Code Name: Nina's Choice (Warrior's Challenge)

by Natasza Waters

  “Why didn’t she tell me? When did he show up?”

  “Three days ago. We were at the Seaport Village.” Adam woke up and started to cry, loudly.

  “And he’s already taken her out to lunch?” His anger needed a place to vent.

  “Mace, wait,” Nina called from the doorway. Kayla pulled back and headed for the house.

  A slow, deep pain began to eat away at him. He couldn’t look at her without showing it. “I’ll call ya,” he said.

  “You’re just going to walk away from me and Gabbs?”

  “With her father bringing puppies, I’m sure she’ll love him soon enough. You have a family reunion to get back to, Nina.”

  Nina sucked in a sharp breath, and backed away with a world of hurt in her eyes.

  Before he walked away, maybe for good, he said, “He doesn’t just want to know his daughter. He wants the mother too.” He rammed his hands in his pockets, and his fingers bumped into the velvet box. He’d forgotten all about the reason he’d asked her to dinner. Nothing could have prepared him for the night to end this way. “Bye, Nina.”

  He jumped in his car, and drove along the Strand toward the Mexican border. Several beaches lined the slip of land that ended up at the northern end of Mexico. Right now he considered driving through it until he reached the other end, but instead he turned off and parked in a deserted lot. Lights crossed his rear view mirror, and the Admiral’s car came to a stop beside his.

  Ghost threw open the door and knocked on his window. “Get out,” he commanded.

  For once Mace thought about telling him to fuck the hell off. The door flew open. “I know you’re not deaf, SEAL. Get out and walk with me.”

  “Don’t you have a dinner with Timmins?”

  “Not when one of my men has a shitload of doubt floating above his head like a cumulus cloud.”

  Mace unbuckled and got out. He slammed the door and leaned against the car.

  “Nice move on the asshole’s part bringing a puppy.”

  Mace stared at the ground, trying to determine what he’d do in the guys’ shoes. “He’s Gabbs’ father. I can’t blame him for wanting to make a good first impression or wanting to know her.”

  “Maybe,” Ghost said sternly, “but this doesn’t change anything, Mace. You’re in love with Nina. Her ring is in your pocket. Why did you not follow through?”

  “Because, sir. It’s up to her.”

  “To do what? Ya think she’s going to dump you because some Navy lieutenant in her past trips back into her life? That’s not the Nina I know.”

  He finally turned his eyes to see Ghost wore a concerned expression.

  “How the hell do you think I felt when Lapierre showed up? He and Kayla had been lovers for years.”

  Mace jerked his head with surprise. “They were? I mean it was obvious he loved Kayla but…”

  “Yeah. They’ve known each other for twenty years, but for the last ten they’d been best friends with benefits.” Ghost paused. “Don’t look at me that way, Adam is mine. Kayla didn’t share his bed after we met, but it didn’t feel very good, even though I knew that. Nina had a week-long affair and got pregnant. Cayson shipped out, and she chose not to chase him. That means she wasn’t interested.”

  “The right thing would be to let them have their time together. Maybe if he’d known, they’d have three kids by now.”

  “You’re a United States SEAL. Maybe’s don’t exist in our repertoire. Action gets us through the mission. Do not let up. Don’t make it easy for Cayson to walk in and take Nina from you. He has a right to be in Gabbs’ life, but that’s it.”

  Mace unbuttoned his shirt and walked around to the trunk. He dug through a bag, pulling out a T-shirt and a pair of shorts.

  Ghost chuckled.

  “What’s so funny?”

  “The day I found Kayla at the ranch and told her the truth about Zara, she told me we’d never be together again. I ran all night. I swam miles after that, and passed out on the shore of the lake. I’m telling you now, when you wake up, the pain won’t be gone and neither will the uncertainty.”

  Mace took off his pants and slipped into his shorts. “Maybe not, but I have to do something or I’m going to lose it.”

  “That something is getting back in your car, walking into Nina’s house like you own the place, and showing the lieutenant she is yours.”

  “But she isn’t.” Mace looked out toward the darkness. The waves rolled up the beach with a gentle swell. He jumped the cement wall separating the parking lot from the sand. The Admiral kept pace.

