Night Thunder Read online

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Dedication

  Epigraph

  Praise

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  About the Author

  Books by Jill Gregory

  Copyright Page

  To my wonderful friend Karen Katz. And as always, to Larry and Rachel.

  “Oh what lies lurk in kisses!”

  —Heinrich Heine

  Praise for the New York Times bestselling author Jill Gregory

  THUNDER CREEK

  “A transfixing blend of fiery romance and spine-tingling suspense.”

  —Booklist

  “For tales of romance and adventure that keep you reading into the night, look no further than Jill Gregory.”

  —Nora Roberts

  “A compelling tale that works on two levels, as a well-structured mystery and a first-rate romance. Gregory . . . writes the stuff that romance readers yearn for. If you haven’t yet read her, you’re missing out on a great treat.”

  —Oakland Press

  “Fans . . . will be pleased by her treatment of the protagonists’ relationship and drawn in by the book’s cozy, small-town setting. . . . Once the action revs up, readers will gladly sit back and enjoy the journey.”

  —Publishers Weekly

  ONCE AN OUTLAW

  “Gregory’s sensitive characterizations . . . will drive a herd of new readers to pick up this heartfelt family drama. . . . The story escalates with fast-paced action, romance and several surprises as the fiery attraction between Clint and Emily hits fever pitch.”

  —Publishers Weekly

  “Gregory’s heroine is a breath of fresh air with her whip-smart commentary and charismatic confidence, and her leading man is the perfect sparring partner, making for a duo as captivating as Hepburn and Tracy.”

  —Booklist

  “Few authors have command of the West like Jill Gregory. . . . Adding a true feeling of the era and the setting is a gift. Jill Gregory has that gift and we are lucky to have her share it with us.”

  —Romantic Times

  ROUGH WRANGLER, TENDER KISSES

  “This is the first Jill Gregory book I’ve read, but if the rest of her tales are as well told as this one, I’ve got many hours of great reading ahead of me.”

  —Oakland Press

  “Jill Gregory crafts stories against the backdrop of the Wild West and creates characters that are so real they are easy to understand and empathize with. She bases her romances on how her characters learn to trust in the power of love to heal and ease away the pain of the past. Her faith in love renews our own. Thank you for this invaluable lesson, Ms. Gregory.”

  —Romantic Times

  COLD NIGHT, WARM STRANGER

  “You will be enticed from the first chapter. . . . You will cry and cheer for these wonderfully beloved characters, who will do nothing less than capture your heart. . . . Jill Gregory has done it again. Her talent shines through in this sensually captivating novel—she shows us once again that love can conquer all.”

  —Rendezvous

  “Jill Gregory’s western romances always pack a wallop. Cold Night, Warm Stranger is true to form. Strong characters that engage readers’ emotions and an action-packed story with a powerful plot makes this a not-to-be-missed western.”

  —Romantic Times

  NEVER LOVE A COWBOY

  “A western version of Romeo and Juliet . . . This is a who-done-it with strong elements of suspense . . . but the emphasis is definitely on the romance. This book has wonderful, tender scenes. . . . Jill Gregory creates not only a very human hero and a likeable heroine but also very evil villains with interesting motivations.”

  —Romance Reader

  “Sensual . . . Enjoy Never Love a Cowboy. . . . A western, a suspenseful mystery, and a good book. Combining grit, sensuality, and a cleverly plotted mystery takes talent.”

  —Romantic Times

  JUST THIS ONCE

  “Refreshing characters, witty dialogue, and adventure . . . Just This Once enthralls, delights, and captivates, winning readers’ hearts along the way.”

  —Romantic Times

  “Here is another unforgettable story that will keep you captivated. She has combined the Old West and the elegance of England into this brilliantly glorious tale. The characters are undeniably wonderful. Their pains and joys will reach through the pages and touch your heart.”

  —Rendezvous

  ALWAYS YOU

  “Always You has it all. . . . Jill Gregory’s inventive imagination and sprightly prose combine for another bell ringer.”

  —Rendezvous

  “Compelling . . . definitely a winner!”

  —Affaire de Coeur

  “A sure-fire winner . . . remarkable . . . A delightful romance with both tenderness and tough western grit.”

  —Romantic Times

  MORE PRAISE FOR JILL GREGORY

  “A wonderfully exciting romance from the Old West. The plot twists in this novel are handled expertly. . . . It’s great from start to finish.”

  —Rendezvous on When the Heart Beckons

  “A fast-paced Western romance novel that will keep readers’ attention throughout. Both the hero and heroine are charming characters.”

  —Affaire de Coeur on Daisies in the Wind

  “A charming tale of dreams come true. It combines a heartwarming love story with an intriguing mystery.”

  —Gothic Journal on Forever After

  Doubleday Book Club and Rhapsody Book Club Featured Alternate

  Chapter 1

  WHEN JOSY WARNER ANSWERED THE PHONE that warm April day she thought it was going to be her lying ex-boyfriend begging her for a second chance. Instead it was Ricky Sabatini—her childhood ally and protector, and the closest thing to a big brother she’d ever had.

