Code Name: Kayla's Fire (33 page)

“Noooo, don’t. Look at me. Kayla, nothing is going to happen just
because you tell me. Those words aren’t a curse.”

Her eyes popped open. “I love—”

His chin drew down with the words, and his eyes beckoned her to
finish.

“You.”

He let out a hearty laugh, his eyes squinting. “See, you didn’t self
combust, did you?” He opened up his palm, and his ring sat in there.

“You don’t have to…” He pulled her hand open, and dropped it in the
middle.

“Ask me.”

“What?”

“I said I would wait to ask you. I didn’t say I’d wait for you to ask
me.” His jaw flexed, and he swallowed heavily, making his Adam’s apple bob.

How the hell did he always manage to corner her like this? Her gaze
fell to the ring, and she tentatively picked it up. This was her, marking Thane
Austen as hers. Their son decided he wanted in and gave her a healthy nudge
under Thane’s palm.

“Did you feel that? He’s going to be a linebacker.”

She gave him a cockeyed smile. She didn’t waste any time on wondering
why, but it felt like she’d been watching a red light all her life, and
suddenly it changed to green.

“Captain Austen,” the words tumbled over themselves in her mind. “The
second you stepped into Base Command, my heart did somersaults. My life changed
direction, and I fell instantly in love with you.” She kept talking, even
though Thane’s expression went blank, and his mouth gaped open. “I wanted to
launch myself at you, and tell you to make love to me until I couldn’t walk any
more. I wanted to scratch that blonde bitch’s eyes out at the restaurant at the
Landing the night we bought my condo. When you held your fork out for me to try
your steak, every bone in my body turned to liquid heat.” The shocked
expression on his face and his uneven breath surprised her, but she kept on.
“When you visited me in the center before you left on your mission, I wanted to
scream at you not to go. I was so afraid. My heart shattered into a thousand
pieces, learning the princess had known what it was like to love you.” He shook
his head, but she stopped him by catching his cheeks between her hands. “My son
knows that I love you deeper than any ocean or more than any woman will ever
love you.”

His mouth smacked closed, and he leaned back blinking. “Fuck, I’m an
amateur,” he said, looking like she’d told him some kind of earth shattering
news. “And blind. I was so blind. I didn’t see it at all. Why didn’t I—” He
shook his head. “Why didn’t I see?” Tears gathered in his eyes, but she didn’t
understand them. “Kayla, I’m so sorry.”

“Why are you sorry?”

“The first time I saw you, when you stepped into the light, I knew I
would never be able to resist you. You were such a shock to my system, and I
could have lost you acting like an ass.”

She raised her chin and gave the women, who’d been eyeing them and inconspicuously
listening, a wink. “Nope.” She cocked her head at him and waited. “Well?”

“Huh? Yes,” he nearly shouted it, realizing what she was waiting for.
“Yes, hell yes, a thousand times, yes.” He drew her against his chest, and
rubbed her nose with his.

“Do I have permission to scratch any woman’s eyes out, no matter what
nationality they are, if they come near you?”

“You got it, sweetheart.” He hugged her, and rested his hand against
his son.

They settled the cost of the rings, and stepped into the blistering
heat of the July day. Wandering down the sidewalk, she asked, “Lunch? Your son
wants food, again.” Thane’s expression sobered, and he nodded.

“What’s wrong?”

“We’re being watched.” His hand fell to the hollow in her back.

How the hell did he know that so quickly?

Thane led her to the nearest café. “Stay here, Kayla,” he said,
helping her to a chair.

“Thane?”

“Black SUV.”

“Oh, God,” she turned to look out the front window, and saw it parked
across the street. The driver wore a ball cap and shades. Thane headed toward
the back of the restaurant. Suddenly the SUV pulled out, cutting off another
car, and roared down the street at high speed.

* * * *

She bolted out the door and stopped on the sidewalk. Another car came
to a halt, and Thane jumped in. “Wait,” she yelled, seeing Daniel behind the
wheel, but both men were focused on their target and tore down the road after
the SUV.

She searched the clean street with flower boxes set every few feet and
benches situated between. The girl from the jewelry store exited. “Hey,” she
yelled waving at the same time. “Hey, do you have a car?”

The girl’s eyes widened seeing her. “Yes, why?”

“Let’s go.”

“Go, where?”

