“How could that be the harder of the two?”

“Because the essays were straightforward. The multiple-choice test had no ‘right answer.’ You had to choose the best answer. I could eliminate two pretty quickly, but then there were two that could go either way. By the time I started thinking about which one it could be, I realized I was wasting time. The test is timed, so I had to decide on an answer and move forward. I think I know four that I actually got right. The rest were a crapshoot.”

Marj smiled and placed her hand on my forearm. “Jade, I’m really not worried. I know you passed.”

“From your mouth to God’s ears. I sure hope so. Although I have to tell you, I’ve really been enjoying working with Ryan at the winery.”

“There’s no reason why you can’t continue to do that.”

“With a license to practice law, I kind of feel like I should be practicing law. But at least I can continue working at the winery until I find a job.”

Footfalls clomped behind me.

“Morning, Tal,” Marj said.

I turned. Talon stood in his jeans and bare feet. He hadn’t bothered to put his shirt back on. I hoped Marj hadn’t seen him come from our side of the hallway. God, he looked good—his hair tousled and sexy, just hitting his shoulders, his long eyelashes fringing his dark-as-night eyes, his lips red and swollen from our kisses. Basically, he looked like he had just had hot monkey sex.

My skin tightened. Suddenly I felt very conspicuous. If he looked like he had just had amazing sex…what did I look like?

“Hey,” was all he said. He walked toward the coffee maker and poured himself a cup.

“Sit down with us for a few minutes,” Marjorie said.

“Can’t. Got work to do.”

“Talon, it’s Sunday. And you were just in the hospital yesterday. Take a load off, for God’s sake.”

Talon visibly tensed. “I’m fine. And the trees don’t stop growing just because it’s Sunday, Marjorie.”

Marj rolled her eyes. “Fine, then. Go tend to your trees. But be back here by six p.m. sharp, because Jade and I are going to make a gourmet feast tonight.”

“Oh, you are?” He turned to me.

“Hey, don’t look at me. This is her idea. My contribution will be grilled cheese with tomato.”

His cheeks reddened. Just a bit, but I noticed.

“We’re having rib eyes, Tal. One hundred percent Steel-raised beef.”

That got a dimple out of Talon. “Best there is.”

“See if Joe and Ryan can come too. I’ll get out five steaks.”

“Sure, whatever.” Talon took his coffee and walked out of the kitchen.

I sighed. “He sure is a man of few words.” Except for when he was in the middle of hot monkey sex. But I kept that to myself.

“That’s just his way. Although I am a little worried about yesterday.”

I nodded. I was worried about him too, but I didn’t want voice that concern to Marj just yet. I still didn’t know how she would take the fact that I was sleeping with her brother, and not just any brother—the tortured one. Why didn’t Marj see what I saw?

And then it came to me, like a concrete block hitting me on the head. Talon must have been this way since Marj was born. She didn’t know any other Talon.

But Ryan and Jonah knew. I had seen the awareness—the sadness—in their eyes when I had talked to them about Talon. They knew something—something they were keeping well hidden. Ryan had said it wasn’t his story to tell.

Marj didn’t know, or she would’ve told me. She and I didn’t have secrets. Except now we did. I hadn’t told her about Talon and me. A wave of guilt washed over me. I should tell her. But I couldn’t. It wasn’t just my story to tell. It was Talon’s too, and I had to consider his feelings.

She chatted on and on about nothing in particular while I sipped my coffee—man, I needed to teach these people about brewing strong coffee—and listened with only one ear.

“So what you do think?” she asked.

I had no idea what she had asked me. “I’m sorry, what?”

“Jade, you have not been listening to a word I’ve said.”

I sighed. “I’m sorry. My mind has just been other places, I guess. What did you need?”

“I said, ‘what do you think about asparagus spears and twice-baked potatoes with our steaks tonight?’”

“Sure, that sounds great.”

“I thought I’d grill the asparagus outside along with the steaks. Have you ever had grilled asparagus? It’s to die for.”

I smiled and shook my head. “Nope. At least not that I know of.”

“Well, you’re going to love it. What do you think we should make for dessert?”

Why was she asking me? My idea of dessert was opening a carton of Ben & Jerry’s. Which sounded pretty darn good at the moment. “I don’t know. Something chocolate?”

“Yes! Perfect. I’ll make my famous French silk pie. I just hope we have all the ingredients in the pantry since the grocery stores aren’t open today. I don’t want to drive all the way to the city for graham cracker crumbs.” Marj rose and walked across the vast kitchen to the walk-in pantry. “Sugar, check. Unsweetened chocolate, check. Crumbs, check.” She came out of the pantry and walked to the fridge. “Butter, check. Eggs, check. No heavy cream. That’s okay, I can substitute this half-and-half. It will be great. And we have plenty of asparagus and ten pounds of potatoes in the pantry.” She opened the freezer and pulled out a couple packs of meat wrapped in white butcher’s paper. “And rib eyes. Jade, tonight you will eat the best steak of your life.”

I laughed. “I’ve had Steel beef before, remember? When I visited during college? And that’s exactly what you said to me then.”

She laughed. “Well, it’s still true. I’m so excited to cook.”

“You’ve been home for a while. How come you haven’t cooked?”

“Well, I love Felicia’s cooking so much. To tell you the truth, I don’t really know. I should do more cooking.”

“Have you reconsidered enrolling in culinary school?”

Marj tilted her head. “That’s my dream. But I’m expected to stay here and help with the ranch. I mean, it is one quarter mine.”