverick could hear
him just fine.
I know you long for a father figure, Dakota. I just have to
figure out a way to gain your trust. “Tell me about you, then.” He
chose to stay on the relatively safe path.
With a huge sigh, Dakota nodded. “Okay. I’m in college
here at the University of New Mexico. I’m double majoring in
African-American Studies and Anthropology.”
Maverick was impressed, and then the thought of how
much money it was probably costing them made his stomach
churn with disgust, disgust at himself and both sets of parents
for not allowing them the chance to be together.
For the rest of the ride back to where he’d left his bike,
Dakota talked to him and Maverick listened. He asked a few
questions here and there, but for the most part remained quiet
and learned about his son.
As Dakota pulled into the driveway, they both noticed
another car was there. A very pretty black woman was leaning
against its door. Maverick noticed the possessive smile that
crossed his son’s bronzed features. “I take it you know that
lovely woman,” Maverick observed.
The second smile Maverick had been blessed to see
crossed Dakota’s face. “That I do. That is my Shelia.”
One black eyebrow arched. “Your Shelia?”
A faint blush appeared on Dakota’s dark skin. “My
Shelia. She is an amazing woman.” He got out of the car and
headed over to where she remained waiting.
Maverick climbed out slowly, his gaze watching the easy
way Shelia moved into his son’s embrace. They made a very
attractive couple. Her skin was dark brown and her hair was in
short, springy curls. She had big brown eyes and delicate facial
features.
The slam of the car door brought their attention back to
him. A smile was on her face as Shelia nodded at something
that Dakota told her. Then she patted him on the arm and
approached Maverick.
“Hello,” she said in a melodious tone. “I’m Shelia.”
Taking the soft hand in one of his, Maverick smiled
back. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Shelia. My name’s
Maverick.”
“It’s nice to finally meet Dakota’s father.” At the slight
raising of one eyebrow she laughed, a gentle soothing sound.
“Please. I can see the resemblance, especially with the eyes;
although yours seem much more haunted.”
Maverick took a really good look at the woman before
him. Her eyes were wise beyond their age. “It is an honor to
meet the love of my son’s life.”
This time she blushed. “You have an amazing young
man as a son.”
He nodded. “I’m beginning to realize that myself. It was
a pleasure to meet you, but I have to get going.” Lifting his
head, he placed his gaze upon the suspicious one of his son.
“Thanks for the ride.”
Maverick sent Shelia another smile and bowed over her
hand before he headed to his bike. He waved one time prior to
revving the engine and driving away, leaving the young couple
alone.
Dakota walked over and slipped his arms around Shelia.
How perfect she felt in his embrace.
“I like him,” she said quietly.
That statement gave Dakota pause. Shelia rarely made a
quick decision about anyone. It had taken her over a year to
accept his proposal for a date. “Why do you say that?”
Shelia turned in his arms so she could look up into is
eyes. “He’s clearly devastated by what has occurred. Whatever
drove him and your mother apart, it was not of his doing.
That’s a man who has seen much death, loss, hopelessness and
suffering, but none of that compares to what he’s feeling as he
faces the fact he’s let the two of you down.”
Dakota tilted his head down and stared back at her.
“Are you sure about that? I don’t want him to hurt my mother
again.”
Shelia blinked slowly. “What do you think? What do
you feel when you talk to him? There’s no maliciousness in
him.” She paused. “Not when it comes to you. I can sense he’s
a hard man, but his emotions regarding you and I would guess
your mother are genuine, unfeigned, and they scare him.”
He nodded, amazed by her perception. “You are one
hell of a woman, Shelia.” His lips brushed lightly against hers,
stirring to life the embers that never seemed to die with her in
his life.
“I know,” she replied with a teasing smile. “But, you’re
not so bad yourself, Dakota Falcon.” Her body arched against
his and for a moment they forgot they were outside in view of
everyone.
Dakota remembered and pulled Shelia into the house
after him and down the hall to his bedroom where they
stripped one another of clothing and proceeded to make love.
Back in his hotel room, Maverick pressed the number on
his phone that would connect him to the person he sought.
“Hello?” He sank back down on the bed as the familiar voice
reached his ear.
“Hey, man,” Maverick said.
“Mav, what’s up?” Hondo asked. “How are you doing
down there in New Mexico?”
“I need some advice.” he admitted as he reached for a
cigarette and lit up.
“What’s going on?” Hondo questioned. Maverick rarely
requested assistance.
“I need to find a way to gain someone’s trust.” Maverick
took a long drag of his smoke.
“A woman?”
“Yeah. I’m at a loss at how to proceed here.”
Hondo sat down heavily. This was not common
Maverick behavior; women were never a problem for him.
“You know I have to ask this. Who is this woman to you?
Someone you want to fuck and she’s tossing up roadblocks? Or
what?”
Maverick narrowed his eyes as he growled low in his
throat. Tempest is deserving of more
respect than that. “Well, she is
tossing up roadblocks, but it’s more complicated than that.” He
snubbed out his cigarette, not having the desire for it.
“What aren’t you telling me?” Hondo asked.
“We have a history,” he admitted.
“Okay, what type? I’m assuming not the best if there are
obstructions,” Hondo perceived.
“You have no idea. She…she’s…she is the mother of my
child,” Maverick blurted out.
Nine
Tempest sighed as she shifted her position. Yoga was so
calming to her; it was the one time her mind could, and did,
remain blissfully blank. No worries about anything penetrated
her aura. It was nothing but calmness and serenity.
Slowly getting out of the lotus position, she spread her
legs wide and placed her body out flat on the ground, turning
her face to the right. Her dark eyes remained closed as she
continued her regulated breathing. Nice and slow. In. out. In.
out. Deep, fulfilling breaths.
As she finished up with her morning routine, she
reluctantly opened her eyes. This was the part she liked the
least; opening her eyes meant the session was done and it was
time to face the rest of the day.
For a quick moment, she just sat cross-legged on the
yoga mat and looked around her backyard. It was a desert yard
for sure, not much green, and she had an irrigation system put
in so certain plants and trees were watered on specific days.
There would be no wasted water in her backyard. There were
apple, pear, and plum trees, as well as some roses and quite a
few cacti like in the front yard.
She looked overhead and smiled at the portcullis that
covered her back porch area. It had a place where she could
have an outdoor fire on cooler nights, or for parties; and vines
covered the thick pillars that held up the portcullis.
“I love my house,” she whispered as she pushed her
body up from the mat. Bending over at the waist, she rolled up
the mat and shook her head as a lone wolf whistle broke the
peace of the morning.
Looking over her shoulder, Tempest smiled as she saw
her son leaning in the open doorway to the house. “You need
to hush with that kind of talk, young’un.”
“Hey, I can’t help it if my mama’s one hot woman. You
know it’s not fair to the other moms on the block.” Dakota
shoved away from the door and strode over to where his
mother was stashing her yoga mat and handed her the cup of
