“So what did you and my brother really do after you finished working yesterday?” Marina asked, leaning over the bar and twirling a cherry between her fingers as they waited for the first customers of the day.

Marina and Kai had insisted on coming to work today, not wanting to be left at home, and the restaurant felt a bit crowded with this many employees.

Still, there was an odd sense of home, and Jenny liked the warmth of having other people around.

Even if Marina was too astute for her own good.

She’d talked Jenny into braiding her hair for her so it would be back while serving food, and she looked absolutely beautiful even in the plain white tee shirt and jeans she wore under her apron. She was so tall compared to Jenny.

“That’s none of your business, Marina,” Jenny said, trying to get the menus ready. She’d talked to Kai and Marina about the business and what would be expected of them, and Kai had said he just wanted to watch, not work.

Which was fine with her because she doubted he would be a good waiter and didn’t need him scaring off customers.

Marina had seemed a little too excited about the prospect of interacting with people, but Jenny felt her beauty might even be a draw.

“So I just get their requests, bring them to you, and you cook them?” Marina asked.

“Well, a lot of it is readymade and prepped in the back, and I reheat it. Most of my business is drinks and snacks, since people at the beach get hungry but aren’t really looking for a full sit-down experience. Margins on drinks are better, too.”

“Margins?” Marina asked, cocking her head.

“Profits,” Jenny said.

“Oh,” Marina said with a smile. She twirled on the stool and then stopped abruptly with her hands on the counter in front of Jenny. “So what happened with my brother?”

Jenny looked over at Seaton and hoped she didn’t blush. He was so handsome standing there in a button-up shirt and jeans that actually fit, his short, straight hair tousled as usual, as if he’d just had a romp in the sack. Handsome features focused as he watched Kai flip through the channels for something to watch.

With the season winding down, there would be less and less customers, and she guessed it might actually be lonely without her stranger visitors around.

But it was more than that with Seaton. He made her think of things she’d never before imagined. He made her want to dream. And fantasize. And everything else.

“You did make love, didn’t you?” Marina asked. “Was he good at it?”

Jenny coughed, nearly choking in shock at the statement. “Excuse me?”

“In our day, he was a prude.”

“What do you mean your day? Are you remembering things before your amnesia?”

“I have little flashes of it,” Marina said slyly.

Jenny frowned. She knew there were things her guests were hiding, but she also knew she trusted them just the same. Kai had even hinted that some secrets had to be kept. But moments like this made her so curious.

Marina looked over her shoulder at Seaton and then back at Jenny with a sigh. “He doesn’t get serious very often. Don’t hurt him.”

“I won’t,” Jenny said. “I mean, I’ll try not to.” He’s the one who could hurt me. How could she hurt that beautiful, powerful man?

Marina looked uncharacteristically serious as she twirled the stem of the now-eaten cherry between her fingers. “I just mean… I know we are from different worlds, but if you could keep an open mind, that would be helpful.”

“Okay…” Jenny said, not knowing what that meant. But every time she felt uneasy, she just had to look at Seaton to feel the ground safely under her feet again.

No matter how weird the situation was, whatever was happening with him felt real and safe and like something she could fall into.

Almost as if he could feel her watching him, he turned and looked back at her, his handsome features breaking into a smile.

Her legs nearly melted underneath her, and she heard Marina let out a giggle.

“Not a prude anymore if he can make you look like that,” Marina said. Then she winked at Jenny, chucked the cherry stem in the trash, and got up to adjust her apron as the first people approached the back doors of the restaurant.

Jenny could only blush in response.

* * *

Seaton grinned as he watched Kai air box along with the fighting match he’d selected on the TV.

The only patrons at the bar were a family who seemed amused by his antics, and a couple of guys were more interested in staring at Marina.

Seaton was carefully monitoring the situation, but it was hard when his eyes kept looking for Jenny. She was wearing a white button-up blouse today just like she had yesterday, and it kept making him think of the way she unbuttoned it, and those warm, trusting eyes, just before they’d gone into the sea.

He just wanted work to be over so he could whisk her away again. Jenny bent down behind the bar, and Seaton saw a hint of cleavage peeking out of her shirt.

He wanted to go over and stand in front of her so no one else could see, but the next moment, she was standing again, her cheeks healthily flushed, her auburn hair starting to come loose from the tight bun she’d put it in that morning.

Her hair was heavy and thick and liked to try to escape any style she put it in.

It was like her, yearning to be free and unconfined, he supposed.

He’d felt her seeking her freedom in the water yesterday. He wanted to do it again.

She smiled at him and walked around the bar, holding out her phone from yesterday. “I know you really enjoyed using this. Maybe you’d like to show it to Kai?” She grinned at Marina. “With the tips she’s pulling in today, I think we could go get one of your own.”

Seaton’s heart leapt at the thought of it. So much knowledge at the palm of his hand. “Thank you.”

“No problem,” Jenny said. “It’s the least I can do. She’s being so helpful.” Genuine gratitude shone in her brown-green eyes, and Seaton felt the slight sting of jealousy.

“Do you want me to take the next table?”

“No, it’s fine,” Jenny said. “Go ahead and take a break with Kai. Us girls have got it.”

Seaton nodded reluctantly. He didn’t like leaving them alone, but he trusted Marina to take care of things should anything happen.

Jenny went back to the bar and into the kitchen to prepare an order, and Seaton walked over to Kai, who was shadow-boxing, and tapped him on the shoulder.

