Tangled Pursuit (39 page)

She stared up at him. “You’re a real chess master. You know that?”

“Thank you. I’d like to think so. It worked, didn’t it?” Wyatt met her smile. Sliding his hand down her long, beautiful back, he caressed her, kissed her, and held her. He heard Tal purr, and he liked that wild-woman feline in her. “So?” he asked, nibbling teasingly on the shell of her ear. “Will you marry me, Talia Anatolia Culver? Don’t you think three years is a long enough engagement? Can I get an answer out of you now?” He dipped his head, holding her amused, sparkling green gaze.

“I should marry you just because you’ve waited so long,” Tal agreed, curving her lips against his smiling ones, hearing him groan, his arms tightening around her, his mouth taking no prisoners. It was a deep, loving kiss that turned her inside out with hunger and need for him all over again. When they came up for air, staring at one another, she whispered, “Yes . . . I’ll marry you, cowboy . . .”

“About time,” Wyatt laughed, kissing her hard, keeping her a prisoner against his body and within his arms.

After they got done laughing with one another, Tal sighed and rested her head against his shoulder. “What are you going to do then, Wyatt? You know I can’t leave my job here.”

“Well,” he murmured, “I figured I’d let you and your dad buy my software so you’d be stuck with me around here for the rest of your life. I’m the only one who knows how to use it.”

Tal nodded. “It’s that long-range-planning mind of yours in action again, Lockwood. I see it, I feel it.”

“Don’t you think that would make a nice wedding present from me to you? My mission software?”

“Could be something a little more romantic,” Tal laughed. “Maybe a honeymoon to Tahiti to dive for black pearls? You know? Black pearls are my most favorite jewelry. My mom gave me a pair of earrings as a high school graduation gift and I wear them whenever I can. They’re so expensive and rare. And they’re only found in the waters around Tahiti. I would
love
to go there, Wyatt, on our honeymoon, if you don’t mind?”

He moved his fingers down her arm. “Well, we can certainly have that, too. But I think your dad would be over the moon at purchasing that software at a very fair price. He could have his cake and eat it, too. The software and a new son-in-law. A two-in-one package deal. Do you think that works?”

“Well,” Tal murmured coyly, touching his mouth with her fingertips, “I am looking for a manager for the Mission Planning Department right now.” She saw his brows move up and predatory interest come to his smoky gray eyes. “Interested?” she asked, baiting him.

“I love synchronicity,” Wyatt growled, capturing her fingers, kissing them, and then sucking on each of them, watching her eyes go sultry with rising heat. “Sure, I’d like to take that job. I’m a master at planning, as you well know.”

“That’s an understatement, Lockwood, and you know it. You’re hired. Just name your price.”

“You!” Wyatt released her wet fingers. Tal’s smile filled him with joy. He could see and feel the love she had for him. “Give me a decent salary to go with it, and I’m yours, darlin’. And I’ll never charge for my other personal services that only you will receive.”

Howling, Tal slugged him playfully in the arm. “You’re such a long range strategist, Lockwood.”

“I guess I didn’t tell you. I got my PhD in it, darlin’.”

CHAPTER 21

T
HE
C
ULVER HOME
rang with laughter, noise, and the fragrant scent of roasted turkey and sage stuffing for the Thanksgiving feast. Tal stood near the busy entrance from the kitchen to the living room, her arm around Wyatt’s waist. The room looked and sounded like a miniature UN.

Greek, Turkish, and English were all being spoken among those who had flown in for the holiday. Over twenty people sat around in the living room, amiably chatting with one another. There were ten more relatives in the kitchen. Tal smiled, her heart overflowing with love for her international family.

Her dad was sitting in the living room with her three Turkish uncles, telling military jokes. The wives were in the kitchen, putting the finishing touches on Turkish and Greek dishes to add to the Thanksgiving table. Cousin Angelo was right there next to her dad, laughing so hard he was bent over, hands wrapped around his stomach. His wife, Maria, was in the kitchen, watching over her beloved dessert, baklava. It was baking in one of the ovens, and Tal inhaled the scent of honey and pistachios in the air, her mouth watering. No one made baklava like Maria.

“Is it like this every Thanksgiving?” Wyatt asked.

