The Devil She Knew Read Online Free PDF Page A

and his truck. He touched the keypad to unlock the door and opened it, practically shoving her into the passenger’s seat.
    She turned on him the minute he closed the driver’s door.
    “What the hell are you doing? I didn’t even get to look at anything.”
    The truck tires squealed when he pulled away from the curb. “I was going to ask you the same thing,” he snapped. “What’s the matter with you, coming to a neighborhood like this? Are you looking for trouble?”
    “No. I’m looking for furniture. And now, thanks to you, I still don’t have any.”
    He laughed in disbelief. “You can’t be serious. How long do you think it would take to get the stink out of that furniture, not to mention the semen stains and puke residue. You really want to sit on crap like that?”
    “You didn’t even see it. How do you know what condition it was in?”
    “What I know, Cassidy, is that if you had walked in there alone you would have found yourself flat on your back on that filthy furniture.”
    Her stomach knotted so tightly she thought she might throw up. “You can’t be serious.”
    He leveled his gaze at her. “And you can’t be that naïve.”
    Tears welled in her eyes as the gravity of his words sunk in. She nudged her glasses up her nose with a trembling hand and bit her lower lip. Staring into her lap she said softly, “I’m sorry. I, I didn’t know what this neighborhood was like.”
    “It’s okay. I’m just glad I was here. Listen, if you are that desperate for furniture, I have some in storage I’ll loan you.”
    She glared at him. She was frightened, maybe even stupid, but she was also proud. She sat up straighter. “I have a check in my pocket. I’ll make it out to you for the fifty dollars, but you’ll have to wait to cash it, if that’s okay.”
    When he threw his head back and laughed, she clenched her jaw, restraining herself from berating him for belittling her.
    “You planned to pay for that junk with a check, one that you were going to ask them to hold to boot? Who did you think you’d be dealing with? Bankers? I take it back, you are that naïve. Keep your money, I don’t want it.”
    She spit her words back at him. “I don’t need your charity, thanks. I’ll pay you back, don’t worry. And if it makes you happy, I’ll give you cash just as soon as I get my first paycheck. And keep your hand-me-downs. I’ll find furniture somewhere else. Please stop at the next bus stop and let me out of this truck.”
    They had navigated to a safer side of town and Clay slowed his speed. When they stopped for a red light, he turned his full attention to her. She squirmed under his gaze. “I apologize. I shouldn’t have laughed at you. You are new in town and unfamiliar with the area.” The stoplight turned green and he refocused on the road, allowing her to exhale.
    “The offer to borrow some furniture still stands and it’s not charity. If you go on future shopping expeditions based on the want ads, I suggest you check with Amber or someone first. I’ll be happy to advise you. Where do you live? I’ll run you home.”
    That was the last thing she wanted. “You can take me back to the store. I have to work today.”
    “That’s in four hours. You plan to sit in the back room all morning? I’ll take you home. Just tell me where it is.”
    “You can drop me at the bus stop. I’ll be fine.”
    “For Chrissake. Just give me the damn address.”
    Cassidy jumped when he yelled and automatically recited her address. Out of the corner of her eye she watched him clench and unclench his hand on the steering wheel, spreading his fingers wide, and then re-gripping the wheel. They drove the remainder of the trip in silence, her heart racing. She didn’t want anyone to know where she lived, especially not a cop.
    Clay slowed the truck in front of her building but didn’t shift into park, which kept the doors locked.
    “You work until close tonight, isn’t that what Amber said?”
    She