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

by Natasza Waters

  Nina’s eyes softened, and his stomach breached like Flipper doing a water show. Yeah, she was the one, all right. They stared at each other. It was easy to lose track of time in Nina’s eyes. Neither of them spoke, but there was plenty of cross-chatter passing between them, and it drew him closer until their lips were moving in a soft dance together.

  A tap on the glass broke the spell. “Uncle Mace, I brought my Frisbee,” his nephew Andrew said, barely seeing over the door into the car.

  Nina chuckled. He kissed her quickly. “Remember, this is friendly fire.”

  Movement was restricted in the tiny house with everyone’s kids running around their ankles. He was used to it, but Nina seemed a little in awe. The running joke in his family was have three and be surprised by one. Five of his siblings had four kids each.

  Initially, he’d worried his mother would be tough on Nina. She’d always hoped he’d fall for a nice girl with Mexican roots. In his last year of high school he’d dated one, and his mother was ready to start sending out wedding invitations. It broke her heart when he told her that he’d decided to join the Navy and try out for the SEALs. His girlfriend dumped him, saying she wasn’t going to wait around. He figured the real reason was because she had her eye on one of his friends on the football team.

  His family had plenty of relatives on his mom’s side who still lived in the Mayan Riviera region of Mexico, and there were yearly family reunions. His father had emigrated from England to the States when he was three. They’d heard the story over and over again about how his parents met and fell in love, to the chagrin of both families. His mom couldn’t make much of a fuss, since she’d created a stir in her family by marrying a gringo.

  In under five minutes Nina had his family laughing at her quick wit and loving her open and friendly personality. His mom had trapped him in the kitchen with a tray full of quesadillas for the grill and whispered (in Spanish) “She’s going to be my daughter. I know it, my youngest boy. I see the love in your eyes, and she has the same in hers.”

  “Mamá, nos da algo de tiempo.” (Mamma, give us time.)

  When he came back inside for a second armload, his mother stood beside Nina at the tiny fireplace. The broad mantle didn’t have an inch to spare with all the family pictures. They even crept up the wall behind it. He quietly approached, curious as to what they were talking about.

  “This is my beautiful Leslie,” his mother said.

  Nina smiled warmly at her. “My friend, Kayla, said you lost her to cancer.”

  “Si, she was my oldest. Mace is my baby, and yet they were the closest of my children. Mace took it very hard losing her. We all did. I will miss her for the rest of my days.”

  Nina wrapped an arm around his mother’s shoulder and gave her an empathetic squeeze, but remained silent. His mamma quickly wiped a tear away. “And this is a picture of a proud day.” She turned the photo of him and his parents the day he graduated and was given the SEAL trident.

  “Are you ever scared?” Nina asked.

  “Aw, my mija,” his mother answered, and he wondered if Nina understood what that meant, which was daughter. “I watch the TV and I fret. My family draws my attention away from worry, but I still own it in my heart every time Mace is deployed. I am proud of him. Every night I pray to God and remind him he has taken one of my children already. I cry for the Gold Star mothers. They too are proud, but they have sacrificed too much for this country.”

  Nina’s forehead creased, and he saw her eyes glaze with tears. “I’m scared,” she said quietly.

  “No, no, mija, don’t be. Our Mace will always come home to us.”

  Nina nodded with a quick jerk of her head and allowed her gaze to stray to all the pictures. “You have a wonderful family.”

  “Mace tells us your father is a doctor, and plans to help him recover.”

  Nina nodded.

  “Your father is wise, and his daughter is beautiful.” His mother’s voice took on an inquisitive lilt. “I understand you already have a daughter. I have more love and room on this mantle for more grandchildren.”

  Nina’s smile warmed his heart, and it obviously had the same effect on his mother. One of his nephews toddled up and began chattering away at their knees.

  “Ah.” Maria Callahan clapped her hands around her grandson’s cheeks. “My little talker.”

  His nephew Christopher was a blabbertrap. That’s what they called his sister’s three year old. The kid never, ever shut up. He even talked in his sleep. Mace’s mother scooped him up and wandered into the kitchen. Nina looked across the room and saw him watching her. He spent a lot of time doing that. Mostly in awe at how beautiful she was and how she affected him. There was always more room for another portrait on the mantle, and he hoped it would be theirs together.

