Sea Haven 01 - Water Bound

coffee, Blythe? Cream? Sugar?”
    Blythe looked shocked. Rikki never let anyone in the house. It had taken her months to get Rikki to allow her to go into the kitchen, and there was Levi making himself at home.
    Rikki glared at him again. I know exactly what you’re doing. And she did. His little show of gallantry earned him two things. Blythe would see he was at home in Rikki’s house, and it would get him inside where he was not only out of sight but he could shoot someone he considered a threat.
    I knew you were a smart girl when you wanted to throw me back into the sea. He was laughing at her even as he took Blythe’s order for both cream and sugar in her coffee. Let the inquisition begin.
    She sat up straighter. She hadn’t considered that. The moment he went into the kitchen, she was going to be interrogated like there was no tomorrow. Squirming, she realized there was no way out. She simply handed him her coffee cup in surrender. “No sugar or cream.”
    He gave her a cocky smile. “I knew that.”
    Of course he did. He was observant. She sent him another dagger-cutting stare, but he just grinned as he closed the screen after him.
    “Oh my gosh.” Blythe caught her hand and leaned into her. “He is so hot. Where did you find him?”
    “I pulled him out of the sea and decided to keep him.” Rikki’s answer was strictly honest.
    Blythe burst out laughing. “I’d keep him too. So he really wants to work with you?”
    Rikki scowled at her, her most fierce scowl, usually reserved for anyone but Blythe. “For me, not with me. Let’s just keep that totally straight. I’m captain. And he’s a lowly tender.” Her palm throbbed, a dull 139

    ache that swiftly turned into an itch somewhere else. She pressed her hand against her leg tightly, trying to dull the sensation.
    I accept the position of lowly tender. I’m good with that title.
    “He looks like a man who would be helpful on a boat, Rikki,” Blythe said.
    Rikki growled aloud. “I’m a solitary diver, Blythe.” The car was in sight now and Rikki recognized it as belonging to Judith. Both Judith and Airiana were inside. Rikki groaned and covered her face.
    “What is this, Blythe?”
    “An intervention.”
    “You have got to be kidding me! Because I bought groceries?”
    “You haven’t bought anything but peanut butter and bread in four years.”
    Rikki was indignant. “I buy coffee and broccoli and sugar for you.”
    “We were going to talk about nutrition. You can’t just eat peanut butter all the time, and since you showed an interest in food, we thought this was a good time to talk to you.”
    Rikki glared at her. “Levi showed an interest in food.” See, I remembered.
    That’s my woman.
    “I guessed that after I saw him, but you shopped for soup a couple of days ago, which means he’s been here for a while.”
    Rikki tightened her mouth and refused to speak. Brace yourself. I think they’re planning to show up en masse. And when they get going, they’re relentless. Last time they came, they insisted I start eating broccoli. It was really annoying. She wasn’t touching the “my woman” comment for anything.
    He laughed softly in her mind, sharing his amusement over her obvious disgust of anything green and her cowardice. As I want actual food, I’m going to be on their side, he warned.
    She growled deep in her throat, warning him of dire consequences. You do and I’ll retaliate. Every time you shower the water is suddenly going to go ice-cold.
    Judith and Airiana walked up the paved walkway, Airiana looking up at the sky and Judith clearly drawn to the colorful flowers. Rikki found herself relaxing a little as she always did when her sisters showed up. She loved just watching them. In their own ways, they were as different as she was. And they accepted her. It didn’t matter to them that she didn’t like them going into the house. They might not understand, but if it was important to her, it was important to them. She loved feeling their acceptance.
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    Maybe that was what appealed to her about Lev. Her peculiarities didn’t seem to bother him at all. She smiled at the newest arrivals and indicated chairs. “As long as we’re not talking about food, groceries or anything green, I’m glad to see you.”
    Judith burst out laughing and bent to brush a kiss on top of Rikki’s head. She was nearly as tall as Blythe. With her long legs, slender figure and exotic looks, she could have been a model.
    Rikki tried to