Sunshine turned to see Bride McTierney approaching her on the opposite side of the cart. A tall, plus-sized type of voluptuous, Bride had the face of one of Botticelli's angels. Her hair was so dark an auburn that it appeared black unless Bride was outside. Then it was a deep luminescent red. Bride usually wore it up in a clip with tendrils of it falling around her face.
A real sweetheart, Bride was one of her regular clients. She'd even taken some of Sunshine's paintings and used them in her boutique.
"No," Sunshine said, "sorry. I haven't been painting the fantasy or Jackson Square stuff lately. I've mostly been working on commissioned pieces."
"Rats, I just moved into a new apartment and was hoping you'd have something to make the drab walls tolerable."
Sunshine frowned. Bride had loved her place on Iberville. "Why did you move?"
"Taylor doesn't like coming all the way into the city at night so I thought it would be easier if I lived closer to where he works."
"But you work in the quarter."
"I know. It's one of the sacrifices we all have to make for love." She offered Sunshine a smile, but Sunshine could tell it was only a façade.
That was exactly what Sunshine was afraid of.
Why was it always the woman who had to sacrifice for love? Just once, couldn't a guy do it instead?
Bride sighed. "Give me a call if you paint anything new that I'd like, okay?"
"I will. By the way, you're looking really good. Have you lost weight?"
Bride beamed. "I'm down to a size sixteen. But I have to tell you that I am starving all the time."
"Yeah, but you're a knockout."
"Thanks. Taylor signed me up for an aerobics class at his club that meets four times a week and that helped to get a lot of the weight off."
"You don't sound like you enjoy it very much."
Pain darkened Bride's eyes as she averted her gaze. "I just hate having to put on sweats and then walk into a room filled with size-two women in leotards-like they really need those classes. It makes me want to head to Krispy Kreme even more than the diet does."
Sunshine laughed. "Tell me about it. I personally don't think they should make anything except gunny sacks for anyone under a size ten."
Bride smiled again. "Speaking of dress sizes and skinny women, I guess I better head back to the shop. You take care, okay?"
"You too."
Bride wandered off in the direction of her store.
"Who was that?" Vane was now standing up, staring after Bride with a hungry glint in his eyes.
How did he do that? The man, or rather wolf, moved with an eerie silence.
"Her name is Bride McTierney. She owns a boutique over on Iberville."
"She's... very nice."
Sunshine was amazed he thought so. Most guys were intimidated or just plain turned off by Bride's height and Rubenesque build.
Vane looked as if he had just seen a supermodel in the flesh.
Now this could be good...
He blinked and returned to sitting on the curb.
"You know, I could introduce the two of you."
He looked up at her, then glanced away. Still, she had glimpsed the regret in his green eyes.
"Wolves don't socialize with humans. You guys tend to freak out when you learn what we are. Not to mention, your females are rather frail. I don't like having to hold back for fear of bruising or killing my partner when I mate."
"And people think I speak my mind. Jeez. You will just say anything, won't you?"
"I told you, I'm not human. I don't share your inhibitions."
She supposed that was true enough. But it was a pity. Bride could use a man who accepted her as she was and didn't put her on strict diets and exercise regimes all the time.
"So," Vane said after a few minutes. "What's between you and the Celt? Are the two of you just casually carnal or is there something more?"
"Why are you asking?"
"Because you've asked me for a full bio. I figure turnabout is fair play."
Sunshine sat down next to him. "I don't know. When I'm with Talon it's like we fit. Like he's a part of me that I didn't know I was missing until I found him."
"Does he feel the same way?"
She sighed wistfully. "Who knows? With him it's hard to tell sometimes. I'm not really sure that I am the one he loves."
"True. Emotions don't appear to be his strong suit. Still, you must mean a lot to him for him to call me in."
"How do you figure?"
"Going against Acheron's orders isn't a smart thing for a Dark-Hunter to do. That man has life-and-death control over them. Secondly, Talon was willing to barter with me to keep you safe. Again, not a smart thing to do."
"Why, you're not going to hurt him, are you?"
"Not at the moment, but when you consider the danger my people live in, obligating yourself to a Katagari Slayer is one step away from blatant stupidity."
"A what Slayer?"
"The real term for what I am."
Sunshine frowned at him. "Okay, and what exactly is a Katagari Slayer?"
"Someone who kills without remorse."
A chill went down her spine and yet she found it hard to believe he could be capable of such a thing. He was feral, no doubt, but he didn't seem completely without a conscience in spite of what he said. "Would you really do that?"
"Baby, I would kill my own mother and not think twice."
She remembered what her grandmother had said about his siblings. "Yes, but would you kill your brother or your sister?"
He looked away.
She nudged his shoulder. "You're not as amoral as you pretend, Vane Kattalakis. I think there may be more human inside you than you think."
Sunshine returned to her cart and sat on her stool. She continued to scan the people around her, but as the sun set and Cameron didn't show, she saw no one who even remotely seemed threatening.
Well, no one other than her guard.
Talon was up and dressed before sundown. He was pacing the floor of his cabin, dying to leave and find Sunshine.
Anxious, he dialed Vane.
"She's still alive and unharmed," Vane said without greeting. "Sunshine," he called, "it's the Celt wanting a little reassurance that I haven't eaten you or anything."
Talon rubbed his head at Vane's odd humor as he waited for Sunshine to reach for the phone.
"Talon?"
"Hey, baby, you okay?" Talon asked, instantly relieved to hear her smooth Southern drawl in his ear.
It was the most blessed sound he'd ever known.
"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.