“What?” Kai snapped, dropping his hands irritably.

“Enjoying punching the air?” Seaton asked sardonically.

“Yes,” Kai said. He looked back at the TV thoughtfully. “Though I still think fists are so ineffective compared to storms.”

Seaton laughed, putting an arm around his brother’s shoulder and guiding him outside. “Since most humans can’t summon storms, which is good, I think fists are the next best thing.”

“I can respect a good fight,” Kai said. “Wanting to prove yourself.” He narrowed his eyes at Seaton. “You never did want to spar with me or Marina. Perhaps you don’t like to fight at all.”

“I fight as needed,” Seaton said. “If I have to protect something. But I’m the calm sea, remember. That is my job when there isn’t something to battle.”

“Fine,” Kai said. “But it’s boring.”

“Here,” Seaton said, handing him the phone and unlocking it. “I have something to show you.”

Kai’s blue eyes went wide and he pushed his hair back behind one ear as Seaton began to explain what the phone was for. Kai said he’d seen this used on the TV yesterday and wondered how they could get one or how they worked.

They spent close to an hour out on the sand, looking through it, and then decided it was time to go back inside.

“You can hold on to the phone until Jenny needs it,” Seaton said. “After all, I had it most of yesterday.” He looked in the direction of the water and smiled. “It helped me win my mate over.”

“Those scraggly flowers on the bar?” Kai asked. “I assumed those were yours.”

“Women like flowers, according to that,” Seaton said.

Kai looked down at the phone. “Maybe there is a way to search for our kind.”

“We have to be careful,” Seaton said. “I think she can see what we search.”

Kai frowned. “I see. And you aren’t afraid she will find out about your embarrassing endeavor to win her?”

“It should already be obvious that I’m trying to win her,” Seaton said flatly as they walked back to the doors of the restaurant. “I’m not trying to hide anything about—”

They were interrupted as something huge came flying toward them, thrown from the restaurant. It hit the sand with an, “Oof,” and rolled a few feet, stopping in front of them.

“What the—” Kai looked down at the human male groaning at his feet.

Seaton looked up to see Marina storming out of the bar, hands on her hips, head up like an avenging Valkyrie. Oh shit, to steal a human phrase.

“How dare you show such impudence!” Marina said, bending down to grab the human by the collar. She lifted him in the air, ignoring his struggles. “Apologize now!”

“I’m sorry,” the man grated out.

Seaton hurried to Marina, hoping to stop her before Jenny noticed, but it was too late. Jenny just stood there, gaping, one hand wrapped around her waist nervously.

“Put her down,” Seaton said in Marina’s ear. “We have an audience.”

Marina pouted and then released the man, letting him drop to the sand. She jerked her head in the direction of his friend still sitting in the bar. “Get your friend and go!” she snapped.

He did, dragging his friend with him toward the parking lot as quickly as he could, making pathetic apologies.

“What on earth happened?” Kai asked, stepping forward.

Marina’s eyes were flashing like a storm-tossed ocean, and her usually delicate features were drawn in intense rage. “They had the audacity to touch me uninvited. And when Jenny tried to stop them, they pushed her.”

Seaton felt rage come over him with the speed of lightning. “Are you okay?” he asked Jenny.

“I’m fine,” Jenny said, coming forward slowly. “I just feel bad that happened to Marina. It hasn’t happened in my bar before.”

“Human men are pigs,” Marina said, spitting on the sand and brushing her hands off dramatically. “I had forgotten.”

“I’m sorry,” Jenny said. “Truly.” She bit her lower lip. “But how did you do that? How are you so strong?” She looked between all of them. “Are you superheroes or something?”

“No, why would you ask that?” Kai asked flatly.

“Because,” Jenny sputtered. “Because she just threw a man ten feet with one hand!”

Seaton sighed, not sure how to get out of this one. He couldn’t disagree with Marina’s actions. She’d protected herself and Jenny, and as a powerful dragon, there was no reason for her to suffer the insults of any weak human male.

At the same time, it could have blown their cover.

He berated himself for not being there.

“I taught her some mixed martial arts,” Kai said, folding his arms. “You know, like we’ve been watching. I thought it would help her defend herself.”

Jenny gnawed her lower lip and then exhaled in resignation. “I guess that could make sense. I mean, she is tall, and… well, I guess it isn’t my business.” She threw up her hands. “Who am I to say what a woman can and can’t do.” She looked at the back doors nervously. “Hopefully they won’t be back. I’ve seen them a few times in here before…”

Protectiveness surged through Seaton. No matter what he had to tell Kai in the future, it could wait until they were home. He wasn’t leaving Jenny alone in the bar again where any men could approach. The thought of what human men could do made him sick.

“And you’re sure you’re okay?” he asked, coming close so he could look her over from head to toe.

“I promise,” she said. “Thanks to Marina.”

Marina smiled and gave a salute, her good-natured demeanor returning fairly quick. “I have your back anytime, Jenny.”

“Not that humans would ever be a problem,” Kai said with a snort.

But Seaton wasn’t so sure. Yes, no matter who came, Seaton and Kai could deal with them.

But if anyone tried to hurt Jenny or his family, Seaton wasn’t sure he could limit his strength. How far could they go without getting found out?

And how could he ever explain to Jenny, who didn’t know dragons existed, that he was a dragon? Especially when he couldn’t even use his form to prove it?