  “The women who are worth our attention are never easy, Petty Officer Callahan.” Ghost gripped his shoulder, stopping him as they stepped onto wet sand. “Our lives as SEALs are not easy on them. Nina was by your side in Germany after only a few days of knowing you. A woman who just wants to say she’s fucked a SEAL would not do that. We’ve both had our fair share. You know the difference. Nina held her ground even when you told her to hit the road. She was waiting for you when you came home. Every rejection you threw at her, she pelted aside with resilience. Nina Samson is not a quitter.”

  He bristled with Ghost’s unsaid accusations. “Are you saying I am?”

  “I’m saying you’re acting like you’ve already lost her, and wallowing in something that hasn’t come to pass. She hasn’t chosen Cayson over you, but you just walked out on her and left her wide open.” Ghost released him and stepped back. “I turned my back on Kayla for a few hours and I almost lost her. Seven months pregnant with my son, and she had to save herself evading a serial killer and thrashing through a forest because I let doubt cloud what I knew was truth. To the end of my days I will love Kayla, and she loves me. If you ring out now, Mace, how can you expect Nina to ever believe you won’t do it again in the future?”

  He heard the sea instead of the roaring in his ears. Anger had been pushed aside with his admiral’s wisdom, but he didn’t know what his next move should be. As a sniper he was trained in patience. He could sit for days waiting for his target. It took a powerful inner strength to do that.

  A chorus of “O Canada” erupted from Ghost’s pocket. He shook his head and chuckled. “She cracked the damn code on my phone again, and put that anthem on there.” He punched a button. “Sweetheart, I’m on my way. He’s fine, Kayla. No, you don’t need to talk to him. He’s already gotten an earful from me. Are you still at Nina’s?” He nodded. “I’ll tell him.”

  “Thanks for the save. I don’t need another tongue-lashing.”

  “Kayla said to get your ass back to Nina’s. Cayson is gone.”

  He cocked a brow. “I think I should just let things cool down.”

  “As you know my future wife is a patient woman, but not particularly easy. She said if you don’t get your ass over there now, she’s going to be tearing a strip off it.” He jerked his head. “And this time I’ll stand and watch.”

  “What the hell am I supposed to do?”

  Ghost leaned closer. “What we men are the shits at, but stumble through anyway. Talk.” Ghost lifted his broad shoulders. “I’m the last man on this fucking planet that could do that with a woman, until Kayla. She didn’t want to, so I had to learn. Necessity breeds ability.”

  Mace cupped the back of his neck, and tried to rub the tension out of it. “What the hell am I going to talk about?”

  “What you planned to talk about before this entire evening went sideways.”

  “Are you crazy, sir? She’d probably throw me out.”

  “Doubt that. We’ll take Gabbs and Lexi. Kayla already cancelled dinner.”

  * * * *

  A short blurb of “Stars and Stripes” made Kayla look down at her phone. “Come on Gabbs, grab Lexi, let’s go.”

  “What?” Nina stopped pacing. “Where are you going?”

  “Home. Gabbs is staying at our place tonight.”

  Kayla had Adam in one arm, Gabbs and the puppy in the other, and headed out the door before she could open her mouth to argue
. Nina stepped to the window and watched Ghost put them all in the car. They were gone within a SEAL minute, which is about thirty seconds. Nina stepped back then plunked down on the leather ottoman. With two flicks, she turfed her high heels and bowed her head. The quiet house made the clatter in her mind louder.

  As hard as she tried, she couldn’t fill the emptiness inside her where Mace had taken up real estate. When he left, he left a “For Sale” sign draped across her heart. Men confused a woman. She knew this, and that’s why she’d shunned all the guys before him. She sniffed and a little gush of tears wet her lashes. So what? Have a good cry and be done with it. Tomorrow she’d head to Lowe’s and start loading up on renovation supplies. She and Gabbs would start fixing this place up. Hard work and a little sweat could turn an upside down world right side up.

  Slapping her knees once, she pushed herself to her feet, and padded to the kitchen to make some tea. With a push to her tiptoes, she grasped the box in her cupboard. Rather than scream when a hand slid from hip to breast then trailed up her arm to grab the box, her body instinctively knew the muscled chest pushing against her back was Mace.

