A Deal With the Devil by Abby Matisse Read Free Book Online

friend might be telling the truth. If she wasn’t, Kate would’ve attempted to justify her actions. “Jake surprised us all. He didn’t even tell Sam. He just showed up on our doorstep yesterday.”
    “Really,” Amanda said, unable to keep the disbelief out of her voice as she tried to figure out whether to believe her.
    “Yes.” Kate switched tactics and went on the offensive. “Besides, I could’ve told you if you hadn’t turned off your phone,” Kate said, her voice dripping with disapproval. “I tried . And if your phone had been on , I also could’ve warned you about the snow and I wouldn’t have needed to send Jake.”
    “I wanted to get some peace and quiet, remember? Besides, given your history with set-ups, I’m sure you can understand why I’d suspect your motives. You have to admit, getting snowbound with my ex sounds like a scenario only you could dream up.”
    Kate sighed. “It does sound romantic.”
    “Pregnancy has turned you into a sap,” Amanda said. “And I suppose it would be romantic if we were still together !”
    “I swear, Mand, I didn’t plan this. It’s just…I heard the snow would get bad and when I called, I couldn’t get you. Sam’s plane got delayed in New York. I had to send Jake. I couldn’t think of anyone else.”
    “You could’ve called my brother.”
    Kate was quiet for several beats and her voice sounded uncharacteristically flat when she finally said, “You can’t be serious.”
    “He would’ve come.” Amanda liked to think so, but in truth, she wasn’t so sure.
    Kate’s silence conveyed her opinion of Rob and Amanda knew this wasn’t a topic she wanted to get into with her, so she took a deep breath and moved on. “Anyway, believe it or not, Jake proposed.”
    Kate squealed. “I knew he’d come to his senses once he got back from Iraq. You guys are perfect for each other. You have to tell me everything !”
    Amanda rolled her eyes. “Before you get carried away, it wasn’t an actual proposal. He wants us to pretend to be engaged so he can get access to his trust fund. I guess his grandfather changed the terms or whatever.”
    “I don’t get it. Why does he think you’d go along with a dumb idea like that?”
    “Exactly,” Amanda said. “He claimed he’d make it worth my while. He even brought up Paris, saying I could live the dream for my mother or some crap like that.”
    Amanda heard Kate’s sharp intake of breath. “He didn’t. What a jerk .”
    “I know, right? Using my mother to try to manipulate me into agreeing to his dumb plan may be a new low for him,” Amanda said. “But hey, it’s all good. His bone-headed proposal might’ve cured me of him once and for all.” She hoped so anyway. Seeing Jake again had been harder than she’d thought.
    “I’m disappointed in him,” Kate breathed.
    “I passed disappointed eleven months and two days ago.” Not that she was counting.
    Kate said. “He absolutely ruined your twenty-ninth birthday. I could just strangle him.”
    “There’s an idea. Maybe I’ll get around to that this afternoon.” Amanda plucked at the bedspread. “For now, I’m going to avoid him and as soon as the weather even hints its letting up, I’m getting the hell out of here—even if I have to walk back to Chicago.”
    Silence stretched between them. When Kate finally spoke, her voice took on a familiar edge. “Mand, I have an idea.”
    Amanda knew those words and that tone well and also knew the combination usually meant trouble. “The last time you said that, we nearly got arrested and we would’ve been if I hadn’t seriously groveled.”
    “Ancient history,” Kate sniffed. “Let it go.”
    “It was last year . St. Patrick’s Day on Rush Street, remember?” She still wasn’t over the incident and not inclined to let it drop.
    Kate ignored her comment and said, “What if you agreed to do it?”
    “What if I agreed to do what?”
    “You know; what if you agreed to do the fake engagement