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“Like two? But no one can prove it.” She smiled, dimples flashing in her rosy cheeks. “I’m Tallulah Jayne, btw. Both names, no hyphen, and ‘Jayne’ with a ‘y.’”
“All of that is your name?” Rysimer asked in surprise. “Is it a title?”
Tallulah Jayne blinked at him. “No, it’s --like-- the most famous line from my show. Guys always love it when I use it on them. Wait…” She tossed her hair in a spoiled huff. “Don’t you recognize me? I’m Tallulah Jayne Atkins. I was a big TV star.”
“I’ve never beheld any television films, except Antiques Roadshow.” He paused. “I did not see you on it.”
“So, you don’t even know who I am?” She planted a hand on her hip. “Why have you been paying attention to me all night, then?”
“I did not know your very long name or the details of your television life. …But I believe I know exactly who you are.”
Tallulah Jayne gazed up at him, and her usual man-eating expression turned almost vulnerable. “You do have visions.” She guessed quietly.
“I have powers. Not visions.” Rye reluctantly glanced away, because he needed to go break some guy’s leg.
A different biker ran towards Rye from behind, and Tallulah Jayne casually tripped the man with her designer-high-heeled foot. The would-be attacker went careening forward, cracking his head on a tabletop, sending beer bottles crashing. He collapsed in an unconscious heap.
She wrinkled her nose in distaste and stepped back from the spilled beer, so it didn’t get on her cute shoes. “Dickhead.” She muttered. “Stay away from my new boyfriend.”
Rye looked downright enraptured.
“Tallulah Jayne’s helping someone?” Ashley sounded more surprised by that than by the brawl. “Tallulah Jayne never helps anyone. This is real growth for her.”
“She’s going to eat him alive.” Randa muttered.
Ashley opened her mouth to respond to that, but the words seemed to die in her throat when she caught sight of Julius’ heavenly face. “Holy shit.” She whispered, gaping at the Light Phase’s golden beauty.
Randa’s eyebrows shot up, sensing an opportunity to unload one of her charges on an unsuspecting woman. Ashley was a respectable potential Match by anyone’s measure. “Julius is single. I’ll set you up with him.”
Maybe the evening didn’t have to be a total disaster, after all. Ashley stared at Julius as if she’d never seen a man. “Me and that guy?”
“Sure! He’s very nice.” For a Light Phase. “How about dinner on Monday night?”
Ashley paused, obviously searching for an excuse. Unfortunately for her, she couldn’t concoct one before the window of believability closed. “Um… I guess?” She agreed without much enthusiasm.
“Wonderful!” Randa was pleased with her matchmaking prowess. At least the evening hadn’t been a total loss.
Meanwhile, Julius was trying to reason with Gas-Tank. “This is all unnecessary.” He told the man, dodging the hammer swings without much effort. “I have no designs on your mate. …And you’re holding that weapon completely wrong.”
Gas-Tank wasn’t in the mood for fighting pointers. He roared and charged at Julius, again.
Julius elegantly sidestepped the assault, resulting in Gas-Tank running straight into the edge of the bar. He doubled over it with a winded oof of pain. Julius didn’t let him catch his breath. Instead, he bashed the human’s skull against the bar top, knocking him cold.
“I don’t believe you’re ready to be a true partner for Gina.” Julius shook his head, visibly disappointed. He looked over to the crying/screeching girl. “You see that, yes?”
“But I love him.” Gina wailed.
“You said yourself that you make poor choices when you’re around him. Is this what you see for your future?” Julius waved a hand at the ruined bar.
“No, but…”
“What about your dream of becoming a vet tech?”
Gina’s shoulders slumped, the fight draining out of her. “You’re right, Jules. I know you’re right. I just… I’m going to take your advice and be on my own for a while. I can’t do this shit with Gas-Tank forever. Especially since he’s going to prison, again. Visiting him there --like-- wrecks all my weekends.”
Julius nodded gravely. “You’re making the right decision, Gina. I’m proud of you.”
Randa was much less emotionally invested in the human drama. Her eyes kept seeking out Kahn. It was not hot watching him fight against so many men and win. She was not lusting after his swinging hair and clenched jaw. She was not swooning over the fact that his attention was mostly on her, ensuring that she was safe in the brawl.