“Don’t bother. She will not come back to the house. Oh, I wanted her to, but she refused. Because of you, apparently. She’s going to stay in the hotel in town until she can find a nice apartment.”

Emotions thick as syrup gushed through me. I was being pulled two ways. Joy that Jade would be returning warred with the iron-clawed horror of my past that would ultimately come between us. Relief that she wouldn’t be at the house, a constant temptation for me, brawled with heart-wrenching anguish that she would not be where I could see her every day.

My sister was still running off at the mouth. “If you ever come between my best friend and me again, Talon, I swear to God I will never speak to you again.” She turned to face Ryan. “And you either.”

“Hey, what did I do?” Ryan asked.

“The two of you and Joe are hiding something. My guess is Jade stumbled upon it, or maybe we both did when we found those documents the other night. Whatever it is you’re trying to keep from me, I will find it. Do not underestimate me.” Marjorie turned with a huff and walked out of the family room.

Ryan pursed his lips. “I really don’t like where this is headed, bro.”

I threaded my fingers through my dark hair. Neither did I.

Chapter Four

Jade

“It’s not the Ritz, but it’s better than the place I stayed last night.”

Marjorie looked at me, her eyes wide. “Where did you stay last night? Or do I want to know?”

“Some little fleabag called Crazy Hearts Motel.”

Marj shook her head. “Oh, Jade, that is the worst. They rent rooms by the hour there, and I’ve heard they have a bedbug problem.”

Crap. Now I was itching all over. Psychosomatic. Had to be. “I’m trying to save for a down payment on a car, Marj.”

Marj wrapped her arms around me. “As long as I am on this earth, you never have to stay in a place like that. You read me?”

“You know I hate taking advantage of people.”

“You are my best friend in the whole world. I want you to take advantage of me. What’s mine is yours.”

I smiled, my eyes dewing up a bit. Marjorie truly was the best friend in the world. Even though she was a spoiled prima donna in some ways, she was one of the most giving people I knew. I had no doubt she’d give me the shirt off her back if I needed it. I sat down on the queen-size bed in the modest room of the Snow Creek Inn. I could deal with this for a couple days until I found an apartment.

Marj sat down beside me. “Well, it’s Sunday, and as you know, nothing’s open in a small town. First thing tomorrow, you and I go apartment hunting.”

I laughed. “First thing tomorrow, I have to go to work. I never actually got the chance to quit my job, and now I’m glad I didn’t.”

Marj give me a friendly punch in the arm. “Touché. Then tomorrow morning, I will start apartment hunting for you.”

Yes, Marj was a giving person. However, I wasn’t sure that her idea of a suitable apartment for me would match my own. She’d no doubt find someone luxurious place I couldn’t afford. “That would be really nice if you did that. It will certainly save me a lot of time. But you know I can only afford the bare minimum. I need to save for a car and my student loan payments start next month.” I shuddered to think of the large payment that would be sucked from my checking account.

“All of this would be a moot point if you would come back to the house.”

I vehemently shook my head. “I can’t.”

“But you can, Jade. If you’re truly in love with my brother, you need to talk to him and work this out.”

“It can’t be worked out. He was upfront with me. He told me he could never love me, and I believed it when he said it. I have no reason to assume that has changed.”

“That is the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. Talon may be quiet, and he may have some struggles in his life, but he’s as capable of love as anyone is. He’s a wonderful brother, and he would do anything for me or Ryan or Joe. I know. He has a lot of love to give, Jade. Don’t give up on him.” She squeezed my hand. “Plus, I would love to have you as a sister-in-law.”

I couldn’t help but laugh out loud. “That will never happen.”

“Never say never.”

But I did mean never. “Marj, something is eating Talon. I mean that seriously. Something is constantly gnawing at him, poisoning him. I don’t know what it is, and even if I asked him about it, he would clam up like he always does. Until he can face what’s eating him alive, he can’t love me. He’s incapable of it. He was telling me the truth when he told me he wouldn’t love me. I went into it knowing. I just didn’t expect to fall in love with him.”

“I don’t think Talon’s ever had a girlfriend,” Marj said. “Even back in high school. I remember Joe and Ryan dating, but I never remember Talon bringing a girl home. I was just a kid, around five, so I could easily have missed it.” She cleared her throat. “And I know he has women in the city.”

There went the dagger into my heart again. I knew about Talon’s tarts in the city. He’d made that pretty clear when he told me how he had his blood tested every six months for STDs and always used condoms. That was one sexually active person. Why else would he be so obsessive-compulsive about getting his blood tested so often?

I bit my lip.

“I’m sorry,” Marj said. “I didn’t think about how hard it would be for you to hear that.”

I shook my head. “It’s not news to me, believe me. He was upfront with me about how he views women. He takes what is offered and then leaves. I knew that when I went into it, as I said. I shouldn’t be surprised by any of this. I had just hoped…”

“What? That you could save him?”

A tear trickled down my cheek as I nodded.

“Oh, Jade. I’m so sorry. But you know as well as I do that no one can save Talon except for Talon.”

Is that what I had wanted? To be the savior of Talon Steel?

For the first time, I admitted it to myself. Yes. I had wanted to save him. Whatever was eating him up inside, I wanted to be the one to free him from it.

And I had failed.

I turned into Marjorie’s shoulder and cried.