Sea Haven 01 - Water Bound

her eyes. He’d stayed close to her, venturing out only to do a little shopping. He continued to plant the vague memory of Levi Hammond in the few people he met even casually, building a solid history for his life.
    “Lev!” Her imperious voice made him laugh all over again. Who knew some little slip of a woman could boss him around and he’d like it?
    “I’m on it,” he called back, failing to keep the laughter out of his voice.
    He’d asked to be the cook and tender, now he was going to have to back it up with the grunt work, preparing a feast for the day while she went over her diving gear for the millionth time.
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    He worked fast and had breakfast ready and a huge lunch packed by the time she ran into the room. Instead of her blue jeans, she wore a coral colored tank and a long skirt that swirled around her ankles. He turned his back on the sink and inhaled sharply, his gaze drinking her in. She never failed to surprise him. The skirt was full and moved lovingly around her slender legs as she walked, the swirl of muted watercolors falling over her hips to her ankles in a cascade of pure temptation.
    “You have anything on under that skirt?” he inquired.
    That easily she could get him worked up. He’d gone from total control to absolutely none. He was smiling all over again. It was the simple things, he decided, that made a man happy, like his wife remembering a small detail he’d mentioned to her.
    “Probably not,” she answered with a lift of her eyebrow. “I’m diving.
    You can’t wear too much when you’re diving.”
    He nearly groaned, but he wasn’t going to give her the satisfaction. He handed her the usual diving breakfast, her beloved peanut butter and banana sandwich and a cup of coffee. “You’ll need to down two of those.”
    “I’m driving,” she said. “No time.”
    “The boat,” he countered.
    “You don’t drive a boat,” she sneered. “I was referring to my truck.”
    “Oh no, laskovaya moya, I’ve been reading the laws of this wonderful state, and I believe that truck is now half mine. I’m driving our truck.”
    Her eyes darkened. Little sparkles heated the cool depths. “Really? I don’t think you have a prayer because I’ve got the keys.” Laughing, she dangled them in front of him and, scooping up gear, ran for the truck.
    Lev followed at a more leisurely pace, locking the house, double-checking that they had everything, especially water. The moment they finished packing the truck and she turned toward the driver’s side, he stepped into her path, trapping her slender body with his much larger one, his arms caging her there on the tailgate. “I have one thing you don’t,” he murmured against her neck, turning his head and nipping her earlobe.
    “What?”
    His tongue teased her ear. “Brute strength,” he whispered and removed the keys from her hand even as he captured her mouth with his. He didn’t let her up until she kissed him back thoroughly, until her arms slid around his neck and she melted into him.
    He drove the truck with great satisfaction, smirking at her. “Manly man, here, woman.”
    She snorted indelicately. “Until you board that boat. Then you’re a lowly tender.”
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    “I do believe I have a license to dive with you.”
    “You have a license, which I don’t believe for one minute is real,” she said, “and you can go dive on Mike’s boat.”
    He glanced over at her, taking in the tight coral tank lovingly cupping her breasts, and shook his head. “I like the perks on your boat.”
    She laughed and ate her second peanut butter sandwich. As they turned onto the eucalyptus-lined drive leading to the harbor, she thrust her head out the window and shouted, “Today’s a dive day. Woo-hoo!” It was impossible to contain her happiness.
    He didn’t think he’d ever seen her look more beautiful as they cast off and she took her position at the helm, guiding them along the river, sweeping under the bridge, through the harbor and out to sea. She was amazing. The sun kissed her dark hair, the wind put color into her cheeks, and her joy made her eyes bright. He knew he would never want to be anywhere else. She took his breath away, and his love for her was so overwhelming that for a few moments he could only stare at her.
    Lev watched her, knowing he would never forget the way she looked there at the helm, hair blowing in the wind, utter confidence on her face. She lifted her face to the sky and laughed, the sound