Blackmailing the Bad Girl (Cutting Loose)

by Nina Croft

  She didn’t know what to think. And it was making her head hurt.

  By the time she finished her coffee, he still wasn’t back. She pushed herself out of bed, picked up her panties and her dress, and headed for the huge bathroom with its enormous tub and a walk-in shower. She eyed the tub for a few seconds, but decided against it. Instead, she showered slowly, her body aching in all sorts of interesting places. He’d pushed her to the limits, and she’d loved it.

  Now he wanted to go for a walk.

  What did that even mean?

  And talk.

  She was purposefully not thinking about the “stay with him” comment.

  Anyway, it wasn’t happening. At least, not today. She was due at her mother’s for lunch. She was finally going to meet the not-a-boyfriend, Pete. At least that would give her a little breathing space, some time to decide what to do. She needed to figure out whether she wanted to see where this went, or if she was going to move to the opposite side of the world. Except that would be a violation of her parole.

  How had her life gotten so messy?

  She waited five minutes, pacing the room, itchy and on edge. Finally, she decided she was going to find him, say her good-byes and…run away.

  She glanced at the elevator, but in the end, she went out the door and down the wide staircase. She didn’t come across anyone, but she heard voices as she arrived on the ground floor. Should she tiptoe out? Instead she followed the voices and found Nik talking to a woman in a large, airy living room. His back was to her, and she hesitated in the open doorway, not wanted to intrude. He was talking in a low voice, but she could sense frustration wafting off him.

  The woman was stunning. At least five feet eleven, and slender, her perfect figure shown off in black leather pants and a white fitted shirt. She wore diamonds at her ears and her throat. If they were real, they were the biggest diamonds Summer had ever seen.

  For a moment, she presumed this was one of Nik’s supermodel girlfriends—how inconvenient—but only for a moment. A closer glance told her that the woman was much older than Nik’s thirty years. She had long honey-blond hair, perfectly styled, olive skin, and Nik’s dark eyes. His mother?

  The woman didn’t look any happier than Nik, her shoulders tense, her mouth a tight line. She’d gone silent when she’d caught sight of Summer, her eyes widening. Nik must have sensed something, because he turned slowly. He ran a hand through his hair, his brows drawing together.

  “Summer.”

  She lifted one shoulder. “Sorry, I didn’t want to intrude, but I need to leave and wanted to say…good-bye.”

  “Just give me a couple of minutes. And we can talk.”

  The woman was glancing between the two of them, no doubt taking in Nik’s bare feet and messy hair—he looked like he’d just gotten out of bed. Which he had, of course.

  “No really, I—”

  The woman came forward, her hand held out. “Hello. I’m Nik’s mother.”

  Summer glanced at Nik as she shook the outstretched hand. He appeared more resigned than anything else and gave a small shrug when he caught her gaze.

  “Hello, Mrs. Masterton.”

  The other woman pursed her lips. “And you are…?”

  God, this was awkward. She glanced at Nik, but he just gave another small shrug. She was clearly on her own here.

  “I’m…Nik’s assistant. Just temporarily, while Lisa is away.”

  “His assistant?” A small smile curled her lips. “And is he paying you overtime?”

  “Mom!”

  She turned wide-eyed to her son. “It’s a perfectly reasonable question. Are you going to introduce us properly?”

  “Mother, this is Summer Delaney, who is working for me at the moment. She’s also a friend.”

  “It’s lovely to meet you, Summer. What a pretty name. And I’m so glad to see you here. It’s the first time Nik has introduced me to a girlfriend in…I don’t even like to think how many years. I’m absolutely delighted. It might even take my mind off the whole horribleness of the day so far.”

  Nik shook his head. “What’s so horrible? It’s your birthday, and Dad bought you diamonds. You like diamonds.”

  His mother’s face crumpled. “They’re too much. He only got them for me because I’m old and need cheering up and—”

  “Oh, for Christ’s sake.”