A small red Honda sat in front of the store. The lights flashed as the
girl unlocked the door. “That way.”

“Okay,” she agreed and pulled out.

“Faster.”

“Where’s your guy, what’s his name?”

“Captain Austen. Run it,” she said, seeing the one streetlight on the
main drag change to yellow.

“Is this some kind of mission?”

“There,” she pointed seeing the two vehicles on the side of the road.
The SUV Daniel was driving had pushed the other vehicle to the side of the
road. “Stay here.” She jumped out and ran, okay waddled up to the vehicles.
Daniel had the guy bent over the hood, searching him.

“Why were you watching her?” Daniel said, kicking the guys legs apart,
and digging in his pocket, pulling out a passport. He flipped it open and
raised his eyes to Thane.

Thane hadn’t said a word. His body stiff.

“Interesting,” Daniel said, showing him.

Now Thane looked downright uncomfortable. “Find out what he’s doing
here, I’m going to take Kayla back to town.”

Daniel roughly turned the guy. “What’s the deal, pal. Sightseeing?”

“Where’s he from, Daniel?” Kayla demanded, finally finding her tongue.

Thane grasped her hand, and pulled. “Come on, Kayla, let’s go. This
isn’t the Shark.”

She resisted the tug on her arm. “I figured out that much.”

“Egyptian,” Daniel said. “Mohari, what are you doing here?”

“I was sent to talk with Captain Austen—alone. I have a message from
the princess.”

Thane dug his fingers into her arm. “I don’t need a message.”

“What message?” she asked.

He glanced at all of them, but it didn’t sit right, as if this was
planned, and he was victorious. “Her Highness wishes the Captain to know their
son will be born at Christmas.”

Like ice water dripping through a tap, her veins chilled. The words threatened
to slam the door on their future. “Oh,” was all she could manage. Although she
felt Thane’s hands on her, she couldn’t hear anything past the roar of anger.
Fate hadn’t even bothered to wait five lousy minutes before shattering her
under a ten thousand pound elephant.

“Kayla, no this is a lie. It’s impossible.”

For a moment, she stared at the grass and small pebbles under her
feet. The young girl from the jewelry store stood watching with wide eyes.
Kayla stepped toward her, and wrapped a hand around her wrist, slipping her
ring into the girl’s palm. “Please return his money.”

A hand grasped her shoulder. “Kayla…no, put the ring back on, please.”

Slowly, she looked up at Thane. It was a moment she would ultimately
always remember. It was the moment in her life when destiny had her by the
throat again, threatening to take everything away. Would she go down without a
fight? Did she even have a choice? “Go, Thane. Do what you have to do.” Out of
the corner of her eye, she saw Daniel make a move toward her. “Don’t even think
about it, Daniel.” He stopped.

“Zara’s child is not mine.”

“If I have to share you, I will, but I don’t want to, Captain Austen.
Until things are settled I’ll wait here.”

“I want you to put that damn ring back on.”

She pulled away from him. “You may not have an option.”

“It’s not about options, it’s about a vow, and I made one to you, not
more than five minutes ago. Nothing will change that.”

She shrugged. “You don’t know that. Another hurtle, right?” the
sarcasm was hard to hold back.

Thane landed a hard look on Daniel. “I’ll be back.”

She walked to the girl’s Honda, and they drove back to town.

The car came to a stop in front of the jewelry store. “Are you going
to be okay?” the girl asked, her brow knitted with concern.

“I’m always, okay. What’s your name?”

“Natalie.”

“Thanks for your help, Natalie.”

She wiggled herself out of the car, and returned to the restaurant.
Amazingly, still hungry.

The spoon in her hand remained steady as she blew on the soup, even thinking
about all the ways she’d like to annihilate that scheming bitch of a monarch.
The familiar sounds of the diner reached her through a filter red with jealousy.
It was all background noise compared to the thud of her heart firmly situated
in her throat, and it made it hard to swallow. She didn’t acknowledge Daniel
when he slid on the bench seat across from her, and plunked a basket
overflowing with cherries on the table. His muscular shoulders flexed forward
as he reached across the table covering her hand.

“We’re not making pie, Daniel,” her voice stony. They used to do it
all through the summer. He’d make the crusts, and she’d make the filling, but
along the way, he’d be seducing her and while the pie was in the oven, he’d
take her on the table or the floor or the counter.

