Page 63 of Blackmailing the Bad Girl

Something occurred to her. “Should I have brought a present?”

“I think she probably has enough. And you brought yourself.”

“She was worried about you. She said she hadn’t met a girlfriend of yours since before your marriage. Not that I’m your real girlfriend or anything.”

They weaved their way through the people on the dance floor, coming to a halt by the small group surrounding his mother. They parted to allow Nik through. He leaned in and kissed his mother on the cheek. “Happy birthday.”

His mother smiled, then turned to Summer. “The dress suits you.”

“Thank you for the loan. I’ll get it cleaned and sent back.”

“Nonsense. You must keep it.”

She didn’t argue. But she wouldn’t keep the dress. She’d recognized the designer label and knew it must have cost a fortune. No way could she keep it. But now was not the time to get into that, so she just smiled.

“And this is my husband and Nik’s father—David. And Dave, this is the girl I told you about. The one I met this morning at Nik’s.”

“Hello, Mr. Masterton.” Summer held out her hand, and it was engulfed in a much larger one. He was studying her.

“Have we met?”

“I work for Nik. But I don’t think so.” She would have remembered.

“I’ve seen you somewhere. Or a picture…” His eyes widened, and he looked at his son. She saw Nik give a small shake of his head.

Nik took a wrapped parcel out of his pocket and handed it to his mother.

“Thank you, sweetheart.” She kissed him on the cheek again and stepped back. “Now, we have to go and say hello to some of the guests I haven’t seen in years. But we must all sit down together later. Summer, I’m so glad you came.”

She watched as they walked away. “Your father knows about me, doesn’t he?” How had that happened? He hadn’t been around when Summer had worked at Masterton the first time. He’d just had a heart attack. That was why Nik had taken over.

“He was in the office when Harry told me he’d found you.”

How had he found her? After all that time, she’d thought herself safe. But that was a conversation for another time. Or maybe with Harry.

“He saw a photo of you. A mug shot actually.”

“Ugh.”

She remembered the occasion so well, as though it had been days and not years ago. The feeling of her world coming down around her, that she was only getting what she deserved. Now she was filled again with that same sense of inevitability. Your crimes never really went away. They followed you through life, just waiting to pounce on you when you least expected it. The thought shattered the tenuous peace she had found, dispelling her small pleasure in the evening.

“He won’t say anything,” Nik said when she remained silent.

“How do you know?” He was hardly likely to want Nik to date a woman who had been in prison. A woman who had stolen from his company. He would tell Nik’s mother. And she’d hate her. And…

Nik squeezed her hand. “Hey, don’t worry.”

She forced a smile. Tomorrow, she’d worry about his family’s knowing she was a thief. It brought home to her the impossibility of there being anything between them. Nik had said he wanted to talk after the party. But really, what was there to say?

Even so, couldn’t she have tonight with him? Then Monday, she would tell him…what?

That she was leaving, that she couldn’t stay because there could never be anything between them. For some reason that hurt.

Nik was leading her toward the door when they were approached by a man; tall, with gray hair and a paunch beneath his expensive tuxedo. He effectively blocked their passage and they came to a standstill. Summer glanced at him and a jolt of surprise punched her in the stomach. Steven Trenton. The CEO of Trenton industries, the company responsible for her mother’s accident and the first company she had stolen from. She looked away quickly, hoping she had managed to wipe the expression from her face as the shock washed through her in waves, threatening to pull her under. She fought to keep her head above water.

“Nik,” the man said, “could we have a moment?”

Nik’s mouth turned down in a frown. “Not tonight. Call my office and arrange a meeting.”

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