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

she might have found it interesting listening to him put everything together in one neat package. As it was, all she could think about was how little she mattered in this event, which was probably going to ruin a big chunk of her life. Just a pawn.
    „I think that about wraps it up,“ Hunter said finally, draining the last of his tea and forgetting to grimace. „Unless you can think of anything I’ve overlooked?“ he added with mocking politeness.
    „I’m sure you’ll take care of everything,“ Stacy said bitterly.
    „You’ve been working on the matter for fourteen years! I wonder if you’ll get what you want out of this.“
    „You sound doubtful,“ he murmured, leaning back in his chair to study her intently.
    „I am. I think you’re going to wreak havoc with both our lives and discover afterward that it wasn’t worth it,“ Stacy said with great feeling.
    „Tell me about what I’m doing to your life, Stacy Ry-lan,“ he prodded in a low voice. „Is there a man who is about to have his heart broken when you tell him you’re marrying me?“
    „You mean is there a man who will sink to your level of operation and come looking for revenge? No. I don’t know anyone who is that uncivilized,“ she whispered, thinking sadly of Gary Bowen.
    Gary, with whom she had so much in common….
    „Is that how you think of me?“ Hunter half-smiled.
    „Uncivilized?“
    „Yes,“ she hissed a little violently. „An uncivilized avenger who cares nothing about anyone else and whom I dearly hope will one day learn that you reap what you sow.“
    „Now, that,“ he said, grinning dangerously, „sounds as if you’re hoping for a little revenge yourself!“
    Stacy glared defensively, realizing she’d just fallen into a very neat trap. „If you’ve finished your planning session and your tea, would you please leave?“ she invited austerely.
    „Hardly a way to treat the man you’re about to marry,“ he chided, not moving. „I think I’d like a clearer notion of what wedded bliss entails,“ he went on thoughtfully. „After all, this is going to be something new for me.“
    „Really,“ Stacy demanded scornfully. „I would have thought you’d found time to sample marriage sometime during the past fourteen years.“
    „I’ve never had any desire to try it,“ he returned silkily. „There’s never been any need for it, you see.“
    „There’s no need for it now,“ Stacy pounced with a touch of hope. „It’s still not too late to give up this whole nutty idea and pretend it never happened.“
    „You don’t know me very well yet, do you?“ he mused, his eyes flicking over her tense figure, taking in the strained features, the dark, red-brown hair falling around her shoulders, and the casual at-tire. „But you will, Stacy Rylan,“ he added, his voice full of promise.
    „You will.“
    Suddenly he was on his feet, leaning down to lift her lightly to hers, his hands closing firmly on her upper arms. There was a new gleam in the cloud pools of his eyes, a determined set to his mouth.
    Stacy didn’t care for the combination one bit „I think,“ he said softly,
    „that the easiest, surest way to convince you there’s no going back on our bargain is to seal our pact tonight.“
    „What are you talking about?“ Stacy managed, trying desperately to stay calm beneath the passionate threat in him. She knew what he meant, and the prospect was outrageous. She was not his wife yet, and she certainly wasn’t in love with him. He had no right to expect her to sleep with him tonight! But what did this man care about rights?
    „I’m talking about removing all your false hopes of being able to talk me out of this marriage and all your incipient little schemes to bargain your way out. I want there to be no question in your mind, Stacy Rylan, that by the end of this week you will belong to me. I know of only one way to convince you….“ He made to pull her closer.
    „No! Let me go!“ Stacy snarled.