  “I hope there’s enough for two,” Mace whispered in her ear.

  “Maybe,” she whispered back. “I thought you’d abandoned ship.”

  “Nina…” He turned her, and pressed her against the counter.

  Her finger covered his mouth. “I was going to tell you tonight.” She swallowed heavily. Mace’s beautiful eyes looked so sad. “I know why this hurts.”

  “Do you?”

  “Yes, you love my daughter.” Tears rained down her cheeks because if anything could crack her tough scales it was Mace. “And now you have to share her.”

  He nodded. “You’re right about that, but I don’t want to share you.”

  She kissed him, and the kiss lasted long enough for them to both end up naked. He grasped her thighs and slid her up his body; with a swing her back was pressed against the fridge and she quivered for his fullness. She wasn’t a petite woman, but Mace always made her feel that way. Strength and confidence radiated from the tip of the man’s head to his toes.

  “Look at me, babe.”

  She opened her eyes when Mace entered her wet channel, and her body swooned with passion. He stretched her, and her body melted and accepted him into her core.

  “I love you, Nina,” he moaned. “Baby, I need to love you until you can’t walk.”

  “Do it,” she cried, her head thumping against the fridge with Mace taking ownership of her body. Her feet touched the cool tile and he flipped her around, guiding her hands to the counter and re-entering her from behind. Her mind swirled in ecstasy as Mace took charge, and it shot her passion through a red zone. With every plunge she pushed to meet him, and drive him deeper. “Harder,” she breathed. There was no time for kink or love. She just wanted to be consumed by this man.

  “God, you feel so good.” Mace’s hands slid around her hips and his thumb twirled the needy nub. She exploded with a cry, and he powered into her, a harsh shout of fulfillment filling the kitchen.

  They both breathed heavily. Mace drew her against him, his strong arms wrapped around her, holding her tight against his warm skin. He kissed her shoulder, and then tensed. “Shit.”

  “What?”

  “Nina, I didn’t use a condom.”

  She turned and looked into his eyes. “Gabbs loves Adam, but she wants a little brother of her own.”

  “And you want?” Mace’s Hollywood good looks never failed to make her heart gallop, especially when he looked at her with so much depth and warmth.

  “I want a bigger family, but a planned family. I started the pill about a month ago. You don’t have to worry.”

  Mace’s full lips descended on hers, and his tongue played a game of cat and mouth exciting her all over again. When he pulled away he said, “Then it’s au naturel from now on.” He brushed her cheek with his nose. “I love how good you feel when I’m inside you. Everything feels right with you.”

  “I’m getting all worked up again, SEAL,” she purred when he kissed her jaw and nibbled on the pulse in her neck.

  “That’s the idea. Grab those heels over there, baby, we’re going to bed.”

  When she pivoted to retrieve the shoes, Mace slapped her ass, and a zip of pleasure pulsed in her womb. She bent over to pick up the shoes, and he grabbed her hips. She clutched the edge of the leather ottoman for balance and Mace nudged her legs open.

  “Holy God, you are fantastic.”

  Mace entered her, and her channel opened to accept him. Another smack on her ass made her tremble. With a delicious slow plunge, he buried himself in her core and she whimpered with the tingling excitement. Mace was at full payload capacity. He’d overcome his trauma and was quick to rejuvenate just like before the mission. Their bodies rolled in unison, his hips powering him into her. Thank God the lights in the house were off. It was dark outside and they would be quite the show for her elderly neighbors who took an early evening stroll each night.

  Her muscles clamped down on his shaft, and he groaned and pulled out. Mace yanked her into his arms, and carried her down the hallway. “Don’t need to make the neighbors jealous,” he said, grinning at her.

  She slid her finger along the tie he’d draped around his neck. Carefully, he laid her on the bed and kissed her hard as he tied her hands. He hovered above her, and they stared at each other. “You’re mine, Nina. Cayson can go to hell, and Gabbs is mine too. I’ll make room for him, but you’re both number one in my life.”

