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“What do you mean? You don’t own it, do you?”

“I do.”

“Rich bastard,” she mumbled, even as her eyes sparkled.

Wildlife made itself known as I steered the boat to the edge of the river. The birds cawed loudly, their calls echoing through the lush green vegetation. A parrot perched on a tree to our right and watched us as the engine hummed along. The fan from the ceiling helped ease the heat and humidity.

“Look! It’s more beautiful in real life.” Kiera pointed to the colorful parrot. “Everything is so . . . alive here. The air is fresher. I feel like I’m intruding on some private sanctuary.”

“Nature is everyone’s sanctuary. You’re not intruding; you’re my guest.” She scooted closer, lookedtoward the marsh, and sucked in a breath. “Is that an alligator?”

“Yes, but no need to worry. It’s just chilling.”

“Until it’shungry,” she said as her gaze stayed on it even as the boat passed.

I docked the boat, slipped on the backpack, stepped onto the pier, and offered her a hand. “Time to explore the forest.”

Smiling, she took my hand. “I already know my way around aspectacularForrest.” She wiggled her eyebrows.“But please show me more ‘wood,’ sexy guide.” She squeezed my shoulder.

“Who’s cheesy now?” Laughing, I tapped her bucket hat.

“I’m taking pointers from the best.” She kissed my cheek, looking nothing like the woman who had gone through hell. “So, where does the path lead to?”

I wanted my parents to meet her. She was the beacon of light that seduced the darkness out of me. She gave my heart direction when it thought it knew the way. I followed that light and found myself again. The path to vengeance had been lonely and dark until her. My path had shifted because of her.

“To where I was born.”

CHAPTERFORTY-NINE

KIERA

He held my hand as we walked on the dirt path. “Has this path always been this wide?”

“No. We have a team managing this area because it belongs to me. Though I love the wild look, the shrubberies need to be trimmed, and the grass needs to be cut so I can access the space.”

I paused in my steps. “I can’t believe you own part of the Amazon.”

“Why? A lot of it is being torn down for business developments. I preserve what matters to me.”

“I’m sure the animals and trees love you for it. You saved their home.”

We came to an adorable house made of wood and small stones with a lovely front porch that had been updated. It was like a secret gem in the midst of the forest. A large garden sat on the side of the house.

“My parents used to work here to prepare herbs to sell at the markets in nearby towns and villages. They grew a lot of stuff in this garden. It has fertile soil. They’d rented the house from a friend, but it’s mine now.”

I glanced around, admiring the flower bushes along the path that led up to the house. The flower pots on the porch were filled with gorgeous red flowers. “Why did your parents name you Forrest?” He never got the chance to answer me when I first asked him at the Holistic Farm.

“Because I was born here in this house, in the middle of the forest. They loved plant life, and the sound of it in English.” He opened the door and gestured for me to enter.

I looked up at him. “It’s the perfect name for you.”

The inside of the house had simple wooden furniture. I browsed the two cozy bedrooms and one and a half bathrooms. I walked out to the backyard where a wide hammock was secured to two trees. Fruit trees stood in the distance.

“What kinds of fruits are those?”

“Papaya.”

“Why are the trees spaced out evenly? There’s an empty spot for a third tree.”