Page 22 of Blackmailing the Bad Girl

“You know,” she said, “Darcy told me to go out and pick up some guy tonight. Have some fun.”

“That’s not going to happen.”

“I wouldn’t know how anyway. Don’t get me wrong—I’m not a virgin or anything.”

Definitely opening up. “That’s a relief.”

“It is? Do you have something against virgins, Mr. Masterton?”

“Too much trouble. They expect too much, saving themselves for something. I don’t want to be that thing.”

She smiled. “They want more than you’re willing to give?”

“I learned a long time ago to keep my expectations low as far as women are concerned. They only want one thing.”

“Your charming company?”

“My money.”

“You’re a cynic.”

“Most rich people are.”

“I’m sure you must meet lots of women who aren’t interested in your money.”

“I thought I’d met two in my life. I married one, who then divorced me, taking a lot of my money with her. The other one pretended to like me, and then she vanished,alsotaking a lot of my money with her.”

“Oh.”

“Exactly.”

She studied him, her head cocked to one side. “You could always give it away. Then people would have to like you for yourself.” She gave a shrug and a small smile. “Or perhaps not like you at all.”

“I’ll think about it.”

“Anyway, my point was, I don’t need to go out and pick up a guy. Because I have you, seemingly catering to my every need, plying me with alcohol. I don’t know why you’re doing it, what your motives are—though I suspect something bad. But I’ve decided that tonight is a time-out. Tonight, I don’t care about the whys. Or what your nefarious plan is for my ultimate downfall. Or how your little revenge scenario will play out.”

He turned his head so he could look into her face. “You are drunk.”

“Maybe a little. Not enough to worry about, though that might change. I want to let go.” She drained her glass. “I want you.”

He swallowed as heat pooled in his groin. This was the point where he did the honorable thing. Tucked her into bed and kept his distance, giving her some space. For tonight, anyway. He closed his eyes for a second, then opened them as her small hand moved to his thigh.

“Do you hate me?” she asked.

Yes. No. Christ, he had no clue. He hated what she’d done. How she made him feel. Okay, that was a lie. His dick certainly liked the way she made him feel. Her hand on his leg was inching up, and that traitorous organ was pushing almost painfully at his fly.

“I know I have to pay for my sins,” she murmured. “And I will. I’ll be an exemplary employee. But can’t I have tonight, just for make believe?”

Taking a deep breath, he tried to order his thoughts, but his mind was scrambled. He needed to know what she wanted from him. Spelled out. So he didn’t make the wrong move. He knew she was vulnerable right now. But he wanted her with a desperation that bordered on pathetic. At the same time, he didn’t want to hurt her. And that was crazy. She was the one who had hurt him. Used him.

“What do you want, Summer?”

“I want you to be my coming-out present.” She placed her empty wineglass on the floor and straightened. “After all, you’ve been my coming-out nightmare. Let’s balance the books. Let’s pretend I’m not a thief. Let’s go back three years to when I kissed you.” She moved suddenly, swinging her leg over him so she straddled his hips, her hands on his shoulders. Pressing down on his cock, she rubbed against him. He sat perfectly still while his muddled brain tried to come up with a plan. What was he supposed to do?

His mind was screaming—give in to the inevitable.

There was nothing wrong with this. While he didn’t approve of relationships at the office, she wasn’t actually working for him…yet. Though she had signed the contract. But he couldn’t leave her. Not when she was like this. God only knew what she would do.

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