  He finished off his sentence with his erection entering her moist heat. Mace’s talented mouth circled her nipple, sucking on it as he filled her with slow, penetrating strokes. She was a mess, but a beautiful mess and within seconds they were both coming hard.

  Nina rolled over to answer the phone. She blinked a few times to clear her eyes, but it wasn’t working so she just accepted the call without looking at who it was. “Hello,” she croaked.

  “Good morning, Nina.”

  She sat up like someone released a spring in her back. Mace hadn’t moved. They both exhausted themselves last night. “Wade, it’s, it’s…” She grabbed her alarm clock and blinked again. “Eight o’clock.”

  “I wanted to talk to you before you made any plans today. I thought I’d drop by and pick up Gabbs and take her to the wildlife zoo.”

  Mace rolled over, the sheet slipping down his washboard chest, and he pinned an arm behind his head. “Gabbs is at Kayla’s. She’s having a sleepover.”

  “I can pick her up on the way.”

  “Wade.” Mace tensed and his gaze hardened. “I know you mean well, but I think we should take this slower. Gabbs doesn’t know you—”

  “Then come with us.” He paused. “Listen, maybe I came on a little strong with the puppy. I just wanted to make a good impression. It’s my first crack at being a father. I want to do this right. If you’re not comfortable with me being alone with Gabbs I understand, I do. I just can’t stop thinking about her.”

  She let out a breath and folded the sheet in her fist. Gabbs had been bugging her to go to the zoo since the second she’d arrived. Her daughter had been so good dealing with all the changes. “Okay, I’ll go get Gabbs and see if she wants to go.”

  “Great,” he said, and she could almost hear his smile. “I’ll pick you up in an hour?”

  “Sure.”

  “And you’re coming, right?”

  “Yes, I think I should.”

  “Excellent, see you soon, Nina.”

  She hung up and dropped the phone in the dip of the sheets. She hesitated, building up a little courage before peering over her shoulder at Mace. He said he could make room for Wade. They both had to. A strong, rough hand gently caressed her back, giving her confidence.

  “Babe.” Two hands gripped her, and pulled her back, cradling her. “Don’t feel like you have to choose between us or hide Cayson wanting time with Gabbs.”

  She twisted to lie on top o
f him, resting her chin on his chest. “I can’t let her go by herself.”

  “I know.” He brushed a curl from her cheek. “Did you get a chance to talk to her? She must be confused.”

  Nina concentrated on running her finger along the molded muscle of Mace’s chest. “Last night when you left I explained it to her.”

  “How did she react?”

  Nina chuckled. “Like an eight-year-old who just got a new puppy. Her attention was on Lexi, it didn’t faze her. Right now he’s like any other stranger to her.” She placed a lingering kiss on Mace’s chest then raised her eyes to look at him.

  “You’re an amazing mother, Nina.” A gentle hand gripped her hip and slid across her bum. “Go take a shower, I’ll go get Gabbs.”

  “Why don’t you come with us today?”

  Mace’s resident smile was nowhere to be found. He shook his head. “You and Cayson will have to make your adjustments. He’ll be in your life forever now.”

  * * * *

  Ten minutes later he tapped on the Admiral and Kayla’s front door and walked in. He couldn’t believe the difference from only a couple months ago. If joy was a beam of light there wouldn’t be a square inch of darkness in the house. Gabbs and Kelsey played with Lexi on the living room floor. Ghost had a friggin’ apron on, cooking breakfast, and Kayla looked up at him with a smile while breastfeeding Adam.

  He’d noticed she didn’t like to do it in public, but she didn’t flinch when he walked up to her and kissed her on the cheek. “You are so beautiful,” he said, and his heart filled with warmth for his friend.

  Kayla smiled up at him, her eyes glowing. He brushed Adam’s cheek as he suckled on her breast, his cheeks rosy and warm. His godson was a handsome boy.

  “Mace.” Gabbs jumped on the couch beside Kayla. “Mommy says I’m going to the zoo. I want you to come.” Lexi romped over and jumped on Kayla’s legs.

  “Gabbs, I think you better take Lexi for a walk.”

  “Okay, Kayla. Come on, Lexi.” The girls ran out the patio door, and Lexi bounded after them.