A Deal With the Devil (30 page)

Amanda cast another nervous glance back at the crowd and her stomach flip flopped as she realized she could no longer see Jake. The last thing she needed was for him to catch her with George or—God forbid—overhearing their conversation. She wanted him to be surprised on Monday and planned to unveil the video just a few minutes before the pitch started. It would give him a nice, last-minute shot of adrenaline and the confidence he would need to pull off a flawless performance. Besides, if he knew who had developed the video, she figured he’d refuse to use it. Jake didn’t appear to like George any more than George liked him.

“Just keep it simple,” she said. “Title screens, a little stock video footage and the standard emotional soundtrack. You know the drill.” He could produce genius creative faster than anyone she’d ever seen. He could pull off the request without much effort at all if he wanted to. She just needed him to say yes.

George’s mouth twisted. “Why should I. I don’t like the way he hurt you. And he didn’t make too good an impression on me the other night.”

She squeezed his arm. “Please George,” she said. “I need you.”

Her eyes pleaded with him to agree and she was just about to throw down the ‘
you owe me one’
card when George’s expression changed to a scowl. She felt Jake’s presence before he spoke—every nerve ending in her body seemed to flip on whenever he came near.

“Am I interrupting?” His voice sounded calm, but from the set of his jaw and the icy glare, she could see he was anything but.

Amanda smiled with false brightness. “George and I were just catching up.”

“Great.” His gaze never wavered from George’s. “Anything you care to share?”

George glared at him. “Nope.” He looked back at Amanda. “Send me the information in the morning and I’ll see what I can. No promises, though.” He pushed away from the wall, his mouth set in a thin, hard line as he tossed back the last of his scotch. “Later.” He smiled at Amanda and ignored Jake as he sauntered away.

“Thanks George,” she called at his retreating back.

“What was all that about?”

“Nothing,” she said. “Just work stuff.”

“You aren’t working right now.” Jake’s eyes bored into her. “I’ll ask one last time: are you involved with him?”

Amanda groaned. “That question is getting a little old.”

He continued as if she hadn’t spoken. “Because you know there’s no better way to blow our deal—to ruin the whole thing for both of us—than to have you running around with some other guy.”

She glared at him, anger simmering inside. “That’s what you think of me. Really?”

He looked down and didn’t answer for a moment.

She felt her blood pressure rise. “I’m going back to the party,” she said, whirling around and starting toward the crowded room.

“Wait.” His fingers gripped her arm. He tugged her gently back toward him. “What if I asked you to stay away from him?”

She expelled a long, exaggerated sigh and looked Jake directly in the eye, her voice quiet as she said, “There’s no reason to ask that. Like I said, he’s a friend; nothing more.”

“That didn’t sound like something you’d say to a friend.” He stepped closer. “I didn’t like what I heard.”

She swallowed hard and folded her arms as she said. “What do you think you heard?”

“You said you needed him.” His voice sounded low and husky as he stepped closer. “I didn’t like it.”

Amanda’s heart thumped. She backed away, stopping only when she encountered the rough brick wall.

Jake leaned forward and braced a hand on either side of her. His scent enveloped her like a warm, familiar embrace and every part of her body tingled as she gazed up at him. She wanted to look away; willed herself to duck underneath his arm and lose herself in the crowd, but she couldn’t. In all honesty, she didn’t want to. While a part of her felt compelled to run, the part that wanted to stay proved stronger.

His gaze held her captive and in his eyes, she recognized a softness she hadn’t seen in more than a year. Her hand quivered as she reached up and cupped his cheek, her eyes pleading with him to understand. “That . . . it was nothing,” she said. “I . . . we . . . we were just—” She was about to confess, to tell him the truth about the video surprise she had planned when his arms wound around her and pulled her close.

He lowered his head until his lips were a breath away from hers, his voice sounding husky as he uttered his next words. “I want you to say those words to me.”

Her heart was thumping so loudly she was sure he could hear it. “Say what?” She pretended not to understand.

When their deal ended, she’d be cast aside. She knew this. Hell, they’d already legally agreed to it. All Jake wanted right now was a little fun to spice up their business deal and in the process; he could get her out of his system. He’d already said as much. And while he’d caught her in a weak moment the day before, she didn’t plan to fall for his game again. The only way she’d survive this deal was if she kept her emotional distance and so that is exactly what she planned to do. The only problem was, she didn’t want to keep her distance.

Lord she was in trouble.

“I’m not afraid to say it, Amanda.” Jake’s voice held a gruff tenderness she’d never heard before. “I fantasized about you every hour, every minute when I was in Iraq.” Her breath caught in her throat and her eyes grew wide as he continued. “I tried not to. God knows I tried. I kept trying to convince myself that my obsession didn’t mean anything, that I was just lonely and exhausted. But I knew it wasn’t true.” He traced a finger over the contours of her face. “You’re so beautiful,” he whispered.

A shiver ran down her spine.

“And since I’ve been back, it’s even worse. I can’t get you out of my head.” His arm tightened around her waist, which was good because she feared her knees would buckle. “I need to know you feel it too; that you can forgive me for running away. That you want to give our relationship another try; a real one.”

Amanda’s knees wobbled and she melted against him, resting her cheek against his chest.

His arms tightened around her.

She had dreamed of him saying those words for more than a year. It was more than he’d ever said before and it was enough; more than enough. She gazed up at him and finally acknowledged to herself what she’d known deep inside all along. She needed him.

“Say it.” Jake’s voice was a gentle command. He bent his head closer, his lips stopping just shy of hers.

Her breath caught in her throat as she said, “I . . . I need you.” She blinked back the moisture in her eyes and lifted her chin, refusing to acknowledge, even to herself, the fear those words induced. She hadn’t let herself need anyone since the night she’d lost her parents. But God help her, she
did
need him. And even more, she wanted him.

