Page 12 of Forgiving His Past (Eagle’s Nest Securities #5)
Later that evening…
“Thank you so much.” Kaamisha offered Archer’s kind wife a smile as she looked at herself in the mirror. “I will get your things back to you as soon as I’m able.”
Cassie Nash smiled back, the beautiful blonde immediately waving away the concern as they stood in her generously sized bedroom.
“My job usually keeps me in a skirt or dress pants, so the jeans and t-shirt are yours as long as you need them.” She motioned toward Kaamisha’s feet. “Same with the shoes.”
“What is it that you do?” Kaamisha asked.
Cassie’s pretty blue eyes sparkled with a growing smile. “I’m a lawyer,” she said proudly. But then she winked, adding a playful, “The good kind.”
Kaamisha chuckled softly. “You enjoy your job.”
The guess was an easy one to make if the expression on the woman’s striking face was any indication.
With a nod, the ends of Cassie’s long, blonde hair shifted slightly as they lay across her shoulder in a sea of golden waves. “My best friend Ellie and I co-own a law firm that specializes in defending people who wouldn’t otherwise have the opportunity to hire a strong legal counsel.”
“That sounds very rewarding.”
“It is. Unfortunately, there are a lot out there who find themselves in seemingly impossible situations.”
“In another life, I might have gone on to law school,” Kaamisha decided to give a little more of herself. “But apparently that was not the path I was meant to take.”
Sympathy shone in Cassie’s almond-shaped eyes as she stared back at her from a few feet away. “Logan filled me in on what happened in Kandahar. He said your mother was shot and killed a few years ago?”
“It is true.” A familiar pain struck deep inside her gut.
“He also said someone had worked very hard to make you think he and his men were the ones who killed her.”
The comment surprised her, and she turned from the mirror to face the other woman completely. “That is also true.”
A look she could only describe as protective came over Cassie just then, and she took a step closer to where Kaamisha stood.
“They would never do that, you know.” She stated this as a matter of fact. “Logan and the others…they are the most honorable men I’ve ever known. They would never kill anyone in cold blood. Especially a woman. They are protectors to their core. It’s not only what they do…it’s who they are.”
Given what she’d seen of the team’s behavior, Kaamisha believed the woman’s claims to be true. Even so, she felt compelled to let Cassie know, “Your husband and his friends abducted me and tied me to a chair.”
“Because they believed you to be a cold-blooded killer, and…you did put a knife to Van’s throat. ”
Archer had clearly shared all of what had transpired with his wife.
“I had to make it seem as if I was their enemy rather than someone who needed their help.”
“Because you felt as though you were being watched.” Cassie nodded. “Yeah, he told me that part, too.”
“Your husband and his friends had every right to treat me the way they did,” Kaamisha admitted. “And I understand their hesitation to believe anything I have to say, but?—”
“Logan also told me how you helped Van after the plane crash landed.”
The unexpected praise took her completely off guard. “Logan…said that?”
“Mmhmm.” A soft smile lifted the corners of Cassie’s lips. “He said you sprang right into action as soon as you saw that Van was hurt, and that your only concern seemed to be making sure that he was okay.”
Her heart swelled a little, knowing one of the men on Van’s team had appreciated the help enough to pass along that part of the story to his teammate’s wife.
“He was so still and covered in blood. For a moment, I thought perhaps he was…” Kaamisha didn’t say the word. “Thankfully, Donov…um…Van was simply knocked unconscious.”
The shortened version of the enigmatic man’s name still felt foreign on her tongue. But his offer for her to refer to him as such seemed quite personal. Like the first stirrings of a sort of trust that was possibly beginning to form between them.
“You know, Kam…” Cassie started. “I haven’t always been the best judge of character when it comes to those in my personal life. And I might be making a mistake with you, but I don’t feel as though you are a threat to my family. I really hope you don’t prove me wrong.”
“I won’t.” Kaamisha shook her head in earnest. “You have my word. ”
The two women shared a solemn look before Archer’s wife pulled in a deep breath and released it with a smile. “Good. Now, back to the clothes.” She changed the subject completely. “I know the outfit isn’t your usual custom, but I figured it would work until we can find you something different.”
“No, no, it’s fine,” she hurriedly assured her.
“Really. When I am back home, in Afghanistan, I do adhere to tradition out of respect for the culture there.” And also out of fear.
“But I’m not so strict with myself when I’m in the United States.
I used to be, back when I first came to America to attend University.
But I soon found I rather enjoy the fashion of your country.
