Bargain with the devil by Jayne Castle Page B

expected to be able to put one over on the devil?
    Stacy stood very still, her slender body drawn up to her full five feet five inches, her knotted hair sitting like a slightly lopsided crown on top of her head. Only the green eyes gave any indication of her feelings, and they mirrored a strange combination of fear, anger, and defiance.
    „You know, don’t you?“ she stated in a cool little voice that surprised her with its steadiness.
    „Oh, yes,“ he growled, taking a step closer but still not touching her. Stacy had the feeling he was almost afraid to take hold of her for fear of losing his temper altogether. „I know! I should have known all along that a Rylan couldn’t be trusted to go through with a bargain, any bargain, that wasn’t one hundred percent in her favor! But it’s not going to work, Stacy. You’re one Rylan who’s going to learn not to play games with a Manning! You’re going to marry me today, and you’re going to become a Manning tonight! You made the deal of your own free will, and I’m not letting you out of it!“
    Stacy frowned. This wasn’t the direction she had expected his attack to take when he discovered the truth. „I… I never had any intention of refusing to go through with the wedding,“ she said carefully.
    „Then what are you doing in those damn jeans?“ he roared. „And what are you doing covered in potting soil twenty minutes before you’re supposed to be taking your vows?“
    He didn’t know! Stacy could hardly believe it. He was only upset because he thought she was trying to back out of the bargain!
    „Hunter, I’m fully prepared to marry you,“ she assured him quickly, relief temporarily chasing out her fear and anger. „Ask Julia. She’s been waiting all morning to take over. It’s the first time she’s gotten to run the place by herself!“
    He stared at her and then at her clothes. „I don’t believe it,“ he muttered furiously.
    „Didn’t you get the note I left on my door?“ she asked with concern. „It told you to come here. You must have seen it or you wouldn’t be here.“
    „I saw it and I realized that you thought you’d be safer here when you tried to tell me you weren’t going through with the marriage!“
    He was still accusing, but there was a new hint of uncertainty.
    Stacy shook her head, not sure now whether to be relieved that he didn’t yet know the truth or frightened that he still intended to marry her. She turned away to rinse her hands in a nearby faucet and wiped them on a towel as he watched in growing irritation.
    „There,“ she said, tossing the towel aside. „I’m ready.“ Without waiting for any further comment from him, Stacy started toward the front of the shop. „We’re off now, Julia. Are you sure you’ll be all right? Don’t forget to lock that back door in the greenhouse, will you?“
    Julia, her eyes resting with deep feminine approval on Hunter as he slowly stalked behind Stacy, smiled reassuringly.
    „Don’t worry, Stacy, I’ll take care of everything….“ She hesitated and then blurted, „I told you to buy a nice dress! I knew he wouldn’t get married in his jeans! Oh, Stacy, this is your wedding day, for goodness’ sake!“
    Stacy blinked, startled at the younger girl’s obvious distress. She glanced automatically down at her jeans and then, flushing slightly, tucked in her bright daisy-patterned shirt. She was abruptly aware of Hunter standing behind her in all his sleek male finery.
    „You, uh, knew Stacy intended to dress like this for her own wedding?“ Hunter rasped softly to Julia, coming up behind his bride-to-be and putting a firm hand on her shoulder. A wave of embarrassment washed over Stacy as the other two flicked disapproving glances at her garments.
    „Don’t think I didn’t try and talk her out of it, Mr. Manning.“ Julia smiled fondly at her red-faced boss. „But you know Stacy. She just doesn’t care one bit about clothes, as long as she’s got flowers on