“I never stopped needing you,” Jake’s lips captured hers.

She tried to push her fear aside as she dissolved into his arms. She nibbled at his lower lip. Jake groaned and pulled her close. His kiss took her breath away and when he finally lifted his head, they were both panting. He took her hand in his and squeezed as he whispered, “Let’s go home.”

* * *

Amanda checked her watch for the third time. Kate was always late, but thirty minutes was pushing it—even for her. She pulled her cell from her purse and checked for messages. She laid the phone on the table and looked up to see Kate headed toward the table.

She waved and smiled in greeting, but her grin faded when she caught the dour expression on Kate’s face. “You look pissed,” Amanda said as Kate pulled up a chair and plopped her Marc Jacobs bag on the chair beside her. “I thought you’d be deep into gloat mode given the fact that the party went off without a hitch. What’s wrong?”

Kate glared at her. “Oh, I don’t know. Maybe it’s the fact that my two hosts—our best friends—ditched my fabulous party after only an hour and a half.”

“We didn’t ditch,” Amanda said, raising a hand to flag the waitress. Better change the subject before she really got riled up. “By the way, today’s special is spinach and goat cheese omelet.”

“Don’t even try to change the subject. You ditched. Own it,” Kate said, pushing out her lower lip. “Some hosts you two turned out to be. You only stayed for an hour and a half before you snuck out. You better have an amazing excuse.”

“Stop pouting. It’s not an attractive expression on a pregnant woman.”

Kate glared at her as the waitress arrived.

They ordered and after the waitress walked away, Kate eyed Amanda with expectation as she drummed her fingers on the table. “Well?”

Amanda sipped her water and then said, “I’m sorry. We didn’t intend to ditch. Something came up,” she said.

“You can do better than that.”

Amanda leaned forward and placed her elbows on the table. “Jake found me talking to George and he jumped to all kinds of crazy conclusions. We sort of got into it. One thing led to another and . . . we ended up leaving.”

“What were you doing with George? Did you finally decide to take my advice and try to make Jake jealous?” She leaned back in her chair, her face settling into a self-satisfied little grin. “Jealousy always works.”

Amanda arched a brow. “It’s not 1965, so no, I didn’t.” She rolled her eyes. “I swear. Alabama must be some sort of portal into a different dating era. It’s like you came here through a time machine, you’re so retro when it comes to love. You would’ve done very well in the era of Frank Sinatra and Doris Day.”

Kate looked about to respond when the waitress arrived with their entrees. Instead, she tilted her head and glared at Amanda as she plucked the lemon off the side of her glass and squeezed it into her water.

The waitress left and Amanda continued.

“Actually, I cornered George and tried to convince him to create a brand video for Jake’s pitch tomorrow—something that’ll wow the investors,” Amanda said. She wanted to tell her what had happened between her and Jake the night before, but didn’t feel ready yet.

Kate studied her for a moment and then said, “And then what happened?”

“What do you mean?” Amanda feigned a look of innocence.

“You look more satisfied with yourself than you did the day you found that gently worn Zac Posen dress on the clearance rack in Sweet Repeats.”

“This is
way
better than the Zac Posen.”

“I knew it!” Kate’s eyes danced as she playfully slapped a palm on the table. “Okay, out with it.”

Amanda smiled, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Jake said he wanted to give our relationship a try, for real.”

“O. M. G. I
knew
it,” Kate said as she pushed back in the booth. Her tone oozed know-it-all superiority as she said, “Retro or not, I
told
you it would work to make Jake jealous.”

“I don’t think jealousy is what did it.” Amanda paused to consider her next words. “I’m not sure where he came up with the idea.”

“Well it doesn’t matter. All that matters is that you two are back on track.” Kate placed her elbows on the table and stared dreamily at Amanda. “So, are you still getting married in a few months or do you want to wait?” She clapped, her eyes dancing. “I can’t wait to plan a huge, extravagant wedding with Gigi. A real one! Maybe we should do a destination—”

Amanda held up a hand. “Stop. You’re getting way ahead of yourself. We haven’t even discussed that yet. I think he meant he wanted to keep dating; you know, pick up where we left off before he ended it a year ago.” She shook her head. “Honestly, I don’t know what he meant.”

Kate’s eyes searched her face. “Would that make you happy?”

“Yes.” Amanda sat up a little straighter as she added, “I’m thrilled.”

Kate frowned. “Right. And I’m Princess Catherine.” She buttered her toast as she said, “Okay, what’s wrong. Out with it.” She took a delicate bite and rolled her wrist signaling for Amanda to continue.

“I just don’t know if I want to put myself emotionally out there with him again,” she said. “He crushed me.”

“I know he did. But everyone makes mistakes.”

“That was a pretty big one, I’d say,” Amanda said. “You know, for months after he left, I felt sure he’d call or email or something.” She shook her head. “Pathetic, I know. And when he didn’t, I then convinced myself it would all change when he got home. That one day, I’d come home from work and I’d walk in to find him sitting on the couch waiting for me, whistling that damn off-key key tune.” She laughed. “Then in my fantasy, he’d beg me for a second chance and of course, pledge his undying love.” She paused for a long moment and said quietly, “Yes, I’m an idiot. That’s why I finally moved out of my old apartment and bought the condo. I needed to be someplace that Jake had never been. I needed to get away from him.”

Kate squeezed her hand. “No you’re not. He did come back to you. He didn’t even hesitate to race up to the cabin to get you the second I asked. And then he came up with this deal, which I’m convinced was just a way to spend more time with you. I mean, last night he actually told you he wants to give it another try . . . for real. It’s what you said you wanted.”