Free Kincade's Rose (Megalodon Team) by Aliyah Burke Page B

she took her hand back
and went to Tyson who held out her chair for her, before he had to take a phone
call.
    The rest of the men came over and
introduced themselves.  All but one flirted with her, putting her at ease.  The
blond man named Scott just watched her.  Jayde noticed that the more flirting
they did, the more pissed off Tyson appeared to become.  Maverick was the worst
of the lot; straddling a chair next to her, he kept up a steady conversation.
    The second his dark hand reached for a
piece of fruit on Jayde’s plate, Tyson reacted.  His hand closed over
Maverick’s wrist, halting his movement.  “Enough.  Leave her alone, Maverick,”
he growled.  “In fact, all of you leave her alone.”
    Maverick stood and met Tyson glare for
glare.  “Why should I?”
    “Aside from the fact I said so?  Because
she is my wife !” Tyson snapped.
    The room fell so quiet it was as if
breathing had ceased. Each of the five men tried to close their open mouths but
couldn’t seem to do so. Maverick raised an eyebrow but backed off silently.
    “What did you say?” Scott asked. Jayde
couldn’t tell if there was disgust in his voice or just plain surprise.
    “I said,” Tyson ground out.  “Jayde is my
wife.  Respect her, protect her; just remember she is not up for grabs.”
    “Well, damn,” another voice piped in, “I
didn’t expect you to get married especially after the whole fiasco with…” it
fell silent after the man gained five glares.  But it was too late; Jayde had
caught on.
    One of the others, Dimitri, stood and
walked over with a half grin on his face.  “Well, hell, congratulations! 
Welcome to the family, Jayde.”  He placed a quick kiss on her cheek and shook
Tyson’s hand.  The others offered congratulatory speeches for Tyson as well.
    Jayde felt uncomfortable with the looks she
was receiving from everyone so she tucked her head and dug into her food.  She
vaguely remembered hearing a phone ring and someone tell Tyson it was for him.
    After she finished with her food, she sat a
while longer.  Tyson was still on the phone and the other men were standing in
groups talking to one another.  Finally she slipped away into the small room,
shutting and locking the door behind her before climbing into the bed and
succumbing to tears.
    He obviously had someone else in his life. 
Why did that make her so sad?  When was she going to get home?  The events of
the past few days were just too much and she fell apart.
     
    Tyson got off the phone with his supervisor
in the counterterrorism unit.  They’d been briefed and understood his need to
keep Jayde protected since he’d claimed her as his own.  They would set her up
with an apartment wherever she wanted to go and a joint bank account into which
part of his checks would be deposited.
    Now, all he had to do was explain to Jayde
they were really married, and he didn’t plan on divorcing her.  Then he’d tell
her about the apartment and the joint account.  That should go over real well.  Finally, he would tell her he was a Navy SEAL who’d just been cleared to
go back on duty, so he’d be leaving for indefinite periods of time to destinations
he couldn’t disclose.  Yep, should be a piece of cake…which was exactly why he
was still sitting by the phone.
    If he were honest with himself, he would
admit he was scared shitless.  He was scared she’d demand a divorce, say she
never wanted to see him again, and tell him she hated him.  A woman had never
meant more to him, and he’d known her less than ninety-six hours, but he knew
her mark was upon him forever.
    When Tyson came back to the present he
didn’t see her at the table and stood immediately. His friends had knowing
looks on their faces as they gestured to the bedroom. His heart slowly began to
beat normally.  Tyson went to the bedroom door and tried the knob.  Locked.
    He knocked again and when he didn’t receive
an answer, he unlocked the door with the key.  A soft