by Aliyah Burke
tea he had in his hand.
“You hush, young man.” Tempest stood up and
accepted the cup. “Thank you for the tea.”
“I was up early since I have to get to campus and hand
over my paper. Saw you out here doing your yoga thing and
figured you could use it.” He leaned down and kissed her on
the cheek. “Love you.” Then his tall frame disappeared back
inside the house. Moments later, she heard his car start and
drive away.
Tempest sank onto a lounge chair and sipped the
peppermint tea. Her son was such a sweetheart. The drink was
perfect and before long, she found her mind was swinging
towards the man she’d gone out on a date with the previous
day.
James Chayton Lonetree, better known as Maverick and
the father of her child.
Setting her drink beside her, she whispered, “I just wish
I knew what you were up to, James.”
“I’m not up to anything except learning about you and
our son, Tempest.” Maverick’s sensual voice was low as it
crossed her backyard.
Her dark eyes flew wide as she tried not to scream.
Leaning against one of the pillars was none other than the man
she’d just been thinking about. The early morning sun gleamed
off his jet black hair, showing her the blue highlights in it.
“What the hell are you doing here?”
His black eyes moved possessively over her lounging
body before he spoke in an unhurried motion. “I came to see
you.” One shoulder lifted laconically as if to say, duh, isn’t it
obvious?
She allowed herself a moment of observation. He wore a
pair of black jeans that molded to his firm thighs. A stark white
tee shirt offset the glow of his skin. And on his feet were those
heavy black boots.
Maverick kept his gaze upon her face as she stared at
him. He watched her eyes move slowly down and back up his
body. It was a struggle to remain motionless as she did so. He
felt his body respond to her look.
“Why exactly did you come to see me?” she asked,
grateful her voice was steady. He looks too damn good for his and
my own sakes.
“I don’t know,” he admitted truthfully. “I left my hotel
and ended up here.”
“How long have you been here?” Tempest closed her
eyes to try and regain control of the emotions this man stirred
within her.
“Since before you began doing your yoga, which was so
lovely to watch.”
A whole new wave of trembling found a home in her
body as an image of him watching her with a lust-filled gaze
shimmered into her subconscious. “And the reason you didn’t
let me know you were here…was why?” It was a brave
Tempest that opened her eyes and met the black velvet gaze of
the man who had materialized even closer to her reclining
form.
“I didn’t want to disturb you. And I had a lovely view of
you doing yoga, didn’t want to lose out on the opportunity to
watch that.” He stared down at the temptress
Tempest curled her feet under her body as she sat on the
lounge chair. Taking a deep breath, she allowed the masculine
scent that seemed to permeate the air around the imposing man
before her fill her senses. “I see,” she mumbled. “And now that
you are here, what is your plan?”
“I want a chance to get to know you. I’ve told you
everything, Tempest. I’m not hiding anything; I have no
hidden agenda. I put all my cards out on the table.” He held
her gaze while he fought down the desire to cover her lush
mouth with his own.
Tempest didn’t even bat an eye or hesitate. “I don’t
believe you. I know you are up to something, James. I told you
I wouldn’t keep my son from talking—”
“Our son, Tempest. He’s our son.” Maverick interrupted.
“Don’t forget that.”
Fire blazed to life in her eyes. “Forget? Excuse me, who
in the hell do you think you’re talking to here? I was the one
who went to your house to tell you about the pregnancy. Me.
I’ve never forgotten who the father of my son was.” She moved
off the chaise and faced him head on, hands on her hips.
“I say he is mine because I was the one who raised him.
Me! Not you, not your wonderful parents, not mine. Me. Dakota
is my son. As of right now, you are nothing more than a sperm
donor.” She delivered her words in a low hiss.
Maverick’s black eyes hardened into obsidian the second
the phrase left her mouth. A strong hand callused from years of
rough work clamped down over her upper arm. “I’m not a
goddamn sperm donor. I’m his father,” Maverick growled low
in warning. “I’m his dad.”
Jerking away from his touch, Tempest moved to the
door. “A dad isn’t something given to someone just ’cause he
donated his DNA,” she ground out. “To be one is something
earned, and that, James, is something you haven’t done.”
Yanking open the door, she stepped inside her house before
glancing back at the man standing there. “Don’t come back
here uninvited again!” Tempest slammed the door shut in his
face.
Maverick took several heaving breaths as he tried to
control his temper. Every single instinct in his body told him to
kick open that door and confront that woman and her ideas.
His heart was in so much pain, he hadn’t realized it would be
so wrenching to hear something like that from her.
