Free Code Name: Kayla's Fire by Natasza Waters Page A

just held onto her until it was over.”
    Thane’s stomach twisted.
    He nodded. “You too, huh?”
    “She’s experiencing these episodes because of her past, and now the
threat of the Shark has made them swarm. Kayla’s watched twenty-four seven, and
in the last two weeks they’ve eased off.”
    “I knew something like this would happen.” He sat back in his chair,
and threw his sunglasses onto the table. “That’s why I want to take her away.
Give her a break.”
    “You’re not fucking taking her anywhere.” Thane wasn’t going to beat
around the bush. “You want to try and woo her into going home with you.”
    “You think you love her—”
    “I know it,” he shot back.
    “You don’t know her. Women like that waitress are more your speed,
Captain. You’ve never had a serious relationship before Kayla, have you?”
Lapierre asked with an accessing glare.
    That…was none of his business. “Kayla thinks you’re on mandatory leave
because you’re burning out. You and your brother come from the same tree. Kayla
thinks you handled your past, controlled your anger. I doubt that.”
    Lapierre’s jaw clenched and his eyes hardened. “If Kayla had chosen
me, she wouldn’t be here. She’d be home, safe. We’d have a family, and be celebrating
our twentieth anniversary, but I backed away, respecting my brother, and it was
a mistake I will always regret.”
    Thane shoved his empty glass aside. “You’re probably right.”
Confessing he knew how much Lapierre meant to her, didn’t change much. Lapierre
was making an appearance because of her vulnerability, smelling opportunity. They
both settled back, gazing at the landscape. The sea rolled calmly around the
finger of deck built over the water. The pub wasn’t busy yet, and only a few
tables held base regulars.
      “When is she off shift?” he
asked, glancing at his watch.
    Amanda appeared, and eyed both of them. All it would take was one word
from them, and she’d be naked and waiting for either or both of them. Her hip
brushed against Lapierre, and he turned his intense green eyes on her, giving
her a closer look. “I don’t recognize you,” she said sweetly.
    “That’s because I’m not from here, cherie .”
    “French?” she said, lowering her eyelids, and giving Lapierre’s broad
fighting frame a sexy once-over.
    “French Canadian. Bonjour,
Mademoiselle .” He’d only started to reach a hand to her when her fingers
slid into his.
    “All business?” she asked. “Or is there room for some—sightseeing?”
    Lapierre finally showed a sign of weakening, and draped a thirsty look
across Amanda’s delicious curves. “Visiting family,” he said.
    “You two aren’t related, are you?” she asked, not letting go of
Lapierre’s hand as she slid a sexy look his way. He coughed out a laugh at
that. “No, definitely not—yet.” Thane couldn’t resist. “But, eventually through
marriage.”
    Lapierre’s expression gave a sharp twist of disagreement.
    “I get off in an hour,” Amanda said, drawing back Lapierre’s
attention. “Do you have any plans tonight?”
    “Sorry, cherie , I do.”
    “Well, you know where I work.”
    When Amanda walked away, he said, “She’s sexy as hell and a sweet
gal.”
    “I’m not a saint, Captain, but my heart is never going to change its
mind.”
    “Greg?” Kayla’s call made them both look up abruptly.
    “Angel.” Greg leaped out of his chair, and grabbed her in a whirling
hug. Her usual passive features shattered with the brightest smile, one that
twisted his heart, just like it had in the Middle East. She was so glad to see
Lapierre, and all her angst released itself in his arms. Fury gutted him when Lapierre
kissed her, too long and too deeply.
    “How did you know we were here?” Thane interrupted.
    She shrugged. “Good guess.” Lapierre had her back drawn to his chest,
and his arms wrapped around her midriff, just like he’d done in the desert.
Obviously, the warning about burying