Free Tangled Pursuit by Lindsay McKenna Page A

horseback riding, going to see Ephesus and all the beautiful Roman ruins and temples. There was always something exciting to do.” She opened her eyes. “And since Uncle Ihsan and Aunt Nalan never had children, they sort of adopted the three of us. I just loved waiting to fly over there and stay at their villa with them. They always had the neatest things planned for us to do after we arrived. I remember when we went to that national park southeast of Kuşadası, and you saw that fabulous Anatolian leopard.”
    “Yes,” Tal said, remembering only too well. And last night she’d decided Wyatt Lockwood was a human version of that beautiful animal. She moved uncomfortably in her seat, still feeling affected by their very revealing conversation.
    It’s all his fault , she thought wryly. His words rang like a sensual promise, vibrating as if alive within her. Tal was frustrated with herself. Much to her chagrin, she was unable to control her body’s response when she was thinking about Wyatt.
    “Growing up is no fun,” Alexa grumped, giving Tal a wicked grin.
    “But, you know, you’ve still retained your ten-year-old idealism and never grew out of it,” Tal confided with a gentle smile. She envied Alexa’s ability to remain vulnerable and open in a world gone mad. “I’m actually looking forward to handing in my commission and taking over as CEO of Artemis. I’m tired of getting shot at, freezing my ass off, and worrying about meeting an IED.”
    “Yeah,” Alexa said between mouthfuls, “you ground-pounders have a whole different war to run than we do, that’s for sure.”
    Tal gave her sister a long look. “So, are you ready to hand in your commission so you can join us at Artemis?”
    “Yes,” Alexa said firmly. “Possibly March, maybe sooner or later, just depends on a lot of things that are in play right now with you and Matt. I love the idea of all of us working together. We’ve always gotten along so well, even as kids.”
    “That’s true,” Tal murmured. She finished off her toast and pushed the tray aside.
    Alexa lost her smile. “What’s bothering you, Tal? You seem preoccupied with something.”
    Tal smiled, caught once again by her highly intuitive sister. “Uh-oh. Have you got your radar up again?”
    “Blame it on my moon in Pisces. I know you don’t believe in astrology, but I do. Pisces people are very psychic. We’re fish in the ocean of life, symbolically speaking. Why wouldn’t we be tuned in to our environment more than others?”
    “Like me?” Tal said with a grimace.
    “You’re a Capricorn, sweetie. You’re the old, rugged sea goat hanging out on the side of a mountain cliff. Symbolically speaking, of course.”
    Well, that sounds right , Tal thought. Today, she felt pretty much as if she were hanging on to that cliff with one hand, thanks to a stubborn SEAL. No man had ever gotten past the emotional shield that protected her still-healing heart like Wyatt just had.
    “So?” Alexa prodded gently, picking up her coffee cup and warming her hands with it. “What’s going on? Sometimes I sense you’re uncomfortable. Other times, it feels like you’re almost giddy. You’re up and down, sis. Are you in hormone hell a week before your period?”
    “You’re really good, Alexa. I’ll give you that,” Tal admitted grudgingly.
    “Thank you,” Alexa replied brightly. “Come on, you’ve always been able to drop those walls and talk to me, Tal. You know I’ll always keep your secrets.”
    “Yes, that’s true. And you do know how to keep mum about things.” Letting out a ragged breath, Tal looked around. They were alone, although the chow hall was beginning to fill with the next batch of hungry soldiers.
    “It’s Wyatt Lockwood, isn’t it?” Alexa ventured.
    Tal stared in shock at Alexa. With her huge hazel eyes and her sweet, innocent look, Alexa seemed more like a college girl of eighteen than a twenty-seven-year-old combat pilot. “How did you