Page 47 of Blackmailing the Bad Girl

Passion.

She had a flashback to that night with Nik. That was what had been missing. But she’d found it with Nik. Best not examinethattoo closely.

“You’re not my boyfriend, but you are doing me a favor, so I’ll tell you. I’ve known Danny since I was fourteen.” She stared into space for a moment as she remembered that first meeting at the foster home. For a shy, introverted teenager like Summer, the place had been hell. A lot like prison, really. It had been her first night, and she’d still been dazed by the speed at which her world had fallen apart, as well as worried for her mother, who they didn’t think would ever walk again. Not that anyone had told her that, but she’d overheard a conversation between the doctor and the nurse.

She’d been going through life in a haze of misery, when she’d been cornered by three older girls and told she had to pay a fee if she expected to be left alone. None of it had made sense. Then Danny had come to the rescue. “It was a difficult time for me. He was a stranger, but he put himself out to make me feel better, and I’ll always be grateful. I’m not sure what would have happened to me without him. He’s like a brother, and the best friend I ever had. And yes, at one point, we thought there might be more—hoped there could be more—but it didn’t work out. And there hasn’t been anything like that between us for long time.”

“How long?”

“Mind your own business.”

He opened his mouth, no doubt to say it was a “boyfriend’s” business, but at that moment, she caught sight of Danny and Sherry crossing the room toward them. She got to her feet and waved in their direction. Danny waved back, put a hand on Sherry’s waist, and guided her toward the table.

As they got closer, it became clear they’d been arguing. Sherry’s cheeks were flushed, and Danny’s lips were clamped in a tight line.

“Oh dear, trouble in paradise,” Nik murmured.

She had an idea that this was going to be an awkward evening, and that she had made a huge mistake, but it was too late to back out now. She was just going to have to make the best of the situation. As they halted by the table, she moved around, leaned across, pressed a hand on Danny’s shoulders, and kissed his cheek. She repeated the process with Sherry, who stood stiff as a board under the kiss. Then she sat down again and took a gulp of beer.

Time for some introductions. She hoped Sherry was suitably impressed with her trophy boyfriend. “This is Nik,” she said, forcing her lips into a smile. “And this is Danny and Sherry.”

Nik rose to his feet and held out his hand toward Danny. They shook, both eyeing each other more like potential enemies than prospective dinner partners. Nik shook hands with Sherry next, who was looking him up and down as though she liked what she saw. Some of the tension went out of Summer. Presumably Nik made a passable boyfriend and a believable alternative to Danny. That was the whole purpose of the evening, after all. But they still had to get through dinner. Fun, fun, fun.

They all sat down. Summer was seated opposite Danny. He caught her gaze and lifted one eyebrow. She ignored him, and he turned his attention to Nik, but Sherry beat him to it.

“So, Nik, where and when did you and Summer meet?”

Nothing like being direct.

Nik didn’t appear fazed by the question. “I first met Summer nearly three years ago. She was working in the accounts department at my company.”

Crap. She really hadn’t wanted Danny to know that. He was bound to make the connection. She could almost see the cogs turning in his brain and no doubt, he was coming up with the right answers. He’d helped her set up that job, created Sarah Daniels. Now he would know that Nik knew all about her alter egos.

“You’re Nik Masterton,” he said.

Nik raised an eyebrow. “I am.”

Sherry leaned across the table, her eyes wide. “Of Masterton Industries? That Nik Masterton?”

“The one and only,” Summer muttered. At least Sherry appeared impressed. It was a good thing Danny wasn’t the jealous type. Or at least, she thought he wasn’t. He gave her a look that asked what she was playing at.

“I’ve been working with your company on my mentor program,” Sherry said. “We haven’t actually met, but we have spoken on the phone.”

He smiled. “You’re Sherry Brooks? The Give Something Back program? How’s it going?”

“Fabulous. We haven’t started yet, but we plan to move forward with the first trials any day now. Your company has been so supportive.”

“I hope it works. It’s a great idea.”

Sherry glanced at Summer. “You know it was Summer’s idea?”

He looked at her. “No. She didn’t mention it.”

Duh. Well, why would I?

“She came up with it while she was inside.” Sherry frowned. “Hey, you do know about Summer’s little…” She waggled her eyebrows. What was that supposed to infer? If he didn’t know, he was going to be sure to want to find out.

“I know,” he said, his tone ironic.

---