“Yes, we are. The SEAL’s gone with the Egyptian. It’s just you and me
now.”

“Daniel, what part of we are never going to be together as a couple
again, did you not understand?”

“He’s one pissed off SEAL, I’ll tell ya that. I’d almost believe him.”

She glared at Daniel while sliding the spoon in her mouth.

“But, I’d rather you didn’t.” Daniel allowed a boyish smile to tighten
his cheeks.

Knowing Thane had a child with Zara blistered, but she wasn’t going to
show it. She was good at that. No, she was great at that.

“What can I get you, gorgeous?” the waitress asked, standing by the
table.

“Coffee would be good, and my wife and I are going to share a piece of
pie, cherry if you’ve got it.”

“Sure thing. How’s the soup, darlin’?”

“Good,” she said, concentrating on the bowl until the waitress left.

Daniel sat up, blinking. “Angel, this is fate. You know that.”

Tornados destroyed everything in their path. Hurricanes turned the sea
to a boiling cauldron, but there wasn’t a name for the tempest that brewed in her
soul. “You know what, Daniel, I’m going to finish this soup. I’ll even share
that fucking pie with you, but after that, you’re going to drive me back to the
ranch, and then it’s time to get the hell out of my life.”

Daniel’s expression completely dissolved. “Kayla, I don’t want to. He
pulled the spoon from her, and clutched her hands in his. “Let Austen go, and
let me prove to you I’m not that man anymore.”

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Thane yanked the door of the hotel open and the doorman stepped away,
reading his expression. The long drive back to San Diego had only given him
time to become angrier. Zara’s guard followed him. “Which room?”

“This way, Captain Austen,” he said, heading toward the elevators.
Soft music, elegant chandeliers and a marble lobby filled with wealthy guests
wandering or sitting in the clusters of expensive furniture, reminded him of
the last time he’d been in a hotel. Months ago, and Kayla had been with him.
Now he was about to face the princess, who was trying to manipulate her way
into his life. Royal or not, she was still a woman, and a scheming one.

The doors opened into a penthouse suite. Opulence clung to the walls
and sat on the floors with high-end pieces and paintings. When they rounded the
entry hall, the expansive living room came into view. Zara stood up, dressed in
an off-white blazer and skirt, the long V showing her swelling breasts. A
confident smile adorned high cheeks and lit her hazel eyes.

“I’m so glad you’ve come,” she said, stepping toward him.

He wanted to tear this woman apart for what she’d done. Doubt
flickered on her features and the smile disintegrated. “The child you are
carrying is not mine.”

“Please, come sit.”

He swiveled toward the guard, and she gave him a motion to leave. “I
thought I was pretty clear in Berlin.”

“Can I get you something to drink?”

“No, but you’re going to give me a DNA test.”

This woman had a lot of dealings with foreign relations. She practiced
politics, something he knew as well and despised, but in his position, he often
had to play the game.

Her head tilted with a calculating gaze in her eyes. “I will not. This
is your son.”

“I don’t know whose legs you crawled between, but whoever he is, he
has a right to know he’s a father. I’m not him.”

“Would it make a difference?” she asked, reclining on the couch. A
long arm trailed across the top of the sofa. “Thane, I can’t stop this and
neither can you. We’re meant to be together. Please, sit down and talk to me.”

He remained where he was, with no intention of getting comfortable.
“Starting a life with a lie is no way to start a life.”

“We spent so many hours together, becoming close. We both felt the
attraction. I saw it in your eyes. I felt it when you made love to me.”

“We fucked, we didn’t make love, and I didn’t cum,” he said coldly. “I
told you I belonged to someone else. Obviously, you weren’t listening.”

“Now that Kayla knows you’re the father of our son, I’m sure she’s
moving on.”

She’d planned this right down to the last move. “You’re giving me
proof that it’s my son.”

“By then the damage will already be done. Kayla will have moved on,
and you won’t have to feel guilty.” She leaned forward, her hands folding
regally on top of one another. “You’re such an honorable man. I knew I was the
one that had to fix this.” She twirled an expensive bauble hanging around her
neck. “You’re a wealthy man.” Zara stopped her movement. “I know because I
checked. Real estate. A wise investment.” Zara’s brow rose. “I’m sure Kayla’s
aspirations to have you has something to do with that.” She peered at him with
her hazel gaze. “Why do you put your life at risk when you don’t have to work?”

