Devil's Deception by Doreen Owens Malek Read Free Book Online

kiss him on the lips. He remained standing at the window, looking out, until Philip arrived.
    The two men nodded to each other without speaking and Angela knew she was in for a wonderful time.
    Angela rode in the front of the Mercedes with Philip, and Devlin sat in back, again staring out the window. What is he thinking? she wondered despairingly. She knew, she felt, that he was hurting, and regretted going along with Philip’s idea. Angela suspected that Philip had known this dinner would make Devlin feel like a fifth wheel, like an outcast being dragged along to a party where he didn’t belong, and she was sorry she’d agreed to it. The idea had seemed unwise but the reality was far worse.
    At the restaurant Philip and Angela were seated at their usual table and Devlin sat by himself across the aisle. Philip ignored him, but Angela noticed that he ate little and smoked a lot, playing with his food between drinks. He never looked her way once; his still, set profile seemed carved in stone.
    “Don’t you like the veal?” Philip asked. “It’s usually your favorite.”
    Angela looked down at the exquisite dish, rognons de veau au vin rouge, and cut a piece of the meat. “It’s wonderful, as always,” she replied. “I don’t seem to be very hungry.”
    “Neither is your friend,” Philip said sarcastically, nodding to Devlin. “He seems to be thirsty, though. I think he’s getting drunk.”
    So he had been keeping track of Devlin. “I’m not surprised. This can’t be too much fun for him,” Angela replied.
    “Yeah, well, he won’t be very effective as a bodyguard if he gets plastered,” Philip observed. “He’s fired tonight if that happens.”
    Angela’s mouth tightened. “Not everyone passes out after two drinks the way you do, Philip,” she observed sweetly. “It’s just possible that he can handle his liquor.”
    Philip’s fork hit the plate with a clink. “What is that supposed to mean?” he demanded.
    “Nothing, nothing,” Angela muttered, blotting her lips with her napkin. She took a sip of her wine, not meeting Philip’s eyes.
    “You’re really acting weird tonight, you know?” he said.
    “Well, how do you expect me to act? My life has been threatened, I can’t even go to a restaurant without a keeper in tow. You’ll have to forgive me if I seem a little edgy.”
    Philip sighed. “All right. I know this must be hard for you.” He glanced at her tolerantly. “Do you want anything else? Coffee, dessert?”
    “No. I’d just like to go, if that’s okay with you.”
    Philip nodded with resignation and signaled for the check. Angela experienced a twinge of sympathy for him; he had wanted this to be a special evening and she had ruined it. But she couldn’t help the way she felt.
    It seemed an eternity before they were all back at the town house. Devlin went immediately to his room and Philip turned to Angela with a relieved smile.
    “Thank God we’re rid of him,” he said. “Would you like a brandy?”
    Angela nodded. He got the drinks from the bar in the corner while she calculated how long she would have to entertain him before she could get him to leave.
    * * * *
    Devlin yanked his tie loose from his neck and threw it angrily on the floor. What a night! He was soaked with perspiration from the effort of controlling himself. One punch, he had thought in the restaurant, one punch would have put that Cronin’s lights out. Four scotches and several hours later he still hadn’t thrown that punch. Sometimes this job demanded more than a man could give.
    No more social evenings with the Greek god sneering at him, Devlin vowed. He would tell Angela that it was too difficult to protect her in a public place; he would tell her something. But the thought of having to sit through another dinner watching that smooth blond—gigolo—making love to her, holding her hand, touching her face, made Devlin want to kick in the walls.
    He stripped quickly, tossing his clothes on a chair. He