Read Online Native Born by Jenna Kernan - Free Book Online

one. He waited and then tried again.
    â€œWhy did you choose the name Amanda?”
    Back on less rocky ground, Cassidy gave him a reply.
    â€œShe’s called Amanda because that was what she called herself when she arrived into the care of the BIA.”
    â€œShe never could say it right. Avana. That’s what she called herself.”
    â€œAvana. Amanda,” said Cassidy.
    â€œWhat did she say to you that first meeting?”
    She had said that she didn’t want to speak of Amanda and here they were talking about her. She resisted but something in his gaze, something like pleading that he would never voice, made her relent.
    â€œShe hugged Gerard’s leg and called him ‘Daddy.’ You should have seen him melt. Then she took his hand and my hand. I looked at Gerard and he nodded. We signed the papers that day.”
    â€œJust like that?”
    â€œNo. We also turned down the three-month-old we came to see. We didn’t pick Amanda. She picked us.”
    He seemed about to say something when their meal arrived. Clyne handed back the photo.
    The waitress set Clyne’s food before him and slid hers over, letting Cassidy know that she was not happy to serve her.
    She thanked the waitress, who said nothing to her. Then Cassidy surveyed the offering. She’d stuck to the familiar, eggs, bacon, fried potatoes and white toast. She inhaled and glanced at Clyne’s meal. Before him sat a large bowl of a rich aromatic stew and something that looked like the fried dough from the Italian festival she and Amanda once attended in San Diego.
    â€œWhat’s that?”
    â€œFry bread. Traditional Apache food. Try it.”
    â€œIs it sweet?” she asked, thinking of the powdered sugar that covered the Italian fried dough.
    Clyne made a face. “No. Sometimes we put chili or other foods on top, like this beef stew. It’s best hot.” He motioned for her to take some.
    She lifted her knife and fork preparing to cut away a bit as if it were an oversize pancake. He batted her hand away and took hold of the golden brown amorphous bread before tearing it into two pieces.
    â€œLike this.” He dipped it in his stew and took a bite. Then he dipped the smaller piece and offered it to her.
    She took it and their hands brushed. Cassidy felt the tingle of awareness dart up her arm and right to her center. Her eyes widened and her gaze flashed to his to see his jaw had gone rock hard. His brow sank over his beautiful eyes and the tingling awareness squeezed her heart.
    What the heck was this?
    Clyne pulled away, leaving Cassidy holding the bread in the air as if it were a telegram portending bad news. She lifted the fry dough to her mouth and took a small bite. He watched her chew and swallow. The veins in his forehead appeared. Her mouth went dry.
    â€œIt’s very good.” Cassidy noticed the silence. She glanced about to see the room was also watching. Judging her?
    Clyne turned his attention to his meal.
    â€œI’m glad you enjoy it.”
    Cassidy focused on her meal as well, finishing in record time under the watchful stares of their audience.
    The check arrived and she made a grab for it. Clyne was quicker and her hand landed on his. She drew back so fast her chair rocked. It didn’t matter. The contact still made her insides twitch. This had happened once before, with Gerard, but it had developed slowly, over weeks. This was more visceral and much more immediate.
    Cassidy stared at Clyne Cosen.
    Oh, no. Please not this man.

Chapter Seven
    Clyne left Cassidy at the tribal police offices across the street. For reasons he did not wish to examine, he walked her in to Gabe’s office. He told himself it was only to prove that he had done as he promised, kept a civil tone and shared a meal with Agent Cassidy Walker. He didn’t understand why Gabe thought this necessary. But it occurred to Clyne that instead of fighting Gabe on this, he should try to figure