The other two people she didn't know. One was a blond biker who held a beautiful, barely dressed redhead on his lap. He looked up, saw Talon, and the smile faded from his lips. "What are you doing here, Celt?"
"I need to talk to you."
"Can't you see I'm winning?"
Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) Talon looked at the poker chips by his elbow. "Yes, and I can also see that you're cheating."
"What?" The other men were suddenly animated.
"Talon, you dick!" The blond cleared his throat. "He's just kidding. Give me a minute, okay?"
Rudy snorted at Justin and Etienne as he adjusted the five cards in his hands. "I don't know why you guys are bitching. Both of you cheat too."
Etienne smiled that charming devil-may-care smile while Justin passed a less than amused glare at Rudy.
The blond biker started away from the table, then hurried back and grabbed up his cards.
"Just in case," he said to the others.
As soon as the blond stepped back to them, Talon introduced them. "Sunshine, meet Eros and Psyche."
Sunshine looked at them curiously. "They just think those names are cute, right? They're not really Eros and Psyche."
Eros gave her a peeved stare. "Why is she talking to me?"
"Cupid," Talon said, a warning note in his voice. "Play nice." He turned to Psyche. "Would you please do me a favor, Psyche, and keep Sunshine occupied while I deal with your husband?"
"Sure, hon." Psyche draped her arm over Sunshine's shoulders. "Come on, let's go see what kind of trouble we can get into downstairs."
Sunshine followed Psyche to the ornate staircase that led to the floor below, not far from the stage. The whole area was crammed with dancers and people who wanted to hear the Howlers sing, and with women who wanted to ogle the gorgeous band members.
She and Psyche went over to a pool table where a guy named Nick Gautier was playing a game with Wren, one of the Sanctuary busboys. Wren was a quiet, shy type who had an aura around him that said he would rather be invisible. Still, there was something dangerous about him. Kind of like he would gladly
fight anyone dumb enough to disturb his introverted space.
His dark blond hair was long, and he wore it in a style that wasn't quite dreadlocks, but something not far from that either. His eyes were so pale a gray that they looked almost colorless.
As for Nick Gautier, Sunshine had met him here a few times. His mother was one of the cooks and he often came in for dinner and to play a quick game of pool with Wren.
"Hi, ladies," Nick said with his light Cajun drawl.
Psyche took the cue from his hand. "Rack your balls, Nick. We want to play."
Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) Nick laughed. "Psych, one thing a woman should never tell a man to do is rack his balls."
Ignoring him, Psyche looked over to Wren. "You don't mind, do you?"
Wren shook his head no and handed his cue to Sunshine. Without a word, he quickly vanished into the crowd.
"I didn't mean to disturb you guys," Sunshine said to Nick.
"Ah, don't worry about it. Wren and I play a lot. He needed to get back to the kitchen anyway. You ladies want something to drink?
"
"Beer," Psyche said.
"Water.
"
He nodded and left.
Sunshine watched as Nick navigated the crowd. She turned back to Psyche. "So you and Eros come here a lot?
"
She nodded. "I've even seen you here a few times. You usually hang out with Aimee and some black-haired chick.
"
"Trina.
"
"That's her.
"
Psyche grabbed the cue ball and lined it up. "Yes," she said as she took her shot, sending six of the balls into pockets. "I'm a goddess and Eros is a god.
"
"How did you know—
"
"I'm a goddess. I can hear every thought in your head." She smiled at Sunshine while she chalked her tip.
"That's a really uncomfortable fact to know.
"
"Isn't it, though?" Psyche blew across the tip, set the chalk aside, then knocked three more balls into the pockets. "And because I know what you're thinking, the answer is yes.
"
"The answer to what?
"
"Whether or not Talon loves you.
"
Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) Sunshine grimaced as Psyche sank the rest of balls on the table. "I don't know. There are times when I
get the feeling he can't tell me from Nynia. I think he loves her more than me.
"
Psyche racked the balls again. "No offense, but that's stupid. You and Talon are soulmates. He will always love you no matter who or what you are. You, my friend, could come back as a humpback whale and he would love you. He can't help it. The two of you are destined for each other.
"
"Yeah, but—