Water Bound (Sea Haven/Sisters of the Heart 1)

"You're sure? Be absolutely certain, Rikki. This could get ugly."

"I'm sure. And I'm hungry. Hand me a sandwich and tell me what happened."

A slow grin spread across his face. He liked that she was so pragmatic in the face of adversity. He found her a sandwich and they sat together while she ate hungrily.

"I spotted a man I know. He cleans up messes, meaning he disposes of problems."

"And you'd be that problem."

He nodded.

She twirled her sandwich in circles with her thumbs and index fingers. The movement was fascinating. She didn't appear to notice she did it.

"You knew he was going to come. He'll ask questions of the people up and down the coast. Fisherman, divers, the people most likely to have seen a survivor."

He nodded. "Hospitals, clinics. He'll be thorough."

"So hole up at the farm."

"Your sisters ..."

She shrugged. "Won't say anything. Judith and Airiana will read him like a book. There's no reason for him to question any of them."

"You make it sound so easy, Rikki."

"It is easy. You stay out of sight, and he'll go away and declare that you're dead."

"What about Ralph?"

She took another bite and chewed thoughtfully. Washing the peanut butter down with water, she ate a couple of cookies before she answered. "He never actually saw your face that day. He'll see Lev Hammond today, an old diving buddy."

He shook his head. "Not Lev. Don't use that name. It's Levi. A Russian name as common as Lev is bound to be a trigger. And we were more than diving buddies in the past."

She made a face at him. "More than diving buddies? What does that mean exactly?"

"It means you were such a little diving hussy, you were sleeping your way up and down the coast and I've had to come chasing after you again."

She opened her mouth to object and he kissed her. She tasted like peanut butter. He was beginning to think he might actually come to like the stuff. His hand bunched in the back of her hair, holding her in place and he kissed her again, just because he could.

She blinked up at him, a small smile on her face. "There might be a few perks to being a diving hussy. Up and down the coast, hmmm?"

His fingers tightened in her hair. "You just remember I carry a gun at all times."

"Ah, but now I know what that gun is for--killer fish."

She burst out laughing again, the sound floating around him like the droplets of fog, enveloping him in a misty, melodic embrace. It was a strange sensation, sharing her love of the water and the feel of moisture on his skin. Individual drops felt as if velvet tongues licked over his skin. The sensual stimulation was more than just sexual--it was elemental to life, feeding his energy, building barriers that helped him cope ...

He bent his head to hers once more. He was so connected to her that he was in her brain, feeling her sensations as if they were his own. He took his time, ravaging her mouth, trying to convey without words what was in his heart. She'd turned his world upside down. She'd given him a safe place to hide until he was fully healed or a place to live. He chose life--with her.

"I like calling you Lev," she whispered, a small frown drawing her brows together. "I like the way the name sounds--very much like the real you, like my Lev."

His world righted as he inhaled sharply. She would always be his miracle, and no more so than right at that moment with her little confession. He wanted to give her that much of his past, maybe keep the memories of his family, so long ago lost, with that name, but it was a danger. Had he not had a concussion he would never have identified himself with his true given name.

Her little frown disappeared and she smiled at him. "I'll call you that when we make love. A much more intimate name between the two of us. Something sacred."

His heart twisted. She could bring a man to his knees. "I like that idea."

"We'd better get moving or we won't make it back into the harbor."

She turned away from him, all business, dealing with the hoses and equipment. When he bent to help, she sent him one fierce scowl and he backed off, both hands up in the air in surrender. He couldn't help smiling as he watched her work, noting the way she wrapped hoses in patterns and fussed meticulously over her equipment and wet suit. They made their way back through the thickening fog to the harbor.

He had to admit his heart accelerated a bit as they neared the harbor itself. The swells were beginning to pick up, dashing against the rocks jutting up out of the water. White spray burst into the air and the fog seemed alive, moving now, which meant wind.

