Loving You by Maureen Child Page A

far as her kids were concerned—an all-seeing eye. Her hugs were legendary,as were her steely stares that could convince a kid to confess to anything in less than ten seconds. Now, though her children were grown, Mama Candellano was still a force to be reckoned with. And the ultimate threat. “Aren’t we a little old for you to be tattling to Mama?”
    â€œI repeat…”
    â€œChrist, Carla, you’re like a dog with a bone, aren’t you?”
    â€œWhat do you think?”
    He loomed over her, trying for intimidation. It didn’t work. Never had. Disgusted, he viciously rubbed the back of his neck. Finally he said, “I think life would be easier if I were an only child.”
    â€œYeah, well, that wish and five bucks’ll buy you a latte at Stevie’s.” Carla plopped both hands at her hips and dared him to look away. “Now tell me what’s up.”
    Nick stared down at his younger sister. Her curly dark brown hair surrounded her face and fell to her shoulders in wild abandon. She wore a sweatshirt, jeans, and her ratty old cowboy boots and looked just as fierce as a grizzly. He recognized the glint in her brown eyes, too. She might be married now and stepmother to a little girl, but at her heart and soul she was still and would always
be
a Candellano.
    Ordinarily, he might have been pleased by that knowledge. His family was tight. Always had been. They stood up for one another and weren’t afraid to kick a little butt when it was needed—as evidenced by the crap he’d been getting from the family for the last couple of months. He loved them all, but damn it, he wished to hell Carla was more intent on her own new family right now than on him. Because Carla just wouldn’t give up and walk away.
    Until she found out what she wanted, she was going to hound him until he was nothing but raw meat.
    Man, the day he’d had, dealing with tough women. First Tasha Flynn practically pushes him out of her house, green eyes flashing; then his own sister turns on him. Nick’s head was pounding. Hell, his ears were still ringing from Tasha’s temper. She’d shouted at him the whole time she was shoving him through the pink hell of a beauty parlor and out the door.
    She hadn’t bothered to keep quiet in front of their audience of very interested ladies in various stages of hairdos. And once his feet hit the porch, she’d told him in no uncertain terms to stay the hell away. When she’d slammed the door in his face, the resulting breeze had ruffled his hair and dented his ego.
    Well, he’d love to be able to do just what she wanted. But until he had a chance to talk to the kid and smooth this mess over before it got even more out of hand, that wouldn’t be happening.
    â€œCarla,” Jackson said, standing up behind his desk, “back off.…”
    She never took her gaze off Nick. “Butt out, Jackson.” Then, to soften her words a little, she added, “I love you, but this is between me and my brother.”
    Nick looked over Carla’s head to Jackson and nodded. Then shifting his gaze back to his sister, Nick surrendered to the inevitable. He’d had it fighting with temper-driven, determined women today.
    â€œOkay,” he said, holding both hands up as if she were holding a gun on him. “You win.”
    â€œWas there ever any doubt?” Carla folded her arms across her chest, tipped her head to one side, and prompted, “Now, what’s going on?” Her voice was filled with a concern that warmed him, despite the situation.Family. It all came down to family.
    The question was, would his
family
now include his
son
?
    *   *   *
    â€œIs he really your dad?”
    Jonas nodded and looked down at the eight-by-ten glossy color photo of Nick Candellano. It was an action shot, of Nick, wearing his San Jose Saints uniform, except for the helmet. They didn’t wear helmets in