“Maybe we should keep this on the down low until we get to Breakers,” Marg suggested.
Gabbs was explaining the menu choices to Kelsey, and they decided they’d both have shrimp and potato salad. Her daughter was too smart to try to have a subversive conversation. “I think you’re right, Marg. Let’s get out of here.”
Within thirty minutes they’d grabbed the girls, some food and settled them at Marg’s place, appointing Rayanne as babysitter.
Kayla’s phone went off for the tenth time, and she answered it as they walked out the front door. “We’re going to Breakers for a few.” Pause. “No, not me, I can’t drink, you know that.” Pause. “He’s fine, Thane. Rayanne is babysitting.” Pause. “No, you don’t. Stay at work. I’ll only be three minutes away.” She sighed. “Fine, come and get him.” Kayla rolled her eyes. “Let’s go, ladies.”
Breakers was nearly empty with the lunch crowd come and gone. They situated themselves far away from any other customers, who happened to be another group of women. Marg waved and stopped to say hello.
“Team Seven wives,” Marg said, joining them. “Okay, lay it on the table, because your color still hasn’t come back, Nina.”
Kayla forked her fingers and settled back to listen. Nina hated when she did that because she knew Kayla was going to analyze the shit out of her. What pissed her off more was she was usually right.
“Wade came into town in a cross-border exercise. DND, Navy, Coast Guard, Reserves, Marines, everyone converged in Victoria for a Canadian-U.S. co-operative week long exercise. We met on the first night, when they had a party. A socialization ball, I think some asshat decided to call it. Anyway, we hooked up.” She shrugged. “He left town. I found out I was pregnant. That’s it.”
“Did you try to find him?” Marg asked, taking the beers from the waitress and pushing one toward Nina.
“Not really. I was five weeks pregnant when I figured it out, and Wade mentioned he was about to be deployed for seven months overseas. A year passed, then another, and I just accepted the fact I’d never see him again.” She forked her fingers and covered her eyes. “I know this isn’t the end of the world, but for some reason it feels like it is.”
“Nina,” Kayla began.
She dropped her hands, and flopped back in the chair, waiting.
“You may not see him again for another eight years.”
She shook her head. “He knew. He knew Gabriella is his. Our relationship was complete animal attraction. We didn’t talk much, but he’d told me his mother’s name was Gabriella. I loved it, that’s why I named her that.”
“She’s got your eyes, your hair, and your spirit,” Kayla said, stretching her hands across the table and grasping hers.
“But she’s got his chin, and his nose.” She swallowed heavily. “What if he wants to be in her life?”
“Then you’ll let him, Nina.” Kayla lowered her head. “He is Gabbs’ father. He never got the chance to stay or walk away because he didn’t know. He might want to get to know his daughter. He might run for the hills. Wait and see.”
Marg grabbed her arm. “I agree. I didn’t see a ring on his finger, but that doesn’t mean anything. He might have a family, and this could drop a huge shit bomb in his life too. Kayla’s right, wait and see.”
* * * *
The internal phone line rang. “Yes, Captain Redding,” Nina answered, checking the time on the large clock in Base Command.
“You have a visitor, Nina.”
“Sir?”
“A Lieutenant Cayson needs to speak with you. He’s in the lobby.”
“Yes, sir, I’ll be out in a moment.”
Wait and see. Shit. It had only been two frickin’ days. “John, I need to step out for a minute.”
John gave her a wave from across the room. “Wait and see,” she muttered to herself as she crossed the ops room, and yanked the heavy anteroom door open. Before walking through it, she inhaled deeply. Guess she was about to see.
Wade swept his cap off when she turned the corner and stopped in front of the admin desk. Her heart hammered at a million paces per second. He stood in his work uniform, crisply ironed, perfectly fit, his streamlined features framed with jet black hair as his green eyes settled on her.
“Wade.”
A slow, heart-melting smile grew on his lips. From behind his back he revealed a bouquet of flowers. “Nina. I thought maybe you’d join me for lunch. I, ah—well, thought we could talk. Get to know each other again.”
