"You don't say hello anymore?"

Leena turned to look up into deep green eyes. "Chris! Sorry. I was in my own little world." She accepted the hug from the tall, dark-haired man. "I haven't seen you since Kasey dragged me to your Wiccan church. How long have you been here?"

He grinned down at the woman quickly stepping back from him. "Got in an hour ago. Wasn't sure we'd make it over that bridge with the van. But we survived."

She followed his gesture to see his usual group of fest buddies. Tall, dark-haired, dark-eyed, brooding Dade. "Dade. Great to see you." She almost hesitated as he stepped forward and wrapped her in too-strong arms.

"Let her go so she doesn't forget me!"

She grinned and turned to see Steven, with his friendly smile and his chaotic, dark red hair. "Of course I won't forget you. How are you?" She hugged him longer than she did most others, because he always felt safe. He was just as big as other two men, but he still felt safe to be near.

"Do I get hugged, too, or do I have to know you forever and a day?"

She turned startled at an unknown voice.

Dade laughed. "Well, you knew her about twelve years ago. If you hadn't been running around the planet, you might get hugged."

She studied the large man. He had to be well over six feet, probably by at least two or more inches. He had a build like a bodybuilder--a very nice build. His blond hair was neat. Although with it that short, did it have a choice really? When she stopped at the pale blue eyes, she knew exactly who she was looking at. "Well, Owen Grey, it has been a long time." She offered a hand.

He smiled at her and took her hand. "I haven't seen you since you started high school." He studied her. "How have you been, Aileena?"

She wasn't sure she was comfortable with the way he was looking at her and tried twice to pull her hand free. "I've been good. Get tired of the rest of the world? Did Dade drag you here?" She offered a slight smile.

"Oh, he didn't drag me. I all but begged to come with him. I'm doing some research for a new book, and this is where I need to be."

He unknowingly found her one weakness. Books. "Really? I've read most of your work, Owen. It always surprises me what comes out of your mind. What are you researching here?" She knew his work was mainly fantasy fiction but somehow felt uncomfortable that he would be looking for ideas among one of the few places she felt safe.

"I've been toying with the idea of adding some mythology into a book or two. Dade is the one who convinced me that mythology and the many veins of the occult are very misunderstood ... so I'm hoping to mix some fact with some fantasy and come up with a good story."

"Well, I'm sure you'll make it work." She gave him a polite smile, then turned back to Steven. "See you at the opening circle?" At his nod, she started to walk away.

"Leena." Dade put a hand on her arm to stop her. He lowered his head and voice. "He won't expose anything about anyone."

She stopped and sighed. "No, I guess he wouldn't, having been friends with you and your family for so long." She felt guilty at her first impression. "I'll see you later, Dade."

Owen stood with his hands in his pockets and looked at the woman walking away as Dade stepped back over to him. "You didn't tell me she went from cute to mysteriously sexy, Dade."

Dade laughed. "You didn't ask, bro." Dade slapped him on the back. "But I'll tell you, there's no chance with that one. No man gets close enough to get a chance. She went through a bad marriage and has never been the same since."

Owen grinned. "Good thing I came back then. A woman like that shouldn't be alone."

Steven and Chris started laughing from behind them. Chris, still chuckling, walked over and patted him on the arm. "Good luck to you then, Owen. You'll need it. Even more so when she has her women swarmed around her. The four together will boil your blood. In every way known to man." He grinned. "This is why we spend as much time with them as possible."

Dade and Steven nodded as they headed back to the van to get the rest of the supplies.