a word I would use to describe him,” Taryn said.
“Don’t tell Mose what I said. It might hurt his feelings.”
“Worry not,” Taryn said. “Your secret is safe with me.”
“Pinkie swear?”
Sassy crooked her little finger and held out her hand.
Taryn drew herself up. “One does not challenge the honor of the Kirvahni.”
“Oh, pooh, you sound like Grim.”
“First you doubt my honor. Now you insult me.”
“Don’t be stuffy. I didn’t mean to offend you.”
“Doubtless you are right,” Taryn said. “Your buoyancy can, at times, be irritating in the extreme, and your optimism borders on foolish. I cannot say, however, that you are unkind.”
Sassy beamed. “Thanks. I like you, too. Friends?”
The huntress locked pinkie fingers with Sassy.
“Friends.”
“Oh, goody.” Sassy bounced on the mattress. “This is going to be fun. We girls need to stick together. We’re outnumbered around here.”
Meredith appeared on a whoosh of perfume. “Better shag your butt out of bed, boo. Your boyfriend’s here.”
“Wesley?” Sassy groaned. “So soon?”
“Yep. You’re dating a pudgy version of Trey, my peep. It’s so Flowers in the Attic.”
Sassy wrinkled her nose. “Now that you mention it, there is a resemblance.”
“He’s got that Realtor with him, the one who’s trying to sell the house.” Meredith’s pink mouth formed a moue of distaste. “Chubby chick needs to push away from the table.”
Sassy climbed out of bed. “Beauty comes in many shapes and sizes, Meredith.”
“You are such a little ray of sunshine. Don’t you ever get tired of blowing rainbows and Skittles out your ass?”
“No, Miss Crabby Pants.”
“That the best you got?” Meredith propped her hands on her hips. “Go on. Say something mean. I dare you.”
“I’m not mean and I don’t curse.” Sassy paused. “Well, I do say ‘bunny rabbits’ and ‘mother-of-pearl.’ And ‘marshmallows.’ Sometimes, when I’m really, really upset I say ‘shiitake mushrooms.’ ”
“Pathetic. Remind me again why we’re friends?”
“I guess we fill each other’s spaces.”
“Barf,” Meredith said. “I think I’ll make an appointment to see my shrink. Maybe he can figure out why I’m hanging around such a lame-o. ’Course, he’s a lame-o, too. So the odds are for shit.”
She evaporated in a cloud of scent.
So much for the shot of vitamin nice Sassy had given Meredith.
A door slammed in another part of the house.
“Hark,” Taryn said. “We have company.”
Sassy heard raised voices in the foyer. Make that one voice, Southern and familiar.
“That’s Wes.” Sassy grabbed Trey’s robe off the foot of the bed and slipped it over her tee shirt. “Meredith makes a darn good alarm ghost.”
Sassy tied the sash around her waist and exited the bedroom. Taryn followed.
Wes stood inside the front door. He appeared flustered. His sun-streaked hair stood on end, and his shirttail was hanging out.
“—charge you with assault and kidnapping,” Wes shouted at Grim. “Where’s Sassy? I know she’s here.”
“Behold Grim’s face.” Taryn said in Sassy’s ear. “Your Wesley is in the kill zone.”
Kill zone, indeed. Arms folded, Grim faced Wes letting the smaller man’s tirade wash over him, his warrior’s face impassive. The air around was charged with testosterone.
Dab Holt, Sassy’s Realtor, stood beside Wes. Her plump face was pale, and her startled gaze rolled from male to male.
“So help me,” Wes said, “if you don’t tell me where she is, I’ll—”
Evan’s sensuous mouth curled in a sneer. “You’ll what? Throw money at him and paper cut him to death?”
“Shut up, white trash.” Wes shot Evan a look of contempt. “They wouldn’t let you park cars at the club with those piercings.” He tried to peer around Grim. “Sassy. Where the hell are you?”
Sassy felt a flicker of annoyance. She was fine. No need for dramatics. No need to be rude.
Evan was not white trash. He was her friend.
She stepped into the entrance hall. “My goodness, I’m right here. There’s no need to bellow like Stanley Kowalski.”
Four heads turned at her voice.
Grim uncrossed his arms, his handsome face set in deep lines of disapproval. “Sassy, this creature claims to be your Wesley. Is it true?”
“Yes. This is Wesley Bodiford.” Sassy flushed. “My . . . um . . . fiancé.”
Wes shoved his shirttail back in his shorts. “Who are these people, Sassy? And what are they doing here?”
“These are my friends, Grim and Evan.” Sassy linked arms with Taryn. “And this is Taryn.”
“Friends?” Wes jerked his chin at Grim. “This overgrown gorilla roughed me up. As for his running buddy, he looks like a drug dealer.” He looked Sassy up and down, his blue eyes narrowed. “Why are you wearing that filthy bathrobe and what the hell happened to your