Read Driving in Neutral for Free Online

head stuck up the ass of a Disney fantasy, Olivia remained a levelheaded maid of honor with precision timing. She had everything under control, could steer this wedding out of any sort of twist or spin. She even had a contingency plan for rain. Pleased with herself, Olivia wiggled her cold toes in her damp shoes.
    “It’s not that hard, Pete,” she said. And that was true. It was easy. It came down to using the wedding scrapbook—the one she and Ella made in eighth grade—as a blueprint. In three weeks, Olivia had found a seamstress to make Ella’s dream dress and booked Hutton House on Lake Michigan as the venue. She’d arranged family accommodation at a B&B in nearby Lake Forest and by week four, invitations had been printed and mailed. Finucci’s Italian Bakery bowed to Ella’s will. The bride was getting an out-of-season, white-iced Panforte di Siena for her wedding cake. Olivia had called in a favor from a photographer she knew, arranged the rehearsal dinner, contacted a caterer for the reception, organized provisions for the bridal party staying the weekend at Hutton House, and soothed Ella’s hyper-zealous anxiety. Basically, planning a wedding felt a hell of a lot like a race, only without the winding track or checkered flag. Olivia cocked her head and gave Pete a wry smile. “A wedding is just a different sort of monster to drive.”
    “Monster is right. You’re brave. Ella’s not beyond putting out a contract on me if I don’t do Exactly. As. She. Says. It’s amazing how this wedding has turned my sweet little sister into such a dragon.” Pete smiled again, but this time it was softer. “You know, this is the first time I’ve had a chance to talk to you alone since you got back from Germany. I’m sorry about what happened with Karl. I never saw any of the crap in the papers. I never even looked at the stuff on the net. It must have sucked big time. I’m glad Ella was able to get you a damages settlement from that magazine.”
    Olivia gave him a nudge. “Thanks, Pete. You know your sister was amazing. The divorce was one thing; painful as hell, but sorting out the legal junk with that publisher was the real nightmare. Ella flew back and forth between here and Stuttgart so often she could have applied for German citizenship.”
    “I’m glad you decided to come back to Chicago.”
    “So am I. It’s quieter here. How are Kim and Owen?”
    A thoughtful glimmer trickled into Pete’s eyes. “They’re great. They’re down at my in-laws’ in Tennessee. It’s strangely silent at home. I didn’t know I was so used to the noise of an inquisitive three-year-old. I think I miss it. Hey, how about we have you over for a barbeque after the wedding?”
    “I’d like that.”
    “Good. Now, I’m sorry to rush this. We’re a little tight on this job, and every second is going to count, so we’ll get you started as soon as possible. If Emerson ever shows his ugly face, we’ll get you set up in an office and take you through the floor. Since it’s Friday, we’ll all go to lunch and he can give you a run-down of the structure for this project. Meanwhile, while we wait, we have…the view.” His hand swept across the windows like a game show host. “What do you think?”
    The storm had passed, but a fine drizzle and heavy clouds cut the visibility to about nine feet. “I bet it’s spectacular when it’s not raining,” she said.
    Pete pressed a hand to the glass and leaned forward to look down. “On a clear day you can see all the way up Michigan Avenue, right down to the Drake Hotel. It would rain when I want to show o—” Pete broke off and looked over his shoulder as the door opened. “Great, Emerson. Wow. You make me look like a liar. Get over here and welcome our newest employee.”
    The pleasant smile on Olivia’s face vanished when she turned.
    A black and white Chicago White Sox baseball jersey had replaced the business shirt with nervous pit stains, but the indigo trousers remained