A Warrior's Love [Blackhawk Brothers 3] (BookStrand Publishing Romance)

by Lavada Dee

  Chapter 6

  Tyrell balanced his weight on the dreaded walker, grateful that he had let Page get it for him. His steps were halting, but at least he was moving across the floor. If Page knew what he was doing, and worse, doing it without anyone here if he fell, she would have his hide. But she wasn’t here, because he had sent her home. After the session on the bars at the gym Page had wanted him to rest, but he wasn’t ready to quit, so had put in another hour with the weight machines. She grumbled that it was overdoing it, even for him, and flatly refused to let him into the pool until he did what she wanted and took some down time.

  To appease her, he had returned to his room to supposedly rest. Besides, he would get Devon to go for a swim with him later. For now, he needed time to himself. Time to think about what happened when Nadia walked into the coffee shop. He had caught the scent his wolf recognized instantly. If he had been in tune with his inner self he would have picked up on it at the same time, but he had made the decision to live entirely in his human form after leaving the special ops unit. If his brother, Grant, could do it, so could he. That the warrior in him made it harder than the healer in Grant was beside the point. The fact was, he didn’t need to shift anymore. He would always live with his totem and for that he was grateful. It had enabled him to heal faster. Hell, to be honest it had been the deciding factor in him surviving the injuries he had sustained on that last mission.

  Sweat broke out on Tyrell’s face as he shifted the walker again. Since he wasn’t running any race, slow and steady was the order of the day as he made his way across the room to the balcony doors. Opening the door with the walker was slightly easier than with the wheelchair, but it still took some maneuvering. Finally stepping over the threshold he drew in a deep breath of the cool, clean, invigorating air. It didn’t get better than Montana. He raised his head again, inhaling. It was going to be an early winter, and a hard one. His wolf sensed record temperatures and snow.

  His rooms faced the back and lake, but even the front rooms of the lodge were far enough back from the highway that trees surrounded them. Tyrell moved to the lounge chair and gratefully sank down on it. Away from Page and his brother, he could let pain and weakness show. Every day was easier, but he still hurt at the end of each session. Hiring Page had been one of the smartest things he’d done since waking up in that hospital. Not that he’d had a lot of choices at first. Barely alive, he had to depend on his team to intercede on his behalf with the medical staff.

  That was then, and this was now. He rested his head against the back of the lounger wishing he had put a can of beer in the holder on the walker before coming out to the balcony. Or better yet, that he could easily walk back in and get one. Damn, he hated this, but it wouldn’t be long. Just too long for him. He willed himself to relax and think of Page. She was perfect for him, but it didn’t take a sixth sense to know she didn’t feel it. That he didn’t feel it.

  Tyrell had always been able to drop off to sleep in a second. Never deep sleep, as his very nature kept him on alert. Still, since coming home, he slept longer and deeper than he ever had before. Now, he could feel his defenses weakened by exertion, pushing toward slumber.

  When the image of Nadia appeared he couldn’t push it away. Sleeping, his body responded to an ancient knowledge that they were destined to mate.

  Again he watched her walk toward him, but instead of the crowded coffee shop, they were in a deep forest, alone. Wind whipped through the branches of huge fir trees bringing with it a cold brisk chill that was invigorating. He was in wolf form and lifted his head to pick up her scent. When he did, it wafted back to him in its pure form. Not the perfumed one that overlaid and masked her true woman scent. Her voice floated to him, natural-sounding, like a fine harp. He answered back with a throaty growl and stood tall, waiting for her to come to him.

  Jerking awake, Tyrell found himself fully aroused. What the hell? Almost at once, the conversation he’d had with his father years ago fluttered in his mind. His dad had told him about the totem their family carried, that it manifested itself in healers and warriors. By that time he knew, as did his father, that he carried the gene. His father had gone on to tell him what he could expect. It had been, and sometimes still was, hard to believe. Right now, the one thing that stuck out in his mind was that he would know when he encountered his mate, or in mortal vernacular, soul mate. At the time, he had been nineteen. He had blown it off. Since then, he hadn’t lived a life of celibacy, and being honest, he was glad he hadn’t found the one woman. Better to play the field and walk away.

  He clenched his jaw as the throb in his groin intensified. At least he didn’t have to worry about all his parts working anymore. Since waking up in the hospital, he hadn’t been able to get so much as a hint of an erection. He smiled at the thought of some of the things he had done to prompt action.

  Damn, this pain is sweet. Tyrell leaned back, savoring the feel. But what had brought it on? Not Nadia. Hell she would freeze his balls off.

  He heard his brother in the hall and eased in the lounger to get comfortable and not present the evidence of where his thoughts were taking his body. A few minutes later, Devon slid the door open and stepped out on the balcony. “You have got to be crazy. It must be all of thirty degrees out here and you don’t even have a coat on.”

  Tyrell tried to get up but failed. Cursing, he held out his hand for Devon to help him up. “You know me, I don’t need a lot of clothes.”

  “In your man form you do. Or were you in your fur coat when you came out here?”