He chewed on her words in his mind. “Kayla does not know the balance
in my bank account. The fact that you do, tells me the kind of woman you are. You’re
sure as hell are going to fix this, lady,” he declared “Let’s go.”

“I’m not going anywhere.”

“The test—now—or I walk out those doors and you don’t have a hope in
hell of seeing me again. Since I don’t have a hope in hell of mending the
damage you’ve done, I’ve got nothing to lose.”

“You have me to gain, Thane.” She reached for the zipper at the top of
her suit, and pulled it open, revealing smooth golden skin, and a swell in her
stomach. Far too small to be his child. “Feel him. Know him,” she said, her top
pooling on the floor. She reached behind her and unzipped her skirt. Within
seconds she was completely naked in front of him. “Make love to me, Thane. So
many times, I’ve dreamed of that night. It’s all I see. I want to feel you
inside me again.”

Zara’s elegant, lithe body pulled an emotion from him, all right. She
was the complete opposite of Kayla. Kayla was small, and her figure a highway
of curves and soft corners. He wanted his little she-wolf back. He pulled his
phone from his pocket. “Manchester, yeah, I need your help. I need a DNA test.
How long will it take for the results? Two days, we’re on our way.”

Zara swiped at her top and flung it over her shoulders. “You’re going
to owe me a huge apology, Thane Austen,” she said, approaching him with a
sultry twist to her long legs. “I’ll accept it in the form of forever.”

Fear gripped him for the first time. He hadn’t come in her, but he had
an erection. The chances were slim that precum had done this, but doubt wiggled
in his spine and it scared him deeply.

* * * *

He paced, and paced, and paced more, until he’d polished the hardwood
floors in his living room. Watching the clock was driving him insane. He
couldn’t call anyone, and especially not the one person he wanted to talk to
most, Kayla.

Zara had come to his door three times in the last forty hours. Letting
her in was the last thing he would do, and her persistence was annoying. If the
child was his, he’d have to do the right thing, but it didn’t mean spending one
second of his life with the child’s mother. Every second he was away, Daniel
was convincing Kayla to leave, proving to her he had changed, and their life
together would have the happily ever after Kayla had thought she’d never have.

He stopped short when his phone vibrated on the coffee table. Standing
over it, he saw it was Manchester calling.
Suck
it up, SEAL. You’ll deal with it.

“Manchester,” he growled into the phone.

“Captain Austen.” He cleared his throat. “I have the results of the
test.”

“No shit. I have to resand my floor to get the groove out of it.”

“I’m eight hours early. I can always call back, Captain.”

“Jesus, Manchester.”

“Just trying to ease the blow.”

His stomach constricted. “Ease the blow?” If the test proved positive,
Kayla would be lost to him. There would be no forgiveness. She’d shut him out
of her life. He’d pleaded his case, and begged her to believe he hadn’t enjoyed
it, hadn’t ejaculated, and he hadn’t.

Manchester continued, “The percentages as you know can be considered
conclusive.”

“Fuck, just say it.” He had to give Manchester an explanation when
they’d shown up for the test. He did, in short hand, but Manchester knew he
didn’t want the child to be his. He’d never wanted failure so much in his
entire life.

“Captain, the DNA results are ninety-nine percent accurate. I had an
obligation to call Zara as well, and tell her the results which I’ve already
done.”

He slumped onto the couch, pressing his palm to his head. “You know
what outcome I want to hear. You’re stalling. Just fucking say it.”

* * * *

“Daniel, I’m not hungry,” Kayla said when he slipped the shallow bowl
of pasta in front of her.

“Angel, you have to eat.”

She sat back in the chair. Not only had her emotions shut down, but
her sense of smell.

Daniel pulled his chair next to hers. “You could never resist my
Alfredo, and I bet you still can’t.” He cocked his head at her. “One bite. See,
it’s easy.” He twirled the pasta, and brought it to his mouth. “Hmmm,” playing
it up with a grin. He twirled a few strands, lifting it to her mouth. “Please,”
giving her a boyish plea.

Thrusting his hand away from her face sharply, she said, “I don’t want
a bite. I don’t want you here.” She’d been telling him to get out for two days.

Daniel sighed and lipped the fork, sucking in the creamy strands, and
then set the fork down. Sitting back in his chair, he stared at her. “Kayla,
you have to eat for the baby. You’re starving yourself and him.”

