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“Calders don’t have friends” Ty sat up “If you need proof, ask my father about Buck Haskell”

“And just what category do you put Tara in?” In bra and panties, Jessy pulled a pair of jeans and a sweater out of the closet

“It is strictly business between us,” Ty snapped the retort

“No doubt that’s the reason she calls you ‘darling’ all the time,” Jessy mocked

“Dammit, you know that is just Tara’s way”

“And maybe it’s just Ballard’s way to be kind and considerate” She pulled on her jeans one leg at a tied them over her slim hips

“Ballard is a woets”

With both ar it over her head “In all honesty, I can’t call Tara a man chaser But by your definition, she’s a Ty chaser She hangs around you all the time”

Ty stood up and snatched the oversized towel off the bed and wrapped it around his middle “I told you, it’s business with Tara We’re not talking about her anyway”

“And s with Ballard are business” Jessy yanked the sweater down around her waist “But you choose to forget that And let’s definitely not bring Tara in this If we did, youapplied here”

“The circumstances are different, and you know it I don’t trust Ballard”

“Then that makes us even,” Jessy retorted “Because I don’t trust Tara”

“Tara has her faults At tihtless, self-centered, and spoiled, but she isn’t mean-spirited or vindictive”

“Which sho much you know about women I would sooner trust a cornered rattler than Tara At least a rattler will give you so before it strikes” Jessy shoved a foot into a boot and stomped it into position “With Ballard, the worst he’ll do isaround hunched over and spraddle-legged for a week” As soon as the second boot was on, she headed for the door “You still need that shower You’d better go take one I’ive Sally a hand with dinner”

Grim-lipped, Ty stared after her “Meek” had never been an adjective that described Jessy But “stubborn” was proving to be very accurate She was a fool to think Ballard was harmless No man was harmless And no woman, for that matter