Sea Haven 02 - Spirit Bound

toasting Rikki. “You love us, and that’s all that counts, baby.” She took a sip and looked over the rim at Judith. “What’s his aura like?”
    “Sort of muddy, like you see in a lot of powerful businessmen. Good and bad. But sometimes I can’t even see it.” Judith sighed. “I’ve tried not to see auras. I don’t trust my reading of them, and his is sort of difficult. The more I tried to focus on it, the less I could read it.”
    “Great.” Airiana scowled. “I hate that.”
    “Why?” Blythe asked.
    Airiana sent an apologetic look toward Judith without meeting her eyes. “Because that kind of aura almost always is a product of concealment.”
    Blythe frowned and leaned toward Airiana, rubbing her left palm on her thigh, a habit that usually signaled she was becoming upset or unhappy. “On purpose? Someone could conceal their aura on purpose? Wouldn’t that mean he had some sort of psychic talent and that he would know to conceal his aura around us?”
    “No, I didn’t meant that, Blythe,” Airiana corrected. “More that the person is hiding something of great importance.”
    “It doesn’t really matter,” Judith said. “I can’t see him with the threat of Jean-Claude hanging over my head.”
    “Of course it matters,” Lexi disagreed. “I don’t think a perfect person comes along all that often. If the opportunity is there and you connect with him, I say, take a chance. Rikki did and look how happy she is.” She frowned. “I mean . . . you are happy with Levi, aren’t you? He is a little intimidating. He never smiles.”
    “I’m very happy with Levi,” Rikki said, rocking slightly. She looked around. “But maybe we could open a window or something. Would you mind, Judith?”
    “Levi’s out there, probably armed to the teeth,” Judith said. “Open the door, hon. I’m fine with it open.”
    “He’ll come in,” Rikki said, twisting her fingers together in her lap. “He won’t be able to help himself. He’ll have to walk through the house and make certain it’s properly locked down.” She rolled her eyes. “He checks my garden hoses to make certain they’re in good working order.”
    All the women burst out laughing. Rikki blinked and looked around the room. “What?”
    “He checks the garden hoses around your house?” Blythe prompted. “Like you do every single morning?”
    “ Exactly. I would notice if there was anything wrong with the hoses, wouldn’t I? The man is just over the top when it comes to safety. And he wants a dog .”
    “Now we’re getting to what really bothers you,” Judith said gently. “Baby, you know it doesn’t upset you in the least that Levi checks the entire farm, your boat and our shops a million times. It’s his thing and he takes it seriously. He just wants to keep us all safe. It’s the dog.”
    “He won’t drop the subject,” Rikki admitted, flapping her fingers back and forth, obviously becoming more agitated.
    “We’ve talked about it before Levi ever came,” Blythe pointed out. She laid a calming hand on Rikki’s arm, very lightly, careful not to invade her space. “Lexi really could use a companion here on the farm. She’s alone a lot and would really love to have a dog. Airiana would like one as well. Levi isn’t alone in wanting one.”
    “But if we get one, it will come in my house and on my boat,” Rikki protested.
    “Not necessarily,” Blythe contradicted. “A lot of people have outdoor dogs.”
    Airiana’s breath hissed out and she opened her mouth to protest, but Blythe shot her quelling look. Everyone knew how she felt about leaving dogs outside.
    Rikki shook her head. “Oh no, I couldn’t do that, Blythe. If we get a dog, it would have to be with us all the time. I would worry about it being alone while we dive. And I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night if I made the poor thing sleep outside because I didn’t want dog hair in my house.”
    “There are breeds that don’t shed,” Airiana said. “And you really like animals, Rikki.”
    “I know.” Rikki rubbed her thumb on the inside of her palm as if it itched. “I just managed to let Levi into my house and now he wants a dog. What’s after that? It’s too many changes too fast.”
    Blythe smiled at her. “Rikki, you know you’re going to get a dog. I can hear it in your voice. You want us all to agree with you and talk you out of it.”
    Rikki sighed. “You know I’ll obsess over the darn thing. It’s going to be embarrassing.