Read Online Night Moves by Thea Devine - Free Book Online Page A

like Jeannie, he hadn’t changed much. He was still affable, sociable and flashy, and she still didn’t
like him. He owned the real-estate business in town, and he and Jeannie were comfortable but obviously not close. Carrie couldn’t help wondering if this was what her life would have been like if she had married young and stayed in town.
    I could never have borne all this unhappiness the way Jeannie has, and they have no children, either, after all this time...
    â€œOh, here’s Dr. Tom Kelsey,” Jeannie said suddenly. “He’s the new vet in town. Hey, Tom, come meet Carrie Spencer.”
    â€œHi.” He held out his hand. Tom had a very firm handshake and deep blue eyes. Carrie liked him instantly. “Welcome back.”
    â€œSo even the newcomers know about the town pariah,” Carrie said.
    â€œActually, it was in the Paradise paper. You know, the list of summer people already in residence. I just happened to read it because I had an ad right on that page.” He smiled at her disarmingly before he turned to Jeannie. “You look great.”
    â€œThanks.”
    Carrie dug her arm into Jeannie’s side.
    â€œSo do you,” Jeannie added, fixing him with an intense look.
    â€œWould you like to dance?” he asked as the musicians mounted the stage.
    â€œUh...”
    Carrie pinched her.
    â€œYes.”
    Two of the band members played a long get-ready note on their fiddles, and couples began pairing up.
    â€œDon’t tell me that’s Truck on stage,” Carrie said in surprise.
    â€œOh yes. He learned to play at college.” Jeannie
grabbed Tom’s arm. “See you.” They whirled off onto the floor with other tapping, bumping, twirling couples, and Carrie edged back to the sidelines to watch Truck as he sawed away at his fiddle and stomped all over the stage.
    Why am I watching him? No, I’m watching Jeannie, who’s a really good dancer. And Dr. Tom seems to like her, maybe a little too much.
    Tom was a lot taller than Jeannie, and he had his arm around her at that point as they two-stepped around the room. Jeannie looked both fragile and happy.
    â€œIs that Jeannie? ” a voice demanded at her elbow.
    Eddie. He sounded a little amazed, and not his usual smooth self.
    She turned to look at him. “Hi, Eddie, nice to see you too, and yes, that’s Jeannie.”
    â€œI thought you two were cooking something up.”
    â€œI’d say Jeannie’s cooking tonight She’s a terrific dancer.”
    â€œYeah, she likes to come to these things,” Eddie said, his attention torn between Jeannie and the two women he had been talking to. “It’s not quite the evening out you’re probably used to.”
    â€œI can get used to anything,” Carrie said.
    â€œSo they say,” Eddie countered. “Well, good to see you, Carrie.”
    â€œYou too, Eddie,” she murmured, not even flinching at his snide comment, and certain he hadn’t even heard her as he edged away.
    This wasn’t going to be easy, she thought. Eddie was not an easy man, and probably now he was too used to the way things were. It was going to take time to shake him up, and determination on Jeannie’s part. At least he’d noticed that Jeannie wasn’t looking quite the same.
    And then she became aware that the music had slowed down appreciably, that Truck wasn’t on stage, and before she could decide on a strategy, he came up right beside her.
    â€œCare to dance?”
    â€œI knew this would happen.”
    â€œSo did I. So what’s your point?”
    â€œI’m lending Jeannie moral support. I’m not supposed to have a good time.”
    â€œOh.” That devastating smile again. “Okay, dance with me and don’t enjoy it.”
    â€œI’m not going to do this,” Carrie said firmly. Truck had no business coming after her. She wasn’t interested, especially after