A sadness came over her. "So could my parents, but this is something I want to do on my own. I don't want anyone to hand me anything.
"
He well understood that. He'd spent most of his mortal life proving himself to others. "It never hurts to have help.
"
"I know. But it wouldn't be the same. Besides, I think it would be really neat to walk into a restaurant and see my stuff hanging there.
"
"Yeah, it would be. I hope you get the contract.
"
She smiled again. "What about you? What do you hope for?
"
"I hope my cabin never blows apart in a hurricane during the daylight hours.
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"
She laughed. "Seriously.
"
"I am serious. It could get ugly if it did.
"
She sat back on her heels. "You really don't have any plans for the future, do you?
"
"There's nothing to plan for, Sunshine. I'm a Dark-Hunter.
"
"Do you ever think about quitting?
"
"Never.
"
"Not even now?
"
He fell silent as he thought about that. "If I could get past Camulus maybe. But…
"
Sunshine nodded, understanding that stumbling block all too well. Camulus had laughed at her when she'd asked if he would/could ever forgive Talon.
"The earth will perish before I leave him in peace. So long as I live, he will pay for taking my son's life.
"
But she didn't tell Talon about that. She didn't want to upset him.
Somehow, she would find another way around Camulus.
"All right," she said. "I won't mention it again. Let's just enjoy what time we have.
"
"Sounds like a plan.
"
They spent the night quietly, playing games and talking. Sunshine scrounged through his kitchen and even
found enough supplies to make edible body paint.
Talon introduced her to chocolate Reddi-Whip shots and delighted in the ecstasy on her face while she ate the decadent whipped cream.
And Talon finally got to douse her in chocolate and to lick it off her.
Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) Who knew having an artist could be so much fun?
Talon had never in his life enjoyed anything more than this night. He'd never laughed so much. Felt so at ease and comfortable. There was no more hiding from her. She knew what he was, both as a Dark-Hunter and as a man.
She fell asleep not long after midnight and left him alone to think about them.
Talon went outside to sit on the porch. It was peaceful and cold outside. The fog on the swamp was thick and he could hear the water ripple all around him.
For centuries this had been his solitary existence.
He couldn't count the times he had sat here alone, just listening to the darkness.
And on the other side of the closed door he had heaven itself waiting for him.
If only he could keep her.
How did a man beat back a god? Was it even possible?
As a mortal man, the thought had never occurred to him, but now…
Now he wondered…
Talon went to bed a few hours after sunup. He'd only been asleep about an hour when he heard Sunshine rummaging around his desk.
"What are you doing?" he asked groggily.
"I'm looking for the keys to the boat."
"Why?"
"I told you, I have to go meet a client."
Talon rubbed his blurry eyes as he tried to focus on what she was saying. "What?"
"I told you about it last night, remember? I'm supposed to meet him at my stand at eleven. I promise I'll meet with him and then be back as soon as I can."
"You can't do that."
She paused and looked at him. "I told you how important this is to me. To my career."
"Sunshine, don't be stupid. This is your life we're talking about."
"Yes, it is." She went back to searching the desk. "And I'm not going to let some sick psycho screw up my one shot at what I want. Believe me, if that weirdo comes near me today, I'll make sure it's the last mistake he ever makes. I didn't know they were after me before. Now I do and I can take care of myself."
Angered that she would dare disregard him, Talon got up. "I'm not about to let you leave here."
"Don't tell me what to do, Talon. My own father doesn't order me around. I'm a grown woman, with my
Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) own thoughts, and I will not have anyone dictate my life to me."
"Dammit, Sunshine, be reasonable. I don't want you hurt."
"Why? Because you love me?"
"Yes, I do."
They both froze as he snarled the angry words.
Her heart fluttered. She wanted to believe that. Desperately. But was it true?
"Do you really?" she asked, her voice thick and heavy.
Talon watched as she opened the velvet-lined silver chest on his desk that held the tore that was identical to his, only smaller.
A woman's tore.