Sea Haven 01 - Water Bound

loud enough that Lev couldn’t fail to realize it was, in fact, her sister and he could just put away his gun.
    “I was worried about you. I tried to call you on your cell several times.
    And I left four messages on your machine.” Blythe closed her door and came up the stairs. She reached for Rikki and hugged her.
    Rikki tried to hug her back. She didn’t mind Blythe touching her, but she always felt awkward, unsure what to do in return, so she usually stood and waited for it to be over, feeling foolish. She recognized Blythe was distressed.
    “I’m sorry. I never think to check my messages and I don’t have a clue where that cell phone is.” She looked around as if she might find it in the flower bed.
    Blythe came all the way onto the porch and dropped into her favorite chair. “There was a huge wave, Rikki, it came out of nowhere. The Drakes stopped it, but I was afraid you were caught out at sea when it came.”
    “I was. It knocked me off my boat,” Rikki admitted. She kept her body between Blythe and the door at all times, standing upright and making certain Lev didn’t have a shot if he felt so inclined. She wasn’t about to place Blythe in danger.
    Blythe paled, her soft brown eyes going wide as she searched Rikki for damage. Rikki couldn’t stop her hand from drifting up to her neck to cover the smudges there. “I was just about to go down for another load when it struck, so I had my gear on. No big deal.”
    “Of course it was a big deal. Tell me what happened.”
    Rikki shrugged. “I was thrown from the boat and went down about thirty feet. I just shoved my regulator in my mouth and I was fine.”
    Blythe shook her head. “Honey, you can’t keep diving alone. You need a tender.”
    “If I’d had a tender in the boat, they wouldn’t have had on a suit or a tank, and they would have been in the water right along with me. Instead of my own survival, I would have had to think of someone else. I don’t have to worry about anyone else when I’m out there. If something happens, I depend on myself. Tell me about the wedding,” she added to change the subject.
    Blythe smiled immediately. “It was so beautiful. All of them ended up getting married. Jonas and Hannah had to stand up for all of them. Elle and Jackson were taking off for their honeymoon. I think they’re traveling through Europe. I think everyone left for a honeymoon with the exception of Jonas and Hannah because they’d already had theirs.”
    70

    Rikki frowned a little at the mention of Jonas and Hannah. Jonas Harrington was the local sheriff and he always made her uneasy. She’d caught him eyeing her a few times, and she had the feeling he’d delved into her past and was watching her in case there was a local fire. Maybe she was just paranoid, but she stayed as far from him and his deputies as possible.
    “Any other news?” she prompted.
    “I think Joley might be pregnant,” Blythe said, “but that’s just a guess.”
    That wasn’t exactly the news Rikki was looking for. “Did you all have fun?”
    Blythe nodded. “Everyone asked where you were. Lexi danced up a storm. That girl is amazing on the dance floor. I wish I could learn her moves.” She laughed softly, her eyes bright with pride. “She and Lissa were very popular tonight. Everyone wanted to dance with them.”
    Rikki smiled. Lissa and Lexi tended to be the center of attention wherever they were. No one could help but look at them. She was as proud of them as Blythe was.
    “You look tired, Rikki,” Blythe said. “You should be in bed.”
    Rikki shrugged. “I always worry until everyone is safe at home.” It was a grudging concession to admit it, but then with Blythe she was often more forthcoming than with anyone else. There was something motherly about Blythe—and Rikki had forgotten what that was like. Blythe could wrench emotion out of her when no one else could.
    Blythe gave her a smile that started a faint glow inside of Rikki. “I know you do. The others carpooled. They’re already in their homes and are safe. Get some sleep.”
    Rikki had no idea how she was going to do that, but she managed a nonchalant shrug and waved as Blythe headed back to her car. Rikki waited until the car was safely away before going back inside. The lights were out, but when she glanced at the chair where she’d placed Lev, she could see it was empty. Startled, she looked around the room, her heart pounding.
    He was lying facedown on the floor, at an angle