Crap. Okay, move to plan ‘B’. She took the flowers and offered a stiff smile. “Thank you.” Maybe he would head for the hills when he knew Gabriella was his, and that would be fine with her. “I can’t really leave right now.” She’d only had the sentence half out of her mouth when he brushed past her, and placed himself in Captain Redding’s doorway.
“Captain Redding, hello. I’m Lieutenant Wade Cayson.”
She heard Captain Redding acknowledge him and worse yet, so did Admiral Austen. Why the hell did he have to be in the office?
“Admiral, would it be permissible for me to take Ms. Samson for an hour?”
Say no, say no, say no!
She couldn’t make out what Redding said, but the Admiral’s voice wasn’t hard to miss. “In regards to what, Lieutenant?”
Atta boy, Ghost.
“I ran into Nina the other day, we’re old friends. I just transferred here. I thought she might be permitted to give me a tour.”
A long pause followed.
“Thank you, sir.”
The Admiral must have nodded his approval. Traitor, she screamed in her head.
Wade turned and walked back to her with a confident stride. “After you.”
“Ha, well, I’ll get my purse. Why don’t I meet you in the downstairs lobby?”
He nodded, his gaze stalling on hers and then sliding down her body. “We don’t have to stay on the base.” A warm reminiscent smile made her stomach flutter. “Why don’t you show me where the best place on Coronado is to have lunch? Maybe the Del? I’m staying there for the next couple of days.”
Yes, they definitely needed to talk, and it wouldn’t be before or post afternoon delight. “Sure. It’s close. I can’t be gone longer than an hour.” She quickly turned and headed back to the ops room. When she entered, she flung the flowers onto the nearest table and swept up her purse. “Gone for a—meeting, John. I’ll be back soon. You want me to pick up something for you?”
John glanced at the flowers on the desk and shook his head. “No thanks, brought my own.”
She stopped in the bathroom, did her business and leaned over the counter toward the mirror. Just great! Bad enough he shows up, but with flowers! She didn’t miss their new admin assistant hanging on every word either.
She wasn’t like the last slut they’d hired and fired after she’d tried to play a good game of “save her own ass” while sacrificing Kayla and the Admiral’s. Gail was in her thirties, homely as hell, and had a big fucking mouth. She’d been around the base for a while, and had a huge gal pal group she hung out with. They spent most of their time bad-mouthing the other women on the base. Maybe if she dumped the Austin Powers eyeglasses and went to a hair stylist, she’d get a date and stop being such a busybody.
Nina yanked the bathroom door open and rounded the corner. She smacked more than pressed the down button on the elevator. Crossing her arms, she waited. As she peered over her shoulder, Gail stared at her over black-rimmed glasses. Oh, hell no. The elevator dinged to announce its arrival. Nina took the ten paces to Gail’s desk and leaned over it. “Breathe one word of this to anyone, and you’re dead!”
Gail’s eye’s popped open and her ugly glasses slid down her nose. With a finger she poked them in the center, pushing them back into place.
“I mean it.” Nina performed a perfect about-face and ran right into Ghost’s chest. Jesus, the guy had a quiet footstep. She slowly turned her head up and saw the famous SEAL’s expression of complete and utter disapprov
al. How Kayla stood up to those eyes that could gut you in second, she didn’t know.
“Going down,” he said in an unusually low voice.
She swallowed and nodded. Ghost followed her into the elevator. Until that moment she never realized how interesting elevator walls were. Meanwhile, Ghost burned the top layer of her skin off. “What, sir?” she said sharply.
“Was that Gabbs’ father?”
Shit. She should have known Kayla would share with her soon–to-be husband. She nodded.
“Have you seen him since Seaport Village?”
She shook her head. Kayla must have given him all the details.
“Do you want me to get rid of him?”
“No, sir. I’m going to tell him the truth, and then…” the elevator reached the bottom and the doors slid open.
“Then what, Nina?” His expression softened.
She shook her head. “I don’t know, Admiral. I really don’t know.”
