Page 13 of Rescuing Nathaniel

If she asked for help, he’d offer it in a heartbeat, but Nathaniel already had a pretty good idea that the woman before him had enough determination to figure out a way through any roadblocks life threw in her path.

“Oh,” she cried out and he knew from the smile that broke out on her pretty face that she’d just spotted what he’d seen earlier. “We’re already so close to land. You did it.”

When she turned that gorgeous smile on him, he felt something shift inside him.

Just because he kept most people at a distance, including his siblings, it wasn't because he didn't care about others. It was just that he’d already reached his capacity for being let down and wasn't prepared to let another person in and risk them failing him too.

But Ava’s smile …

It did something to him.

Warmed something cold and dead inside him.

His heart.

He felt like the damn Grinch because that stunning smile of hers was making his tiny little heart grow three sizes in a single second.

“Thank you,” she said softly. She leaned closer, wincing as the movement caused her wound to pull, and touched a kiss to his cheek. “You saved my life. There is no way I would have been able to get this life raft to shore on my own.”

“Somehow I think you would have found a way,” he said honestly and because he felt uncomfortable with her praise. Compliments weren't something he was used to unless they focused on his swimming ability. Other than that, it always made him feel like the person was lying, trying to play him or manipulate him somehow.

Only he could think of no reason Ava would have for trying to manipulate him.

Maybe to try to ensure he stuck with her?

That didn't seem true, and he wasn't going to abandon her, although Ava didn't necessarily know that for certain.

“I didn't find a way to save myself when they abducted me,” Ava whispered, her smile dropping, gaze dipping so it was no longer aimed at him. She seemed to curl in on herself, and it was clear she viewed this as some sort of failure on her part, regardless of the fact that these people were professional and he doubted anyone without special forces level skills could evade them. Possibly not even that if they drugged their victims.

Was this what she’d been dreaming about earlier? What she’d been sobbing about and failing while trapped in her nightmares?

“Hey.” Hooking his forefinger under her chin, he nudged until she reluctantly lifted her gaze to meet his. “You did the impossible by escaping from them. Eagle is going to be proud of you. Hell, I'm proud of you.”

A tentative hope lit in her big blue eyes, and the gratitude in them made him uncomfortable, uncertain about how to deal with it.

So instead, he released her and focused on navigating his little craft to the shore.

Because he knew that Ava would insist that she could manage on her own, and he wanted her to conserve her strength, when they reached the shore, he scooped her up, jumped into the water, and carried her the remaining distance to the sand. Then he scanned the area, looking for a safe place to hole up for a little while before he found them help. As much as he wanted to run until he found a phone, he had to acknowledge the possibility that someone from the ship would have gotten the word out about the escaped prisoner, and all beaches in the area may be patrolled.

When his gaze landed on some caves, he headed there, setting Ava down toward the back of the largest one. He’d have to go and drag the raft in there with them, then sweep down the sand so his tracks were no longer visible, but he didn't like the idea of leaving his charge.

This woman had messed with his head in mere hours, what would she do given more time?

Regardless of whether or not he was on the lookout for a girlfriend, and he absolutely was not, this woman was way too good for him. She was strong, beautiful, brave, and sunshiny goodness.

He was cold, hard darkness.

The kind of darkness that would crush her light.

CHAPTER4

March 1st

4:16 P.M.

Hungry.

That was the first thought Ava had when she drifted back to consciousness.

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