"You scared?" She sent him a cheeky grin over her shoulder.

Her cheeks were red, her hair wild, her dark eyes bright. He could see she loved this. Loved the hint of danger, loved the sea rolling beneath her feet.

"You'd like me to admit that to you, wouldn't you?"

Her laughter was music to him. She sounded care-free. Happy. So alive. "Don't worry, you're safe with me, Levi."

He knew he was safe with her. She'd accepted him into her life and she was intensely loyal. He watched her as she maneuvered the entrance to the six hundred feet of river. The swells were increasing and she had to bring the boat in just perfectly to keep from being swamped. Concentration was on her face, complete focus. She had fought her own battles--and won. She'd found her own strength and knew exactly who she was. She might have wished she'd been born someone else at some time in her life, but she'd accepted what life had given her and she'd made the most of it.

Happiness settled over him. Peace. He was finished living in the shadows as an insubstantial ghost. He'd found home and astonishingly, home was a woman. He folded his arms across his chest and kept his gaze on her as they rode out the increasing swells, shot beneath the bridge and into calmer water. She laughed and turned her head again to look at him, to share the experience with him.

Rikki took the boat straight to the dock. She'd called in the morning and knew the processing plant would have the truck waiting when she came in. It looked as if she was the first boat to come back in. The others wouldn't be far behind her, not with the wind picking up so suddenly. They'd never get back into the harbor if the swells increased in strength.

"We just got here," Ralph called to her. "Mike's the only other boat out from Albion today. Danny went with him. The weather's closing in on us again." His speculative gaze wasn't on her but on Lev.

She nodded. "Supposed to be a good day."

Lev looked at her face. She'd retreated, become closed off. She was all business, hooking the nets to the pulley so Ralph could weigh and tag them before dumping them into the totes. He watched carefully until he knew exactly what to do, and casually took over, one hand moving Rikki gently but firmly out of the way.

"Levi Hammond," he said as he guided the sea urchin net over the platform.

"Ralph Carlson."

"Yeah, I remember. I'll be around for a while again. Decided to come back and claim my woman," Lev said. "We've been dive partners on and off for years. Been roughing it in Alaska, but figured if I waited too long, she'd replace me."

Rikki's gaze was cool as it swept over him. "I'm still considering it."

She played her part so perfectly he could have kissed her. He dropped an arm around her shoulders and was content with kissing the top of her head.

"Best damn diver up and down the coast," he said. "Bossy too. She's not letting me touch anything on her boat."

"I'm still mad at you," she sniffed and pushed him away.

Lev laughed and climbed up onto the platform to help Ralph swing the sea urchin nets to the totes while Rikki took her boat back to the dock to tie up.

"Rikki doesn't talk much," Ralph said. "She's been diving in this area for about four years and has never said more than a few words to anyone."

Lev nodded. "That's Rikki." He stepped a little closer to Ralph, using a very careful "push" to test the man. "Been a while since I've been here." He planted a vague memory, nothing mo

re than a shadow, laughing together in a bar.

Ralph immediately filled in the blanks, providing an atmosphere and details, dumping them into the memory to enhance it. "Long time."

"Alaska's wild. Great diving, but cold--and lonely." Lev grinned at him. "After a while all I could think about was getting back to Rikki."

"You're lucky you came when you did. I was thinking I might ask her out"

Lev smiled but his eyes went cool, then frosty. "Yeah, I wouldn't try that, I'm the jealous type."

He pushed a little harder, distancing the memory of Rikki bringing back a passenger, so the timeline was vague. Ralph rubbed at his head.

"Headache?" Lev asked sympathetically.

"Yeah. Came on all of a sudden. And I've got one more coming in."

"I hear him now," Lev said, and stepped off the platform with a lift of his hand.

It was all the damage control he could do for now, and maybe it would be enough. Ivanov would find Rikki. He would talk to all the divers. It was a fairly common practice for agents to charm their way in, using women as shelters when they needed a safe house. Petr Ivanov would definitely question Rikki and ask questions about her.