Chapter Fourteen
Ghost stepped out of the elevator before her. He always let the ladies out first, a sure sign he was going to take action. Sure enough, he angled straight toward Wade, who waited near the doors. Good thing she wasn’t reserved like Kayla, and grabbed the back of the Admiral’s pants, which shocked him enough for her to rush past him.
“Okay, let’s go,” she said, gripping Wade’s arm and practically throwing him through the front door. A backward glance proved her right as Ghost gave her an icy glare. “Where ya parked?” she asked, pulling him along.
He chuckled. “You in a rush?” Wade asked, giving her the Playgirl grin he should have packaged and sold for millions. He slid his arm around her waist, and guided her toward the visitor’s parking lot. The rear lights flashed on a silver Lexus, and he opened her door and waited until she was settled before getting in.
A quick drive around the corner, and they were giving the keys to the valet at the Del. “Why don’t we sit outside and enjoy the view?”
“Sure.” She let him take her hand, and it felt familiar, but not. It also stabbed her with guilt.
Settled, he wasn’t in a rush to order, and laid the menu down. “I’m glad we ran into each other again.”
She nodded and kept her face half-hidden with the menu. What should she do? Dive right in and hope he took cover?
“You seem nervous,” he said, giving her a friendly, but definitely sexy smile. “I don’t remember you being that way.” His hands drew together as he leaned forward. “But I do remember a lot. Hard to forget, actually.”
“You knew where I lived.” She dropped the menu and tagged her glass, tipping it over. Wade grabbed it and set it up right before it poured water all over the table.
“True, but we lived so far apart and you seemed happy where you were. What changed?”
She tried to talk and choked. Water. She grabbed the glass to clear her dry throat. “Plenty,” she said after putting the glass down. “I’m a mother now.”
He blinked and his features softened. “Gabriella. She’s a beautiful little girl. She has your amazing eyes, and your beautiful hair.” His words came out slowly and soothed her. Wade had an incredibly sexy voice. A deep voice. Back when they first met, she heard him before she saw him. Her young hormones made her turn with curiosity. When she did, he was staring right at her. Crazy sparks flew when she saw the handsome man in the uniform. She’d thought she was immune to them after working on the base for a while, but his cut jaw and alpha stare made her legs weak. She’d never known what lust felt like until that moment.
“You’re not married?” Come on, be married or at least have a long-time girlfriend.
“Married to the sea, I suppose. I’ve been moving around every year for the last eight years.”
“Not happy in one place?” She knew the regular Navy guys didn’t have to move that often. Why did he move so much. She could start racking up asshole points and that would give her just cause to make him keep his distance.
“I like new scenery.” He lowered his chin with the smallest dimple and peered up at her. “But past scenery is very attractive and interesting.”
“Are you ready to order?”
“Give us a couple minutes,” Wade answered. “And a bottle of Sauvignon.” He didn’t even spare a glance at the waiter. “You still like it, right?”
He remembered what she drank? Crap. “I do.” She cleared her head. Who cares if he remembers stuff from the past? “Listen, I really never expected to see you again.” She bit her lip.
“Me either, but I’ll put it down to good fate.”
Frig. “Wade, I’m seeing someone.”
He didn’t seem put off by her comment. “Serious?” He leaned back, but never looked anywhere other than her. The ocean was nice, why didn’t he take an ogle break?
“Yes.”
“You live together.”
Damn, damn. “No. Not yet,” she added quickly. “Mace and I decided Gabbs should get comfortable living here first. She just arrived. I’m still unpacking boxes and moving into my place.”
“House?”
“Ah, yes. I bought a little place on E Avenue. It’s small, but it has a backyard. Gabbs has wanted a dog forever. She’s been living with my parents and they aren’t into having animals around. I was thinking of getting her one.”
“How are your parents? Your father is a neurosurgeon if I remember correctly.”
“They’re fine.”
Wade’s thumb caressed the handle of his spoon. “Gabriella is a pretty name, why did you choose it?”
She let out a deep breath, and stared at the ocean contemplating.
“She has your eyes, but she has my chin, Nina.”
