Hidden Devotion Read Online Free Page B

physically big and his steady gray eyes seemed to always be watching and assessing.
    She’d known him all her life and had been engaged to him just as long. Devon was one of her trinity, a marriage that had been decided upon as soon as she was born. Even on days when she was feeling charitable towards her father, Juliette couldn’t see her trinity—herself, Devon Asher of the New York Ashers, and Rose Hancock, direct descendant of one of America’s founding families—as anything but a political maneuver cementing three legacy families together.
    It would help if Devon wasn’t handsome and well-mannered, but he was both. His brown hair was only slightly mussed by the wind, cut in a classic style with a side part. His navy suit, blue-and-white checked shirt and blue tweed tie were both classic and fashionably trendy—eminently appropriate for a young D.C. lobbyist. A Burberry scarf was draped around his neck and he pulled it off with quick, efficient movements, turning to hang it on the freestanding coatrack.
    “Can I get you something to drink?” The words were out before she had time to consider what she was saying. A knee-jerk good-manner reflex.
    “Tea or coffee would be nice. Thank you.”
    Juliette bristled. “I haven’t been in the kitchen yet, so you may be out of luck.”
    “That’s fine.” Devon frowned. “Have you eaten since you got here?”
    “Five seconds in the door and already patronizing. Lovely.” Juliette headed for the kitchen, throwing open doors as she went.
    The less-formal living room was usable, but the dining room was draped in tarps to protect the furnishings. Everything was in place in the kitchen and it took her only a few minutes to find where the kettle was stored.
    Devon had followed her in. She watched out of the corner of her eye as he stripped off his jacket and draped it over the back of one of the counter-height chairs pulled up to the massive marble island.
    “I didn’t mean to be patronizing, Juliette.”
    Filling the kettle, she had to resist the urge to slam the faucet handle. The way he said her name set her teeth on edge. It was the same way he’d said her name when she was a gangly ten-year-old, following him around and dying of jealousy when he hung out with Rose, who, like Devon, was five years older than Juliette. They’d been peers and she’d been the annoying little kid trying so hard to get their attention, especially Devon’s.
    “In that case, thank you for the concern, but I have, miraculously, managed to feed myself since landing.” She went digging through the canisters of loose-leaf tea until she found a nice Assam. “Speaking of which, how did you know I was here?”
    “Rose heard from Jackson.”
    “Who heard from Bethany, who heard from Sebastian. For people who live and die by their secrets, we’re ridiculously gossipy.”
    Devon laughed, a warm, smooth sound. “True.”
    She couldn’t even be mad at Sebastian—he wouldn’t have said anything about her becoming the Grand Master, but he would have mentioned to their friends that she was headed to Boston. Not saying anything would have been suspicious.
    “And how is Rose?”
    “She’s well.”
    “Still in California?”
    “Yes.”
    Juliette watched the clock on the microwave, timing the brew. It gave her an excuse not to look at Devon as the silence lengthened.
    “If you’re in the states for a while, we could head out there to see her.”
    “How sweet, bonding time with your wives.” Juliette turned just enough so he could see her flutter her eyelashes. For a moment his composure cracked and he looked irritated. Good. She was irritated; he might as well be, too.
    “Yes, clearly that’s why I suggested it, because I want to play lord and master over my women.”
    Now Juliette laughed—the way he said it, wryly and with a clear understanding that he’d have better luck pulling down the moon than being lord and master over either Juliette or Rose, was heartening. It didn’t