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I glanced around, saw half the tables occupied Nobody looked out of the ordinary, but then again, what did I expect? Horns and tails frousted with myself, I turned to Saldana, who took a seat at the bar and waited for the ’tender
Judging by her freckles, a natural redhead ca two stools down from us They could’ve been construction workers in their dusty hats, plaid shirts, and Wrangler jeans
With her coppery curls caught up in a pigtail, she radiated country cute "Hi, Jesse It’s always good to see you"
A place where everybody knows your nalad you cameif you’re Jesse Saldana, that is I wasn’t so sure of my oelcome I’ve had toat face value
"Hey, Jeannie This is Corine Make her feel at hoained weight and intensity
I could feel her searching ht be Despite ht, ers curled I didn’t want to show my scars any ers If I flashed theifted, as if I’d stolen this ability, and I was tired of hearing it Salt in the wound, so to speak
I wasn’t a killer, although my mother had warned ick Rapt, I’d listened to her stories the sa to fairy tales I just hadn’t known it was possible to give poay
Not until she died
The moment passed, but damn if I knehat Jeannie read in me "What’ll you have?" she asked
"Corona for lanced at aritas?" I wasn’t the designated driver any Want one?"
I considered for a s up a bit Can you make a blue diablo?"
Tequila, Blue Curacao, lemon juice, and Rose’s lime juice, served over ice I wasn’t a heavy drinker, but I liked ood stuff anyway--the cheap variety produced a fast drunk and a wicked hangover For , followed by Herradura forwith Don Julio either
She cocked her hip and answered with an exaggerated Southern accent "I canyou’d know to order, sweet pea"
"You feeling blue deviled, sugar?" Saldana’s voice came low near my ear, limned in sympathy
"You don’t know the half of it" I spoke beneath theht here at the bar until I forgot ed the subject I leaned toward Saldana "Jeannie That’s notI mean, she doesn’t--" To my embarrassment she heard ray eyes twinkled, crinkling at the edges when she se to north of forty "Grant wishes? The whole ‘yes, ? Nah, that’s justout of ht then I could’ve kissed Saldana for changing the subject
The bartender arched a well-plucked brow "How come you don’t come in here just to see me anymore?"
Jesse came back, "Because your husband threatened to tieafter his woman"
She beamed "Twenty years, and Bucky’s still a sweetheart" I didn’t think that sounded sweet, but I’d already made an ass of myself "She’s in the office, honey You can take your drinks on back" Her gaze returned to me "I’ll have yours in a minute"
Jesse headed off, but I waited until she deliveredyou," I said to her
"Coh the tables, he beckoned me "I know she’ll want to meet you"
Will she? Why?
The fly-spider feeling ca e, I followed him
Two Truths and a Lie
Twila turned out to be a tall, dark-skinned woolden snood She didn’t look surprised to see us as she rose and offered a hand to Saldana Her office offered more faded opulence; the pawnshop owner inthe furniture
The heavy cherry desk appeared to be a genuine antique and as such would fetch a hefty price On a nearby table twin candles burned, filling the room with the smell of incense The distant throb of bass froe to dance, except that’d be socially inappropriate I fought the urge to tug on aze
"Jesse," she said in the sort of smoky voice that made me think of sex God only knehat effect itfaintly with an island flavor Haiti, perhaps "It’s been too long Who have you broughtTypically, offerings got tied to a rock and left for a hungry dragon I eyed the door over e heels
"Hello, Twila" To my astonishesture
Should I curtsy? I thought it would be pretty hard to pull that off in cargo pants Figures, the one time I don’t wear a skirtI contented myself with a nod
"Nice to meet you," I murmured
"Sit doon’t you?" She indicated the leather chairs across from her desk