“So,” she asked Michegan, “I take it you’re in love with this Wild One?”

“Uh, don’t know, ma’am.”

“What the hell is love?” Thinking back, she tried to dissect her relationships. She’d cared for some of the men she’d been involved with, enjoyed the company of others, but always in the background lurked the understanding that each had been temporary. And then there had been the other relationships. Like the one she’d shared with Miko. Purely mercenary on both of their parts. Emotion had nothing to do with it. She was using him for her own advancement as much as he was using her for sex and an arm ornament, and both of them had delivered in full measure.

Michegan hadn’t answered the question about love. Maybe the marine was as uncertain about it as Kalico was.

“Private? Can we go off the record? Just you and me? In confidence?”

Michegan arched a dark brow. “Uh, as long as it’s nothing that would compromise my oath or violate my honor.”

“Nothing like that.”

“All right, then we’re off the record.”

“What do you think about Dek Taglioni?”

“Ah,” Michegan nodded. “I see.”

“Do you?”

“Yeah.” Michegan shifted her rifle, stared out across the forest as she considered her words. “You want this bottom line straight up?”

“That’s why we’re OTR.” Kalico gestured her fluster. “I’m out of my league here. On the one hand, Dek and I have a not-so-savory history. On the other, since he’s arrived on Donovan, he’s a different guy. He comes from my world, my society. He’s a piece of my world. And, I have to admit, I like this new Dek. I just don’t know . . .” How did she put this?

“You don’t know if you want him in your bed,” Michegan finished.

“That’s a little blunter than I would have phrased it.”

“OTR, right? Our call? And that’s all of us marines, we’re the watchers. Security. Essentially invisible. Ignored when you and Dek are together. We keep this stuff to ourselves, don’t talk to the rest of the folks out here, or, God forbid, let it slip when we’re in PA. Your Mr. Taglioni isn’t sure what to do with you, either. When he’s around you, he’s always on his best behavior, like he’s got something to prove.”

“Like he’s still not the same toilet-sucking maggot he was back on Transluna.”

“Could be. But the man genuinely likes you, admires you.”

“But?”

“You said, OTR?”

“I did. Stop asking.”

“As much as he likes you, watches you, you’re not Talina Perez.”

“And what’s that supposed to mean?”

Michegan tilted her head, short black hair tossing in the morning breeze. Her dark eyes were prying, trying to see into Kalico’s soul. “You in love with the man?”