I shook my head and rolled my eyes. “Marj, I don’t have time for this. I’m in the middle of getting a tattoo.”

“A tattoo? I thought we were going to do that together sometime.”

“We’ve been saying that for seven years. We haven’t done it yet. I was just passing by Toby’s, and I got an itch. I saw a tattoo a couple nights ago on my mom’s boyfriend that I really liked, and I wanted to duplicate it. It’s perfect for me right now and matches how I’m feeling about myself.”

“Have you started yet?”

“No, she just put the image on my back with the transfer. Nothing permanent.”

“Okay, then please, please reschedule. I need you to come to the house now.”

“I haven’t even eaten yet tonight, Marj.”

“You can eat here. Felicia always makes enough to feed an army. You know that.”

I let out a heavy sigh. There was no arguing with Marj when she got like this. I would either have to go to the house or pay for it later.

“How the hell do you expect me to get there? Hitchhike?”

“Take a cab. You know George is always out in his cab. I’ll pay for it.”

I was getting pretty tired of Marj offering me money. I could pay my own cab fare, for God’s sake. But she clearly needed me there. Fine. I hung up and turned to Haley. “I’m so sorry, but could we reschedule? That was my best friend, and she has an emergency.”

“Sure, no problem. I’ve already got everything ready to go, so all we need to do is book you for a couple hours some other time.”

“Do you need me to make a payment now?”

“No. I’ll just collect it when we’re done.”

“Great. I totally appreciate this. I’m really excited about getting this tattoo.”

“Well, you have it in black and white right now, although it’ll wash away when you take a shower in the morning.” Haley laughed.

“I’m looking forward to having it for real with all the vivid colors. Thanks so much, Haley. I’ll give you a call and be back in sometime next week.”

“Awesome sauce.”

Awesome sauce? The manicurist had said that. What the fuck? I found George over at Murphy’s Bar, and he was only too glad to drive me out to the Steels’ ranch. Ironically, he was also the one who’d driven me to Grand Junction the previous Friday.

“I thought you were moving to the city, sweetheart,” he said.

I cleared my throat. “Change of plans.”

A little over half an hour later, I was back at the house where everything had started.

“Thank God!” Marj ran up to me as soon as I came in the door. “Wait here while I go take care of George.”

I shook my head at her. “Oh, no. I already paid him. Now tell me. Why exactly am I here, Marj?”

“You’ll see. I’ve had to keep the ditz talking for the last half hour while you got here. She has the IQ of a spaghetti squash.”

“Why didn’t you just get rid of her?”

“Because I have a plan. For you. And Talon.”

Oh, Lord…

Marj led me to the family room where Talon—my Talon—sat with a blond and blue-eyed curvy vixen.

His face was tense, his lips thin. He looked uncomfortable as hell. Of course, uncomfortable on him was still sexy. His burgundy button-down was open at the neck, a few black chest hairs peeking out. His hair was a mess—a dark, sexy, tousled mess.

“Talon, look who dropped by for a visit.” Marj yanked me by the arm into the family room. “Julie, please meet my best friend in the whole world, Jade Roberts.”

The blondie flounced up and took my hand. “Wicked awesome to meet you.”

Wicked awesome, indeed. This chick couldn’t be more than nineteen or twenty, though she talked like she was thirteen.

“Same here,” I said. Why was I here again?

Talon stood. “Hi.” The word came out gruff, forced.

“Hi, yourself,” I said, turning to his companion. “What do you do, Julie?”

“I’m a cocktail waitress.”

Okay, twenty-one, then.

Julie grabbed Talon by the hand and pulled him off the couch. “Let’s go for a drive. I’d love to see your ranch.”

Oh, hell no…

“I don’t think Talon has the time tonight,” Marj said. “I believe he and Jade have plans.”

My eyes nearly popped out of my head. “I don’t have any—”

Talon grabbed my arm. “That’s right. How could I forget?”

What the—

“Remember,” Marj said. “You and he were going to take care of that thing for me?”

“Sure…the thing.”

No way in the world could anybody buy this…unless she had the IQ of a spaghetti squash.

Blondie stood on her tiptoes and kissed Talon on the cheek.

And my blood boiled.

“Oh, well. Please call me the next time you’re in the city.” Julie smiled, showcasing ultra white teeth. “And I’m gonna come back and visit you real soon. I want to see your ranch up close.”

Marj grabbed Julie’s arm. “We’re terribly glad you stopped by, Julie, but I’m afraid we’re going to be totally overworked on the ranch for the next few months. Harvest time is coming and all. So please don’t drop by unless you’re invited.” She led Julie out of the family room toward the foyer.

I couldn’t help a laugh. I couldn’t believe had Marj actually said that, especially after keeping her there until I arrived. I still wasn’t sure what that had been about.

Talon looked at me. “So what are you doing here, anyway?”

“Marjorie called me. Said it was an emergency.”

Talon cocked his head. “I can’t say I’m not glad she’s gone, but I don’t think this is an emergency.”

“Clearly it wasn’t. So I guess I’ll be going.”

Marj ran back in. “Oh, no, you’re not leaving. You said you hadn’t eaten, so you’re going to have a big plateful of Felicia’s tamales.”

“Haven’t you guys already eaten?” I eyed the plates in the sink in the kitchen.

“We have, but we would love to sit down and have a glass of wine with you, wouldn’t we, Tal?”