And Then Came You Read Free Page A

head and roll across the table. And still she managed to croak, “No way.”
    “She likes you,” Jo said.
    “Because I almost never argue with her like
someone
”—she glanced at Mike—“I could mention.”
    “Hey, I have opinions.”
    “Too many.” Jo glared her youngest sister into silence, momentarily. “You worked well with her last time, Sam.”
    “That was three years ago.”
    “And it’s our turn again,” Jo said. “We all know it. We all deal with it.
You
get to handle it.” She took another bite of muffin and, now that the matter seemed settled, acted as if she were really enjoying herself.
    “I don’t get a vote in this?” Sam was sputtering now and she knew it.
    “Sure you get a vote,” Mike put in. “But you’re one vote, we’re two. Majority wins. Congrats.”
    “Ain’t democracy grand?” Jo asked no one in particular.
    “My own family turning on me.”
    “Damn straight.” Mike grinned and took a long drink of her coffee.
“And,”
she added, “let’s not forget the Home Show in July.”
    The Home Show.
    This just kept getting better.
    Every year, the San Jose Convention Center hosted the Home Show, giving local contractors, designers, and suppliers a chance to show their wares to the thousands of people who lined up to see the latest in home improvement. And like everyone else in the county, the Marconis would have their own booth where they’d demonstrate home repairs, painting techniques, and solicit new clients for the business.
    It was three solid days of making nice and answeringdumb questions—with the added fun of keeping Mike from losing her temper while answering those dumb questions.
    Sam shuddered. “Can’t I please forget?”
    “Not a chance,” Mike said, laughing. “But Jo’s taking care of the booth setup since you’re gonna be dealing with Grace.”
    “And what’s
your
job this summer, then?” Jo said, gaze narrowed.
    “Watching you guys.” Mike shot a look at each of her sisters and gave them a slow grin.
    Jo wadded up a napkin and threw it across the table at her.
    Sam groaned.
    Trapped like a rat.
    No way out.
    The summer of hell was just getting started and already she felt the flames licking at the soles of her feet.
    “Hey,” Jo said, “could be worse.”
    Rain blustered against the windows and the wind howled. That loose shutter slammed into the house with the rhythm of a heartbeat and the light in the kitchen dimmed, then brightened as the power flickered. As signs went, not that dramatic.
    “Never say that,” Sam warned. “It’s a direct challenge to the gods.”
    “Really, Sam.” Mike shook her head slowly. “
Way
too much like Nana.”
    Maybe, she thought. But it didn’t hurt to cover your bases. Besides, Sam’d noticed over the years that once things started going downhill, more often than not, they just picked up speed.

    By afternoon, the sun was shining and water was dripping off the trees in the front yard. In fact, she’d just about convinced herself that maybe they’d survive the summer of hell after all.
    Until the doorbell rang.
    With a fresh fight brewing between her sisters, and Bear snoring under the table, Sam gratefully escaped the kitchen where they’d been working for hours, and headed through the living room. She hardly glanced at the big, square room with its overstuffed sofas, magazine-littered coffee table, and rose-colored walls decorated with years’ worth of framed family photos.
    She grabbed the brass knob, turned it, and yanked the door open. Good thing she still had a grip on the doorknob. It gave her something to hold on to while her world rocked.
    He was taller than she remembered.
    It had been nine years since she’d seen him. Since he broke her heart. And he hadn’t even had the decency to get bald and fat.
    “Hi, Sam,” the voice from the past said. “Been a while.”

Chapter Two
    “Oh, my God.”
    She’d expected the UPS guy, delivering her new paintbrushes. The one person in the