  * * * *

  Mace had been to Canada a few times over the years, mostly for training exercises. This trip made him a little nervous. In fact, he’d rather be facing a platoon of terrorists with one bullet left in the chamber than trying to impress Nina’s family, but he was willing to do it, because the second they’d stepped on the plane in San Diego, she was out of the Shark’s scope.

  The wait in Vancouver was short as they grabbed a small commuter to Victoria, landing just before sunset. The plane flew low over the Gulf Islands, and since Nina had her eyes closed for a nap, he took in the orange hues of early summer making the landscape even more enticing. British Columbia was a beautiful place, forged by mountains, the land nudged against the Pacific, and trees spiraled into the heavens. Victoria was in full bloom as the cab drove through an affluent neighborhood. Shortcut? Mace wondered, but it didn’t take long to realize the mansion-sized brick homes weren’t a shortcut, but a destination. Nina kept darting glances at him as they sat in the back of the taxi, and she fiddled with the door handle. Her nervousness wasn’t helping him any.

  The taxi slowed, pulling him from his thoughts, and his pulse quickened as the cabbie shoved his arm out the window and pushed a button in front of a massive wrought-iron gate. The gates yawned open, and he suddenly feared he was way below standard. Not a common feeling, until recently. His capability to please Nina hadn’t come to fruition, although his ligaments and mobility had returned to fighting form. Endurance was his only hurdle; that and passing his physicals to get back on the team. Her dad was a neurosurgeon, and he hoped like hell that he was the best in the country. By the look of the estate, and there was no better word for it, he probably was.

  Nina nibbled on her lip and darted another glance at him. “We’re here,” she said and forked her hands together tightly.

  “Hey, you can’t be as nervous as me, babe.”

  “Not nervous,” she lied.

  He leaned over and kissed her cheek. “Baby, I have manners, I wasn’t born in a cave. Your family fared well. I don’t plan on swinging from the chandeliers and embarrassing you.”

  “No, Mace.” She clutched his cheeks. “That’s not it at all.” She cleared her throat and was going to continue, but the cab swung around the large oval garden sitting in the drive and stopped in front of massive front doors.

  They’d just gotten out of the car when the front door swayed open. The damn thing had to be four inches thick and twenty-five feet high. A little redheaded girl vaulted out of it like a cannonball. She skipped down the stairs and ran with arms and legs swinging, jumping at the last second into her mother’s arms.

  “Mommy, I missed you.”

  Nina lifted her daughter, and swung her in circles. Wow, like mother, like daughter. Gabbs’ hair was a mass of soft red curls, and big green eyes blinked when they stalled on him. Little Red wrapped her arms around her mother’s neck and buried her face.

  Mace looked up the impressive staircase. A man and woman appeared on the landing. He nodded and took the stairs. “Mr. and Mrs. Samson, I’m Mace Callahan.”

  Her father had a solid grip, and Nina’s mother offered a genuine smile. “Hello, Mace, welcome to our home.”

&nb
sp; So far, so good.

  Another woman stepped into view. “Hey,” she said with a sweet, enticing smile. “I’m Dawn, Nina’s sister, and you’re even more gorgeous than she described.”

  The coquettish flutter of her lashes followed and launched a parachute flare of warning. “Nice to meet you, Dawn.” He offered a broad smile and Dawn blushed. He’d keep his distance from this one. He’d gotten between sisters once before and there was nothing bloodier, not even war.

  “Mace.” Nina’s voice lowered an octave.

  She didn’t have to worry. His heart was locked and loaded with Nina. “Yeah, babe.”

  “Gabbs, are you going to say ‘hi’ to Mace?”

  Gabbs had her head tucked under Nina’s chin, and she watched him, carefully. “Hi. I’m Gabriella, but Mom calls me Gabbs.”

  “I know. I know a lot about you,” he said leaning over to be eye to eye with her.

  “You do?” she said, straightening up in her mother’s arms.

  “Uh-huh. I know you’re eight years old, and really good in sports, just like me.”

