Chapter 43
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
ARLINGTON
“You really can’t tell us anything about what happened?” Natasha’s mom passed the bowl of mashed potatoes to Gray, who was sitting beside Jack at the dining room table in Natasha’s townhouse in Virginia. “I mean, you have pink highlights in your hair—what’s that all about?”
She’d forgotten about her hair. She’d need to find time to swing by the hair salon at some point. “Does she always push you for details?” She eyed her father sitting at the head of the oak table, which her grandfather had made with his own hands before he passed years ago.
“Yes.” Even out of uniform, her father still looked like an admiral.
Spine so straight, it was as if someone had pinned his shoulder blades back.
Always slightly slanted brows, a look of caution in his brown eyes.
The chest candy didn’t have to be present to give off the authoritative feel, the commanding presence came across in his tone of voice, in his often scrutinizing and protective stare.
Wyatt had met her dad before, not while her father served as admiral in the Navy, but during Wyatt’s top-secret work for the president.
And now her dad was Secretary of Defense and Wyatt’s direct boss.
They’d yet to tell the admiral they were a couple, and she wasn’t sure who was more nervous about the conversation.
Her or Wyatt? Even the idea made her palms sweaty as she sat at the table.
Her dad was a loving and caring man when it came to his family.
And he was protective of his men in the Navy.
But how would he feel about someone who worked for him dating his daughter?
He’d never been a fan of Dale and her together, but this was different, and she hoped that when the time was right, he’d approve.
She wouldn’t change her mind about being with Wyatt, but it’d be nice if her family accepted him.
“How about we talk about your house hunt since my case is classified.” Although, she wouldn’t mind venting about the case that still wasn’t quite closed even though her greatest adversary, Balan, was dead.
“I think we might put an offer on a place here in Arlington,” her mom said while cutting her steak.
“Hard to believe we’re leaving Texas, but this new promotion for your father is exciting.
” Her green eyes moved to Gray. “If only I could get you to move here from California, then we’d all be together again. ”
“And now you’ll be heading to San Diego soon, too, I guess.
” Natasha glanced at Jack. He sat as regally as her father.
Stiff back. Perfect posture. But like Gray, Jack had a hell of a sense of humor, and the moment he wasn’t in the presence of the admiral, he’d let his shoulders slouch and sit in a more relaxed position.
“How does it feel to be out from under the CIA’s thumb? ”
“It’s nice to be out of Moscow, that’s for sure.” Jack took a swig of his beer. “We’ll see if I regret the decision after a few weeks of working with this guy.” He elbowed Gray in the ribs.
Gray chewed on his steak and said, “Sorry this trip has to be so short. I’ve gotta head abroad for a few weeks.”
“Can you, at least, tell me where you’re going and what you’ll be working on?” Her mom raised a brow, eyes on Gray, her fork hovering over her plate.
“Just going somewhere to kill a few baddies. No big thing.” Gray winked.
She rolled her eyes and huffed out a breath. “How’d I end up with two kids who put their lives on the line on a regular basis?”
“You raised them right.” Jack’s straight white teeth flashed as he smiled.
“And speaking of kids—”
“Don’t start, Mom,” Gray grumbled around a mouth full of food.
“I was talking to Jack. I’ve lost all hope with you, Gray.” Their mom’s green eyes flicked to Jack, who was more like a brother to Natasha than a friend. “If you have kids, can I adopt them as grandbabies since it doesn’t appear my offspring will ever have any?”
“Offspring?” Gray took a bite of one of their mom’s famous buttery rolls and then released a slight moan of ecstasy. “Man, I do miss this food.”
“Then move here. I’ll cook for you every night.” She squeezed her husband’s hand and smiled. “Wouldn’t it be nice to have both our kids under one roof again?”
“No,” her dad said with a shake of the head. “They’re too old to live with us.”
“That’s not what I meant.” She reached for her fork again. “But anyway, Jack, tell me, do you plan on getting married again and having kids?”
“That’s a bit personal, Mom.” Natasha studied her plate, her stomach growling, but she wasn’t in the mood to eat.
After being away from Wyatt for almost ten days because her case wasn’t locked up, she was growing a bit anxious.
Wyatt was safe in New York, though, thank God. His operation had been quick and successful, but they’d agreed to wait to see each other until she’d wrapped up her case and had enough evidence to put Kate away for good. Now, she was beginning to regret that decision.