  “Jo-Jo, it’s me. Listen, I’m in a jam and I don’t have much time. Sorry to ask this, but I need a favor. A big one.”

  “Ricky!” Josy sat up with a jerk, sloshing coffee over the rim of her cup and onto the sketches scattered across her desk. She grabbed a handful of Kleenex and blotted frantically at the drawings, her pale blonde hair falling into her eyes as she tried to rescue them. But as the summer sun glittered through her one-bedroom apartment on the Upper East Side that Saturday afternoon, high above the roar of Manhattan traffic, she saw it was too late. The sketches were smeared, soggy—ruined. She tried to keep the dismay from her voice and to focus on Ricky instead.

  “What do you need, Ricky? I’ll help any way I can,” she told him, clutching the soggy wadded Kleenex and trying not to moan at what was left of her carefully drawn images of lean pants and tailored blazers.

  “It’s a big favor, kid. Think about it for a second. Shouldn’t be too much of a problem, but no guarantees.”

  The warning note in his voice struck her then. Her stomach knotted. She hadn’t heard from him in several months, but she knew Ricky’s life was
a mess—possibly even more so than her own. She’d left messages for him when she’d read the accusations against him in the newspaper, when she’d learned of his suspension from the NYPD and the subsequent internal investigation. But he hadn’t called her back, and she’d become distracted by her own problems. Her own carefully built, hard-won life had been falling apart, piece by precious piece, and lately it was all she could do to keep going, trying to salvage what she could.

  First there’d been her breakup with Doug, now her job was on the line . . . it had been one thing after another, and Josy felt like she was frantically trying to stay afloat and sinking a little more each day. But if Ricky needed her, no matter what, she couldn’t say no. Not to him . . . not ever.

  “You still there, Jo-Jo? I don’t have a lot of time here.”

  “Sorry, Ricky. I’m really sorry—about the investigation, everything. I tried to call you . . .”

  “Forget about it, kid. It’ll work out.” His voice sounded the same as it always had—rough, hard, hurried.

  “Do you want to meet for a drink . . . to talk?”

  “Hey, you worried about me? That’s nice. But I don’t need a drink. What I need is this favor.”

  She took a deep breath. “Name it, Ricky,” she said quietly. “As long as it’s not illegal, it’s yours.”

  “You don’t believe that bunk they wrote about me in the papers, do you? That I was on the take? That I colluded with Caventini?”

  There was a sudden edge to his voice and she immediately felt guilty about adding that “illegal” part to her condition. Ricky had been far more than her foster brother when they’d both lived in the Hammond home for two years. He’d been her rock, her shield against the Callahan boys who’d ruled their Jersey neighborhood, and against Karl Hammond and his unpredictable temper. If not for Ricky . . .

  She shuddered, unwilling to imagine what might have been if not for him.

  “Of course I don’t believe it,” she said quickly. Then she added in a low tone, “Not if you tell me it isn’t true.”

  “That’s exactly what I’m telling you. I’m a clean cop, Josy, always have been, since day one on the force. I never took a dime from the mob, or from anyone else. Not a dime. I went undercover like I was told, and I nailed some big-time asses, and then I got set up—set up by someone in my own department. It’s all going to come out in the trial—”

  “I’m on your side, Ricky. What . . . what do you need me to do?”

  Maybe he’s going to ask me to show up at the trial, be a character witness or something—give him moral support, she thought. Maybe he needs a friendly face in the courtroom.

  No, that can’t be it, Josy realized immediately. Ricky had never needed anyone in his life. He’d always been able to rely on himself, and he’d given her some valuable lessons in how to do that very thing.

  For a moment her eyes closed and she could picture herself back in her old Jersey neighborhood, back in the run-down, weed-choked yard of the foster home owned by May and Karl Hammond, the home she’d lived in longer than any other of the five separate ones she’d grown up in after her parents died.

  She could smell the fried onions and sauerkraut and beer wafting from the kitchen window, see the Camel butts littering the porch stoop and the driveway, hear the bawling of the television announcer in the broiling July heat as Karl watched the Yankees game from his tattered plaid easy chair in the living room. And she saw the three Callahan brothers from the next block, riding their bicycles on the broken sidewalk, sticking out their tongues at her, calling her names. Laughing . . .

  “I had a package delivered to you,” Ricky was saying, and she jerked herself back from her reverie of Jefferson Street to the present, to her own airy little apartment with its sleek cream leather sofa and hardwood floors, its carefully chosen prints, snazzy chandelier lamps, and striped red and cream throw pillows.

  “Your doorman’s holding it for you. Go get it. Put it away and keep it safe for me, just for a week—no more, until I need it back. Okay?”

  “Well, yes, but . . . what’s in the package, Ricky?” A prickle of uneasiness ran through her. She sat up straighter, speaking evenly into the phone. “You’re going to tell me, right?”

  “No can do, sweetheart. Just trust me. You know you can trust me, don’t you?”

  “Yes, but—”

  “Whatever you do, don’t let the cops get hold of it. They’re trying to fry me, but I’m not going down. I’ll call you and set up a meet when I’m ready to take it back.”