Her heart did a galloping beat, and all four hooves dug into the dirt. She barely nodded. “She does.” It came out as a whisper.
“Why didn’t you try to find me?”
Her eyes darted to his, and he looked hurt. Guilt niggled in her belly. Had she made the wrong choice? A shrug wasn’t a very good answer. “It was just a booty call. I came to terms with that when you didn’t come back. There was no point. I wanted her, and I wanted to be a mother. My parents helped me and my friend Kayla.”
Wade bowed his head. “You’re probably not going to believe me, but I’ve thought about you a lot over the years. I picked up the phone a bunch of times, but I had to remind myself you lived in Canada, and I was here. Long distance relationships rarely work, but…” He swallowed deeply. “That’s changed now. I like San Diego, and my position here is one that I don’t have to transfer. If you’re seeing someone, I suppose I should take a step back, even though everything inside me says I should do just the opposite. I made a terrible mistake, and I want to make up for it. I’m sure this is hard on you, but—I like children.” He picked up the menu, fiddling with the edge. “Will you let me get to know my daughter?”
Oh fucking hell! So much for running for the hills. A hurdle in the road just grew to the size of Mount Kilimanjaro. “Listen, Wade. Gabbs has asked about you. I’ve avoided the question because she’s too young to explain what happened between us. You have a right to know who she is, and she has a right to know who you are, but my concern is what you want? If it’s just a quick fascination—”
He cut her off by grasping her hand. “Nina, I’m a little off-center myself right now about this, but the second I saw her I knew she was mine. I think initially I was angry you didn’t find me, and let me do the right thing. Not because I have to, but because I’ve never stopped thinking about you. I wanted more the second we sailed out of Esquimalt Harbor. I felt like I’d left someone very important behind.”
“How am I supposed to explain you to a little eight–year-old girl?”
“Let me do it.”
Nina eyed him. “Why?”
“I’ll take the blame. I’ll explain it. We made a beautiful child together, and although you think you don’t want me in your life, I’d like to know Gabriella. I spent a long time moving around, feeling like no place was home
. That’s changed. It did the second I saw you again, but I’m certain now that I know Gabriella is my daughter.” A trophy smile spread across his face.
Nina licked her dry lips and reached for the wine. “Okay, Wade, but we take it slow. On my terms. Agreed?” Wade cast one of his knee-crippling smiles.
“Anything that pleases you pleases me, Nina. That hasn’t changed either.”
* * * *
“Is that what I think it is?” Tony asked as he joined Mace on the patio at Breakers. Before Mace could hide it in his pocket Tony snatched it from his hand and popped the top. “Holy shit. It is.” He turned the box and showed it to the rest of the squad who settled down around the table.
“Here comes the bossmen,” Ditz said, shunting his chair to the right to make room.
Cobbs and Ghost cut through the tables and appeared on the patio, zeroing in on their position at the same time.
“Gentlemen,” Ghost greeted, sitting down with a big sigh of relief.
“Sir, if you don’t mind me saying, you look like shit.” Fox broke out laughing.
Ghost nodded. “Adam isn’t sleeping well at night. On the other hand Kayla is sleeping like a log, so I get the night shift.” He dropped his head back and closed his eyes. “Carry on,” he mumbled. “I think I’m going to have a nap.”
Cobbs chuckled and said, “I don’t feel fucking sorry for you one bit, buddy.”
Fox pulled the box out of Tony’s hand and shot it down the table. “You’re gonna wanna see this before naptime, Admiral.”
Ghost’s head popped up, and he snatched it, lifting it in the air and cracked it open for a look. His expression darkened, and he glanced at Mace. “I thought you and Nina were taking things slow?”
Why the hell would he say that? “Yes, sir, for Gabbs’ sake. She’s getting settled in school and the new house. I kept my place, but I’m there most nights for dinner at least. We’ve been doing a tap dance around this topic for a while. I want to make it permanent. Tonight I’m going to take the big plunge.”
Ghost glanced at the ring, and snapped the box closed. Turning it in his fingers, he deliberated. “I see.”
Code Name: Nina's Choice (Warrior's Challenge) Page 17