There was no way he could tell her the real reason why, so he said what he knew was another truth. “Rumors were flying around that poachers had begun roaming the island again, killing a lot of the wildlife. That’s the main reason Reid had purchased it from the state, to protect the wildlife.”

He decided not to mention that it would only have been a matter of time before someone stumbled across the bunker. “Reid knew about the bunker and that was possibly another reason he purchased the inlet from the government. However, after his son was killed and his wife died, he didn’t have the state of mind to care about too much of anything. I made him an offer and he took it.”

“Oh, I see. Anyone know you own it?”

“I’ve told Sawyer and Ray, and I’m sure Sawyer has told Vashti. Other than that, very few people know. Most people in the cove assume Reid is still the owner, which is probably why the locals—the ones who don’t buy all those wild tales about the island—are reluctant to go there and do anything that would result in his anger. It’s mostly the outsiders, who like fishing there, I have to worry about. Thanks to Isaac, that’s been taken care of.”

“How?”

“I had him install security devices.” Isaac once owned a high-tech computer company in Boston before he’d returned to the cove. He had installed a number of state-of-the-art security features on the inlet. At any point in time, Kaegan was alerted whenever humans trespassed on certain areas of his property.

“I’d like to see it.”

He glanced over at her. “See what?”

“The island.”

He quirked an eyebrow. “You would?”

“Yes.”

A part of him was questioning why she would want to go to a place that had once been their lovers’ hideaway. Deciding not to question her about it now, he said, “Okay.” He steered the boat westward.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

BRYCE STUDIED KAEGAN as he straightened to his full height while maneuvering the boat around the bend. She knew this smaller boat was just one of several he owned. When his yacht had been docked at the pier one day she’d gotten a good look at it and thought it was a beauty. Her brothers had joined him for one of his midnight fishing excursions and had come back bragging about how nice and roomy it had been. Even when she’d not been on good terms with him, she’d been proud of his success.

Years ago Kaegan had told her that his father had taught him to operate a boat before he could walk, and watching him now made a believer out of her. He was definitely a man made for the sea.

“We’re almost there. Here, spray this on your arms,” he said, handing her a can of mosquito repellent.

She knew why. The swamp had mosquitoes that were almost as big as humans. “Thanks.”

She removed the can’s top and sprayed her arms. She then glanced over at him. He was wearing a pair of jeans and a T-shirt. She doubted Kaegan knew how good he looked or how he had the ability to fuel women’s fantasies. Earlier he had removed his shirt and at first she’d shivered when she’d seen him shirtless. After all, October wasn’t exactly a good time to walk around half-naked with a chill in the air. But he’d done so as if it hadn’t bothered him.