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He shrugged. “It’s not easy.” He wrapped his arms around me. “I’ve been organizing my life since I was a kid. It helped me see the big picture. Everything just became a habit over time.” His forehead touched mine. “But when you went missing, my routine became erratic. I . . . I became lost. I had to delegate everything to my team because my emotional and mental state were disconnected.”

“But I’m back now.” I kissed him on the cheek and pressed my face into the crook of his neck, hugging him tighter.

This man with many plans needed my security too. I had other questions for him, but I was too tired to dig deep, so I asked a simple one. “You don’t have a plane of your own?”

“I’d considered it, but since Grayson has one and graciously offered its services to his friends, I couldn’t refuse. One less thing for me to manage. Why do you ask? You want one?” he asked in a casual tone, as if ordering me dinner.

I laughed at the paradox. Here was a calculated man who always knew what he wanted, and yet, he offered me a plane as though it was a cocktail drink at a bar. That either showed he trusted me wholeheartedly or that he was still “lost.”

My gut told me it was the former, and my heart swelled.

Color me curious. “Would you buy me one?”

“If you want it.”

I grinned at the ridiculous offer. What would I do with a plane? But I loved how he’d get me whatever I wanted.

“I don’t want one, my BaMBu Beast. Let’s go shower so I can show you the way home. I don’t want you to be lost.” I winked.

“Comingright up, baby.” He emphasized the word as he squeezed my ass.

CHAPTERFORTY-EIGHT

FORREST

Taking Kiera to Brazil served two purposes for me. One, she needed to be away from the evil she’d experienced.

When I’d watched her sleeping in my bed recovering from the spiked drink, a surge of violence burst in me. If she had drunk more of the Ayahuasca, she would have gotten really sick. For a body that had never experienced apsychedelic drink, it would have been a powerful shock to her system.

Two, I wanted her to see the Ba7M5Bu88Project—to see me.

I loved her, and I needed her to know there were bloodstains on my hands. I wasn’t the doctor she thought I was, and it terrified me that she might leave. That was why I couldn’t say those sacred words to her. What was the point if the relationship was going to end?

Before I showed her the project, I wanted her to see where I grew up.

We stayed in a house I’d purchased on top of hill that gave a breathtaking view of the town. Right now, we were dressed for an adventure in the Amazon Forest. I wore a green T-shirt,camo cargo shorts, and boots with a backpack filled with hiking essentials. Kiera had on cargo capris, a light blue T-shirt,a matching bucket hat, hiking boots,and a fanny pack slung across her chest.

“Are you ready?” I asked as I sprayed us with a holistic insect repellant.

“Yup!” She took my hand, and we walked toward the dock with the awaiting boat.

Whenever I returned to the Amazon River, I often took the boat out to be with nature. The sounds and the scent of the earth reminded me of my parents.

“Absolutely.” Her eyes widened as she glanced around the water and trees.

I’d secured a small riverboat instead of the larger riverboats that were offered from my tour company. The boutique riverboats were too large for us. I wanted something intimate as I showed her this marvelous river. Money could buy many things, and this part of the Amazon forest belonged to me. Nature belonged to no one. Or one could say it belonged to everyone equally. Regardless, I wanted to safeguard it as best I could. My mom and dad would have appreciated that. This was my heritage, and I had to protect it.

The riverboat had a roof with curtains on the side and comfortable seating for six people. Kiera sat down on the seat near my backpack as I steered the boat along the water. It moved slowly, allowing her to sightsee.

“I have the boat all to myself with such a handsome helmsman.” She smiled, then looked at the flock of birds that flew nearby, creating a beautiful reflection in the water.

Warmth spread within me as I watched her admire the land. I didn’t know how much it mattered to me to have her here—to share this part of my life with her.

I’d never cared before about bringing another woman here.

“Wow!” Kiera gasped when she spotted one of my boutique riverboats appearing in the distance. “That’s like a moving condo on a river. Look at the three floors and the wraparound deck.”

I chuckled. “We can take a tour on it next time. It’s beautiful inside. I’ll make sure the office sets it aside for us.”