Plus, I don’t get nearly as many dirty looks or strange stares when I’m in a sundress or jeans. ”
“No, I don’t imagine you do.” Regret filled the woman’s blue gaze. “I’m sorry about that. People can really suck sometimes.”
But Kaamisha merely laughed. “Yes, they can. In all parts of the world.” She glanced down at the newly borrowed clothes once more. “I still can’t believe my luck that we’re almost exactly the same size. Thank you again.”
The faded jeans were a bit snug around her hips and toned thighs, but the white t-shirt and canvas shoes fit her perfectly.
“Of course.”
“And thank you again for allowing me to use your shower,” she added. “I can’t tell you how good it feels to finally be clean again.”
“I can only imagine what it was like going through all of that. First, the attack at the hotel, and then the crash…”
Kaamisha didn’t miss the haunted look that had flashed behind Cassie’s blue stare. “It must be hard being married to a man in such a dangerous line of work.”
“At times it is.” A flash of emotion crossed over the woman’s flawless features as she gave a slight nod. “But the work Archer and the others do…the way they help people in their darkest, most desperate moments of need…it makes it all worth it in the end.”
Her chest tightened as she studied the woman a bit closer. “You say that as if you know from personal experience.”
“That’s because I do,” Cassie admitted freely.
“We all do, actually.”
Hearing a voice she didn’t recognize, Kaamisha turned to see three other women standing just outside Cassie’s open bedroom door.
“Hi.” The petite brunette who stood in the front entered the room with a smile on her face and an outstretched hand. I’m Natalie Hayes.”
“You must be Logan’s wife.” Kaamisha returned the kind gesture. “It’s nice to meet you. I’m Kaamisha. But you can call me Kam.”
“Good to meet you, too, Kam. This is Ellie and Scottie.” She pointed to the other two women respectively. “Ellie is Lucky’s wife, and Scottie belongs to Chase.”
“Um, excuse me…” The adorable blonde who’d been introduced as Scottie frowned with a teasing tone. “I am my own woman, thank you very much.” And then, “Hi, Kam.” She smiled. “I’m Scottie. And as Cass pointed out, I’m the one who’s married to Chase.”
Married and, if the small bump at her lower belly was any indication, the woman was also a few months pregnant.
“Ellie Lucas.” The other brunette greeted her next.
Kaamisha thought back to something Cassie had previously shared. “You’re the best friend who’s also a lawyer.” She took the woman’s offered hand.
After a sideways glance in Cassie’s direction, Lucky’s pretty wife nodded. “Guilty as charged.”
“I was just letting Kam know that the guys filled us in on everything that’s happened.” Archer’s wife looked at her three friends. “I also told her that I don’t believe she had anything to do with what happened to them.”
“I agree.” Scottie smiled.
But Kaamisha couldn’t help but question why. “I must admit, I don’t understand why you’re being so nice to me. I’m not sure I’d be so trusting if I were in your shoes.”
“You’re literally in my shoes.” Cassie smiled with a humor-filled twinkle in her eyes. “And the fact that our husbands brought you here, into my home, tells me they must trust you on some level, as well.”
“She’s right.” Natalie nodded. “I’m not sure if you’re aware, but the teammate they lost on that mountain back when they were still SEALs…he was my husband.”
“Hunter.” Kaamisha said the poor man’s name. “I’m very sorry for your loss.”
“I hope you mean that.”
“To the depths of my heart.” She met their seeking stares.
“I don’t know why any of this has happened or how I got pulled into whatever this madness is.
But I swear to you all, I’ve never hurt another living soul, nor have I ever been a part of an act of terror or any other form of violent behavior. ”
She glanced around at the small group of women who were clearly as protective as they were supportive of their men. Relief struck when they all seemed to accept what she’d said as the truth.
“That’s what we were hoping to hear.” Natalie met her gaze once more.
“And now that we got that out of the way…” Scottie turned and started for the door. “Come on. There’s enough food downstairs to feed a small army, and I, for one, do not want to take any of it home.”
Van watched Kam closely, his gaze unable to keep from following her every move. She was inside eating and talking with the girls, and, from what he could tell, they were getting along just fine.
Speaking of fine…
No longer hidden beneath layers of her stained and torn dress, he could easily see every one of the woman’s mouthwatering curves.
The jeans she’d borrowed hugged her tightly in all the right places. The white t-shirt was tucked in, showcasing her narrowed waist and a set of perfectly proportioned breasts. And her hair…