“Pretty much,” Tal murmured. “But it’s special because Matt and Alexa are home, too. Usually, we can’t all be home for any major holiday. One of us usually makes it, but it’s a first to have the three of us home for Thanksgiving, and it really makes it special for everyone.”

“I didn’t think they’d grant Matt leave,” Wyatt said. Matt was in the kitchen working right alongside the women. He had a big white apron tied around his waist as he slowly brought out the nicely browned turkey.

“That was Dad’s influence,” Tal told him wryly. “No one turns down a request from a general. He only got it for seven days, but that was good enough.”

Alexa waited for Matt to set the turkey down on the granite counter. She brought over a bright red ceramic bowl with black Greek figures painted on the side. It had been a gift from Angelo and Maria to Dilara years ago. Angelo didn’t want anyone to forget that Greek blood ran in their veins, too.

Alexa was in charge of the stuffing, the candied yams, and the candied carrots. Matt’s job was to watch over the turkey, baste it every half hour, and once it was done, begin the art of slicing it onto a nearby Turkish platter of bright yellow, red, and blue. As a Delta Force operator, Matt was very handy with knives, so he got the job of carving up the bird.

Dilara wore a red apron over her orange silk pantsuit. Tal thought she looked perfect for Thanksgiving. At Christmas, they would all come here to celebrate again. Then they would, as a family, fly to Athens. Angelo and Maria, along with their grown children Thane, Iris, and Delphine, would be there as well. It would be a treat to see Angelo and Maria’s children because it was tough for them to travel, due to their demanding careers.

Tal loved holidays and knew she was lucky to be able to fly to her extended family to celebrate with them. The family rotated the two major U.S. holidays, flying to each other’s countries each year, and Tal never tired of it. This time, Thanksgiving and Christmas were to be held here in Alexandria, Virginia. Next year, the two major holidays would be celebrated in Athens, Greece. The year after that, they’d be in Kuşadası, at Uncle Berk’s villa. Even though Thanksgiving was an American holiday, the Turks and Greeks enthusiastically endorsed it, because it gave them the excuse to celebrate with the whole family, which was important. Any excuse to celebrate was passionately endorsed by everyone.

She leaned against Wyatt’s strong, tall body. Feeling a glow from making love to him earlier in the day before they left their condo for the family gathering, Tal had never been so happy. Wyatt had been officially released from the U.S. Navy and his SEAL duties. He was a civilian now, and happy to be one.

To Tal’s delight, he and her dad got along like old friends. That was a relief, because her dad could be pushy at times. At home, however, the military game face disappeared, and he became a beloved dad-in-chief.

“You look nice in your black silk pantsuit,” Wyatt said, kissing Tal’s fragrant hair. Alexa had added just a touch of almond oil to Tal’s hair, bringing out the bluish highlights, and had artfully arranged it for the dinner, much to Tal’s relief.

Tal roused herself, lifting her head from his shoulder. “Do you like my blouse?” she asked, touching the gold silk and loving the sleek quality of the material between her fingertips.

“Yes, ma’am.” His eyes glimmered. “I’ve been standing here thinking of how many ways I could slowly take it off you when I make love to you later.”

She gave him a playful punch. “Wyatt!” She heard the rumble in his chest, a sound she loved. “Behave.”

“Oh, darlin’, this Texas boy is just a badass by nature. I can’t think two thoughts without thinking the third one about you. What you look like naked on our bed—”

Tal shot him a warning look. “Don’t ever think my Greek and Turkish relatives don’t understand English, cowboy.”

Grinning, Wyatt leaned down, placing a light kiss on her lips, which now glistened with pale pink lipstick. Alexa had goaded Tal into wearing just a little makeup for the holiday gathering, and she looked even more beautiful because the pale green eye shadow she’d applied showcased the rich forest green of her wide, intelligent eyes.

“I’ll be good,” he promised her gruffly, giving her a coyote smile.

“I want you to make a good impression on all of them.”

He became more serious, seeing her worry, and slid his arm across her shoulders, squeezing her. “Didn’t I wear nice pair of clean black chinos, a black blazer, and a white cotton cowboy shirt? And I traded in my comfortable leather cowboy boots for a pair of oxfords.” He made a point of looking down at them. He hated oxfords, but he’d wear them for Tal. Give him combat or cowboy boots any day.

“I see that coyote smile on your face, Lockwood. You don’t fool me in the least. You’re black ops. No one knows better than you how to fit in.”