  Summer was attempting to follow the conversation, but she had no clue what was going on.

  “He loves you,” Nik said.

  “He only married me because I was beautiful and I was pregnant. Now I’m old.”

  “You’re still beautiful, and you’re not old.”

  “I’m fifty.”

  “So what? Dad’s seventy-five.”

  “It’s different for men.”

  Someone cleared their throat behind Summer. The other two were too focused on each other to notice, but Summer turned around. Harry stood in the open doorway.

  Great, just great. If there was one person she would like to see less right now…

  He gave her a nod, then looked to Nik, and a slow smile curved his lips. He stepped up beside her.

  “What are you doing here?” she asked.

  “Shouldn’t that be my question?” He looked her up and down, amusement glinting in his blue eyes. “Are you casing the joint?”

  “Yes,” she snapped.

  Nik finally seemed to become aware of Harry’s presence. “What the hell is this? A fucking party?”

  “Nik!”

  Harry grinned. “Your dad sent me to look for your mom. Apparently, she’s running around London in over a million worth of diamonds.” He sent Summer a sideways glance. “Perhaps I shouldn’t have mentioned that in the present company. The temptation might get too much.”

  “Yeah. If you two will leave us alone for a moment, I’ll mug her and be out of here in a flash.”

  Nik’s mother cast her a look of speculation at the comment, but then sniffed. “And he couldn’t come himself. He had to send you?”

  “I was around and he was…busy. With your surprise party, actually.”

  Nik turned to his mother. “Go home, Mom.” Then to Harry. “And you—just go.” Finally, he looked at Summer. “And you, stay here.”

  “I have to leave. I have an appointment, and I need to go home first and…” She trailed off. Really, it was none of his business. Fake boyfriends, even ones you spent the night with, didn’t get to know your every move.

  His mother sniffed again. “And I suppose I should go see what your father is up to…if I can’t persuade you to keep an old woman company.”

  Nik rolled his eyes. “I’ll see you tonight.”

  His mother gave a nod and then turned her attention to Summer with a sly smile. “Are you coming to my party tonight?”

  “No.” The word fell out before she could think of a more politic way to say it. Like…she hadn’t been asked, but she wouldn’t come anyway, sort of thing.

  “Please, do say you’ll come. Nik wants you to come.” She turned to her son. “Don’t you, Nik?”

  “I’m sure your family doesn’t want a stranger there.”

  “At the last count, there are five hundred guests,” Harry murmured in her ear. “I doubt one more will make a difference.”

  She fixed a smile on her face. She didn’t want to be rude, but she also didn’t want to go to a party with a lot of rich people she didn’t know. Besides, if Nik had wanted her there, he would have already asked her. “I can’t.”

  “Why not?” Nik asked.

  She blew out her breath. “I don’t have anything suitable to wear.”

  “We can go shopping.”

  Agh! Was he crazy?

  “I told you I have an appointment. I don’t have time to go shopping.”

  “Cancel.”

  She gritted her teeth. “I don’t want to.”

  He stepped up closer, lowered his voice. “We need to talk.”

  “No, we don’t. I’ll see you on Monday.”
/>
  She turned to go, but nearly collided with Harry and Nik’s mother, both standing watching the two of them, like a solid wall between her and the door.

  Let me out of here.

  His mother reached out a hand and rested it on Summer’s arm. “Please come, Summer. You’ll make an old woman very happy.”

  Beside her, Harry snorted.

  “I—”

  “I have loads of friends in the fashion industry. I’ll get them to send something over for you to wear.”

  “But—”

  She patted her arm. “Come and walk me down to my car,” she said. “And you can tell me your exact size and favorite color.”

  Somehow, Summer found herself being guided out of the room. She glanced back over her shoulder. Nik caught her gaze and gave a shrug.

  “I guess I’ll see you tonight then,” she said.

