Fool for Love Read Online Free PDF Page A

“Luke manages this place, but Dev’s part owner. Never know when he’s going to drop in.”
    “Do you see him?”
    “No.”
    “Good.” Chloe slipped off her sweater and snapped open her dinner menu, intent on derailing further talk of Devlin Monroe. She hoped to avoid the man for, well, ever. She had enough on her plate without fearing his wrath should his grandmother so much as stub a toe while under Chloe’s watch. Not that she’d been hired to care for Daisy 24/7. In fact, Chloe’s duties were pretty light. In their phone interview the woman had made it clear she didn’t need or want a nursemaid. But she did want her family to get off her bony patooty (her words, not Chloe’s). Apparently they considered Daisy a menace in the kitchen and behind the wheel. All Chloe had to do was prepare her meals and drive her around. A cushy gig if there ever was one.
    “You’ll meet him eventually,” Monica said. “A) This is a small town. B) He’ll want to know who’s living under his grandmother’s roof.”
    “Fine,” Chloe said, feigning a carefree shrug. “As long as he doesn’t try to tell me what to do.”
    “Tall order.”
    “I mean it, Monica. I’m over it. First Dad manipulated my life, then Ryan.” She stared hard at the appetizers—Rosemary Potato Chips, Garden Bruschetta—summoning calm and confidence via her love of food. “I refuse to answer to any man. From here on out I’m trusting my own instincts. I’m capable. Responsible. Mrs. Monroe and I will get along just fine.”
    “I know.”
    “I mean it.”
    “I’m glad.”
    She could almost hear Monica smiling. She looked up and, yep, huge smile. “What?”
    “Just happy you’re here.”
    Chloe was sure there was more to it but didn’t press. She was tired and suddenly starving. “Ever had the Baked Onion and Apple Soup?”
    “To die for. Everything on this menu is to die for.”
    “You’ve had everything on the menu?”
    “Almost everything.”
    Hungry for the carefree spirit of her younger days, Chloe beamed at her oldest friend. “What do you say we order a little bit of everything? Remember when we sampled every dish at Rosie’s Café?” They’d been sixteen and celebrating the fact that they’d both been chosen to sing in the All-State choir.
    “As I recall, you threw up less than an hour after we rolled out the door.”
    A bad reaction to French fries smothered in chili and cheese, just after a downing a chocolate milk shake. Chloe had blocked out that part. “Honestly. Why do all your memories revolve around my puking episodes?”
    Monica’s eyes twinkled with mischief. “Good times, good times.”
    “What if we restrict the smorgasbord to appetizers?” Her mouth watered just thinking about the Roasted Garlic Shrimp.
    “And desserts.”
    “No desserts.”
    “Aw, come on. You aren’t seriously swearing off sweets!”
    She thought about the way Ryan’s eyes had rolled back after he tasted her Raspberry White Chocolate Mousse, just before he’d made love to her on the living room carpet—only two days after returning from the French Riviera. “Seriously.”
    “Fine. No dessert. Not tonight.”
    “Not ever.”
    “I’d be stricken if I didn’t know this insane boycott wasn’t temporary.”
    “You’re not listening to me.”
    “No, I’m not. I don’t listen to crazy people. Obviously, Ryan drove you insane. Temporarily.”
    Chloe sighed. “Okay. Fine. Realistically, I can’t imagine swearing off sweets forever, but just now … this moment and who knows for how long … confections are poison to my soul.”
    “Noted.” Monica motioned for the waitress. “We’ll start with a bottle of champagne.”
    *   *   *
    After lingering over a full-course meal and giving up on an appearance by Melon Girl, Devlin had slipped into his brother’s office to escape the unwanted attention of the Kelly twins. He could have had his pick of the girls, or he could have had them both—at the same time.