Oceans of Fire by Christine Feehan

frightening.
    “I’ll go out the same way I came in.” He walked right up to her. Abbey didn’t back up, but then he knew she wouldn’t. Abbey was a strong woman and she didn’t let too many things threaten her. “Stay away from Harrington until we work this out.”
    Abigail could hardly breathe with him so close to her. “I’m not going to dignify that with a response.”
    He bent his head toward her upturned face until their lips were a breath apart. “You know me better than any person alive. You know the truth about who and what I am. I gave you the truth when you asked for it. I said I loved you with everything in me. I don’t love easily, but I love completely. I want you back, Abbey, and I’m going to do whatever it takes.”
    For a moment she thought he was going to kiss her. She could see it in his eyes. The need. The longing. But he turned and left her bedroom.
     
----

Chapter 4

     
    “JOLEY. come on. Wake up!” Abbey shook her sister.
    Joley groaned and pulled the covers over her head. “Are you crazy? It’s still dark. I never get up this early. It isn’t sane.”
    “Get up. You have to come with me.”
    “Abbey, you’re freakin‘ crazy. Go back to bed. I’m definitely not getting up before the sun is up. Noon. Wake me at noon.”
    “Not noon… now! I think one of my dolphins is hurt. I want to go take a look at him.”
    Joley pulled down the cover so she could glare at her sister. “You think he’s hurt? It’s freezing cold in the ocean. And there are sharks. It isn’t happening. Haven’t you heard? I’m an honest-to-God celebrity. I don’t do mornings.”
    “Get your butt out of bed.” Abbey ripped off the blanket and hit Joley over the head with a pillow. “You aren’t the star of anything in this house. I need someone with me and you’re elected.”
    “Why me?” Joley wailed, sitting up.
    “Because, aside from Hannah, you have the skills I need. And if something goes wrong, Hannah’s not a strong swimmer.“
    “Great, that sounds ominous. Well the least you could have done was get me a cup of tea. And you could tell me about your mysterious visitor last night. Sheesh, it was hell trying to get to sleep wondering.”
    “I don’t want to talk about him. Not now. Maybe never.”
    “Great. That’s great, Abbey, wake me up and don’t even give me any good gossip. I don’t do mornings.”
    “I hear the dolphins calling me, Joley,” Abbey said. “Something’s wrong.”
    “Oh, all right. But you owe me big-time. And so do the dolphins. You can tell them you’re going to bring me swimming with you when you go out next and they have to be nice and accept me.” Joley trudged across the floor to the bathroom. “Do I need a wet suit?”
    “No, but you might want to bring a gun.”
    Joley stuck her head around the door, her toothbrush in her mouth. “A gun?” Her face brightened considerably. “Why do I need a gun? Who do I get to shoot?”
    “You don’t get to shoot anyone, you nut. It’s only just in case. That, and you’re a good shot.”
    “Better than Hannah,” Joley acknowledged. “She closes her eyes when she squeezes the trigger. It drives Jonas up the wall.”
    “That’s probably why she does it, although she can hit a target dead center nine times out of ten. You just happen to hit dead center every time. And Hannah wouldn’t actually kill anyone and you would.“
    “It might be you if you ever drag me out of bed this early again,” Joley warned. “But I would forgive you if you’d give me gossip about your midnight caller…” She looked hopeful. When Abbey shook her head and frowned at her, Joley sighed and capitulated. “Where are we going? I thought your boat was floating out at sea somewhere, or did Jonas have it towed in?”
    “Of course Jonas had the boat towed; he always takes care of every little detail. But the dolphins are in Sea Lion Cove so you won’t have to go out in a boat if we’re lucky.”
    “That’s good. Do I