"I'm fine. Absolutely nothing has happened. It's been really boring today. Except for Vane. He's interesting in a very Cujoesque sort of way."
He smiled. His mood was instantly lighter just knowing she was okay. "I'll bet. You be careful and I'll be out there as soon as I can."
"Okay. See you soon."
His heart clenched as she made a kissing noise to him, then handed the phone back to Vane. Gods, how he loved that woman.
"Ahh, Tally, me lub you too."
"Shut up, crotch-sniffer. You're not allowed to make lovey noises at me, only my honey is."
Vane snorted. "You know, I'm really going to make you pay one day."
"Yeah, I'll bring along a few extra kibbles for you."
Vane laughed good-naturedly. "For that, swamp rat, you owe me an extra nice plate of prime rib."
"You got it. How are you doing, by the way? You holding on to your human form without any problems?"
"I'm just peachy. Even managed to keep most of my clothes on and everything."
"Yeah, you do that. Don't want your scrawny body making my Sunshine go blind or anything."
"Trust me, if she hasn't gone blind looking at your fat, hairy ass, mine's not going to hurt her any."
"Hairy? Excuse me, but you definitely have me confused with your brother."
Vane laughed again.
"Seriously, though, the sun'll be down in about fifteen minutes. I'll head out immediately."
"I'm holding down the fort, Custer. Don't worry."
"Thanks, Bull. See you in a bit."
Talon hung up and waited until he could feel the tingling on his skin that always alerted him that the sun was gone and it was safe to leave.
It was about forty-five minutes after dark when Sunshine asked Vane to walk the short distance around the corner to the Coke stand and get her something to drink.
He balked, but she finally convinced him that she would still be in full sight and wouldn't wander off until he returned.
As soon as he got in line, she heard Selena's low whistle.
"Now that man looks scary with a capitalS . He has serial killer written all over him."
Sunshine turned to see an extremely tall, dark-haired man rounding the corner. The horses that linedDecatur Street snorted and pranced uneasily as he passed by them.
It was as if they sensed something evil about him.
He looked so incredibly sinister that her stomach drew tight. "Should I call Vane back?"
"I don't know." Selena got up from her card table and moved to stand beside Sunshine. "If he makes a
Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) move on you, I'll grab him and you scream."
"Okay. Maybe he'll just keep on walking right past us."
He didn't.
He glanced at her cart as he came even with it, then paused.
Sunshine's gaze fell to the vicious-looking silver claws on his left hand.
He didn't speak a word as he approached her cart. She swallowed and instinctively moved closer to Selena. The man would be incredibly handsome if he didn't look so ferocious.
She exchanged nervous looks with Selena.
His dark, deadly gaze was focused on the bowls she had fashioned after a Greek design she'd seen in a museum catalog. With a gentleness she wouldn't have thought him capable of, he ran his hand over a red-figured bowl.
A flash of longing darkened his eyes, as if the design brought back some bittersweet memory for him.
"You make these?"
She actually flinched as his intense black gaze met hers. He had a deep, provocative voice that was so heavily accented, it took her a minute to understand his question. "I do."
"Nice work."
She couldn't have been more stunned had he taken a gun out and shot her. "Thanks."
When he reached into his pocket, she braced herself to scream for Vane until she realized he was just pulling out his wallet. "How much?"
"What are you doing here?"
She looked past the man to see Talon approaching. His long, angry predatorial strides brought him to her side. Fast.
"None of your friggin' business, Celt," the stranger growled.
"Get away from Sunshine, Zarek, or I swear I'll put you down."
Zarek tucked his wallet back in his pocket and turned to face Talon. "Try it, Celt, and I'll have your heart in my fist.
"
Talon lunged and shoved him back.
Zarek swung at him, but Talon ducked and shoved him again.
Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) Vane came out of nowhere to break them apart. "Hey, hey, hey!" he snarled at Talon, forcing him away from Zarek. "What is this about?
"
"I better not ever catch you around her, Zarek. I mean it.
"
Zarek flipped him off with his claw, then turned around and stalked angrily toward the Presbytere building.
Sunshine was terrified as she saw the wild look on Talon's face. He really looked like he could kill someone.
"Talon?"