Rikki was scrubbing her boat and equipment with bleach in preparation for the next dive. She glanced up at him. "Thanks for not pulling out your gun and shooting him. I worried a little that you might have gone one too many days and just needed the practice."

"Ha ha." He started to board but she gave him that fierce scowl that told him he wasn't welcome. "And I wouldn't have used a gun. I'd want it to appear natural, like a heart attack."

She paused again and gave him her look. "I'd better not die of a heart attack. I'll come back and haunt you."

"Well, your boat is looking pretty good. And you don't share well with others."

She laughed softly. The second boat came around the bend in the river out of the fog, looking a little ghostly. The two occupants stared at Lev as they passed the Sea Gypsy.

Lev crouched on the dock, staying low, bending toward her. Voices carried on the water, so he used the more intimate telepathy. Tell me their names and something about them.

Dan Ferguson and Mike Carpenter. That's Mike's boat. Dan has his own, but the engine is down. Mike's married. Dan is looking.

She stepped out off the boat and he took most of the gear from her. They walked together, Rikki slightly ahead. The two divers cut off her escape before she could make for the parking lot, as Lev had been certain they would. Divers knew one another. It was a small world and it stood to reason that they would be protective of their only female diver--especially since she was considered "different."

Rikki stopped directly in front of the shorter of the two men, her little frown on her face. Lev reached past her, offering his hand. It was obvious to him that she respected Mike.

"Mike, long time." He gave a little push, directing the vague shadow into the other man's mind. Immediately he turned to the taller of the two men, needing to give the shadow time to work. He'd already felt the resistance in the diver. "Dan. Good to see you're still at it." The same shadow slid into his head. "Levi Hammond," as if he was reminding them.

Mike scowled and rubbed at his temples, regarding Lev with some confusion. Dan picked up the shadow and enhanced it first. He smiled and shook Lev's hand again. "Been a long time."

"Too long. Nearly lost my woman. She was getting ready to dump me--again." Lev's fingers settled possessively around the nape of Rikki's neck. "I'm not the best letter writer."

Rikki made no response. He could feel her body vibrating and there was the gentlest of rocking. He knew she wasn't aware of it, but her distress level was increasing in direct proportion to the number of people crowding close to her.

"You okay, Rikki?" Mike asked, looking at her, not at Lev.

She nodded. "Just tired. The current was strong."

"There's an outsider hanging around asking questions. He's asking about the divers. I don't know what he's after, but be careful, Rikki," Mike warned.

"I'll look after her," Lev said.

Her frown deepened and she took a step away from him. "I don't need looking after. That's what got us into trouble before, remember?"

She'd missed her calling. She needed an Oscar, blending her annoyance with their fictitious previous relationship. He was very aware her step had taken her closer to the two men and it bothered him on some weird primal level. He shouldn't be a jealous man. He shouldn't really have those kinds of emotions. Nevertheless, he considered this might be a perfect time for target practice.

Lev forced a grin. "Yeah. I remember. Little Miss Independent. She spit on my money."

He took her hand and drew her around the two divers back toward the parking lot and the safety of the truck. These men needed time for the shadow memory to work. They would think they knew him but were having trouble placing him. And he didn't dare stay long around Mike, the man was too perceptive by far and he was fighting the planted memory.

She shrugged. "If you'd rolled the hoses properly in the first place, we wouldn't have needed the money to replace them."

Definitely an Oscar. They sounded like they'd been together forever, and the men had to know how fussy she was about her equipment. They were divers. They were probably just as fussy. He laughed. "You're not suckering me back into that old argument. Come on, let's get home."

She went with him, lifting her hand to the divers as she climbed into the driver's seat. "You know they think you're kissing ass just to get back into my good graces."

He smirked as he carefully stowed her gear. "They also know the balance of power will swing right back once I worm my way inside your little heart again."

