Henry had loved his position in the community. Hed been warm and generous to the people whod agreed with his opinions, but if you werent Henrys friend, you were his enemy. Those whod dared to challenge him usually regretted it. Hed been a pompous, redneck son of a bitch, and when theyd pulled his charred remains from the inferno which had claimed his life, there were some members of the community who felt that Henry Shaw got exactly what he deserved.

“To the earth we give the body of our loved one. Henrys life ...

Delaney Shaw, Henrys stepdaughter, listened to the bland Muzak quality in Reverend Tippets voice and cast a sideways glance at her mother. The soft shadows of bereavement looked good on Gwen Shaw, but Delaney wasnt surprised. Her mother looked good in everything. She always had. Delaney returned her gaze to the spray of yellow roses on Henrys casket. The bright June sun shot sparks off the polished mahogany and shiny brass hardware. She reached inside the pocket of the mint green suit shed borrowed from her mother and found her sunglasses. Sliding the tortoiseshell frame onto her face, she hid from the suns stabbing rays and the curious glances of the people around her. She straightened her shoulders and took several long deep breaths. She hadnt been home for ten years. Shed always meant to come back and make her peace with Henry. Now it was too late.

A light breeze tossed red and gold streaked curls about her face, and she pushed her chin-length hair behind her ears. She should have tried. She shouldnt have stayed away for so long. She shouldnt have allowed so many years to pass, but shed never thought hed die. Not Henry. The last time shed seen him, theyd said some horrible things to each other. His anger had been so fierce, she could still remember it clearly.

A sound like the wrath of God rolled in the distance, and Delaney raised her gaze to the heavens, half expecting to see thunder and lightning bolts, certain the arrival of a man like Henry had created turbulence in paradise. The sky remained a clear blue, but the rumbling continued, drawing her attention to the iron gates of the cemetery.

Straddling gleaming black lacquer and shimmering chrome, windblown hair tousled about broad shoulders, a lone biker bore down on the crowd gathered to bid their farewells. The monster engine vibrated the ground and shook the air, the act of committal suffocated by a set of bad-dog pipes. Dressed in faded jeans and a soft white T-shirt, the biker slowed and brought the Harley to a rumbling stop in front of the gray hearse. The engine died, and his boot heel scraped the asphalt as he laid the bike on its kickstand. Then in one smooth motion, he rose. Several days growth of beard darkened a strong jaw and cheeks, drawing attention to a firm mouth. A small gold hoop pierced his earlobe while a pair of platinum Oakleys concealed his eyes.

There was something vaguely familiar about the bad-ass biker. Something about his smooth olive skin and black hair, but Delaney couldnt place him.

“Oh, my God, her mother gasped beside her. “I cant believe he dared to show up dressed like that.

Her incredulity was shared by other mourners who had the bad manners to break into loud whispers.

“Hes trouble.

“Always has been bad to the bone.

Levis caressed his firm thighs, cupped his crotch, and covered his long legs in soft denim. The warm breeze flattened his shirt against his broad muscular chest. Delaney lifted her gaze to his face again. Slowly he removed the sunglasses from the bridge of his straight nose and shoved them into the front pocket of his T-shirt. His light gray eyes stared directly back at her.

Delaneys heart stopped and her bones fused. She recognized those eyes burning a hole in her. They were the exact copy of his Irish fathers but much more startling because they were set in a face typical of his Basque heritage.

Nick Allegrezza, the source of her girlhood fascinations and the origin of her disillusions. Nick, the slick-talking, smooth-tongued snake. He stood with his weight on one foot as if he didnt notice the stir hed caused. More than likely he did notice and simply didnt care. Delaney had been gone ten years, but some things obviously hadnt changed. Nick had filled out and his features had matured, but his presence still attracted attention.

Reverend Tippet bowed his head. “Let us pray for Henry Shaw, he began. Delaney tucked her chin and closed her eyes. Even as a child, Nick had attracted more than his share of attention. His older brother Louie had been wild too, but Louie had never been as wild as Nick. Everyone knew the Allegrezza brothers were crazy, impulsive Bascos, quick-fingered and as horny as parolees.

Every girl in town had been warned to stay far away from the brothers, but like lemmings to the sea, many had succumbed to the call of the wild and thrown themselves at “those Basque boys. Nick had earned the added reputation for charming virgins out of their undies. But he hadnt charmed Delaney. Contrary to popular belief, she hadnt knocked boots with Nick Allegrezza. He hadnt taken her virginity.

Not technically anyway.

“Amen, the mourners recited as one.

“Yeah. Amen, Delaney uttered, feeling a bit guilty for her irreverent thoughts during a prayer to God. She glanced over the top of her sunglasses, and her eyes narrowed. She watched Nicks lips move as he made a quick sign of the cross. He was Catholic of course, like the other Basque families in the area. Still, it seemed sacrilegious to see such an overtly sexual, long-haired, earring-wearing biker cross himself as if he were a priest. Then as if he had all day, he lifted his gaze up the front of Delaneys suit to her face. For an instant, something flickered in his eyes, but just as quickly it was gone, and his attention was drawn to a blond woman in a pink slip dress by his side. She raised on her toes and whispered something into his ear.

Mourners crowded around Delaney and her mother, stopping to give their condolences before moving toward their cars. She lost sight of Nick and turned to people passing in front of her. She recognized most of Henrys friends, who paused to speak to her, but saw very few faces under the age of fifty. She smiled and nodded and shook hands, hating every minute of their close scrutiny. She wanted to be alone. She wanted to be by herself so she could think about Henry and the good times. She wanted to remember Henry before theyd disappointed each other so terribly. But she knew she wouldnt get the opportunity until much later. She was emotionally exhausted, and by the time she and her mother made their way to the limousine that would take them back home, she wanted nothing more than to hibernate.

The rumble of Nicks Harley drew her attention and she glanced over her shoulder at him. He revved the engine twice then flipped a U and gunned the big bike. Delaneys brows lowered as she watch him shoot past, her eyes focused on the blond pressed against his back like a human suction cup. Hed picked up a woman at Henrys funeral, picked her up as if he were out trolling bars. Delaney didnt recognize her, but she wasnt really surprised to see a woman leaving the funeral with Nick. Nothing was sacred to him. Nothing off limits.

She climbed into the limousine and sank into plush velvet seats. Henry was dead, but nothing had changed.

“That was a real nice service, dont you think?

Gwen asked, interrupting Delaneys thoughts as the car pulled away from the gravesite and headed toward Highway 55.

Delaney kept her gaze on the blue flashes of Lake Mary barely visible through dense pine forest. “Yes, she answered, then turned her attention to her mother. “It was real nice.

“Henry loved you. He just didnt know how to compromise.

Theyd had this same discussion many times, and Delaney didnt feel like talking about it. The conversation always began and ended the same, yet nothing ever got resolved. “How many people do you think will show up? she asked, referring to the after-funeral buffet.