Read Online Suddenly You by Lisa Kleypas - Free Book Online Page A

my plans to become acquainted with you. And then Mrs. Bradshaw surprised me by evincing a friendship with you. She suggested that I should come to call on you at the specific hour of eight o’clock on Thursday night. She seemed certain that I would be well received. And as it turned out,” he couldn’t resist adding, “she was correct.”
    Amanda shot him a discreet glare. “But what reason would she have for making such an arrangement?”
    Jack shrugged, unwilling to confess that the same question had bothered him for days. “I doubt that reason had anything to do with it. Like most women, she probably makes decisions that don’t conform to any pattern of logic known to man.”
    â€œMrs. Bradshaw wanted to make sport of me,” she said in a sullen tone. “Perhaps of us both.”
    He shook his head. “I don’t think that was her intent.”
    â€œWhat else could it be?”
    â€œPerhaps you should ask her.”
    â€œOh, I will,” she said grimly, making him laugh.
    â€œCome, now,” he said in a gentle tone, “it didn’t turn out all that badly, did it? No one was hurt…and I feel compelled to point out that most men in the same circumstances wouldn’t have acted with my gentlemanly restraint—”
    â€œGentlemanly?” she whispered in seething outrage. “If you had possessed any manner of integrity or honesty, you would have identified yourself as soon as you realized my misunderstanding!”
    â€œAnd spoil your birthday?” He adopted an expression of mock solicitude, and grinned when he saw the way her small gloved hands clenched longingly. “Don’t be angry,” he coaxed. “I’m the same man I was that night, Amanda—”
    â€œMiss Briars,” she corrected him instantly.
    â€œMiss Briars, then. I’m the same man, and you liked me well enough then. There’s no reason we can’t cry pax and be friends.”
    â€œYes, there is. I liked you better as a prostitute than as a thieving, manipulative publisher. And I cannot be friends with a man who intends to blackmail me. Furthermore, I will never allow you to publish Unfinished Lady . I’d rather burn the manuscript than see it in your hands.”
    â€œI’m afraid there’s nothing you can do about it. However, you’re welcome to visit my offices tomorrow and discuss the plans I have for the book.”
    â€œIf you think I would even entertain the notion—” she began heatedly, then clamped her mouth shut as she saw their host, Mr. Talbot, approach.
    Avid curiosity was stamped all over the lawyer’s face. He regarded them both with a smile of appeasement that caused his round cheeks to push up beneath his merry eyes. “I’ve been called forth to intercede,” he said with a low chuckle. “No quarreling between my guests, if you please. Allow me to point out that the two of you are hardly well enough acquainted to regard each other with such animosity.”
    Amanda seemed to bristle at the attempt to make light of their brewing argument. She spoke without taking her gaze from Jack’s face. “I’ve discovered, Mr. Talbot, that a mere five minutes’ acquaintance with Mr. Devlin is sufficient to try the patience of a saint.”
    Jack replied softly, allowing his simmering amusement to show in his eyes. “Are you claiming to be a saint, Miss Briars?”
    She colored, and her lips thinned, and just as she was ready to unleash a barrage of furious words, Mr. Talbot interceded hastily. “Ah, Miss Briars,” he exclaimed with an overly hearty laugh, “I see that your good friends the Eastmans have just arrived. I beg you to act as my hostess and assist me in greeting them!” Throwing a warning glance at Jack, he began to steer Amanda away.
    Before they left him, however, Jack bent to murmur close to Amanda’s ear. “I’ll send a