Page 14 of Forgiving His Past (Eagle’s Nest Securities #5)

The ends of Kaamisha’s hair lifted and whirled with the passing breeze as she stood next to Van’s black truck. Looking out over the stunning view, she couldn’t help but be awestruck by its natural beauty.

For almost as far as her eyes could see, countless boats were nestled neatly within their assigned spaces. The vessels swayed in time to a slow and gentle rhythm composed by the soft laps of the waves.

“I thought you said you were bringing me to your home.” She couldn’t seem to take her eyes off the breathtaking scenery. Almost as if it were a painting brought to life, the entire marina was illuminated by several pole lamps and the light of the moon.

“I did.” Van shut his door and locked his truck before slinging a large duffle bag over one of his broad shoulders. Bending down, he picked up the smaller bag Cassie had loaned to Kam, offering nothing more as he turned and began walking toward the sidewalk up ahead.

A frown crinkled her brow as she gave their surroundings another glance before hurrying her steps to catch up to the confounding man .

“I don’t understand,” Kaamisha admitted as she followed him closely. “If you’re taking me to your home, then why are we?—”

She cut her words short when his dark eyes met hers in a sideways glance.

“This is my home,” he rumbled low with a slightly defensive tone.

Surprise flittered throughout her system as she looked back out to the glistening water. “You live…here?”

There wasn’t a single house that she could see.

“Just follow me and watch your step,” he grumbled. “The last thing I want is to have to pull you out of the water.”

Feeling out of sorts in a multitude of ways, Kaamisha did as she was told. She kept a careful eye as to where she was walking as they made their way down a steep ramp to a concrete platform below.

Endless rows of slips were filled with sailboats, yachts, and other types of boats she couldn’t name. Just as Kaamisha was about to ask how much further they had to go, Van slowed his movements, guiding them down a long walkway to their right.

“Mine’s the one at the end.” He motioned toward a modest-sized boat floating several yards away.

“You live on a boat?”

“It’s a houseboat.” His tone was almost defensive in nature.

She wanted to tell him there was no need. As surprising as the idea was, she found the idea of a boat as a permanent dwelling to be oddly fascinating.

They reached Van’s floating home a few short moments later. Thanks to moonlight shining brightly overhead, she was able to make out most of its exterior features.

A white, slightly curved roof covered what she assumed was the boat’s main living quarters. The wooden walls and deck matched the roof’s stark white, while the portion touching the water had been painted a deep, dark green.

Van stepped up from the dock onto a small platform elevated several inches off the ground. After expertly boarding the place he called home, he dropped the bags down onto the table before turning and offering her one of his hands.

“Watch your step,” he instructed for the second time since their arrival.

Kaamisha slid her palm against his, doing her best to ignore the electricity arcing between them as she allowed him to pull her up and onto the boat’s carpeted deck.

“Thank you.” She smiled, feeling awkward at the thought of spending the night under the same roof as a man she hardly knew.

They’d somehow gone from her putting a knife to his throat to him inviting her to stay with him on his boat. But since he’d had ample opportunities to kill her if he’d so desired, Kaamisha felt fairly secure in the fact that he no longer wished her dead.

For the moment, anyway.

“It’s not much, but it’ll give you a place to stay until we can figure out what to do next.”

“It’s beautiful,” she told him truthfully.

A deep grunt became lost in the evening sea air as he picked up the bags and stepped up to the door. She waited patiently as Van entered a code into an electronic keypad next to the door’s frame.

The small light switched from red to green, and Van opened the door, reached inside to flip on the lights, and then he stepped out of the way. “Ladies first.” He gave her enough room to pass by.

Kaamisha dipped her head in thanks before entering the unexpectedly gorgeous space.

Rich woods met with light and airy shades of light blues and comforting creams. She stepped down into the living room space, surprised when she found a small, piped stove to her left

“Like I said”—Van followed her inside—“she’s not much, but it’s a roof and a bed.”

He was wrong. The space was far more than that. It truly was…a home.

Along with the tiny stove, there was a bookshelf filled with a variety of titles. Positioned perfectly between the shelf and the source of warmth was a cushioned chair that was clearly meant for comfort as well as style.

To her right was a long couch of sorts with several wooden drawers built in beneath it. Up ahead, through an arched entryway was a kitchen complete with all the modern-day appliances one would need.

