“Really?” she said, brightening. “Carlos?”

“Uhmmm … no.”

“Who, then?”

I waited a beat. I knew if I didn’t tell Maddie, she’d only march out to meet us at the curb. Frayed blue robe. Sleep mask pushed onto her forehead. Hair in curlers. I figured I’d save us both from that disturbing sight.

“Tony Ciancio,” I said. “C’ndee’s nephew.”

Silence seeped toward me over the phone. “You still there, Maddie?”

Tony asked, “What’s going on?”

“My sister’s giving me the silent treatment.”

“Why?”

“It’s a long story, Tony. Thirty-two years long, to be exact.”

Finally, Maddie spoke. “I certainly hope you know what you’re doing, Mace.”

“I’ve got a dead battery. I need a ride to your house. Tony has a car. It’s not that complicated, Maddie.”

“It’s always that complicated, Sister.”

The phone emitted the beep of an ended call. Maddie had hung up on me.

“So, it’s okay?” Tony said. “You can use the car?”

“Yeah,” I answered. “For free. But you can bet my sister will find a way to make me pay.”

_____

The three-mile stretch between Mama’s house and Maddie’s was deserted. Tony was skilled behind the wheel. Relaxing the vigilant posture I usually assume whenever anyone but me is driving, I gave him quick directions and leaned back into soft leather. The Lexus had a much higher comfort level than my beat-up Jeep.

“Listen,” I said, “I wanted to ask you something about your aunt.”

Distracted by trying to pretend I didn’t care about Carlos and Ms. Sunglasses in the bar, I hadn’t gotten to my questions. Tony tilted his head slightly, eyes not leaving the road.

“Do you know anything about who she’s dating?”

He laughed. “Now, that’s always an interesting topic. Aunt C’ndee has more dates than a calendar. She’s a heartbreaker.”

Which didn’t answer my question.

“Did she say anything about staying out at Darryl’s Fish Camp?”

“Just that she couldn’t wait to get out of there. There was some kind of bass-fishing tournament in town when she first got to Himmarshee. That was the only place with a vacancy.”

“Did she mention she was dating Darryl?”

“No.” He shook his head. “I didn’t even know there was a Darryl. But it’s not unusual she wouldn’t tell me. C’ndee was married to my dad’s brother. After Uncle Frank died, she made some bad choices, went pretty wild. A lot of people in the family thought it was a sign of disrespect. I didn’t; but I did learn that where C’ndee’s love life is concerned, it’s better not to ask questions.”

The honey-colored glow from the dials on the dashboard lit Tony’ chiseled features. His face looked honest enough to replace Lincoln’s on the penny.

“So, you didn’t know anything about her running around with Ronnie Hodges, either?”

Surprise flickered on his face. “What?”

“Ronnie,” I said. “The murder victim.”

“Good god, no! Where’d you hear that?”

I didn’t want to tell Tony the information came from Rabe. For some reason, I felt protective of Darryl’s stepson. Not that he wasn’t big enough to take care of himself.

“Just around,” I said. “It’s probably a rumor.”

Resting my head against the seat, I closed my eyes. It’d been a long day, and I was tired.

Tony tapped the button to turn on the radio. It was the country station, playing “Is Anybody Loving You These Days?” He sang along.

My head must have had a quizzical tilt, because he stopped singing and asked, “What? A Yankee from New Jersey can’t appreciate a little Dierks Bentley?”

Good thing my side of the car was fairly dark or he’d have seen me blush. That was exactly what I’d been thinking.

“I’m trying to absorb as much local culture as I can. I like to know a place if I’m going to live there.”

That sat me up straight. “You’re going to live here? In Himmarshee?”

Somehow I couldn’t picture Tony eating lunch for the next twenty years at Gladys’ Diner. Taking his fancy car for service to Juan’s Auto Repair and Taqueria. Choosing his wardrobe from the Home on the Range Feed Supply and Clothing Emporium. There wasn’t a pink- or teal-hued polo shirt in the place.

“Is that so hard to believe?” he asked.

“Actually, yes.” I aimed the AC vent toward the window. The frigid air was freezing my former sweat drops to ice cubes. “Turn left up there where the lights are shining on that white pillar. You know, your aunt never said anything about starting a business here. How long have you two had those plans?”

Tony didn’t answer. Was he stalling, or just concentrating on the upcoming turn into Maddie’s neighborhood? Slowing, he eased the car left. “Which way now?”

“Left at the third street.” I pointed toward the darkness. “So? How long?”

“At least a year,” he said. “We targeted this part of Florida because the coasts are already overdeveloped. There’s more potential for growth here. With the new golf course and all, the south end of the county is booming with affluent transplants.”

That would make Maddie happy. If the owner of a full-service, event-planning business was projecting enough of a population spike that would want big weddings, birthday parties, and bar mitzvahs, then an honest-to-God shopping mall couldn’t be far behind. Unfortunately.

“Maddie’s place is on the right. The one with the porch light.”

He eased into the driveway, thoughtfully killing his headlights before they could shine into the house. I had to meet this guy’s mama.

Engine off, he leapt out of his seat and hurried around the car to open my door. He insisted on walking me to the house. Normally I’m all about equality. But I had to admit, being pampered felt kind of nice.

When we got to Maddie’s door, I said, “Thanks a lot for dinner, and the ride. I really appreciate it.”

I stuck out my hand, but Tony leaned in close and brushed his lips against my cheek. I’m sure the surprise registered on my face, because he took a step back and cocked his head.

“Hope you don’t mind.”

“No-o-o-o,” I stuttered, still smelling his scent, like tall pines on a wind-swept beach.

“I’m Italian.” He shrugged an apology. “We’re pretty affectionate.”

“It’s fine, really.”

“Sometimes we even give a kiss on both cheeks.”

“Not at once, I hope?”

He laughed. I could get used to the sound of that.

“No. We do it like this.” He kissed the same cheek again, lingering a bit this time, and then passed this close to my lips on his way to the other cheek.

“Hmm,” I said. “The timing must take years of training.”

“Not so long, really. I could give you a few lessons if you like.”

I put a hand to my cheek. It was so hot, I was surprised there wasn’t a blister.

I was just about to say, Yes, I like, when I noticed the blind in Maddie’s front window shift back and forth. At least she hadn’t flicked the porch light or turned a hose on the two of us.

“It … it’s getting late,” I stammered. “I’ve got to be up in a few hours.”

A smile formed on his lips. I had an inappropriate urge to trace it with my tongue.

“Okay, good night.” He stepped off the porch. “But think about those kissing lessons, would you?”

When I opened the front door and stepped inside, I was thinking about just that.

“Look at you: smiling like a billy goat in the briar patch.” Maddie’s arms were crossed over her blue robe; she had the high beams on her principal’s glare.

“I’m tired, Maddie. Can you just give me the keys and save the lecture?”

She pulled them out of the robe’s pocket and handed them over.

“What exactly are you playin’ at, Sister? You’ve got a good man, and you’re ready to toss him out with the trash.”

I shrugged, like a seventh-grader caught without a hall pass. Maybe Mama was right about me.

The door to the kitchen swung open just then. Maddie’s husband Kenny came out with a piece of banana cream pie and two forks.