To Deceive Is To Love (Romantic suspense) Read Online Free PDF Page A

looked. The ducks moved pretty fast and only a man aged in his fifties managed to get eight ducks down. His consolation prize was a beanie. As the contestants moved off, others took their places. It left only one position unfilled.
    Seeing Chantelle, the stall holder shouted out to her. “Come on, love, we need one more to make up the number.”
    She shook her head.
    “Well, get your fellow to do it for yer. You’ll do it mate, won’t yer? Win yer pretty lady one of these.” He pointed to a large orange and black striped tiger on the shelf above him.
    Chantelle spun around, wondering whom he had referred to as being with her. She would have knocked straight into him, had he not gently taken hold of her shoulders and moved her to one side as he stepped forward.
    “Why not? I’m sure the pretty lady would love me to.” His eyes were lazy, mocking her.
    Broad shoulders took position behind the rifle, his bare arm muscles tensed as he stooped his finger on the trigger, and one eye against the sighting. A bell sounded and for the next twenty seconds, there was rapid fire and clinks of metal as the ducks fell backward. Chantelle watched in amazement as he knocked down all ten ducks without a single miss with one hand supporting the rifle, the other arm casually hung by his side.
    “Blimey, we have a Clint Eastwood here,” the stallholder exclaimed as he rang the end of time bell.
    The other contestants turned to look at David, only he had moved away and was walking off.
    “Hey! Don’t you want your prize?” the stallholder shouted after him.
    “Let the lady choose,” he called back over his shoulder.
    “I’ll take that one.” Chantelle pointed to the large tiger with a long fluffy tail, all the while watching David’s back so she wouldn’t lose sight of him. Tucking the tiger under her arm, she hurried through the crowds. She had nearly reached him when a group of youths stepped into her path. Chantelle collided with a burly one, knocking his can of lager out of his hand to spill down his shirt and trousers.
    “Steady on, darling. Where’s the fire?” The youth jokingly swung her around in his arms, the lager now soaking into her T-shirt as well before she managed to disentangle herself and step back. Unfortunately, she had dropped the tiger which another youth was quick to snatch up.
    “I’m so sorry,” Chantelle spluttered, trying to catch her breath. Her gaze darted in all directions looking for David. She spotted him and was relieved that something had made him stop and look back. Then she couldn’t see him anymore; the youths with their skinhead haircuts and tattoos had surrounded her.
    Chantelle reached out to take possession of the tiger. The one holding it laughed and held it at arm’s length before throwing it to his friend. They were obviously making a childish game out of this at her expense, all of them slightly worse for drink. Anger began to surface as she faced the one now holding the tiger. “Look, I said I’m sorry. Now kindly return my property.”
    “Come and get it,” he leered. “And while you’re at it, I’ll take back some of my beer.” His eyes lowered to her chest, his tongue sliding over his lips.
    She swung the toe of her sandal back and then forward, kicking him hard in the shin. The force of it brought his arms down as he yelled his discomfort. Snatching the tiger back, she went to storm past when the burly youth grabbed her arm.
    “Hey, bitch. What about my ruined shirt, and my beer?” The tone was no longer jovial. Malevolent eyes stared back at her.
    “Look, mate, go and get yourself another beer.” David stepped into the circle and removed the youth’s hand, slapping a five-pound note into it .The skinhead stared back at David, silence falling as he sized the intruder up. David held his glare with a threatening stance, his eyes backing up the warning. The youth stepped away and closed his hand over the five-pound note.
    “Gee thanks, mate,” he sneered.