Read Online Mountain Devil by Sue Lyndon - Free Book Online

to $50,000, boss,” Randy said breathlessly. “I can’t believe it! Fifty big ones!
    Five, zero, zero, zero, zero!”
    Ed’s gut twisted. The deal, the reward money, the impending trade. He felt rotten just thinking about it.
    Ella couldn’t leave. She just couldn’t.
    Ed ended the phone call with Randy politely enough, and holed up in his study with a glass of whiskey.
    During the four days since Ella’s attempted escape, they hadn’t discussed the dealin any detail at all. Unspoken, the topic seemed taboo. An ugly problem lurking in the shadows of their temporary bliss.
    Of course, their deal had been for Ella to remain with Ed for seven days. She would escape marriage to Brandon Andrews as Ed waited for the reward to increase. And increase it had. Fifty thousand dollars was a lot of money, but Ed didn’t want one penny of it. Not even if Ella wished to honor the deal and see it through to the end.
    At the time, five days ago, the deal had seemed like a good idea. An easy way to make money and help a stranger out at the same time. At the time.
    Ed downed the rest of the whiskey in one huge swallow and poured himself another glass. A renegotiation was in order. The deal as it stood now was void as far as Ed was concerned. He finished the second glass of whiskey and headed to bed.
    Tomorrow he would broach the subject with Ella.
    And if the past few days were any indication, she would be receptive. They’d made love countless times. They’d gone on walks, watched movies, cooked together, and spend hours talking about anything and everything.
    Ella was a wonderful girl, kind and sweet beyond measure. She wasn’t the spoiled brat he’d initially taken her for, although she had her moments, moments he knew how to handle over his knee. He’d punished her a third time for cursing just this morning, although it hadn’t been as harsh a spanking as the first two times.
    But despite her shortcomings—the propensity to use foul language and a short temper—she was the perfect woman for him.
    Sure, she was a little young, but age was only a number—a number that meant little in the grand scheme of things. Love was love. And Ed Peters loved Ella Emerson, truly and completely.

    He just hadn’t told her yet. I love you seemed like such a silly thing to say out loud, especially considering the short time they’d known each other.
    At least to Ed. And a difficult thing to say as well. Not once in his life had he spoken these words to any woman, nor had he felt so intensely about another woman before. Tomorrow, he thought, and joined the woman he loved in bed. Tomorrow.

    * * *

    The next morning, Ed awoke to the rich smell of pancakes. He found Ella in the kitchen, humming happily and cooking away. His spirits soared at the sight.
    “Should I call the fire company ahead of time?” he joked, hugging her from behind.
    “I helped my college roommate make pancakes a few times. This I know how to do.” She kissed his cheek.
    “You’re full surprises,” he commented, patting her bottom before taking a seat in the breakfast nook.
    The meal was as pleasant as the conversation. Ella told Ed a few crazy stories about the same college roommate, and Ed insisted he wanted to meet her friend. A hint of a shadow crossed Ella’s face at his mention of meeting her friends, but Ed ignored it.
    Today, today.

    “Let’s take a walk around the lake,” Ed said once the kitchen was cleaned up. “There’s something I want to talk to you about.” Today.
    Ella bit her lip and looked worried. “Have I done something wrong?” she asked, fidgeting in place the way she always did before a punishment.
    “I don’t know,” he teased. “Do you have a guilty conscience about something?” But the words escaped Ed’s lips before he’d thought them over. What a stupid thing to say.
    “No, nothing at all!” she said, storming toward the guestroom. Her family and friends were probably worried sick over her mysterious absence. Of course