Read Online Ride a Painted Pony (Superromance) by Carolyn McSparren - Free Book Online

Steven, Mark’s partner. Taylor had made a place for him in the front row of mourners and had clung to him during the ceremony. She and Steven were the only members of the family—and Steven was Mark’s family, whatever her mother thought—who wept openly.
    Steven had been so sweet when Mark’s will left everything to Taylor. “I’ve got plenty of money, Taylor,” he said, his eyes misting over. “Mark said you were the only member of his family worth knowing. He used to tell me that one day you’d grow up and walk out on them all.”
    So she had. It had taken two more years and another series of disasters, but when the metamorphosis was forced on her, she’d known where to run. Thanks to Mark, she had sanctuary.
    The telephone rang. She cradled Elmo and raced into the house to answer it before the machine kicked on.
    “Hey. Wanted to make sure you got home.”
    “Nick.” Taylor dropped into the battered leather wing chair beside the telephone. She winced as Elmo landed on her shoulder with claws extended. “I’m glad you called.” His deep voice sent a warm glow coursing along her veins. It had been a long time since any man—besides Mel—had shown a real concern for her.
    “Vollmer and his team just left.”
    “Did they search the place?”
    He chuckled. “They gave up in disgust. Vollmer said he’d be back tomorrow morning when they could see. I’m not opening Rounders, but Max and Josh are coming down around ten.”
    “Good, that gives us plenty of time.” Taylor outlined her plan. She expected Nick to protest, but he didn’t.
    “Nick, do your partners know about me?” she asked.
    “They do now. I had to tell them why you were here.”
    “Damn. Oh, well, I suppose I’ll never get that horse carved now. I might as well work openly. Maybe whoever killed that woman will get upset enough to go for me.”
    She heard Nick’s quick intake of breath. “Are you crazy? I won’t let that happen.”
    “I was kidding. I can take care of myself. Nobody’s going to think I’m a threat.”
    She hung up. And that’s when the day crashed in on her. She had barely enough strength to lock the front door, brush her teeth, wash her face and crawl up the ladder to bed.
    She snuggled down and settled Elmo in his customary place in the hollow of her stomach. She wanted desperately to rest, but instead the still face of the dead woman rose in her mind. Finally just before sleep came, another face took its place—Nick Kendall, laugh lines around the eyes, crooked smile, broken nose and all. That was worse. The dead couldn’t do her any harm.
    She had a feeling that if he put his mind to it, Nick Kendall could twist her life around like a corkscrew.

CHAPTER FOUR
    T AYLOR PULLED INTO THE PARK at the north end of Mud Island just before eight in the morning. Nick leaned against the side of a shining blue Lexus with his arms folded across his chest. He looked as big as a tree.
    Taylor opened her door and slid across to the passenger side. “You drive.”
    He shrugged and folded himself behind the wheel of Taylor’s little truck.
    “Sorry,” she said, “seat adjustment’s beside you, but this baby truck wasn’t meant for giants.”
    Nick slid the seat back as far as possible. His head still grazed the roof.
    “Where’s the Rounders truck?” she asked.
    “I drove to Max’s at dawn and swapped off for his Lexus. Truck’s locked in his garage.”
    “Good thinking. Any trouble getting away from Rounders?”
    He shook his head. “Apparently reporters don’t get up this early.”
    “I checked the morning paper. There was just this squib in the Metro section.”
    “Maybe we’ll luck out. It’s not the sort of publicity Rounders needs right now.”
    Taylor said dryly, “We got bumped by a major shoot-out at the Three-Three Club after midnight. One gray-haired lady doesn’t rate much space when you’ve got a dozen drug dealers wielding semiautomatics.”
    “I guess we ought to be grateful for small