Heart of Shell (The Mercrutian Chronicles Book 1) by Zara Steen Page A

buggers were still sleeping.”
    “ You sure like your fish,” Gina said looking up at Merrick with a twinkle in her eye.
    “ You have no idea,” Merrick whispered under his breath.
    I smiled at him, enjoying the resonance to his voice. There was something compelling about it each time he spoke that made me want to draw closer to him. Gina watched me, and I turned my face quickly, my eyes bulging in personal punishment for being so obvious in my attraction to Merrick. Maybe, even I was still feeling the effects of the car ride.
    Gina and Merrick planted themselves in the living room on the couch while she insisted they watch one of Pearl's romantic comedies. I felt sorry for him, but then maybe he liked the fact that she was feminine and demanding. I knew that I sure as shells wasn't.
    “ Anya would you help us make a sauce like the one you made for Merrick last weekend ?” Coral asked me across the kitchen island.
    Merrick's ears pricked up, but luckily Gina didn't seem to hear because she was too busy ranting about Stacey something or other.
    “ Shhhh,” I said my eyes large, before I winked. “Coral, you're being a troublemaker. Your poor brother wants to be a normal boy.” I was poking fun, but really I had understood what he wanted. Only, I desperately wanted to be what he was running away from.
    Coral burst out laughing and Rayne and Pearl giggled wickedly while they cut