Chapter Three

At five to six that evening, a handsomely dressed Tyson Kincade waited for his dinner date in the lob-by of her hotel. He wore a light-gray, spread-collar dress shirt; a dark green tie; and a black single-breasted jacket with a pair of perfectly creased black dress pants. Military.

Bottom line, the man Jayde saw as she approached from the side was mouthwatering gorgeous. He sensed her arrival more than anything else. When he turned to look at her he smiled, a smile of male satis-faction.

She wore a dress that shimmered when she walked. It was also dark green with metallic purple threads running through it. Form-fitting yet still extremely elegant with a sweetheart neckline, it allowed him to see just the tops of her plentiful cleavage. The tempting flash of her leg peeked through the slit on the left side. She wore modest two-inch heels on her feet. Tyson appreciated all of her luscious curves in the dress.

“Damn,” was all he could say when she stopped next to him. Her hair was up in an intricate-looking twist except for two tendrils that hung down by her ears. She wore only a bit of lip gloss and he was smitten. A gold chain with a pendant that looked like a locking or “D” karabiner on it circled her neck. Another mystery she had. In her ears were simple golden rose-shaped earrings.

“Good evening, Tyson Kincade. You look very handsome this evening.” Her voice was melodious to his ears.

“You are stunning and beautiful.” He kissed her hand, silently applauding his control to not take her right here on the floor of the hotel lobby.

She blushed. “Thank you.” A smile crossed her face as she looked around, “Ready to eat?”

“Oh, yeah.” The flames in his eyes didn’t exactly spell out food he craved, more like her.

They walked arm in arm to the maître d'. As the tuxedoed man escorted them to their table, she nudged Tyson. His hazel eyes looked away from the dance floor they passed and down to her. “What is it my, little rose?” Dear God, don’t let her have changed her mind. Even though it was the first time he’d used that endearment, it felt right; there was no other way to explain it.

“Jayde.”

After they were seated he asked, “Jayde? What does that mean?”

“It’s my name.” She took a sip of water. “Jayde Porter.”

Tyson nodded. “I like it; it fits you.”

“It’s a freebie. Just because you look so handsome,” she said with a small smile.

“Meaning you don’t want a kiss for it?” he teased her and loved how she blushed. But he took pity on her and changed the subject. “What do you do?”

Jayde sighed. Leaning forward, she put her chin on her crossed hands, showing the very empty ring fin-ger off to Tyson. “I am currently working at a customer service job. Not exactly my career choice but I needed more money.”

I needed more money. That phrase set off warning bells in Tyson’s head. His ex, Carrie, had needed more money. How could his perfect woman be the same? Was it possible? He just nodded and silently encouraged her to continue.

“I was there…listen to me like you know where there is…New York…I was there in New York to take care of a terminally ill cousin. I guess I never realized just how expensive the city really was so I had to get the other job to supplement all her medications and other expenses. She couldn’t afford it on her own, especially since I was living there and her utilities went up. She passed away two months ago and I have just sort of stayed there. Working at the same horrible job. But, until I figure out how I am going to get wherever I think I want to go, this will have to do. I guess I was just long overdue for a vacation. So, here I am.” She blinked and smiled softly before it brightened and she said, “What about you?”

Tyson was shocked. Could she be for real? A woman who didn’t really feel money was everything and live for spas? “I am on medical leave from my job right now. Well, my second job, I was temporarily reassigned from my first one and then I got injured on my second; so now they are determining whether or not I will be able to return to my original position. Or the second one.” He put his hazel eyes on hers waiting for her to ask more questions.

“I am sorry to hear that. Did you prefer the original position?” Jayde wondered.

A wicked glint entered his gaze. “I prefer all positions, the original just as much as others.”

Jayde pursed her lips and her eyelashes fluttered. Clearing her throat, she clarified, “I meant your first job. Do you like that one better?”

Tyson loved being a SEAL more than anything and he didn’t know how he’d manage if he weren’t al-lowed to be one anymore. “More than anything, I love my first job.”

“In that case, I hope that you can return.”

“Me too.” He was surprised she didn’t pry further into his past. A woman who could respect privacy, what a novelty.

Tyson was used to the “groupies” who’d sleep with any man who wore the Budweiser, the Trident pin that marked SEAL team members. When he’d met Carrie, she was different—or so he thought. He’d believed she cared about him; turned out, all she’d wanted was his money, but apparently it hadn’t been enough when she’d snuck into his personal files and discovered how much he really made. He’d just had a good savings account—“had” being the operative word.

Carrie’s betrayal had had Tyson believing all women were the same until now. Something about Jayde made him want to give commitment a chance. Of course, it could be because he hadn’t been with a woman in over fourteen months; since working on his latest assignment he hadn’t been able to “see” Carrie. But he would bet it was because of Jayde.

They ate in silence for a bit before Tyson spoke. “Why did you agree to have dinner with me?”

The instant flare of heat in her dark eyes told him much more than she would admit to a loud. “I’m not sure. I still don’t know if this is smart, but there’s something about you.”

His eyebrows arched. “Something about me? Care to explain that?” He tore off another piece of bread and ate it as he waited for her answer.

Jayde took another drink of her iced tea before she answered him. “You…I don’t know…something about you makes me feel…well…protected. I can’t explain it; you have this air about you.”

“Are you saying I stink?” he asked with an affronted look and sniffed himself.

She laughed. “No, not that kind of air. Maybe an ‘aura’ would be a better word…I am not sure I can explain this.”

“Try.” Tyson sat across from a woman he’d known for only a few hours in awe. He never would’ve guessed he had any kind of “air” or “aura” at all. Sure, when he’d been with his SEAL team, he supposed he gave off a dangerous vibe, but he’d been away from it for about a year now.

“Okay,” she drawled, giving Tyson a real glimpse into her past. She was a Southerner. “There is this look on your face that tells people around you not to mess with you. That you know how to defend your-self. It’s not aggressive, just confident.”

Jayde shook her head slightly and cocked it to the side. “But at the same time I see a gentle strength in you that says you are willing to protect. And I feel safe with you, which says a lot since I don’t trust many men.” That blush he enjoyed so much filled her cheeks. “Anyway, that’s why I agreed to dinner, ’cause I feel safe with you.”

“You are safe with me,” he said as he reached one hand across the table to grasp one of hers. “I would never let anyone harm you.” There was a fierceness to his tone and a possessiveness in his eyes that brooked no argument.

Jayde smiled slightly and dropped her eyes to her plate of food. Tugging her hand back, she began to cut her chicken; as she ate, a tingle went up Tyson’s spine. He glanced around the room and found some of the local authorities looking at him. Jayde was hidden by the person behind her, but they’d spotted him and were gesturing and speaking with agitated motions. After a moment they disappeared, but he didn’t feel any relief. He’d learned a long time ago to trust his gut, and he didn’t like what he’d seen.

“Is everything all right, Tyson?” Jayde’s voice broke into his thoughts.

“Sure. Just thinking about work and things.” He didn’t want to worry her.

Jayde nodded. “Tell me more about you.”

“For a woman who didn’t want to give me her name, you sure want to know a lot about me,” he teased.

“Humor me,” she quipped as she finished her meal and wiped her mouth.

“Yes, ma’am. What do you want to know?” Tyson laid his utensils down on the table, done with his meal as well.

Jayde put her elbows on the table and leaned on her fists to stare directly at him. “Surprise me.”