Guilt pinched at her. She snapped up the forked, and quickly spun a
forkful, shoving it in. Although her taste buds came to life, so did her anger.
“Happy?”

The green of his eyes, lightened. “Yes, now have another.”

She did, but like an obstinate child being forced to eat broccoli.

“Why are you mad at me? I’m not the one who screwed another woman.”

Jerk
.

“Angel, we need to get out of here. Staying in this place is reminding
you of Austen. Let’s pack up, and get the next flight out of San Diego.”

She slammed the fork down. “I don’t want to leave San Diego. This is
my home,” she blurted, and then hiccupped, catching the sob in her throat.
Home, frig, where was her home? She was in the middle of goddamn nowhere, as
big as a whale with a man’s baby who may have to share his fatherly duties with
an Egyptian princess, and sitting with the man who’d tried to murder her. Was
there anything more fucked up than her life? “I don’t care what you think of Thane.
I want you to pack up your shit, and get out.”

Daniel ran his knuckles gently across her cheek. “Mrs. Lapierre, you
are the most beautiful woman I have ever known when you get angry.”

A cry of shock shot out her mouth when Daniel was ripped out of his
chair, sprawled on the floor, and the Captain loomed above her. The room was
dark except for the candles Daniel had lit on the table. She hadn’t heard a
thing.

“Yes, she is, but she isn’t Mrs. Lapierre nor will she ever be again.”
Daniel came up swinging, but Thane stopped him with one hand, palming Daniel’s
fist, twisting it behind him and thrusting him in the chair at the same time.
“Stay or I will break your neck.” Thane reached into his pocket, and slammed an
envelope down in front of him. “You have some reading to do.”

She and Daniel shared a look. Thane was vibrating with anger, no doubt
seeing Daniel touch her.

Thane pinned a look of pure hatred on Daniel. He reached in his pocket,
and dropped a pen across the papers lying on the table. “Sign it or you, I, and
a shovel will take a walk, and you won’t be coming back.”

“What are those?” she asked.

“Your divorce papers,” Thane said sharply, taking a sinewy taut step
back to lean against the counter. “Sign them, asshole.”

“You have some gall calling him an asshole,” she said, angry that he
hadn’t called her for two days, leaving her hanging, but maybe there was a
reason. One she didn’t want to swallow whole.

Thane’s eyes shot toward the windows, hurt filling them.

“Who’s the asshole now?” Daniel said, turning a raised brow at him.
“Problem with you is your ego is so fucking large it won’t accept anything
unless you decide it’s so. You’re so goddamned American, it’s sickening.”

“Screw you, JTF. Here in America we fight for what we believe in. I
believe in Kayla and if it wasn’t for the years of abuse you put her through,
she’d believe in me.” Thane straightened to a domineering height, towering over
both of them. When his hand reappeared, his revolver came with it. The deadly
expression on his face stilled them both. “Sign that paper, and I’ll let you
walk out of here alive.” When Daniel didn’t move, Thane’s finger grazed the
trigger. “You think I’m kidding. I’ll spend the rest of my days in prison, but
Kayla will be free of you, one fucking way or another. Sign it!”

Daniel’s nostrils flared, and his body flexed, but slowly his hand
crept toward the pen. “This doesn’t change a thing, Austen.” He signed his name
then dropped the pen like it burned his skin.

“She’s free. That’s all I care about.”

The sound of boots on the hardwood floor made her turn. “Greg?”

Daniel’s brother stopped a few feet behind them, his expression
severe. Wearing his fatigues, he looked like he’d just stepped off the plane.
The creases near his eyes were deep with the shadow of the warrior. She
recognized the look, he’d always come home with one foot back in civilian life,
and one still hovering in combat, and it took a few days before he returned to his
old self.

“What the hell do you want?” Daniel asked warily. Greg and Thane
exchanged a look. “You fucking bastard,” he spit out in disbelief. “My loyal
brother, teaming up with the man who deceived my wife?”

“Get up,” Greg ordered, his stance wide and determined like the
Captain’s. “You’re coming with me.”

“We’re both coming,” Daniel said, covering her hand. “Kayla’s coming
home.”

Greg’s gaze swept to her. The look in his eyes was resolute, but there
was also love. “No she’s not, Daniel. We’re both going to let go.”

“What?” She shot out of her chair. “What do you mean, Greg?”