  …

  Nik watched as Summer and his mother disappeared into the elevator that led to the underground parking garage. He felt as though he’d been hit by a steamroller. He’d had to physically restrain himself from tossing his mother and Harry out and dragging Summer back to his bed. Where they could communicate. Okay, maybe not communicate, but at least they connected.

  She’d shut him out again.

  “So, you’re sleeping with her,” Harry said. “Do you think that’s a good idea?”

  Nik turned to face him. His best friend had that vaguely amused expression on his face. Again. It was becoming a permanent feature.

  “I think it’s none of your business.”

  Harry grinned. “I’m your best friend. Of course it’s my business.” He studied Nik, his head cocked to one side. “Don’t you think you’re taking advantage of a vulnerable woman?”

  Was he? “I thought she was a hardened criminal.”

  “She could be both.”

  Nik sighed and ran his hands through his hair. Again. He’d woken that morning with Summer all soft and warm in his arms, and he’d experienced a feeling of optimism that made him realize how bleak his life had been over the last few years. He’d been going through the motions.

  The feeling had scared him in a way.

  But at least with Summer, he wasn’t going to be disappointed. He knew exactly what motivated her. Money.

  Could he live with her, knowing that?

  Then again, could he live without her?

  Anyway, maybe he had no say in the matter. She couldn’t get out of here fast enough. Where was she going? And why wouldn’t she tell him?

  Because it was none of his business?

  But he wanted it to be. And whatever Harry said, he didn’t see her as vulnerable. She had her issues, but inside, she was a strong woman. And he would swear she had strong moral values.

  Except when she was stealing.

  “At least you don’t look bored anymore,” Harry said, breaking into his thoughts.

  “I don’t get bored,” he replied. “Only boring people get bored.”

  “You’ve been going through the motions since your divorce.”

  “No, I haven’t.” Well, maybe he had, but he wasn’t going to admit that to Harry. Smug bastard.

  He needed coffee. He headed out, down the hallway, and into the kitchen, Harry close behind him. He got down two mugs and filled them from the coffee machine, then handed one to Harry. “Just what are you doing here, again?” he asked.

  “I was at your dad’s place. He’d roped me into helping with the last-minute party stuff. And I arrived just after your mom ran out, saying he didn’t love her anymore.”

  Did his mother and father love each other? Nik had always presumed it was expediency that kept them together. And habit. And his mother’s love of money. She’d been a trophy girlfriend his dad had only married because she was pregnant. A young girl going out with a rich man more than twice her age.

  Was that love?

  “Why didn’t Dad come after her?”

  “Your father was waiting for the terrible twosome to turn up.”

  His twin sisters. Twenty years old and crazy as shit. They were both at college in the States and were flying back for their mother’s birthday.

  “Anyway,” Harry continued, “I offered to come after her. And here I am.”

  Nik drank his coffee, feeling Harry’s gaze on him. He clearly had something to say, and Nik was guessing it was about Summer. He didn’t want to hear it.

  At least she’d agreed to the party, so he would see her again. Though he wasn’t so sure how he felt about her mixing with his family. They weren’t exactly normal, and he didn’t want anything else—other than the blackmail—to put her off him. She clearly had no high opinion of people with money.

  Could there be more wrong between them?

  All he knew was, he didn’t want to let her go.

  “So,” Harry said. “You and Summer.”

  “What about me and Summer?”

  “I knew all along you wanted her. All that crap about rehabilitation. You just wanted to get into her pants.”

  “Fuck off.”

  “The interesting thing is, you know what I said about you going through the motions?”

  “No. I wasn’t listening. I never listen when you talk rubbish.”

  “Well…” Harry ignored the interruption. “The only time since your crap marriage that you haven’t been going through the motions was that month or so when you were having your little secret meetings with Summer—or rather Sarah. I knew something was going on. It was like you’d been switched back on.”

  “Is there a point to this?”

  “I don’t want you to get hurt again.”

  “What?” He put his mug down and looked at Harry. He appeared to be serious.

