Sea Haven 01 - Water Bound

glare. “You ratted me out.”
    Judith looked unrepentant. “I had no choice. Blythe subjected me to her
    ...” She whirled her hands around, her long fashionable nails glinting dark red in the sunlight. “That look she gives us when she will get her way. In any case, it was Airiana who blurted out that you’d gone grocery shopping.”
    Blythe laughed. “You all remember my evil eye when you’re thinking of withholding information. Actually Inez called me, worried, so I already knew.”
    Airiana, a small, fragile-looking woman of twenty-five with natural platinum hair and huge blue eyes, flashed a small grin at Rikki. “I was feeling so guilty.”
    “I’m sure you were,” Rikki said drolly.
    Airiana started to sink into the chair Lev had vacated. Blythe caught her arm, shaking her head. “That chair’s taken.” She leaned forward with a conspiratorial air. “By a man,” she added, lowering her voice. “A very hot man. He’s in Rikki’s house.”
    Judith and Airiana gasped in unison.
    “You let someone into your house? A man?” Judith said, clearly shocked. “I’m going to go see.” She started toward the screen.
    “No!” Panic welled up. Judith couldn’t go into the house with Lev. Not two people. Not together. It was bad enough that Lev was in there, but not someone Rikki loved, not Judith. Rikki shook her head adamantly, barely able to breathe. “You have to stay out here where I know you’re safe.” She blurted out the order, her heart hammering so loud she could hear a roar in her head.
    Judith immediately held up her hands and halted in mid step. “I won’t, honey.”
    Calm down, lyubimaya, just breathe. There is no fire. There is no one close other than your sisters. I would know if an enemy was near. I won’t let anything happen to you.
    I’m not worried about me! She was emphatic. I don’t want anything happening to my sisters. She hesitated. Or you. What’s taking so long with the coffee?
    141

    Rikki found that she could breathe easier, that her strange connection to Lev steadied her.
    I’m just holding back for a minute or two to let the others arrive.
    They’re coming up the drive. Their energy feels happy and affectionate, but I prefer to be certain.
    Rikki glanced up the drive. Sure enough, there was a small but telling cloud of dust. How did he do that? “If we keep meeting like this, we’re going to need more chairs.” She got up, vacating hers so her other two sisters would have a place to sit. She perched on the railing, leaning her back against a post, leaving Lev to bring out a chair or sit in the hammock swing.
    Lexi Thompson jumped out from the passenger side of Lissa Piner’s bright red convertible. Lexi waved madly, her wild mass of auburn hair flying around as she leapt up and down. She looked like a little pixie with her large green eyes and her pale oval face. Rikki adored her. Lexi, at twenty-three, was the youngest of all of them. She’d had the worst life any of them could imagine, yet she remained an upbeat, positive person, one Rikki looked up to. She’d manage to make peace with herself after meeting Lexi.
    “I’m here for the defense, Rikki,” Lexi called. “I’ve totally got your back.”
    Rikki had to laugh. Of course she could count on the little rebel. “Way to go. Sit next to Blythe and every time she mentions vegetables, kick her.”
    “Lexi’s the one growing the vegetables,” Lissa reminded and stepped out of her convertible.
    Rikki couldn’t help but admire her. Bright red hair, deep blue eyes, she had curves and a small waist. Rikki was skinny and she didn’t have a waist like that. Lissa was the resident martial arts practitioner and her body was a tribute to her abilities. She also was a carpenter and welder. She excelled at blowing glass and showed many of her glass and metal pieces in Judith’s store.
    “I do eat your broccoli, Lexi,” Rikki said as piously as she could manage.
    “And I love you for it,” Lexi blew her a kiss.
    Blythe waited until both women were seated before she dropped the bombshell. “Rikki’s got a man.”
    Five heads turned to stare at her. Rikki lifted an eyebrow and pushed her glasses firmly on her nose, trying to look nonchalant.
    “In the house,” Judith hissed. “She won’t let me in to see him.”
    “He’s not on display,” Rikki defended.
    “I want to see,” Lexi insisted.
    142

    Lissa looked at Blythe. “You met him?” There was suspicion in her voice. “Who is this