Dancing With the Devil Read Online Free Page A

and squatted down to Lily’s level. “Repeat after me: The dance sucks. I will hate it. The dance sucks. I will hate it.” As Mackenzie stood up and walked out the door onto the front step, she glanced over her shoulder at her sister, hoping she wouldn’t see tears.
    But Lil was a tough kid. Instead of crying, she balled up her little fists and stamped her foot. “I will not hate it! Daddy said it’s fun ’cause it’s at the club, and you had fun when you went, and no matter what you say, I know you loved it because Daddy told me and said I’ll love it too.”
    Mac knelt to be at Lily’s eye level. She put her hands on her sister’s shoulders and said, “Repeat after me: I have it good. I don’t want to be like Kenzie. I have it way better.”
    Lily shook her off and stepped back until she was next to the open door.“You don’t know anything !” To Mackenzie’s surprise, Lily slammed the door right in her face before she could say another word.

Chapter Three
    Grady pulled up in his Mustang, and Mac ran down the walk and hopped in. She gave him a quick hello kiss and glanced toward the house. “Hurry up and go.”
    â€œI thought you said it was okay?”
    â€œWell, it’s easier to say sorry than give them a chance to say no.”
    Grady pulled away from the curb and headed east toward town and the reservoir beyond. Mackenzie loved how every time he finished shifting gears, his hand automatically went back to holding hers.
    â€œGrady?” Mac said. He glanced at her and smiled. God, he was gorgeous. Sometimes she couldn’t believe he loved her. Her stomach flipped over. Mackenzie wanted to know who was at his swim meet but didn’t want to come off as one of those naggy jealous girlfriends. But she had to know.
    â€œSo who else was there today?” She said it lightly, like, just making conversation over here, Grady; I actually couldn’t actually care less, Grady. Yep, just curious is all.
    It worked, too, because he responded casually, “You know, the usual people. A couple of guys who want to try out next year, the kid I’m coaching this summer for the town team, my family.”
    She was relieved, though she’d never admit it to him. There were a lot of swim team groupies, and she was happy he hadn’t made any comment about them, which meant he wasn’t paying attention to them.
    He drove through the village, nudging Mac when they went past I Scream Ice Cream. Mac shook her head even though she knew Grady never met a double toasted almond he didn’t like. They’d passed the multicolored row of Victorian buildings that housed the other exclusive shops in town by the time she spoke again.
    â€œCool that your dad could come.”
    â€œYeah, they had a good time.”
    â€œThey?”
    Grady gave a half-smile. It looked more like he was fighting a painful gas bubble. Mac stared at him, waiting.
    He cleared his throat and said, “Yeah, he brought Julie. This is top secret, but they’re, uh, they’re getting married.”
    Mackenzie waited for him to crack a joke, but none came.
    â€œEw,” she said, finally.
    â€œNice, Mac.” He shifted gears. This time his hand stayed on the gearshift.
    â€œWell, it’s just kind of weird, you know, considering the only reason they met was ’cause you went out with Sophie.”
    â€œSo?”
    â€œSo your dad is marrying your ex-girlfriend’s mom. Which means your ex-girlfriend will be sleeping down the hall from you. As your sister. I can just see you all having family dinners together,” Mackenzie laughed, but choked on it, and it came out more like a cough.
    â€œYou don’t have to be jealous, Mac. Soph and I are just friends. And don’t tell anyone, because it’s supposed to be a secret still.”
    She didn’t like how he called her “Soph.” Nobody called Sophie