But is that love? Fact: The lingering memory of that odious old Derek Taglioni remained fresh in her memory, constantly a reminder of who he had been. Who he might become again at any moment. Did a leopard ever change its spots? This Derek Taglioni wore the same skin as the drunken one in the Solar Elan Hotel ballroom who’d loudly and very publicly speculated on Kalico’s lingual dexterity when it came to sucking Miko’s cock.

Had that vile lout been entirely buried by the man who’d given her his last energy bar, and then struggled to get her up that forbidding cliff back at Tyson Station? The man who’d shot the drone that was diving to kill her? And who still had a healing scar in his cheek from a bit of shrapnel blown out of the bomb it carried?

She did look forward to seeing him. Enjoyed the meals they shared, the talks they engaged in at Inga’s over a glass of whiskey. And she found amusement and appreciation in Dek’s recounting of his adventures in the bush, his enthusiasm for Donovan’s wilds, and the pride he derived from his claim and the wealth it produced.

But do I want him as my mate?

She was, after all, a healthy and long-too-celibate woman. Sexual relations had been a large part of her life back in Solar System. Since she’d set foot onto Turalon all those years ago, she had had no one of her station with whom to consort. Had Dek made the right overtures, she probably would have taken him to her bed. He was trained as all Taglionis were, so no doubt it would have been rewarding.

Occasional sex was a whole different thing than making a full-time commitment. Problem was, she did get lonely. Just like this morning. She needed to get the hell out of Corporate Mine. If Dek were around, he would offer the right encouragement. Help her keep things in perspective. A Board Supervisor and a Taglioni, they talked and thought the same.

“Be best if I could just file him away. Take him out when I needed him. Then put him back when I’ve finished with whatever,” she whispered softly.

Ah, yes. Just have him on call.

That, my dearest Kalico, doesn’t bode well for Dek as a mate.

So why her constant obsession over Dek and Talina? Together? Just over at Two Falls Gap? How the hell had Talina gotten the inside track? What exactly had happened that day at Dek’s claim? Outside of a quetzal infection, what did the two of them possibly have in common? What did they have to talk about? Certainly not the menu at Tiboronne, or the view from Three Spires back in Transluna.

“You’re not Talina Perez,” Dina Michegan’s voice mocked.

Should she order Makarov to change course, drop her at Two Falls Gap? And . . . .what?