  Tyrell let silence drift around them. They never talked about shifting. His wolf form was like an elephant in the room. It was and it wasn’t real, and the Blackhawk family in their silence kept it that way. Tyrell had gotten more accepting of it with his team, but was fast drawing a defense of silence around him again now that he was home.

  Devon held up his hands. “Sorry.”

  “Getting down on that lounge was easy. I didn’t give much thought to getting back up.”

  “By the looks of you, you won’t need to even think about it in a few days.”

  “Damn, I hope you’re right.” Switching subjects he grabbed the walker and started for the door. “By the way, what is it with that woman you brought to breakfast?”

  “What do you mean?”

  Tyrell led the way into the kitchen with frustrating slowness and motioned for Devon to take a bar stool while he made fresh coffee. “What do you mean, what do I mean? Don’t play cat and mouse with me. You know damn well that was one awkward setup. She, Nadia, looked like she wanted you all to herself. She barely managed to be civil to me and Page.”

  Devon opened his mouth, but before he could say anything, Tyrell continued. “I can understand her not liking me. Hell it was like satin and sandpaper from the beginning, but Page?”

  “I know. Page tried her best to make conversation and put Nadia at ease…”

  “That woman has a real burr up her butt.”

  “I know. I didn’t realize when she accepted my invitation to breakfast, she was expecting it would be just the two of us.”

  “So—”

  “You will never guess what she wanted.”

  Tyrell finished preparing the coffee and turned around so he could see Devon’s reaction to the conversation. “Oh, I don’t know. You’re a good looking guy, or it seems that’s what the ladies think, so maybe a romp in bed?”

  Devon’s laugh rang out. “Yeah, in my dreams, though at first I had hopes.” He shook his head. “They evaporated faster than a fart in a hurricane.”

  Tyrell was getting into it. The light bantering was helping him get his libido down from the dream and awareness of the lady. “How’s that?”

  “Good grief, Tyrell, it didn’t take more than a few minutes to see her for what she is. And not that long to get the feel she thinks she is slumming out here in the wilds of Montana.”

  “So what did she want from you, if not your body?”

  Again, Devon l
aughed at his brother. “Is that all you can think of?”

  Tyrell moved around the bar and onto a stool. It felt good to be moving around on his own like this. So okay, he wasn’t entirely on his own, he still needed to hang on to something or use the walker, but he was getting damn close. He gave Devon a long look, and more than half serious, said, “Wouldn’t you in my position? Hell, until just a few minutes ago, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to do much more than think about it.”

  Devon caught on to what he was saying right away. “What made you rise to the occasion, and yes, pun intended?”

  Tyrell wasn’t ready to discuss what he now knew was his attraction to Miss New York. “Just nature kicking in. So, what did she want of you?”

  “You are going to get a good laugh at this. She wants me to model for her marketing campaign.” He went on to tell Tyrell about the perfume company and how Nadia was looking for what she called the perfect man to model for their new men’s line. “Says I can make a butt-load of money.”

  “Umm, and you said?”

  Devon grew serious. “I don’t need her money, but…”

  Tyrell nodded to the coffee pot that had finished its cycle. “That sounds like a very big but.” His gut twisted, as he waited for his brother to continue. The last thing he wanted to hear was that Devon was attracted to Nadia. She wasn’t suited to Montana life. She was New York through and through, and the sooner she packed up and left, the better.

  Devon took his time getting mugs out and pouring the coffee. Tyrell wasn’t a patient man at the best of times. Today wasn’t one of those times, he wanted answers. “So, if you don’t need money, and we both know you could probably buy and sell her ten times over, what is making you even consider the idea?”

  “Maybe it’s all the beautiful ladies I would have access to.” He pushed a cup over to Tyrell and came back around to his stool. “Seriously Tyrell, I’m, or I think I am, ready to settle down. Grab the life that Cooper and Grant have.” He paused for a second and then said, “I might have waited too long. There aren’t a lot of single women around. The ones our age have either moved on or gotten married. Besides…”

  Again, Tyrell almost growled his impatience, and again he waited for Devon to tell him he was attracted to the woman.

  Seemingly oblivious of Tyrell’s mounting frustration, Devon took his time. “Besides, I’m sensing that Miss New York isn’t quite what she seems.”

  Tyrell smiled. So Devon had tagged Nadia as Miss New York too. “What do you mean?”

  “It’s hard to explain, but she seemed vulnerable.” He leaned back and Tyrell could see him trying to collect his thoughts. That, in itself, was surprising. Devon was the intellect in the family, with an IQ close to genius. He didn’t struggle with words.

  “Vulnerable how? And don’t tell me you would consider moving to New York. Hell, even if you did find a woman, you wouldn’t want to live in a big city. Would you?”

  Devon looked up at Tyrell. “Grant was ready to move to San Francisco for Baylee.” He laughed and then said, “I didn’t think any of us Blackhawk guys would move away from here, so thankfully, that didn’t happen. But I know what you’re saying, and it would take one hell of a woman for me to move east. Besides which, Nadia LaMar didn’t talk like she wanted a husband. All she wants is a man for hire.”