“You’re worried because your mom put me next to Uncle Berk, aren’t you?” he prodded, giving her a pleased, smug look.

Blowing out a breath, Tal muttered, “Yes. Uncle Berk is Sufi, but he’s not the laid-back type like Uncle Ihsan and Serkan are. He loves a robust conversation where he can play devil’s advocate. He is a practicing international lawyer, after all. He dearly loves a good argument.” She reached up, tapping his nose. “And he doesn’t lose, so do
not
engage him, okay? Let him have his views and you sit there and nod your head and say nothing.”

“What? Was Uncle Berk taking debate classes in college too?” he teased innocently.

Tal hissed, “Wyatt, I know just how damned smart you are, and you don’t fool me for a second with that little-boy look. I beg you, please don’t debate him. At least not at the dinner table. If you want to tangle with him after dessert, when the family has scattered around the house to chat and catch up with one another, that’s fine. I’ll put you two in the basement, lock the door, and walk away until the fur’s done flying if you try it at the dinner table.”

He kissed the tip of her nose. “Darlin’, my whole life is centered on you,” he said gruffly, holding her mutinous gaze. “And I do want your uncles, all of them, to think well of me. I’m not ever going to embarrass you in front of them. Okay?”

Tal gave him a relieved look. “Okay,” she whispered.

“Relax, everything will go along fine,” he drawled, patting her gently on the small of the back. “This is a happy time for everyone.”

“I just wish your folks could have come up.”

Wyatt snorted. “Darlin’, we have three generations of Lockwoods who come to our ranch for the holidays. There’s no way Mom and Dad could fly off and leave all of them down there without her world-famous turkey and stuffing. Not to mention her drop-dead gravy. She’s known as the Gravy Queen in our whole family. They’d start World War Three, believe me.”

Her lips curved slightly upward. “Well, maybe we can visit them sometime?”

“Oh, for sure,” Wyatt murmured. “My mother, bless her, is chewing my ear off about when she can meet you in person. I’m glad you agreed to go down with me and visit them after Christmas. They’re really looking forward to it, and so am I.”

“I’ve talked to Daisy on Skype and on the phone,” Tal said.

“I know,” Wyatt said soothingly, “but my mom is a lot like me: she’s very hands-on and wants to size you up in person.”

Tal groaned and rolled her eyes. “Wyatt,” she growled.

He lifted his hands in a sign of surrender. “Okay, okay, I said I’d be good.” His lips twisted, barely able to contain his laughter.

Tal gave him a dirty look and he grazed her cheek with his thumb, watching the worry dissolve in her eyes. Yearning and love shone in them now. He was deeply moved at how just a simple touch from him eased her anxiety.

Dilara stopped in front of them. “Okay, you two lovebirds, it’s time to eat.”

Tal smiled and she and Wyatt moved out of the doorway, watching the women—and Matt—begin parading delicious food to the long, beautifully appointed U-shaped table. Matt headed up the procession with the white platter bearing the huge turkey. The women followed him, proudly carrying platters of food from Greece, Turkey, and the USA. There was gentle holiday music in the background, adding to the buoyant atmosphere. The men stood, clapping, as the entourage arrived and began placing the food at various points on the table.

“When our families got together for the holidays,” Tal told Wyatt, “they decided to put three long, rectangular tables together into a U shape. That way, the Turks sat on one side, the Greeks and Americans on the other.”

“Very fair,” Wyatt murmured, nodding his approval.

Tal pointed to the center table. “You’ll be sitting with me, Alexa, Mom, Dad, and Matt.”

“Your mother is putting me on the Turkish side of the table,” Wyatt noted.

Tal gave him an evil grin. “Uncle Berk can be disruptive at times. Mom figured you were as smart as he, which is a real compliment, by the way, and you could keep him strategically quiet and contained.”

Wyatt chuckled. “Now I know where you got your tactical genes. From your mother.”

“Better believe it, cowboy.”

W
YATT WAITED FOR
the perfect moment after the dessert and Turkish coffee had been served. Everyone was stuffed, no question. So was he. There were satisfied looks on everyone’s faces. Tal had told him during the meal that the three uncles from Turkey had been driven over to a major soup kitchen in the poor area of Washington, D.C. There, they’d each donated ten thousand dollars to the local charity. That money would go far in getting poor families food for the rest of the winter.