Read Online Bargain with the devil by Jayne Castle - Free Book Online

in the evening to anyone, not even my worst enemy – a role for which you’re well qualified! If you don’t want that herb tea, go and find something else to drink. I think there’s some fruit juice in the refrigerator!“
    „Oh, my God,“ he groaned with a thoroughly disgusted look.
    „I’m marrying a health-food fanatic. I should have guessed when I saw you eating that apple instead of munching on some swiped pota-to chips at the party. A green-thumbed health-food fanatic!“ He cast a baleful eye on the greenery surrounding him.
    „It’s not too late to change your mind about the wedding,“ Stacy reminded him with acid sweetness.
    „Oh, no, you don’t,“ he told her, the hard mouth quirking upward. „You’re not getting out of this that easily. Tell me, though, how badly are you afflicted? Do you eat meat?“ There was a purposeful gleam in the gray eyes as he sipped cautiously at his tea.
    „I haven’t touched meat for years,“ she told him with a sense of hauteur.
    „I happen to love a good, rare steak,“ he said smoothly, watching her face.
    „Then I trust you’ll not expect me to cook it for you,“ she returned, just as smoothly.
    „I do not intend to subsist on a diet of nuts and berries,“ he warned.
    „It would probably be best if we each do our own cooking. You can hire someone to do yours if you don’t like to do it yourself,“ Stacy suggested with a great show of unconcern.
    „If you think I’m going to have a wife living under my roof and not avail myself of a few of the benefits of married life, you’re crazy,“ he said purposefully.
    „The easiest way for both of us to handle this disaster you choose to call a marriage would be to maintain a roommate relationship,“
    Stacy pointed out, seeing a tiny opening. God! They were going to be totally incompatible. Couldn’t he see that?
    „Not a chance,“ he chuckled with a deliberately wicked look.
    „I’m going to make a wife out of you, Stacy Rylan. A Manning wife!“ He took another sip from his tea, made a face, and set down the cup and saucer with an air of determination. „And since we’re on the subject, we might as well clear up some of the details. I’ll handle the wedding arrangements. As soon as I get a time and place I’ll let you know so you can do whatever it is women have to do before weddings….“ He waved a vague hand to indicate the mysteries of trousseaux, dresses, and all the rest.
    Stacy said nothing, privately thinking she wasn’t about to invest time or money in preparing for this damn wed ding. She might have committed herself to being the devil’s bride, but that didn’t mean she had to assist in the preparations. Her brows drew together in a resentful frown as she silently sipped her tea.
    „I think it would be best to keep the details of our ‘great romance’ somewhat fuzzy as far as your brother is concerned. We’ll just stick to the line that we met shortly after I arrived in Tucson and hadn’t realized the connection with your brother. You’ll want him and Leana at the wedding, I suppose?“ Hunter broke off to confirm, black brow lifting questioningly.
    „Not particularly.“
    He looked as if he were about to say something and then shrugged. „Suit yourself.“
    „Thank you,“ Stacy said caustically.
    „I’ll have a moving company handle the transfer of your things to my house this week. You’re renting?“
    „Yes.“
    „Then it should be simple enough,“ he nodded, as if planning a business arrangement. „Let me know if there’s any money involved in breaking your lease. The furniture can go into storage until you get a chance to sell it.“
    Stacy said nothing, vowing she wouldn’t lower herself so far as to ask this man for a dime. She continued to sit without commenting, quietly sipping her tea while he rattled off plans and instructions. He really did have a head for detail and planning, she admitted with an inner sigh. If she hadn’t been so personally involved,