Free The Devil To Pay by Unknown

more important one, I guess,“ Julian decided as he
    reached the pair. “Being petted is bound to outrank being ordered away from you.“
    “Silly dog,“ she muttered, “why don’t you go find some stranger to attack?“
    “Personally, I’m grateful to him,“ Julian drawled. “If he hadn’t stopped you out here on the road, you would have
    gone right on into town without me, wouldn’t you?“
    “With any luck,“ Emelina agreed under her breath.
    “Shame on you. And after giving me your word you’d allow me to buy you decent coffee this morning.“
    “Did I?“ Emelina flushed guiltily, trying to remember the conversation. “I don’t recall giving you my word on the
    subject,“ she said slowly.
    “Well, it was definitely implied,“ Julian said briskly before quietly ordering Xerxes back to the house. “Come on,
    Xerxes. Inside. You’re delaying my morning coffee.“
    Emelina frowned. Damn it, she hadn’t implied anything of the kind as she recalled. But it was too late to argue.
    Julian was already falling into step beside her and there was really no alternative except to agree to his company. He
    would be even more difficult to send back to the house than Xerxes had been!
    “What were you doing down at Leighton’s house?“ she inquired abruptly as mey approached the cafe.
    “Just thought I’d take another look around. Something’s bomering me and I can’t put my finger on it.“
    Emelina glanced up quickly. “What is it that’s bothering you?“
    “I’m not sure. The feeling I got about that cottage. Something doesn’t fit.“ Julian smiled at her as he opened the
    cafe door. “Don’t worry about it. I’m the one who’s supposed to do the worrying, remember?“
    The covert glances and the instant of speculative silence that greeted Emelina as she walked into the cozy coffee
    shop beside Julian raised the hair on the nape of her neck. Yesterday her response to the curiosity and questions
    around her had been a distinct uneasiness, tinged with embarrassment. This morning, for some reason, her reaction
    was one of haughty anger. Unconsciously she straightened her shoulders and lifted her chin in subtle challenge as
    she walked beside Julian to an empty booth.
    Who the hell did these people think they were to be so rude? Julian wasn’t bothering them. Whatever his
    profession may have been, here on the Oregon coast he was just another vacationer. Besides, she had made a pact
    with him. Like it or not, that seemed to put her in his corner, Emelina realized as she took her seat.
    “Stop glaring at that fisherman at the counter,“ Julian advised gently as the waitress approached.
    “He’s staring at you.“
    “So?“
    “So, it’s rude! He has no business staring at you!“ she hissed.
    “He’s curious,“ Julian explained off-handedly and then turned to give their order to an equally curious waitress.
    Emelina sat back against the cushion and watched Julian’s harshly carved profile as he dealt with the waitress.
    “Doesn’t it bother you?“ she finally asked hesitantly as the waitress disappeared. “The curiosity and the speculation,
    I mean?“
    “Not particularly. I don’t much care, what these people think about me.“
    “You’re so arrogant,“ she murmured, moving her head in a gesture of outright wonder. “You wouldn’t bother to
    explain yourself to these people even if you were the president of a bank instead of a…“ Her voice trailed off rather
    abruptly, and Emelina turned a rather fiery shade of red.
    “Instead of what, Emmy?“ he prompted, dark eyes amused.
    “Never mind,“ she retorted aggressively. “How long are you going to stay here on the coast, Julian?“ Anything to
    change the conversation!
    “I haven’t decided.“
    Which probably meant he didn’t know how long it would take until it was safe to go back to his regular haunts,
    Emelina thought knowingly. “Where do you come from, Julian?“
    “Arizona.“
    Emelina nodded morosely. She’d