  “I thought when I found her that you’d get her out of your system and move on. But no. And here she was, all nice and cozy, in your home.”

  “Is that such a bad thing?”

  “Actually, I like her. But whatever else she is, she’s a thief. There’s no doubt about that.”

  “People can change.”

  “Do you think she has?”

  “Yes.”

  “You sound almost too certain.”

  He turned away for a minute to get his thoughts together. The thing was, he wasn’t sure she needed to change. There was something about Summer he didn’t understand. The big “why.” Why had she stolen? It certainly wasn’t for a love of money or material goods. “She’s hiding something,” he said. “I don’t know what, and she won’t open up to me.”

  “You want me to restart the investigation into her? See if I can dig anything up?”

  “No.”

  What he wanted was for Summer to talk to him, to tell him what she was thinking and feeling and… Jesus. He was a mess.

  “Christ, you’ve got it bad. She’s going to break you, just like Jocelyn did. And I’m going to have to pick up the pieces.”

  Nik ignored the reference to his ex-wife. She hadn’t broken him, just bent him out of shape a little. But she’d changed him. This situation, however, was totally different. He knew what Summer was, what she wanted from him. Didn’t he?

  “No, you won’t. Because I know what Summer is.”

  “Do you?”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Summer turned up at seven o’clock sharp.

  “I wasn’t sure you would come,” Nik said as he let her into the hallway and took her bag from her.

  “Your mother was most insistent. And I was…curious.”

  She looked relaxed, almost happy. Whatever her “appointment” had been, it had obviously gone well.

  “Did she send the dress?” she asked.

  “Yes, and shoes and underwear.” His mother was nothing if not efficient. She had clearly taken a liking to Summer. Or maybe she was merely curious as well. As she’d said, he hadn’t introduced a woman to his family since Jocelyn, and he probably wouldn’t have now if his mother hadn’t walked in on them.

  He’d peeked into the bag…and hadn’t
been able to get the image of Summer in black lace underwear out of his head ever since. If tonight went as he planned, she’d come back with him after the party, and he’d get to see it for real. He wasn’t going to push anything yet, though. He was going to be good, because he didn’t want to give her the opportunity to back out.

  He wasn’t even sure why she’d agreed in the first place. Maybe she was just curious, as she had said.

  He led the way up the stairs to his room. Once inside, he shut the door behind him and then turned to her. He hadn’t intended to touch her now, but somehow, he couldn’t resist. He cupped her face in his hands, lowered his head, and kissed her. For a few seconds, she was stiff in his arms, but then she relaxed against him and her lips parted, allowing him entry. Her hands gripped his shoulders. Then one slid into the hair at the back of his neck and held him closer. By the time he raised his head, he was hard, and heat burned through his veins.

  Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes dazed.

  “Trust me,” he said.

  Her eyes widened, but she remained silent.

  “I know you’re scared. I know I all but blackmailed you into working for me. And there’s no reason to trust me.”

  “I’m not sure I know how.”

  Her reaction wasn’t what he expected. But it also wasn’t a total rejection. Some of the tension went out of him, replaced by…hope? But for what? He still couldn’t get his mind to formulate what he actually wanted. Except, he wanted Summer. In his bed. Maybe in his life. And he realized she wasn’t the only one who was scared. He leaned down and kissed her forehead.

  “Come back with me later. After the party.”

  A shy smile broke out, lighting her face. “Okay.”

  “We’ll go meet my family as friends, and then later, we’ll see if perhaps there can be more between us.”

  …

  She was back at the Ritz.

  And oh my God, what a party. Clearly no expense had been spared. Summer had frozen as they entered the huge double doors. They were in the ballroom. It was easily the biggest room she had ever been in. And it was so beautiful. Filled with flowers. And beautiful people, all sparkling and glittering.

  She took a step backward, but Nik stopped her retreat with a hand at her waist.

  “Have I told you how lovely you look?” he murmured into her ear.