Sea Haven 01 - Water Bound

man and how did he get into Rikki’s life? Rikki doesn’t just pick up men.”
    Rikki sent Lissa her most ferocious frown. “I certainly am capable of picking up men.”
    I wouldn’t be saying that where I can hear you.
    You have nothing whatsoever to do with it.
    Maybe not yet, but I will.
    A thousand butterflies took wing in her stomach. She wasn’t touching that statement. He sounded far too confident and his killer kisses might have given him reason to believe he might have a say in her life, but it wasn’t true. No one, no one , told her what to do.
    She could hear her sisters talking around her, but their voices had faded into the background. Her mind was filled with Lev. His laughter was low and amused and all too male. He cut off abruptly, pulling out of her head.
    For a moment she was dizzy and nauseated. She breathed deep to allow the feeling to pass when it suddenly occurred to her that it was Lev who was sick and dizzy. He wasn’t hiding in the house—well, maybe he was because he was inclined to be paranoid, but he hadn’t been able to stand more than fifteen or twenty minutes at a time. He’d been up and even cooked breakfast.
    He must have been resting and trying to hide it from her.
    She brushed her hand over her face, hardly able to breathe. She wasn’t the kind of woman to take care of sick people. She just wasn’t. He needed to have a doctor, or Lexi, look at him. She started to move, when the sudden hush of chatter warned her and she turned to see him standing in the doorway. Her heart jolted at the sight of him. Tall. Masculine. The two-weeks’ growth of beard hiding his stubborn jaw. His eyes were deep blue, just like the sea. It was difficult, looking at the obvious muscle, to think of him as being sick or dizzy. He looked too strong, too invincible.
    Judith made a single sound, drawing her attention. Judith had gone pale and she turned her head to look at Airiana. The two women exchanged a look of fear. Lexi, Blythe and Lissa flashed bright smiles. Rikki’s stomach tightened into knots.
    “I shouldn’t have had you getting coffee, Levi.” She jumped up and took the cups to her sisters. “Levi hit his head pretty hard the other day and he needs care.”
    “You aren’t responsible for him,” Judith said.
    Rikki was startled by the belligerence in her voice. As a rule, Judith was open and caring. Just the bandage on Lev’s head should have produced her usual empathy.
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    “Actually, I am,” Rikki countered. It was true. She was captain. She’d pulled him out of the sea. Her code made her responsible. “Everyone, this is Levi Hammond. Levi, my sisters. You know Blythe already. This is Judith, Lissa, Airiana and Lexi.”
    “So you brought him home with you because you feel responsible,”
    Airiana clarified, ignoring the introduction.
    Rikki scowled at Judith and Airiana. “Why are you being rude? He’s a guest in my home. I may not have social skills, but in your homes, I’m always polite to your guests.” Okay, that wasn’t strictly the truth. She usually backed out and left the moment she saw company, or she simply didn’t speak. But she kept her dark glasses on and that could be considered polite. Her throat felt funny, a strange tickle.
    Lev put his hand on her shoulder. “It’s natural for them to worry about you, Rikki.” Even as he said it, his head whipped around, looking toward the trees.
    “His aura,” Judith broke off, gasping, one hand going to her throat. She began to cough.
    Airiana leapt to her side. “What is it?”
    Judith shook her head and held up her hand as she tried to breathe. Lexi rushed over to her. Rikki went still. She pulled her glasses off and her gaze locked with Lev’s. She knew she was giving him the death stare, but if he was responsible, she was never going to forgive him. She couldn’t tell by his stony expression or his eyes. He was completely inscrutable.
    Judith coughed again and Rikki hurried to get water, her mind racing.
    Lev was telepathic. He’d admitted to other gifts as well. His strongest drive was self-defense. Would he see Judith as a threat to him? She should never have brought him anywhere near her family. It bothered her that she had even conceived the idea that he could be a threat to Judith, but she couldn’t get the nagging doubt from her mind.
    She handed Judith the water. Lev hadn’t reassured her. And she had observed him enough to know he had some healing abilities, but he wasn’t rushing to