Eidolon (Adventures in the Liaden Universe ® Book 14)

Adventures in the Liaden Universe® #14
When Ceola's bar-partner sister find interest in the business waning, even leaving for days on end without warning, the tavernista needs help and she needs it fast. But along with the bar her sister has abandoned a young lover known to his friends as Shadow... and whoever else he is, he's not one to permit a good thing to die. A Scout to his core, young Shadow introduces Ceola to Jasper, and to other possibilities she never knew existed, in "Shadow Partner."
In "Persistence" Joshu is a a salesman with a mission: he wants to keep his comfortable arrangement with Beba. But Beba's family has a history to outlive, and Beba must be the point person in dealing with Conrad and his minions. And when Beba looks at them, she smells blood.

"The writing is as rich with detail as anything by C. J. Cherryh, while the general approach... reminds of Andre Norton." -- Tom Easton, Analog

"...the authors' craftsmanship is top-notch, recalling the work of Elizabeth Moon and Lois McMaster Bujold..." -- Publishers Weekly