Finding Kenna (SEAL Team Hawaii #3)(59)

Blinking in surprise, Kenna stared at him. “Did you basically just give me a key to your place?”

Marshall shrugged. “Are you gonna come over and rob me?”

“No.”

“Then, yes.” Marshall turned to open his door, and Kenna did her best to get her reactions under control.

This man was nothing at all like she thought he’d be when she first hung out with him on the beach at Duke’s. He was so much…more.

Marshall led the way into his condo, and Kenna closed the door behind her. Her eyes widened as she took in her surroundings.

The place was so incredible, she didn’t know where to look first. From the kitchen—which had beautiful white cabinets, concrete countertops, and a refrigerator that was double the size of hers—to the bamboo floors, to the extremely comfortable—and expensive—looking couches and the huge TV…it was all overwhelming.

But she could also see Marshall’s touches here and there. This was no showroom. She saw a pair of boots lying on the floor near a hallway. There were a few dirty dishes in the sink and crumbs on the countertop. A bookcase against the wall had books haphazardly placed on the shelves. A half-filled glass of water sat on a table next to one of the couches. Accent pillows were tossed casually on the furniture.

Then there were the pictures. Kenna wanted to examine all of them, as they were strewn everywhere throughout the living area. He’d even enlarged and framed the picture of himself and his team that he’d shown her on the base, which hung on a wall near the television.

The place was fancy, yes. And expensive. But it looked lived in. Comfortable. Which made Kenna feel much more relaxed.

While she was looking around, Marshall had walked over to a wall to her left. He pulled the curtains back—and Kenna could only stare in disbelief at the view he’d exposed. She walked as if in a trance toward the balcony. She knew Marshall was grinning like a boy with his hand in a cookie jar, but she ignored him. He opened the door for her, and she walked outside.

There was a breeze blowing in from the ocean and it made her hair ripple as she gripped the railing. There were a few lounge chairs on the balcony, along with a table and six chairs. The space was huge, but Kenna turned her attention back to the ocean in front of her.

She felt Marshall come up behind her. He put his hands on the railing on either side of hers and leaned in close.

Kenna took a minute or so to study the view. She could see the beach where they’d spent the day, the umbrellas looking tiny from this vantage point. There were sailboats out on the water, and she could even see a large cargo ship in the distance. It was absolutely beautiful, and Kenna could suddenly understand the appeal of an ocean view. If she had a view like this at her place, she’d spend all her time on her balcony enjoying it.

“It’s amazing,” she said in awe.

“This is the main reason why I stopped fighting my parents about this place. It’s pretentious and over the top, and way too fucking expensive. But this is my favorite place to hang out with my friends, or after a hard mission. You should see it when a storm moves in. It’s like you’re in the middle of it.”

“I bet.”

“You want to see the rest of the condo?” he asked.

Kenna shook her head. “Nope. I’m staying right here. I think I’m moving in and I’ll sleep and eat and do everything out on the balcony.”

She felt more than heard him chuckle against her back. “It might be hard to waitress from here.”

“Don’t care.”

“And you haven’t seen my bedroom yet,” he added suggestively.

Kenna smiled, then turned in his arms. “True. Tell me you have a king-size bed.”

“I have a king-size bed.”

“And that the master bathroom is to die for.”

“It is,” he agreed. “Rain shower, huge claw-foot tub, double sinks, heated tiles on the floor, and the toilet is in a separate little room with a door.”

Kenna burst out laughing at that. “And that’s a plus?” she asked.

“Of course. I like my privacy when I’m doing my business,” he said with a straight face.

“Hmmm. I think maybe I would like to see your room then. But if it doesn’t compare to this balcony, I’m coming right back out here.”

“I think you’ll be pleased,” Marshall said mysteriously. “Come on.” He took her hand in his and led her back into the living area of the apartment.

Kenna let him tow her down a small hallway toward a door at the end. She caught a glimpse of a guest bathroom on her way that was bigger than her master bathroom back at her apartment.

Marshall didn’t hesitate to throw open the door at the end of the hall, gesturing for her to enter.

Kenna was about to make a joke, something about a spider and a fly, but her words stuck in her throat when she walked into the room.

The entire wall next to the bed was windows. Floor to ceiling. It was almost like being out on the balcony, but without the breeze. “Holy crap,” she whispered.

“Told you you’d like it,” Marshall said smugly.

Kenna looked up at him. “It’s incredible! But doesn’t the light bother you when you’re trying to sleep?”

In response, Marshall walked over to a panel on the wall next to the windows and pushed a button. The windows went from clear to black within seconds.