Instead, she shocked the hell out of him with a confession he hadn’t expected.
“I’ve never been on a boat ride before.” Her focus returned to the water. “Actually, until last night, I’d never been on a boat.”
“Seriously?” For a guy like him, that seemed damn near impossible. But when he considered the country and culture in which she’d grown up, it made perfect sense. “Yeah, I don’t suppose you probably had many opportunities for something like that.”
When she looked back at him, he didn’t miss the way her smile had faltered slightly. The length of her braid brushed back and forth along the left side of her chest as she gave a slow shake of her head.
“No,” she told him softly. “I did not.”
The gentle squeeze of his heart Van felt moments before grew tight with a sense of regret. Not for himself, obviously, but for…her. And just like that, he couldn’t wait to be the one to help her experience what—in his opinion, anyway—was one of the best feelings in the world.
“Then it’s settled,” he rumbled, making his way to toward the cabin door. “You finish your coffee, and I’ll get the boat ready to go.”
“Really?”
He stopped just shy of going inside and turned to meet her widened stare. “Unless you don’t want to.”
“As long as you aren’t planning to kill me and dump my body in the middle of the ocean.”
He could tell she was teasing. Or at least, it sure seemedlike she was. But just in case there was any confusion, Van decided to make sure his intentions were clear.
“I didn’t bring you here to hurt you, Kaamisha.” He used her full name in hopes of making her see the truth behind his words. “And if someone does try to hurt you while I’m around, I’ll do whatever I can to keep you safe.”
“I believe you truly mean that, Donovan.” She spoke his given name, as well. Most likely for the same effect.
“You’ll find I’m not one to mince words or blow smoke up your ass.” Van held onto her gaze. “As long as you’re honest with me…and you don’t pull another stunt like you did back in Kandahar…we’ll get along just fine.”
“I don’t blow smoke either,” she promised. “I meant it when I said I do not wish you or your friends harm. And while I may not be trained like you and your team, if anyone tries hurting you and I’m around, I will do whatever I can to help. Regardless of the danger to myself.”
Van thought about the way she’d reacted when the jet had first started to plummet toward the ground. She hadn’t hesitated to reach for her seatbelt solely for the purpose of helping him.
And as he left her standing by the railing, he couldn’t help but think that a shared love of black coffee may not be the only thing the two of them had in common.
CHAPTER 11
Three hours later…
Kam couldn’t takeher 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 forthbeneath 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.”
