“Crush is an unseemly and unsuitable word. I do think you are attracted to him for all the above-mentioned reasons. And as the Corporate Supervisor, you remain separate—apart from your people despite the camaraderie you have managed to cultivate. Just because you rely on your strength of will, your determination and faith in yourself, doesn’t mean you don’t wish that you had someone to share the burden.”

She laughed at that. “I share my burden with you, Yvette, and Talina. Which makes the irony that once upon a time I was going to shoot you even richer.”

Nevertheless, it bothered her. Irritated her that Shig could see her confusion so clearly. Damn it, she did enjoy her time with Dek. They did have a lot in common to talk about. And she did, on occasion, have those fantasies about what it would be like to have a man again. One trained in the arts of sex, who spoke her language, and understood her history and needs. A man she could be intimate with on all levels.

She’d also spent way too much time worrying that the fool was going to come to grief out in the bush, and now she learned that Dek was hurt? Badly? While she was sitting here in the safety of Inga’s, he was in excruciating pain.

“We’re sure that Talina made it out to Dek’s?” she asked.

“She called in. Had a conversation with Raya about Dek’s leg. My understanding is that Dek died on her, and Tal brought him back. Last I heard, Tal had him stabilized. By now she’s got him in, under cover, and will be battening down for the night.”

“Died?”

“Like I said, Tal got to him in time. He’s stabilized. Could have been worse, mobbers and all.”

Kalico fought the urge to finger the line of scar on her cheek. “At least he had enough sense to play dead for the mobbers.” A man had to be tough to hold still and not even quiver while a gotcha vine was eating into his leg. That was the thing about Dek. He listened. Learned.

Her fingers tapped on the side of her glass. Part of her really wanted to stay in PA, to be there tomorrow when Tal brought Dek in. You know, just to be sure that he was all right. He was, after all, a Taglioni. Her loyalty lay with the Taglionis. Miko was her patron. He’d ensured that she got the assignment to Turalon. Dek was her responsibility.

Fleeting fantasies of her meeting him at the hospital, overseeing Raya’s care. Ensuring that Dek got the best of everything. That she could ease his recovery, care for his . . .

What the hell am I doing?

Kalico shook her head to rid herself of the sappy images of her playing nurse.

Shig watched her with amusement, his wide lips pinching off a smile.