  Relieved but still peeved, Tyrell took in what Devon had said. His brother not being attracted to Nadia was good, but thinking she wanted a man for hire brought forth images of more than a model.

  Devon must have read his body language because he immediately added, “I don’t think she’s looking for anything more than a model. She certainly was all professional and cold when she presented me with the opportunity.” He put the emphasis on “opportunity.”

  Devon glanced at his watch. “Besides she is only going to be here for a couple of days.” Then, changing the subject, he said, “You want to go for a swim before calling it a night?”

  Tyrell nodded. “Sure, but it’s just you and me tonight. Page took a much-deserved night off.” Tyrell watched Devon to see if he would show disappointment. When he didn’t, he again felt relief. If Devon wasn’t interested in Page, it gave Tyrell a free hand. If he could fan an attraction between her and him, it would help him overcome the instinct to claim Nadia. Besides, Page was perfect for him.

  Devon went down to his place to change into his trunks. By the time he got back, Tyrell was ready and asked Devon to grab the wheelchair. “I’m thinking another week and I can completely get rid of this thing.”

  Devon walked down the wide hall beside him. “Don’t hurry. It will come. Besides, then you won’t need Page anymore and I, for one, will miss her.”

  Tyrell stopped the wheelchair, dead center of the hall. “Huh?”

  “I said…”

  “I know what you said. I didn’t think you were interested in Page.”

  Devon stared down at him. “What is bringing all this on tonight? I like Page. All right? She is fun to be around, pretty, cute, smart…”

  Tyrell wheeled forward. “Okay, I get the picture.”

  Devon wouldn’t shut up, and Tyrell felt decidedly pissed over it. “But I guess, just because she isn’t working for you, doesn’t mean she is out of the picture. Umm, maybe I’ll think about dating her.”

  Damn, tonight wasn’t going well. Maybe he should be encouraging Devon to try modeling, it would get both his brother and Nadia away for a while. It would also solve a lot of problems and give him a free playing field to pursue Page.

  Chapter 7

  Inactive days frustrated Nadia, and today had proved to be no exception. She wasn’t used to having time on her hands. Her life consisted of work and more work, and she loved it. The only thing she felt good about was the morning’s jog. She had to admit, being outside instead of at the gym gave her more energy. Especially in air as pure as Blackhawk boasted. She glanced at her watch, seven o’clock. She had talked her grandmother into a late lunch in the coffee shop, and Nadia doubted she would get her downstairs again for dinner, but she needed to give it a try.

  Rapping on the door as she opened it, she entered her grandmother’s suite. “Ready for dinner?”

  When her grandmother answered from the balcony, Nadia was surprised. Walking over to join her and noting her grandmother was bundled up for the cool air, she said, “Beautiful isn’t it?”

  Her grandmother smiled and turned to go back in the room. “I grew up in the mountains.”

  Nadia couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She had always assumed her grandmother had been brought up in New York. If she had given it a thought she would have guessed that her Nona had always been a city dweller. The LaMar’s were a small family, with just her father, Nona and herself, and she had always regarded them as close. But being with her grandmother first in Seattle, and then the few days of the trip, made her realize that they were close only because the business drew them together. How much did Nadia know of her own history?

  A knock on the door stopped her from replying. Her grandmother reached in her pocket and drew out some money. “That will be room service.”

  After the waiter brought in and set up a tray, Nadia saw him out and returned to the room. “So I guess this means you don’t want to have dinner with me?” Hearing how she sounded, Nadia smiled to take the hurt out of her voice. Her grandmother had never indulged in what she called coddling, but Nadia hoped that manners alone would prompt her to issue an invitation for Nadia to join her.

  “I’m sorry, dear. I wanted to watch this movie and I really thought you would have work to do.”

  Again, Nadia worked to keep her voice light, but now instead of hurt she felt anger. How did her grandmother expect her to work here? “It’s a little hard to work when we are out in the sticks.”

  “Nonsense, dear. Your assistant can send you anything you need and being out of the office will be good for you.” She smiled, but missed looking like a sweet little old lady by a mile. “Besides, this will give yo
u time to get that handsome young man to join us in New York.”

  Nadia chuckled. Her grandmother was as sly as a fox. “So you noticed. Wouldn’t he be perfect for the ‘Fragrance of Man’ campaign?”

  Her grandmother’s eyes twinkled when she answered. “He would, but you will have to use some pretty powerful persuasion on this one. Money won’t do and I’m betting neither will the idea of fame.”

  Umm, what did her grandmother know that she didn’t? She had noticed that Devon talked pretty freely to her when he’d shown them their rooms. “I wouldn’t think it would take all that much persuasion to lure a desk clerk to what we offer, even if he thinks he lives in paradise.”

  “Oh my, where did you get the idea that Mr. Blackhawk is a desk clerk?”

  Mr. Blackhawk? Nadia sat down on the bar stool with none of her usual grace.

  Her grandmother didn’t wait for her to answer. She waved her hand around and said, “He owns all this and lives in one of the penthouses.”