Gas stovetop and oven. Small refrigerator and sink. And a microwave built into the cabinetry that appeared to be custom to that particular space.

Kaamisha smiled when she spotted a white hand towel hanging from the oven’s shiny metal handle. The embroidered words gave her a tiny glimpse of the man his one-word responses failed to convey.

I’d rather be fishing.

Across from the sink was a built-in table and booth big enough for four people to comfortably share a meal. And directly in front of her, taking up the back half of the “house” portion of the boat was the bedroom.

“You hungry?” Van’s rumbled voice pulled her attention back to him.

“I’m good,” she told him with a quick shake of her head. Her eyes refused to leave the queen-sized bed staring back at her from the room’s opened doorway.

“You can sleep in there. The bathroom’s just around the corner.” He pointed toward a part of the room she couldn’t see.

“But where will you?—”

“I’ll take the couch.”

Kaamisha’s focus slid from the bed, to him, and then…beyond. Her brow furrowed as she took in the built-in couch he was referring to.

“I think I would be better suited for the couch,” she told him.

“I’ll be fine.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.” She grinned, her gaze sliding back to his. “I can only imagine how difficult it must be having me here, in your home. There’s no reason to be even more uncomfortable by trying to cram yourself into that tiny space.”

He didn’t deny her claim that he didn’t want her there, and there wasn’t even a small part of her that blamed him. Between their tumultuous meeting in that alley, and him and his team being led to believe she was the reason their friend was dead…

It was a wonder he wasn’t driving them to the middle of the ocean so he could throw her overboard and leave her to die.

The night’s still young.

“Whatever.” Van moved past her to put the bag containing his things onto the bed. “It’s late, and I’m too damn tried to argue.”

Her lips twitched at his gruffness, and she quickly attempted to school her expression. At that exact same time, Van dropped the bag onto his mattress and spun back around. His eyes caught hers, and he stared back at her with a downturned brow.

“What?”

Kaamisha tried to recover by sending a few innocent blinks his way. “What? ”

The creases between the man’s dark brows deepened as he searched her gaze for the truth. Her heart pounded as she became frozen beneath his intensely dark stare, but then Van gave a quick shake of his head.

“Never mind.” He quickly moved past her once again. When he got to the couch, he stopped and looked back her way. “This pulls out to give you more room.”

He proved this by pulling the couch’s wooden frame several inches toward him before creating a makeshift mattress out of the couch’s cushions.

“The blankets and an extra pillow are down here.” Van opened the drawers below, grabbing the items he’d mentioned and setting them onto the bed.

She started walking his way as he toed the drawers shut, stopping a few feet from where he stood. “Thank you, but I can finish the rest.”

The former SEAL’s movements froze for half-a-second before he turned and faced her again. Though she didn’t dare show it in her casual expression, Kaamisha found herself struggling to breathe.

Being this close to him—especially in such a small, enclosed space—felt as though he’d stolen every ounce of oxygen inside the boat’s cabin. Her heart pounded uncontrollably against her ribs, her lower belly filling with a thousand fluttering tingles.

Better stop that, Kaamisha.

This man stirred things inside her that she didn’t understand. She’d need to be careful not to let the attraction she felt for him become too much of a distraction. It would be easy, given the man’s ruggedly handsome face and muscular physique.

But it was those eyes that really drew her in. There were so many secrets there. Hidden gems she suddenly longed to unravel.

Unfortunately, she most likely would never be given that chance. Not with this man. No, the walls he had built around him were far too tall. And so thick it would take decades before she could ever reach what was inside.

Oh, but wouldn’t it be fun to try?

“You need to use the restroom before we call it a night?”

With all that had happened, she’d almost forgotten about mundane things like brushing her teeth before bed.

“I’ll see if Cassie put an extra toothbrush in with the things she sent.”

“Don’t bother. There’s one under the sink.”

The man was prepared. Not a huge surprise.

“I’ll be quick.” She spun on her sneakered heels and started for the other side of the boat.

“Take your time.” Van’s rumbled voice came from where he still stood behind her.

Kaamisha ignored how much she was beginning to love its sound and continued on her way. Once inside the tiny space, her first thought was to wonder how on earth a man of his size could possibly fit.

Obviously, he’d made it work somehow, but…