  “But—”

  “Thanks a million, kid. You’re my girl.”

  And he was gone, leaving her holding a dead phone and sensing that somehow she was going to regret this.

  But Ricky would never do anything to hurt me, she told herself as she rode down the elevator to the lobby. And he wouldn’t have taken any money from the mob. He was tough—he’d always been tough—and he liked to cut corners, but he’d always known what was right.

  Even when he was fourteen and you were twelve and he caught the Callahan brothers dragging you through that garbage dump . . .

  The elevator door opened and she pushed the images from her mind. She didn’t like to think of those days, when she’d been a scared, skinny foster kid, bumped from one crowded, noisy home to the next. Until she met Ricky, she didn’t know how to stand up for herself. But now she did. She’d come a long way from the pale, knob-kneed little ghost who hadn’t spoken a word for three months after her parents died, who’d worn nothing but hand-me-down patched shirts and jeans, who had to borrow Carol Walinsky’s older cousin’s dress for the prom . . .

  Yep, she thought, glancing down at her baby-blue capris and her skinny white tank top, at the Prada sandals that bared her seashell-pink-painted toes. She’d come a long way. And she was never going back.

  “Afternoon, Ms. Warner. I was just about to call you. Got a package here for you.” Len O’Brien, the spry sixty-two-year-old doorman, handed her a brown-paper-wrapped parcel about the size of a paperback book.

  “Thanks, Len.” As the doorman turned to consult with the super about an electrical problem in 17B, Josy stared down at the package in her hands. There was no writing on it, nothing but that plain brown paper and some wedges of Scotch tape. It looked innocuous enough. It felt solid, not squishy. Like some kind of box. What in the world could Ricky have sent to her? And why?

  I’m not going to worry about it, she decided, heading back to the elevator. I’m just going to forget all about it until Ricky calls and wants it back.

  She stuffed it in the bottom drawer of her dresser, beneath her winter sweaters and socks, and pushed it out of her mind.

  It wasn’t all that difficult to do. Josy had a lot going on in her life, all of it more pressing than a small brown package tucked in her dresser drawer.

  For starters, there was her once skyrocketing career, which was on the verge of plummeting into the toilet. And there was her boss, Francesca, who desperately wanted Josy’s completed sketches for the new ready-to-wear line and had been calling every day from Italy for a week, demanding to know when she could expect them.

  “As soon as I finish them,” Josy had been repeating, over and over. “It won’t be long now, Francesca.”

  “Damn it, I’m trying to get a merger going here.” Francesca’s clipped voice had hammered like a Jimmy Choo stiletto in her ear. Despite her Italian name, she’d been born and bred in Beverly Hills, the only daughter of famed film director Marco Dellagio. Which was appropriate, Josy had reflected on more than one occasion, since Francesca had the imperious Hollywood diva bit down cold.

  “After last season, that damned disaster of a season, I need an infusion of money. And before the Andiamo team agrees to anything, they need to see the new line. And I need to see it first. What about this don’t you understand?”

  “I get it, Francesca. I’m . . . trying.” Josy had forced herself to keep her voice even, as Jane Boyd, the junior creative assistant, and Reese Ashl
ey, the design firm’s business manager, both gathered in her office doorway, rolling their eyes.

  “Things just aren’t . . . clicking right now. I’ll have a breakthrough any day—just be a little patient. You told me you didn’t need the sketches for another month—”

  “At the latest!” Francesca snapped. “Two weeks would be much much better.”

  Two weeks. Two weeks to come up with a complete fall line. Josy’s temples throbbed. Somehow or other, her creative muse had gone AWOL seven months ago, roughly the same time she’d found out that Doug Fifer, the clean-cut, funny, effortlessly charming investment banker she’d been dating for the previous six months, was a married man. A married man with two kids. The thought of it still made her sick to her stomach. For the first week after she’d found out, she felt like someone had taken a two-by-four to her head. She’d been stunned and furious, and she was still furious—and badly shaken by her own abysmal judgment in character.

  And ever since, she hadn’t been able to come up with a single inspired vision for the beautiful clothes she loved to design.

  “I’ll do my best,” she’d told Francesca, her stomach roiling.

  “There are dozens of girls, hundreds of girls, who’d give their eyeteeth to work for me, Josy. You can be replaced in less time than it takes me to put on my lipstick.”

  Fortunately Francesca had slammed down the phone before Josy said something she’d have regretted. Standing up for herself was one thing, but getting herself fired was another—especially in the current job market. She needed this job, at least until she had a few more notches of success on her belt and a comfortable financial cushion to fall back on in case she was out of work for any length of time.

  But if she didn’t have the sketches done in two weeks—a month at the latest—that point would be moot. She would be out of a job—and up a creek.

  If only she could just get past this mental block, relax, and come up with an idea . . .

  She went back to her desk and picked up the sketches. Coffee stains or no, they weren’t that good, she realized, her heart sinking. Adequate maybe, some possibilities to work with . . . but . . .

  The individual pieces lacked cohesion and . . . something else.