Sea Haven 02 - Spirit Bound

man instead of a machine. Judith had given him that. He would always have these moments with her if he could allow himself to embrace the feeling.
    They were only a few steps away from the crowd. Already a couple of people were turning toward them, noticing Judith and waving a cheery hello. He had seconds to savor the fact that he’d found the answers to questions he’d always thrust into the back of his mind. He’d traveled around the world hunting and often stood outside the homes of people, looking at the lights, listening to the low murmur of voices, watching a woman bend her head toward a child and wondered what it would be like to feel that depth of emotion, if only for a moment, for another human being. With all the silky hair burning like fire through the center of his palm, he’d found what he was looking for.
    As they came up to the edge of the crowd, he dropped his hand, giving himself enough room to use any of the many weapons concealed on his person. He was Thomas Vincent and these were the people who would be his neighbors if he bought the gallery—if he settled in Sea Haven and found a woman to spend the rest of his life with.
    “Judith! We missed you, honey.” A tall blonde greeted Judith with a kiss. Her gaze rested on Thomas, but more with polite interest than anything else.
    “Thomas, this is my sister, Blythe Daniels,” Judith introduced him. Her fingers brushed his arm, as if bringing him closer.
    Blythe noticed that very small intimacy, even there in the dark, and that told Stefan she was someone to take great care around. He flashed a smile and took her hand when she held it out. There was the smallest current of energy, enough that his warning radar went off. There was more to Blythe than met the eye.
    “Thomas is considering buying the gallery,” Judith offered.
    “Of course. It’s beautiful. I’ve always loved that building and the view is spectacular,” Blythe said.
    “I have to agree.” Stefan flashed another shy smile toward the blonde.
    Stefan slipped into his role easily, more familiar with the chameleon than with Stefan Prakenskii who really didn’t exist. Thomas Vincent might be interested in Judith Henderson, but he wasn’t threatened by that interest. Thomas would be attracted to any number of women. He might be uncomfortable because he was a little shy where women were concerned, but he didn’t mind contemplating a pleasant future.
    Stefan Prakenskii knew he would go up in flames with Judith, burn alive and crave more— need more. His entire body and mind responded to her, killing his sense of self-preservation and destroying years and years of discipline and training. For him, there would only be this one woman. She was a virtual stranger, yet he knew her almost intimately already. He’d spent a lifetime traveling the world and not once had this incredible, impossible phenomenon happened to him, and he knew with utter certainty it wouldn’t again.
    “The building is worth a fortune,” Thomas agreed readily. He turned, allowing his eyes to sweep the rooftops on a pretext of looking back at the property. “This is quite a town.”
    Behind Blythe, another older woman laughed as she held out her hand. “I think we’re too small to qualify as a town. We refer to ourselves as a village. I’m Inez Nelson. It’s a pleasure to meet you. The gallery is a very important part of Sea Haven.”
    For her small size, she had a firm handshake and penetrating eyes. She definitely was assessing him carefully.
    “Thomas Vincent,” he introduced himself.
    “Don’t let her sway you, Thomas,” Judith warned. “She’s Frank Warner’s fiancée, so she has a vested interest.”
    “Did your wife come with you?” Inez asked blatantly fishing.
    Blythe and Judith laughed aloud, clearly used to Inez interrogating people and taking no offense. Thomas wouldn’t either. He was a charming man. He widened his smile to a boyish grin and shook his head.
    “No wife, ma’am. It’s just me.”
    Inez’s eyes immediately lit up. “Oh, how nice. This is the perfect place to raise a family.”
    “He’d need a wife for that, Inez,” Blythe pointed out.
    Inez smirked. “Exactly. I believe neither of you is married.”
    “That’s it.” Blythe took the wineglass from her hand. “You’re cut off. Thomas, please ignore her. Her tongue is out of control tonight.”
    Inez looked unrepentant. “No more so than every night. How else are we going to entice this handsome man to