  “Mommy said you were hurt.”

  He nodded. “That’s true, but I’m getting better.”

  Gabbs blinked then gazed at him. He could tell her little mind was working away, trying to figure things out from a little girl’s perspective.

  “I have two nieces and one nephew who are eight.”

  “Do you like them?”

  He chuckled. She was a natural born interrogator. “Nope, I love them.”

  “Why don’t we go inside?” Mr. Samson said. “I’ll help you with the bags, Mace.”

  “Thank you, sir.”

  “Lloyd,” he offered and headed down the steps to the cab.

  Nina’s mom offered a small appreciative smile. “And I’m Tonya.”

  “Ma’am, it’s nice to finally meet both of you.”

  As he sauntered down the steps he heard Dawn say to Nina, “Welcome home, Sis.”

  Nina’s voice was hushed, but hard. “Do anything in your usual sluttish way, and I’ll cut your heart out.”

  “Nina,” her mother scolded with a hiss.

  “Fair warning, Dawn.”

  Yup, he was right on the money with these sisters. Nina’s father cleared his throat. “They’ve always been at odds, but when push comes to shove, they actually do like each other,” he said, reaching for a bag.

  Mace nodded and paid the driver then clutched the other bags.

  Entering a gymnasium sized foyer, he stopped and couldn’t help but stare. Nina carried Gabbs in her arms, her little girl talking all the while. Nina halted by the sweeping staircase that rivaled Mann’s Theater in Los Angeles. It curved, following the architecture toward a second story that came complete with thick balustrades and a long walkway. A different colored door set every fifteen feet had to be bedrooms or in this case, suites. Arching back, he stared up at a stained glass dome way above their heads.

  “Bedrooms are this way, Mace,” Nina said.

  Her father strode down the open hallway on the second story. He didn’t assume he would be sleeping with Nina. They agreed to keep a little distance until Gabbs got comfortable with their relationship.

  Once Mace deposited the bags in his room, he took a second to gape at the enormous king bed. More than a few lustful thoughts popped into his head, imagining Nina tied to the four-poster and him taking his time tonguing his way to her needy core. He ducked into the bathroom, and whistled. An open marble shower big enough for four and a huge corner soaker tub had him blinking in awe. It took more than twenty steps from the bed to get to the double doors that opened onto a large balcony. The shake, peaked roof of the neighbors’ house topped the tree line. Was it possible for a SEAL to turn into Mary Poppins? Because he’d just landed in some kind of Disneyland of the rich and well-to-do. The decorating was a mix of old and new with warm, dark wood floors and colorful floral prints on the wall. Having a guest room like this, he wondered what Nina’s room looked like. He wandered down the hall and tapped on the door he’d seen her disappear into.

  Gabbs pulled the door open and stared up at him. She had a big, floppy summer hat on her head and a pearl necklace dangling around her neck. “Getting dressed for dinner?” he asked.

  Gabbs giggled, then swirled around in a flurry of red hair and leaped onto the king-sized bed. This room definitely belonged to a girl, maybe with a little tomboy mixed in.

  “Come on in,” Nina said, pulling her clothes from her bag and disappearing into a closet.

  “Are we staying here for dinner?” he asked, hoping she’d get the hint he was hungry.

  “Nope, I’m taking you and Gabbs out for dinner. Mom and Dad have some appetizers prepared, but they have a fundraiser for the hospital tonight, so we’re on our own.”

  “What about your sister?”

  “Who cares?” Nina said sharply. She gripped the corner of the door and peered around it, pinning a look on him. “Why?”

  “Err, just wondering, babe. I mean, you haven’t seen each other for a while.”

  “That’s bad because…” She retreated into the walk-in again.

  A small hand tapped his arm. When he looked around, Gabbs shook her head at him with a wrinkled brow. He lifted his hands in the universal, what’s going on? Gabbs put a finger to her lips.

  Okay. He wandered to the sizeable fireplace and peered at the trophies lining the mantle. She’d been a busy young lady with baseball, soccer, and several Tae Kwon Do awards tucked next to each other. Two marathon ribbons were tacked inside a frame. Victoria Goodlife Marathon, fifth in women’s and a third place win. No wonder she could keep up with the guys. When he’d finally started running with them again, he was as impressed as the rest of the squad. The woman had legs like a fawn. She paced herself like a pro.

