Page 19 of Blackmailing the Bad Girl

There was a big sticker on the front of the fridge with “Welcome home, Summer” on it, and she smiled. Opening the door, she found two bottles of champagne and a huge chocolate cake—her favorite. She’d dreamed of chocolate cake in prison. Chocolate cake and Nik.

Nik came up behind her and peered into the fridge. He grabbed a bottle of champagne and the cake. As he put them on the counter, his phone rang. He pulled it out of his pocket, looked at the screen, and frowned.

“Giselle?” He listened for a moment. “I’m sorry. I forgot. Something came up.” He glanced across at Summer. “I’m not going to be able to make it.”

He listened and then closed off the phone without saying another word.

“Girlfriend?” she asked.

“Acquaintance.”

“Please feel free to go see your…acquaintance. I’m fine now. You’ve seen me home. It’s all safe. I’ll lock the door as soon as you’re gone.”

He ignored her words. “I’ll order dinner. It will be here in half an hour.”

“Dinner?” She shook her head. The evening was taking on a surreal quality. “I’m not hungry.”

“You need to eat something. You’re down to skin and bone.”

“Thanks,” she muttered. “But I have chocolate cake.”

“Proper food. Healthy food.”

She studied him for a moment. She’d avoided looking at him, but now she stared, trying to figure out what he wanted from her. He kept shifting from being a blackmailing bastard to a concerned do-gooder, and it left her off balance. And in between, there were those hot looks that he couldn’t quite conceal.

She had no clue what his next move would be.

“I don’t get it. Why are you doing this?”

“You shouldn’t be alone tonight.” He picked up the champagne and expertly pulled the cork, poured a glass, and handed it to her.

She took it without thinking. “I like being alone. I want to be alone. I’ve dreamed of being alone for two years.”

“I read up about people coming out of prison.”

“You did?”

“Yeah. You’re going to be off balance. Emotional. Disoriented.” He looked at her almost accusingly. “Lisa said you’d been crying.”

Bugger. She hated that he knew. “The day wasn’t working out as I planned. But I’m over it now. I have a fabulous new job and a great apartment. I’m good.”

“You need someone with you.”

She gritted her teeth. “Sam’s downstairs. I’m sure he’ll come and keep me company if I ask him nicely.”

“You only met him today. He’s a stranger. You can’t invite a stranger in here.”

“What about you? You’re far stranger than he is.”

“Maybe. But I’m notastranger. We talked for hours. You know me as well as anyone.”

In some ways, he was right. He’d told her about the places he’d traveled, the things he had seen, what he loved to do, his favorite books. She’d shared her dreams and deepest hopes and wishes—all the time, revealing nothing of her real life. They’d shared everything and nothing. “I didn’t know you at all.”

“Yes, you did. I never lied to you.”

“I lied to you all the time.”

“Why don’t you go have a bath?” He obviously decided it was time to change the subject.

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