I got to eavesdrop at a window. As Clay said, I did have another option. I could wait in the car and let them fill me in later. So, eavesdropping it was.

Once, when I'd needed to meet Daniel to deliver a warning from Jeremy, I'd worn two-inch heels and had quite enjoyed the sensation of talking down to Daniel, until he told me how sexy I looked. Since then he'd never seen me in anything but my oldest, grubbiest sneakers.

As I recall, I was still dressed when I fell asleep.""Just making sure you were comfortable.""And making yourself equally comfortable, I see.

Perfect night, wasn't it?""It could have been." I smiled up at him. "But you were there.

What's the woman doing there?" he asked."Covering a scratch on the hood. She was cheaper than a new paint job."He flipped through a few more pages of barely dressed women and classic cars. "Nick used to have magazines like this when we were kids. But without the cars." He rotated a photo sideways. "Or the bathing suits.

Next Clay gave the house rules for living with theSorrentinos , which sounded a lot like the TenCommandments. Thou shall not lie, steal anything, kill anyone, disrespect your hosts or covetany of Nick's girlfriends. And if you break the rules, you'll get your ass kicked and handed to youin pieces—a part I suspect God left out.

Elena?""Yes, unless Nick found a woman in the forest, which I suppose wouldn't be too surprising.

Bigger room, darling. Like I said, we need a bigger room.

Tell me when you want to pick it up again.""Tell me when Satan starts a snowball fight.""I'll do that. Lunch?