  “Mom, can we have spaghetti tonight? Grandma never makes it.”

  “Sure, sweetie. Find out what Mace feels like.”

  Gabbs hopped on the bed so she could be eye level with him. “Do you like spaghetti, Mace?”

  “Ah, yeah, of course. One of my favorites.” He didn’t. Too many MREs with “just add water” pasta that slid down the throat like bloated slugs, made his stomach churn. No worries, where there was spaghetti, there was steak, and he felt like diving into a really thick one.

  Walking downstairs together, Nina led them to a comfortable sized living room. Her father was poking at a fire, and her mother entered with a tray of cheese and meat, breads and crackers. The spread came right out of a fine cuisine magazine.

  “Mom, I want some milk,” Gabbs said. Nina followed her daughter to the kitchen. Mace sunk into the softest, most comfortable couch he’d ever sat on. A nanosecond didn’t pass before Dawn sat down next to him.

  “What can I get you to drink, Mace?” Dawn asked.

  “He wants a beer,” Nina called from the kitchen.

  He grinned. “She knows what I like.”

  Dawn leaned back, crossed her legs, and let her arm stray on the top of the couch. “How long have you been a SEAL?”

  “Mace, in the kitchen.” It was an order hidden behind a request, and a SEAL always followed orders, especially with Dawn’s fingers brushing his shoulder. Gabbs rushed by him, straight at the cheese plate her grandmother had settled on the table.

  When he walked in Nina surprised the hell out of him, grabbing his shoulders, pushing him against the wall with a thunk, and taking his breath away with a soul-sucking kiss. Switching to sensual auto-pilot with Nina was as natural as breathing air. He pasted her to his chest, and she tilted her head, deepening the kiss.

  When she backed up an inch, he went looking in her eyes for the reason. “What’s that for, babe?”

  “Just a reminder,” she said kissing the edge of his jaw, and then giving it a little nip.

  He laughed softly, and ran his fingers through her silky hair. “Think I’m going to forget about you while you get milk?”

  “You look a little stunned,” she admitted.


  He shrugged and took the beer from her hand, and swallowed back a deep gulp. “Maybe a little.” He paused. “You know a SEAL doesn’t make a lot of money—”

  She stopped him with another kiss. “I’d rather be poor as a church mouse and know you love me, than living in wealth with no love at all.”

  He didn’t doubt her, but he couldn’t understand it either. He remembered when Kayla gave him a balling out in Germany. What had she said? “A trail of rich men lingered behind Nina, but she didn’t choose any of them. She was waiting for the right man. She was waiting for love.” He pressed her against the wall. This time he left his mark on her lips and swallowed the sigh from her throat.

  “Mace?” They sprang apart like two teenagers caught in the act.

  “Hey, Gabbs.” He cleared his throat and gave his head a little shake. How did the surveying look of an eight-year-old manage to make him feel guilty?

  “I saved you some crackers and cheese,” she said with her head tilted way back looking up at him.

  He knelt down, and gave a gentle tug on one of her curls. Up close he saw a sprinkling of light freckles across her nose. “Thanks Gabbs, I am kinda hungry.”

  He and Nina settled on a small sofa, and Gabbs crawled into Nina’s lap. She sized him up and then said, “Do you like hockey?”

  “I do.”

  “Me too.”

  Guess Nina’s daughter was going to be as athletic as her mom. Gabbs sized him up a little more, and he gave her a wide grin.

  “I just got a new hockey net. Wanna play with me?”

  “Sure,” he said, then laughed at the absolute surprise on her face.

  “Don’t worry, I’ll go easy on ya. Mommy says you still hurt sometimes.”

  “I’ll try to keep up.”

  “Tomorrow, not now,” Nina interjected.

  “Mom, I’m just going to show him,” Gabbs said, looking a little put out. “It’s in the garage, come on, Mace.”

  He took her hand and winked at Nina. “We’ll be right back.”