Talon(7)

"Well, do I?"

"Of course. It's a real marriage. There will be a wedding, with real vows. You'll sleep together, live together, everything. I'd prefer you say make love, though."

Shaking my head, I laugh at her. "Says the woman who just wrote an erotic best seller," I tease. "Mom, this is seriously the most messed-up thing you've ever done to one of us, and that's saying a lot. I know you use us in your twisted little books, but this really takes the cake."

Leaning back in her chair and crossing her long legs, she smiles knowingly at me. "I know you, Talon. You're my youngest son. I spent more time with you than any of your brothers, and you were such a sweet little boy. You loved to be loved on. I know you must be a little bit intrigued with this, right?"

Actually, I am, but I have no idea why, because this has disaster written all over it. "Yeah, I am, I guess. If it works, it would actually be pretty cool. I'm tired of the bullshit that comes with dating and dealing with sluts and women who only want to be with me because I'm in a band."

"See? This girl will have no idea who you are. Not a clue."

"I like that idea a lot."

"If you get accepted into the program, you'd have to seriously commit to this in every way."

"I would."

"And you cannot cheat on her. I will not tolerate infidelity in this family," she warns. "If you're unhappy with her, you wait until the six months are up and you split up before you touch another woman. That includes groupies, fans, and psychotic exes. Is that clear?"

"Wow. Thanks for the vote of confidence."

She tilts her head to the side. "You forget I married a musician. I know what goes on, believe me."

"Dad would never cheat on you. He loves the hell out of you."

"That's true, but that never stopped other women from trying to lure him."

My decision comes fast. "If your nutty little group can find me the woman of my dreams, trust me, I ain't gonna cheat on her."

"That's the goal, Talon. You just have to have an open mind and heart."

Squeezing the heart-shaped stress ball on her desk, I grin at her. "All right, Mom. You're on. Challenge accepted. Let's see if you can find the perfect chick for me."

Chapter 4

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