Chayton’s Tempest 85
He moved out of the backyard and climbed on his bike,
driving back to his hotel room. Once there, he lit a cigarette and
smoked it while he leaned on the railing of his balcony.
_
Tempest sat across from Sparky as they sat at an outdoor
diner. The sun bounced off the large umbrella that covered the
table. Sparky wore pressed khaki shorts and a white tee with
sandals. Tempest wore a lilac sundress that complemented her
skin tone beautifully. She had heels on her feet that put her
close in height to the man with whom she was dining.
“It seems to me you still feel something for this man, my
dear.” Sparky took a drink of his tea as he held the skeptical
gaze of his lunch companion.
“I don’t know what I feel anymore, Sparky. I think I still
have crush on him from when we were kids; but at the same
time, I’m so angry he wasn’t there for any of what I went
through.” Tempest stabbed her salad as if she were battling
back bad memories.
“Well, it’s obvious to me there are some feelings
between the two of you. Anyone can tell that. I don’t
understand why you are trying to ignore them, however; it is
clear you want him.” He leaned across the table and tucked a
strand of her hair back behind her ear.
“I don’t want him, Sparky,” Tempest insisted.
One brown brow arched as he shook his head at her.
“Who are you trying to lie to here, me…or yourself?”
/> “I’m not lying to either of us. I don’t want him,” she
maintained.
“If you feel the need to deny it to yourself, than that’s
fine; but do me a favor, honey. We both know I know you well
enough. In the past eighteen years, I’ve seen all types of
reactions from you; but this man is garnering one from you that
my senses tell me is much more than you are willing to let
onto. But keep on pretending I don’t know your emotions.” He
rolled his eyes dramatically and ate a French fry.
“Stop being such a damn drama queen,” she complained
as she reached for one of his hot fries. “Okay, I admit it. I want
him.” Those three words were such a relief to her subconscious
it was amazing.
Sparky sent her a look that said, No duh!
“I mean, did you see all the muscles in his body? He
looked good younger, but he’s definitely grown up and in all
the right places. I tremble just when his hand is on the small of
my back.”
Swirling his tea around in his glass, Sparky studied his
friend. “But at the same time, the pain and suffering you went
through won’t let you forget.”
“Exactly. All it takes is one word out of his mouth and
all of my anger is back, and in spades.” Tempest took some
water.
“Well, hon, that’s to be expected. But you should give
him a chance to hear your side; let him take the brunt of your
anger. He should hear it, but he also deserves to be made aware
that you’re going to vent; that way, he lets you get it all out
once and for all.”
Get it all out once and for all. “How’d you get to be so
smart, Sparky?”
The man grinned. “I was always this smart; you just
didn’t want to see it.”
Tempest tossed a crouton from her salad at him, hitting
him in the chest. “I still don’t want to see it. I hate it when you
know you are right; all you do is lord it over me, then.”
He smirked as he retaliated with a fry. “I can’t help it
out of the two of us, I’m the smart one.”
“Shut up, you,” she muttered in a low growl as she took
an ice cube from her glass and tossed it at him. At the last
second, he deflected it and watched it bounce harmlessly to the
hot concrete where it melted within seconds.
“There you go, wasting water,” he mocked, shaking his
finger at her.
The rest of their lunch was full of joviality. Afterwards,
they took a trip to the Historic Old Town and did some
shopping. Everywhere they went, they garnered attention for
they were a very attractive couple.
The way they fit together and looked side by side also
didn’t escape the notice of the handsome Native American who
was also down in Old Town. Every time the tanned hand of
Tempest’s companion touched her, a rumbling, possessive
growl erupted from the observer’s throat.
Sparky leaned over and placed a kiss on the smooth
brown cheek of his date before shutting her vehicle door. “See
you later,” he said as he leaned in for one more quick kiss.
“Bye, Sparky, thanks for the day. It was wonderful. I’ll
see you later.”
“Bye, doll.” He waved as she pulled out of her parking
space and drove off down the street.
_
The bar was busy when Maverick entered. The music
was techno tonight and he shook his head as he moved further
into the joint.
His sable eyes found his Tempest working diligently
behind her teak bar. A smile was on her face as she served her
customers. For a moment, he just watched her.
“You know I don’t want you sniffin’ around my mom.
You just leave her alone.” A man’s voice came from behind
him.
Maverick turned to see Dakota standing behind him,
glaring. “I’m not sniffin’ around your mom.” His eyes landed
on Shelia who stood beside him. “Good evening, my dear.
