Page 18 of Forgiving His Past (Eagle’s Nest Securities #5)

Three hours later…

Kam couldn’t take her eyes from the magnificent views around her. Everywhere she looked was like Heaven on earth.

Land filled with trees that reached high into the sky. Snowcapped mountains in the distance appeared more like a painting than something one could actually touch.

Eagles soared high above them, their outstretched wings spanning much farther than she’d had ever imagined. And while Van drove the boat with an expert hand, Kam had even caught a quick glimpse of a massive Killer Whale.

It was the most beautiful place she had ever seen.

The boat’s motor grew quieter as they began to slow down. From where they were, the closest land was miles and miles away. Kam could see a stretch of land that appeared to be little more than a thinly drawn line.

“Figured this is as good a place to stop as any.”

Van’s deep voice seemed to travel straight through her as he cut the engine completely. The boat swayed back and forth beneath their feet as the wake it had created slowly began to settle.

“Why are we stopping?” She glanced over at him from the padded bench where she’d been sitting.

With his well-worn jeans, black t-shirt, a ballcap he’d turned backward—to prevent it from blowing into the racing wind—and a pair of sunglasses so dark it was impossible to see his eyes, the man looked like every woman’s ruggedly handsome dream.

Yes, Donovan Braddock was most definitely a man’s man. And from what she’d observed of the former SEAL so far, he was as capable as any Kam had ever known.

“I thought you might be ready for some lunch.” He glanced over to where she was seated. “I can make us some sandwiches, if that’s okay with you.”

She looked back at him with a slight squint to her eyes to avoid being blinded by the afternoon sun. “Sounds lovely.” She smiled. “Is there anything I can do to help?”

“I’ve got it.” He shook his head, walking past her on his way to the other end of the boat. “Sliced turkey okay with you?”

“Of course.” Kam sent another flash of a smile his way. But he’d already passed by her, so she wasn’t sure if he even noticed.

Taking the man at his word, she settled back against the white vinyl cushion, soaking in everything she could from the glorious day.

The view. The slight bite of an early summer sun. The comfort from an almost constant, soothing breeze.

In a word, the moment was perfect. Too bad it wouldn’t last

Not that she was fearful of Van going back on his word. If he’d wanted to cause her harm, he’d had plenty of opportunity to do so.

No, Kam knew in her heart the danger to her wouldn’t come from him or his team. The threat was out there, somewhere. An unknown enemy lying in wait.

The only question remaining was how long would it be before they decided to strike again?

“I wasn’t sure what you’d want to drink, so I just grabbed a couple bottles of water.”

Her lips curved at the corners as she turned Van’s way. “Water’s fine.” She smiled up at him, taking the bottle and one of two paper plates from his hands. “Thank you.”

A low grunt was all she received in response, and Kam had to hide her growing grin with a small bite from her turkey sandwich. She was beginning to find the man’s stoic disposition rather charming.

It was refreshing to meet a man who didn’t seem to care what others thought. He was himself and unapologetically so.

“So what do you think?” Van asked as he sat a few feet away in what he’d referred to earlier as the captain’s chair.

She swallowed the bite of bread, turkey, and cheese. “About the sandwich?” She gave her lips a quick swipe of her tongue. “It’s delicious.”

Simplistic in its creation, but tasty all the same.

“Not the food,” he clarified with a deep rumble. “I was talking about your first boat ride.”

“Oh.” Kam chuckled. “Sorry. It was amazing.” She glanced around at the unbelievable view. “It’s absolutely stunning here. So peaceful and quiet. It’s all so…”

“Serene.”

The word was unexpected coming from a man like Van.

But when she saw that he, too, appeared to be mesmerized by the stunning waterscape that surrounded them, Kam was reminded once again that there was so much more to the former SEAL than what she’d read in the files that had mysteriously appeared inside her family home.

“That’s the perfect way to describe it,” she agreed. “It is absolutely serene. ”

Those shaded eyes turned her way, holding her captive a moment longer before returning his attention to the food in his hand.

Several minutes passed by with the two eating in comfortable silence. Kam couldn’t help but to smile at the thought.

“Something funny?” Van’s question seemed to come from nowhere a few seconds later.

