A Deal With the Devil Read Online Free PDF

sauntered into the bathroom. Earlier, she’d fantasized about shoving him out the door and dead-bolting it behind him. But since they were stranded together, she figured she should at least try to get along. She drew a long, fortifying breath and tried to convince herself he wasn’t really the devil. It just seemed so—especially when women, commitment or feelings were involved.
    “How long are you in town?” She sipped her wine. Hopefully not long.
    “I got out.” He shot her a quick sideways glance and then looked away, taking a big swig of wine.
    Her mouth dropped open as his words slapped her across the face. But she recovered quickly, fixing her features into a cool façade and tapping a fingernail on her wine glass.
    So . . . he’d followed through with their plan. He’d left the Navy and had returned to Chicago for good. Oh well. What did she care? Granted, she’d assumed he’d chuck their idea just as he had their relationship, but apparently she’d been wrong about everything concerning Jake Lowell.
    “Interesting,” she said, keeping her tone as nonchalant as she could manage. She didn’t want him to assume his decision to follow-thru with their plan bothered her. “How does it feel?” As her dreams of a happily-ever-after as Mrs. Jake Lowell flashed back, she knew how she felt. Miserable.
    Her eyes zeroed in on the tanned, muscular forearm protruding from the rolled up sleeve of his white button down. Maybe she should jab him with the fork—just enough to draw a little blood. She could patch him up afterward. Surely Kate kept a first aid kit somewhere in the place. She eyed her fork and her lips curved up, but she restrained herself and instead, took another sip of wine.
    “I can’t tell yet. It’s still too new.” He shrugged. “I’m excited about my plans, but you know how it is between my grandfather and me.” He grimaced and then popped a bite of steak in his mouth.
    “I’m sure it’ll be better between you two now that you’re out.”
    He scoffed. “Right. Clearly you don’t know him well.”
    “He just wants you to be happy. I don’t know why you can’t see the truth.” She tried to figure out why she always jumped to defend Jake’s grandfather. The problem between the two men had nothing to do with her and yet, she could never resist.
    Jake shook his head. “I do. Max wants to control me, just like he controlled my father.”
    “I don’t believe that.”
    “Believe whatever you want,” he said. “It’s true. I’ve only been back a few days and he’s already up to his old tricks, but this new twist takes his game to a whole new level.” She thought she detected a glimmer of admiration in his eyes. “And I’ve got to figure out a way to outsmart him.” Jake took a swig of wine. “He’s trying to blackmail me into marry . . .”
    Amanda stopped paying attention, too busy contemplating Jake’s messed up relationship with his grandfather. She didn’t approve of the way he dealt with Max and they’d battled endlessly on the subject while together. Granted, his family situation wasn’t perfect, but whose was? Her situation with her brother was totally whacked out right now and yes, he royally pissed her off on occasion. But she refused to let money problems or the irresponsible phase Rob seemed stuck in, to ruin their relationship. In her view, Jake should be grateful he still had Max—especially since he’d already lost both parents.
    Amanda looked up and noticed Jake staring.
    She picked up a napkin. “What? Do I have something on my face?”
    He opened his mouth and then twisted it into a wry grin as he shook his head and swallowed a generous amount of wine, nearly draining the glass.
    She frowned as he continued to stare. “Tell me.” She kept the napkin poised at her mouth and waited for him to respond.
    He laughed and set his glass on the table. “No, no…I just—” He shook his head again and then picked up his silverware and cut another bite of