Lovely to see you again.”
“And you,” Shelia said with a smile, then walked behind
the bar and made herself at home after giving Tempest a hug.
Maverick turned his attention back to his son. “You
know I wish I knew how to make this up to all of you.”
“There is nothing to make up. It’s done,” Dakota
snapped. “I wish I could make you suffer, but Mom says you
are trying.” A large fist clenched before he continued. “I don’t
know how she can talk to you.”
“She doesn’t really,” Maverick admitted. “She blocks
almost every attempt I make to get to know her better.”
“Good!” Dakota sighed and hesitated for a moment.
“Look, I’m sorry. I just want to protect my mother. But I can see
you are trying. Shelia told me you’ve seen much death and I
should give you a chance. Since I’m trying to learn more about
my Sioux heritage, perhaps I could ask you some questions
about it?”
“I would be honored to answer any you may have. Can I
ask you something?”
“Go ahead.” Dakota’s eyes moved to the bar where
Shelia was refilling the snacks.
“Did your mother explain to you why she named you
what she did?” Maverick asked.
“She said Dakota was in honor the state I was conceived
in and Falcon was something about a totem.”
“My middle name is Chayton, which means ‘falcon’; it is
my totem. Do you know much of this side of your heritage?”
“Not too much. Mom helped me when she could, told
me a few things; but it was hard for me to get information since
there was no paternal name on the birth certificate.”
Maverick shook his head in shame. “I have so much to
make up for. You let me know when and we will get you tons
of information. If you want, we can even take a trip to the
reservation and I will show you all I can.”
“Would you really do that?”
“Of course I would. You are my son and I hope you will
come to me with questions about our heritage.” Maverick
reached out for his hand.
“I can’t promise that my feelings will change overnight,
but I will do my best to be civil.” A warning glint appeared in
the eyes identical to his father’s. “As long as you don’t hurt my
mom.” The hands were clasped in a tenuous way, one still
unsure and the other extremely hopeful.
“I don’t want to hurt her. Or you. I hope you can believe
that.” Maverick held his son’s gaze.
“We’ll see,” Dakota said as he turned around and
walked back out into the night.
Ten
Maverick walked further into the establishment. He saw
Shelia over in a dark corner, delivering some more snacks to
the tables there. His eyes picked up on a man moving in from
behind her and he moved forward to intervene. As he neared,
he heard a man rasp out, “I want a chance to know you better,
sweets.” He reached for her but Shelia stepped back.
“Sorry. I’m not interested.” Nothing in her tone
suggested she was angry, but Maverick could pick up on the
fear that ran through her. There were five men and all of them
were large and strong.
“Play nice with us, sweets, and it will be much easier on
you.” Another man grated out.
Maverick stepped up behind her. “Everything okay
here?”
Shelia’s relief was palpable. “I’m fine.”
“Go away, man,” another man snapped. “This piece of
ass is ours.”
A sober look settled across Maverick’s face as he met
each and every one of the faces before him. “I would really
recommend you watch how you talk about a lady. Especially
this one.”
“What’s so special about her to you, Injun?” the man
sneered.
“She’s my daughter.” Maverick stepped up beside Shelia
and leveled his deadpan glare at each man. “I don’t like people
to be disrespectful, especially to my family.” The tone made the
atmosphere feel like the arctic instead of the middle of the
desert in summer.
“Sorry,” they stuttered at once. “Didn’t mean no harm
by it.”
“Perhaps, you all should move along,” Maverick made
the not so subtle suggestion.
As one the men stood and walked out the door. They
didn’t like the look of death that had crossed the tall man’s
face. And he hadn’t even been reacting to the name they’d
called him.
“Thank you,” Shelia murmured as the men walked out
the door. “I was getting scared.”
“I don’t think my son would let anything happen to
you,” Maverick said as he stepped back so she could precede
him out of the corner.
“Like father, like son.” A flash of white teeth appeared
across her face before she reached up and placed a kiss on his
cheek, much to the surprise of Maverick and Tempest, who’d
been watching the whole thing. “Don’t give up on her,
Maverick. She is still in love with you.” Shelia walked off
before he could say another word.
His coal eyes glanced across the room and landed on the
woman who was staring at him. Her tongue snuck out and wet
her lips before she seemed to realize just where she was. He
could feel her eyes move up and down his body before she tore
her gaze away from him.
Could it be true? Could the mother of his child still be in love
with him? Maverick strode closer to the bar and at the last
second opted to go behind the bar. Mili just smiled as the tall