"You should write fiction. The Sea Gypsy is my boat. If you want to be captain, you'll have to go buy your own boat. You have enough money."

"I'm content to work under you." He gave her another male smirk as he seated himself on the passenger side, his dark glasses firmly in place.

She rolled her eyes and started the truck. "You're good at role playing, Lev--Levi."

He turned his head. She had a tone. Thoughtful. Speculative. His gut knotted up again.

"Yes. I play roles to survive, Rikki. I slip from one identity to the next."

Without speaking, she drove up the narrow, steep road lined with eucalyptus trees that led to the highway, but her frown was back and this time, it didn't bode well for him. He waited, letting her work it all out in her mind. He knew the direction her mind was going.

She drove all the way back to the farm without saying a word. He respected her silence. At the house, she took care of her equipment first, making certain everything was ready for the next dive, just as she'd done on the boat. He went into the house and left her to it, powering up the laptop so he could be sure that everything for Levi Hammond was in place. His social security, driver's, diving and tender's licenses were all being replaced after the theft dutifully reported to the cops. He even had a copy of the "police" report.

Levi Hammond had a secure history, as did his parents and his grandparents on both sides. Lev was always thorough. He even had set up a history of credit card use, with an excellent credit rating as well. The credit cards were coming along with his birth certificate. He double-checked that no one had tried to access any of his records, including his school records. Obviously, Petr Ivanov hadn't heard of him or become suspicious of anyone in Rikki's life.

On the other hand, he'd put a flag on Rikki's records and someone had been looking into her life. He doubted if it was the local sheriff. The man had had plenty of time to look at her if he was suspicious of her in any way and wouldn't go back for a second look. No, Ivanov had heard of the female sea urchin diver and she would be his first choice to look into.

Someone would remember she hadn't been at the wedding on the day the yacht sank. Ivanov by now would have visited the local sheriff and the hospitals and clinics. Finding nothing, he would have started trying to blend in and get acquainted with the locals

to hear all the gossip.

Rikki came in, breaking his concentration, and went past him without a word. He heard the shower start up a few minutes later. He sighed and sat back. The woman was beginning to make him a little crazy. Where had all his training and discipline gone? He erased his history and logged off.

Leaning on the doorframe, he studied her through the glass as she showered. She was wholly focused on the water and obviously wasn't aware of him. Laskovaya moya, do you believe I'm playing you? Using you?

She didn't look up. Nor did she stiffen. She left the water running over her shoulders and back as if she ached. It occurred to me that it was possible until I felt my palm aching. She rubbed the center of her palm and he felt the touch as if it were physical, stroking and caressing his cock. I'm in your head and you're in mine. It might work for a short period of time, but you can't hide from me any more than I can hide from you.

She turned her head and looked back at him through the glass. Her eyes met his, locked and held. He felt that look stab deep, penetrate straight through his chest to his heart. There was love in her eyes. She didn't bother to hide it. She never voiced the sentiment aloud to him. Maybe she didn't realize he said it to her because he always used his native tongue, but he could see it there in her solemn eyes.

/ see you, Lev. I will always see you, no matter what skin you have to wear or how many times you have to shed it and grow a new one. I'll see you when you're in the shadows. The real you is always safe here with me. I'm not going anywhere.

His eyes and throat burned. He couldn't move, couldn't turn away from her, and he knew the raw emotion was there on his face for her to see. He broke open and spilled out in front of her. The man he'd wanted to be, the man who had fallen so hard for a woman he couldn't ever find his feet-or his heart-again, could only look at her and know for certain he was where he was supposed to be.

16

EYES locked on Rikki's, Lev pulled his shirt over his head and tossed it aside. It took a minute to remove his shoes and socks and strip off his pants. She waited, her eyes darkening with passion. He could drown in her eyes, he decided, locking his gaze with hers, stepping close to pull open the glass door.