Fucking gorgeous.
She looked over at him, her lips parting as if she were about to say something about the entertaining whale. But when she realized he was watching her instead of what was happening a few feet from where they stood, she corrected her original course and gave a small tilt of her head.
“What?” Kam asked as she searched his spellbound gaze. “Why are you looking at me like…oh!” Her hands flew up to the top of her head as an uncharacteristically sheepish grin flashed his way. “I didn’t even think about my appearance. When I thought men were trying to board the boat, I shot straight out of bed and went to you. And then we came out here, and now there’s a whale…” She chuckled nervously. “I must look so incredibly awfu?—”
“Beautiful.”
Van’s deep rumble cut through her untrue words. She thought she looked awful? He nearly choked at the thought. Because from where he was standing, the woman looked anything but.
“What…what did you say?”
Van knew he should turn his ass around, go back inside, and crawl into bed. His bed…alone…without the real Kam or the fictitious one from his earlier dream. Instead, he felt himself inching closer and closer, not stopping until they were mere inches apart.
“I said”—he stared down into those incredible eyes—“you look beautiful.”
Her lashes fluttered with a look of surprise, her lips parting slightly with the softest of gasps. “Oh. Um...th-thank you,” Kam stuttered, the compliment obviously taking her completely off guard.
He found he rather enjoyed knowing he could keep this woman on her toes.
The whale surfaced again a few yardsaway, sending a spray of water high into the air as it flew from the blow hole at the top of its head.
Van watched and waited, expecting Kam’s attention to be pulled away. Instead, she looked even deeper into his seeking gaze. Her adorable feet carrying her even closer to where he stood.
“You’re beautiful, too, you know?” Her voice held more confidence than in the seconds before.
His chest grew warm and tight as her words drew him in. He’d been called a hell of a lot of things in his life, but beautiful? Not even once.
“We should probably go back inside,” he told her, though that was the very last thing Van wanted to do.
He was trying to be good. Really,reallytrying hard. And the last thing he wanted to be was something she’d regret.
“You’re a very confusing man, Donovan.”
His half-hard dick reflexively jumped at the sound of her saying his name.
“I’m supposed to be protecting you.” His voice came out rough. “Not…seducing you.”
“Is that what this is?” She glanced back out toward the meandering whale. “Your attempt at seduction?” A sly grin lifted the corner of her desirable lips.
The truth was, Van didn’t know what this was. Did he want her? Hell yes, he did. More than he’d wanted a woman in maybe forever.
And that right there only added to his mounting problems. Because there had been a time in his life when he thought the same about Jenny.
Sweet. Funny. Adorable Jenny. The woman he’d planned to spend that same forever with. The mother of his unborn child.
It wasn’t as though he’d been celibate since his wife’s death. It was years ago, and he was about the furthest thing from a saint a man could get.
But it had always been just sex. Consensual—and sometimes even fun—sex. No strings. No commitments. Just a way for him and his partner to blow off some steam.
And after…
After, I always walk away.
“You know,” Kam spoke up again, her eyes following the playful humpback’s every move. “That’s the second time you’ve eluded to being my protector. Not my abductor or interrogator.” She glanced back over at him, her gaze falling to the gun still held securely in his hand. “Does that mean you finally believe that what I’ve been telling you all along is true?” Those incredible eyes lifted up to his. “Do you believe that I did not kill Farzad Akimi, and that I also had nothing to do with what happened to your team?”
“Yes.” Van held her beseeching stare. “I believe you.”
His response was out of his mouth before his brain had a chance to catch up with the plan. But it didn’t matter, because he refused to take the words back.
