Knowing You by Maureen Child Read Free Book Online

eyes.
    â€œOverreacting?” she repeated. “If word gets out that your car was here all night…”
    The thought of that impacted in his mind and Paul at last saw her point. Chandler was like any other small town. Always on the hunt for a good piece of gossip. And the old biddies in town would chew on this one for a good long while. He and Stevie would be the topic of conversation for months.
    But that wasn’t what finally got him moving. He had problems of his own to deal with at the moment. He hadn’t expected to sleep with Stevie last night. But now that he had, all he could think about was that he wanted to throw her back onto her bed and make love to her again.
    Hell, if this kept up, he’d never get over Stevie and get on with his life.

CHAPTER FOUR
    N ICK C ANDELLANO WOKE UP with a crick in his neck and the sun beating against his eyelids like the fires of hell on Judgment Day.
    â€œOh, man,” he muttered thickly. “Too many years of Catholic school.” Cautiously he opened one eye, then snapped it closed again.
Way
too bright out there. Reaching up, he rubbed the back of his neck in a futile attempt to ease the aching knot there. And when it didn’t help, he gave it up, forced himself to open both eyes, and tried to remember how he’d ended up spending the night in his car.
    â€œCarla’s wedding,” he said aloud, prompting what felt like an especially fuzzy memory. His gaze wandered over his surroundings. Idly he noted the twisted strands of lights dangling from the trees like tinsel. Baskets of once-beautiful flowers had been spilled and beaten into the now-muddy field. Tables and chairs lay haphazardly where they’d fallen during the sudden storm last night, and that’s when he remembered.
    He’d tried to leave when the rain hit. But he hadn’t been able to start his car. Blinking, forcing his eyes open wide, as if that would get rid of the blurry sensation in his brain, Nick reached for the ignition and turned the key. Instantly the radio, tuned to a rock station, blasted into the stillness with a wail of guitars and a pounding drum—not to mention a screeching singer—that set off minor explosions in Nick’s already-aching head.
    â€œJesus.” He punched the button, blew out a breath, and took a moment to enjoy the blessed silence. Finally, when he thought he could move without shattering, he turned the key harder.
    The engine turned over and cranked. And cranked. And cranked. But it didn’t catch.
    â€œDamn it.” He flicked the key off again and slammed one hand down on the steering wheel. What the hell good was a shiny new Vette if it wouldn’t start?
    There’d been nothing wrong with the car yesterday, though. He was sure of that much, at least. So the only explanation for this was …
Tony
.
    Scrubbing one hand across his face, Nick fought down the rising swell of nausea churning his guts and the insistent throbbing in his skull. His older brother, Tony. Town sheriff and professional asshole. Always sticking his nose in where it wasn’t wanted.
    â€œGoddamnit, Tony!” It came out as a shout and he instantly regretted it. The grandfather of all hangovers was
not
something to toy with. Keeping one hand clapped to his forehead in case what was left of his brain tried to fall through the hole in his head, Nickopened the car door and stepped out. His Gucci-clad foot instantly sank into thick black mud.
    The stuff oozed over the soft leather and swamped his foot completely. “Damn it.” Sliding unsteadily, he held onto the car door and pulled himself the rest of way out of the Vette. No point in worrying about the mud now. Ankle-deep in the slop, Nick turned a bleary gaze on the surrounding area. The storm had kicked in wild and fierce, then whooshed out again just as quickly. What was left of his sister’s wedding reception lay scattered across the empty meadow.
    â€œThe place