Lucy hugged her college friend again. “I’m so glad you’re here! I thought you weren’t coming until next week.”

“We had the timeshare, and you kept posting the craziest videos. Did you get that leak fixed?”

“Which one?”

“Oh, you nut. All of them! Anyway, I took the week off as soon as I found our new supporter, and we flew in this morning. Elyssa couldn’t wait.”

Mel led them back to the table and placed Torun in the seat beside Lucy. She was too, too aware of him.

Another woman crossed the restaurant. A bohemian blouse and green capris looked stylish on her thin frame, and a scarf tied back her dirty blonde hair. She reached the empty chair, paused, and removed her fashionable sunglass.

Mel introduced her. “This is Elyssa Van Cartier.”

Lucy rose and held out her hand. “Thanks for backing our expedition.”

Elyssa smiled. Her slim fingers were accessorized with chunky amethyst and turquoise rings. “Thanks for having me.”

What a graceful, slender, gorgeous woman. It was like looking at herself from five years ago. Lucy clamped her jealousy between her teeth while a waiter took their orders and brought drinks and appetizers. Mel was the reason Lucy was on the water in a leaking boat instead of stuck in Florida, crying at the bus station, too poor for a ticket back to Oregon. Elyssa was the Hail Mary last chance.

Lucy shifted the conversation back to Elyssa. “Your cousin is the vice president of Van Cartier Cosmetics, Aya?”

“That’s right.” Elyssa scooted in her chair.

It hit the table. Their silverware rattled and a fork fell on the carpet.

Lucy bit her tongue on her next question. Is Aya really screwing my ex-husband? She focused on the positive. “I appreciate your support.”

“Sure.” Elyssa dropped to the carpet and grabbed the fork. “Aya and I aren’t as close as, um, before.” Her head hit the table from the underneath with a loud thunk.

“Honey, are you okay?” Mel asked.

“I have a hard head.” Elyssa rose, rubbing her forehead, and resumed her seat. “Sea Opals are my passion. When I heard Mel was trying to raise the money for your expedition, I jumped in. You found the biggest one, after all.”

Finally. Someone outside Lucy’s immediately family believed in her.

Blake had convinced everyone that even though Lucy found the gem, he had told her where to look. Somehow.

Lucy scooped up some delicious, fresh pico de gallo with the homemade fried chips. “Everyone else in Van Cartier Cosmetics is staking their hopes on my ex.”

“Blake’s so cut-throat, he’d shoot his own grandma to get ahead. He makes me uncomfortable.” Elyssa leaned her elbows on the table. “Anyway, I know what it’s like to have your credit stolen. You’ll succeed honestly without hurting anybody.”

Aw. She was about to tear up.

“And, after your last video, I’m intrigued.” Elyssa checked out Torun’s tall, hard body. Barely contained in colorful Bermuda shorts and a taut surfer tee, he was a visual meal any woman would enjoy. “Are you honestly a merman? You don’t look like one.”

“I am in the air world now.” Torun shifted and cleared his throat. “Did this video transmit to many humans? My people have worked hard to hide our existence.”

“Not many,” Lucy said. “And don’t worry. No one will believe you.”

His eyes darkened on her. “All that matters is you believe me.”

Warmth spread through her veins. When he looked at her like that, it felt like they were the only two in the restaurant.

Elyssa’s smile sparkled, reminding her they were not. “Do you believe him?”

“Of course it’s unbelievable.”

He growled. “It is very believable.”

Honestly, Lucy didn’t want to believe him. A harmlessly delusional man with a set of abs she wanted to lick was much better than an actual merman who needed her to repopulate his undersea city. A delusional man could get therapy. An actual merman … well …

Elyssa was beautiful, young, and probably fertile. She loved Sea Opals. Elyssa could repopulate his city.

Torun might not see it right away. But eventually he would realize, just as Blake had realized, that Lucy could not fulfill his needs. Then, he would seek a woman elsewhere. Like the beautiful, young, sweet woman across the table from him.

And now, Elyssa was flirting. “Lucy’s right. If you want her to believe you’re a merman, you’ll have to prove it.”

Torun glanced around the restaurant. “This is too exposed.”

Elyssa smiled at Lucy. “You should make him do it. We all want to see him transform.”

Naked jealousy rammed up her spine. “Let’s focus on our research. Don’t get sidetracked by silly claims. This is a serious expedition.”

Elyssa’s smile fell. “Oh. Of course. Sorry.”

“It’s fine.”

The waiter brought their meals. Elyssa moved a napkin holder, and her elbow knocked a glass of ice water into her lap. She ran to the restroom, red-faced.

“Do you like Elyssa?” Mel leaned closer and asked under her breath. “I posted about your ordeal with the boat, and I about choked when she contacted me. We’ve been on a couple committees, but we hardly move in the same circles.”

“She seems fine.” Wow, could Lucy be any chillier? She was not reacting from jealousy. She was not. “I just have to wonder. She works in HR. Where was she when I got fired?”

“Probably at a college recruitment fair. She’s not the hiring director, you know. The money she sent for the expedition isn’t from Van Cartier Cosmetics.”

What?

Mel lowered her voice and side-eyed the other patrons of the restaurant. “She’s backing you from her own savings.”

Lucy dropped her spoonful of melted cheese with a clank. “Seriously?”

“Her cousin’s the vice president, and her aunt’s the CEO, but Elyssa isn’t in their inner circle. We double-mortgaged our house to fund you. But she…” Mel glanced up and closed her mouth. “Oh, you’ve been gone awhile.”

“I got a phone call.” Elyssa flopped in her seat, still plucking at her damp, water-stained shirt. “Sorry, that was my bank. They were just double-checking on a few, um, recent expenditures. So, what’s our plan?”

“Ask the expert,” Mel said.

Both women looked at Lucy expectantly.

Her heart swelled three sizes. Her chest ached.

These women put their faith in her. They invested their own money because they believed. Mel double-mortgaged her house. Elyssa didn’t even know her and had invested a much larger sum. Lucy’s jealousy was stupid. She would justify their faith.

Lucy leaned forward. “We’re going to kick Blake’s ass. I’ve already found a source for the Sea Opals. Torun’s tribe collects them for wedding proposals.”

Their eyes widened.

She opened her pouch and showed them the Sea Opal. “Torun knows where to dive for more.”