Blinking quickly, she shook her head but kept the curve of her lips in place. “Not funny. Just…surprising.”

“You gonna share, or do I have to guess?”

Her shoulders bounced with a soft chuckle, and she glanced away for a breath before returning her gaze to his. “I was just thinking how funny life can be sometimes.”

“Yeah?” He took a big swig of his water before wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. “How so?”

“Oh, for so many reasons. But specifically, I was just thinking how, if someone had told me a few days ago that I would be having lunch on a boat in the middle of the ocean with one of the men whom I’d been led to believe was responsible for my mother’s death…

after having slept under the same roof as that man…

I would have said they were positively and certifiably crazy. ”

The long-winded comment seemed to amuse Van as well, and for the second time since having met him, she saw the slight stirrings of a genuine smile.

“Yeah, well, in the interest of full disclosure, we’re not in the middle of the ocean. These waters are part of what’s known as the Salish Sea.” The ghost of a grin slowly disappeared. “And trust me, this wasn’t part of my plan either.”

The curve of her lips immediately fell as a cloud of guilt began to envelope her. “I’m sorry, Van.” She forced herself not to look away from his shaded stare. “For all you and your team have been through and for any part I might have played in it. ”

His entire body seemed to stiffen at her words. “Thought you said you weren’t involved.”

“Not directly, no.” He’d clearly misunderstood.

“I meant I hate knowing you were all fed such lies about me and my family. That anyone could think that my mother or I could be involved in any sort of nefarious activity…” Her words trailed because it was all so incredibly outlandish.

“I don’t know if there will ever be a time you find you can fully trust me, but I hope…

at the very least…that the possibility is there. ”

Van was quiet for so long she was convinced it was his way of silently shutting down any hope of trust being built between them. That was, until he spoke up again several uncomfortable seconds later.

“Tell me about your parents.”

Kam blinked, the sudden change in topic taking her completely off guard. A moment later, understanding struck, and she realized it was his way of trying to initiate a way of building the very thing she’d only just told herself would never happen.

He’s asking you to give a piece of yourself. An olive branch to show you meant what you’d said.

Even so, she couldn’t help but to point out, “I assumed you already knew all about them…and me…from whatever information your government provided you and your team.”

“I know basic facts,” he confirmed. “Names, dates of birth, occupations…” Van shifted a bit in his seat. “I want to know about them as people. What they were like as parents. What it was like growing up in that shitho…uh…I mean, what it was like growing up in Afghanistan. That sort of thing.”

She didn’t bother hiding the smile his self-censorship created.

But rather than give him a hard time, Kam told him, “It’s okay.

It is a shithole. Well, parts are, anyway.

But not all of it. Some places in that area are quite beautiful.

” She glanced around again. “Of course, it’s nothing compared to this. ”

“Your parents ever bring you to the States as a child?”

The question reminded her of his original request. Ah, yes. He wants to know more about my upbringing.

Because he was curious or because this was his veiled attempt at interrogation? She wasn’t sure, but it really didn’t matter. There was nothing she had to hide from him or anyone else. So Kam willingly honored the man’s request.

“No.” She shook her head beneath the afternoon sun. “The first time I came to your country was to attend university in California. Of course, you already know all about that.”

He remained quiet, not bothering to deny her claim.

“We didn’t travel as a family. Or at all, for that matter. My father was a carpenter by trade, so he would often be gone for days at a time. Going from city to city, taking whatever jobs became available.”

“And your mother?”

“My mother was a very hard worker. She was an excellent seamstress and would create some of the most beautiful hajibs and dresses…” Kam smiled at the mental images of stacks of materials and spools of thread.

“What did they think of you coming to America for your education?”

“They were proud.” Her smile grew. “The proudest I’d ever seen them. Especially my father.”

“Really?”

“Does that surprise you?”

“A little,” Van answered honestly. “From what I know of your culture, women and education don’t always mix.”

“You’re not wrong,” she agreed. “But my parents were not like most. They kept to most of the traditions, yes, but when it came to me, they both wanted me to have…more.” More education.

More money. A better life than either of them had ever been given.

“They knew a life here would be far better th an any I’d have available back home.

So from an early age, my parents did all they could to prepare me for life as a United States Citizen. ”

“That why you speak such fluent English?”