In Bed With The Devil by Susan Mallery Read Free Book Online Page A

funny. Sometimes I forget you’re funny. I think it’s because you’re so intense and macho. Dangerous. You were always dangerous. Before, it was just about who you were as a person, but now you have access to all kinds of weapons. Doubly dangerous.”
    His gaze narrowed slightly. “You’re drunk.”
    She waved her left hand back and forth. “Drunk is such a strong term. Tipsy. Buzzed. Seriously buzzed. I had a second margarita. Always a mistake. I don’t drink much, so I never build up any tolerance. And I’m small, so there’s not much in the way of body mass. I could figure out the formula if you want. How many ounces of alcohol per pound of human body.”
    “An intriguing offer, but no.”
    She smiled. “It’s the math, huh. You’re scared of the math. Most people are. I don’t know why. Math is constant, you know. It’s built on principles, and once you learn them, they don’t change. It’s not like literature. That’s open to interpretation and there’s all that writing. But math is clean. You’re right or you’re not. I like being right.”
    “It’s your competitive streak,” he said.
    She swayed slightly on the bed. “You think I’m competitive?”
    “It’s in your blood.”
    “I guess. I like to be right about stuff. I get focused. I can be a real pain.” She grinned. “Doesn’t that make me even cuter? How can you stand it?”
    “I’m using every ounce of willpower not to attack you this very moment.”
    “You’re so lying, but it’s sweet. Thank you.”
    She stared at him. If eyes were the windows to the soul, then Jack’s innermost place was a dark and protected place.
    Secrets, she thought. They all had secrets. What were his?
    Not that he would tell her. He kept that sort of thing to himself. But if he ever did decide to trust someone, it would be forever, she thought idly. Or maybe that was another of her fantasies.
    “You need to help me with Betina and Colin,” she told him. “We’re going to get them together.”
    One dark eyebrow rose. “I don’t think so.”
    “Oh, come on. Don’t be such a guy. This could be fun. Just think of it—we could be part of a great love match.”
    “Colin and Betina?” He sounded doubtful.
    “Sure. Betina has a serious thing for Colin. I was skeptical at first because Betina changes her men with the rhythm of the tide. A long-term relationship for her is a week. But that’s because she’s afraid to really care about someone. She had a bad early marriage years ago. Anyway, she’s liked Colin for a long time, and that liking has grown into something more. Something significant.”
    She paused, waiting for him to grasp the importance of the information. Obviously he missed it, because he said, “I’m not getting involved.”
    “You have to. It’s not like you’re doing anything else with your time.”
    “We’re going to ignore my work and the effort I put into avoiding you?”
    “Oh, yeah. There’s hard duty. A beautiful single woman desperately wants you in her bed. Poor Jack. Your life is pain.”
    She could think of a thousand ways he could have reacted, but she never expected him to smile.
    “You think of yourself as beautiful?” he asked quietly, sounding almost pleased.
    Meri shifted on the bed. “It was a figure of speech.”
    “The last time we talked about your appearance, you said you were a freak.”
    She didn’t want to think about that, but if he insisted…“The last time we talked about my appearance, you emotionally slapped me, trampled my heart and left me for dead.”
    His smile faded. “I’m sorry. I should have handled that differently.”
    “But you didn’t. I wasn’t asking for sex right that moment.” She didn’t want to be talking about this. It was too humiliating. “My point is, Betina is crazy about Colin and I’m pretty sure he likes her. Which is where you come in. I want you to find out for sure.”
    “What? No.”
    “Why not? You’re a guy, he’s a guy. You can ask him if