“I’m almost forty. Not sure if I’ll ever get around to having kids.” Jack’s voice was a bit lower and more rumbly than normal. Her mom must’ve hit upon a sensitive topic for him. “Sorry to disappoint you, Mrs. Chandler.”
Before her mom could say something absurdly ridiculous, which she certainly would, the doorbell rang.
“Saved by the bell,” Gray said with a smile as Natasha stood.
“Be back.” Natasha checked the time on her G-shock watch as she left the dining room to get to the front door.
Normally, she was a stickler for security, always checking her cameras before answering the door, but with her family in the house, she didn’t bother.
She pushed aside the curtains alongside the front door to glimpse out the window. “Wyatt,” she whispered, surprise slicing through her at the sight of him standing outside.
After a few deep breaths, she swung open the door.
Wyatt had a travel bag next to his booted feet, and she slowly dragged her gaze up his jeaned legs to his black fleece jacket and then on to his handsome face.
“Hi.” Wyatt secured his hands around her hips in one fast movement and pulled her into his arms. She surrendered to his passionate kiss, insanely happy to have him there.
The world felt right again. “I know we agreed to wait,” he said a few moments later, his mouth still near hers, “but I was losing my bloody mind. I had to see you.”
“I’m glad you came.” She lifted her chin to find his eyes. “I missed you.”
“Ten days was too long. Better than our usual few years, I guess.” His voice was husky, his arousal pressing against her, and she bit down on her back teeth. The need for him intense.
“Ahem.”
“Shit,” he said on a sigh. “You’re not alone.” Wyatt pulled back and turned away from the door, probably to adjust his hard-on.
“Dad.” She gripped the nape of her neck and squeezed at the sight of her father standing off to her side.
“Admiral Chandler,” Wyatt said upon facing them again.
Natasha stepped aside, allowing him to enter, and Wyatt extended his hand toward her father.
Her dad shot Natasha a curious look, which meant he had witnessed their kiss. “A word in my daughter’s office, Pierson.”
Shit. He didn’t waste any time.
Wyatt lifted his brows when her eyes caught his, a touch of nerves on display. That made the two of them.
He followed her father down the side hall, and she snatched Wyatt’s bag off the doorstep and locked up, only to find Gray and Jack standing in her living room, both looking curious and puzzled.
“Who is that?” Gray jerked a thumb toward the hall where her father and Wyatt had disappeared.
Her cheeks warmed as she set Wyatt’s travel bag down and entered the living room. “Clara’s ex-husband. The SEAL from Dale’s wedding.” And boom, here goes.
“How long have you been seeing him?” She was surprised Gray even remembered Wyatt from the wedding, as hammered as he’d been.
“Since the Algeria op?” Jack spoke up, clearly putting two and two together now.
Natasha glimpsed her mom exiting the kitchen with a wineglass in hand, and great, now it’d turn into an inquisition party. It was her job to interrogate, not be interrogated.
“Since Montreal,” she finally admitted, even though, if she were being honest, her feelings for Wyatt started the night of Clara and Dale’s wedding eight years ago, she just kept putting them on hold.
“He was with you in Canada?” Gray folded his arms, standing defensively, but all she could worry about was what was going on with Wyatt and her dad. And most likely, Wyatt was getting both the admiral and her father in there. Both equally intimidating.
“Yeah, he helped me. If it weren’t for him . . .” If it weren’t for him, I don’t know where I’d be.
“What’d I miss?” their mom asked.
“Tasha has a boyfriend,” Jack said, concern etched in the lines of his brow.
Natasha’s eyes moved straight to the hall when her office door opened, and her dad stepped out. That was quick. And she wasn’t sure if that was a good or bad thing.
“He’s all yours.” The admiral peered at Gray with a nod, and Gray motioned for Jack to come with him. The same curious look was in her dad’s eyes, the one he always wore, so no help there on getting a read on him as to what he thought about Wyatt.
“Oh, come on.” Natasha dropped into the lounger in the living room and cursed under her breath. “Give the guy a break.”
“This is what we do,” her dad said when the office door closed, and Gray and Jack were alone with Wyatt saying God knew what. “And it’s been a long time since we’ve met someone you’ve dated. We have to make sure you don’t make the same mistake you did with Dale.”
“More money wasted on a wedding?” she bit out, slightly annoyed at the turn of tonight’s events. She wanted Wyatt alone, damn it, not scared off. Of course, what was she thinking? This was Wyatt. He wouldn’t back down.