The Billionaire's Blackmail Bargain. Margaret Mayo

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СКАЧАТЬ she had taken so much that her insides had begun to sizzle. She used to respond to Cade’s silent arousals by stripping her clothes off in a slow, seductive dance. Then she’d begin to unrobe him as well—except usually by that time he’d been too impatient and had torn his clothes off himself.

      But if he thought his tactics would work now he was deeply mistaken. OK, she’d agreed to become his mistress, but she wasn’t giving him her body quite so easily this time around.

      Then Cade broke the spell by speaking on a totally different subject. ‘I actually expected you to be married by now.’

      Simone drew in a deep breath, pulling a wry face as she did so. She might as well tell him the truth; he would find out anyway. ‘I was married, actually. I’m divorced.’ She added bitterly, ‘It’s another part of my life that ended in disaster.’

      Dark brows rose, and there was a long pause when she could see his mind working overtime before he asked, ‘What happened?’

      ‘He walked out on me,’ she answered tersely. ‘He met someone else.’ It was all she was prepared to tell him at this stage.

      ‘I’m sorry,’ he said, and oddly enough he sounded as though he meant it. ‘And there’s no one else who might be upset if he knew I was entertaining you here? If he knew the position you’re now in?’

      ‘Would I have agreed if there was?’ snapped Simone.

      Cade smiled exultantly.

      Simone felt like slapping him. Instead she shot a retaliatory question. ‘Have you ever married?’ There was no ring on his finger, but that didn’t mean a thing.

      He shook his head. ‘I’ve had no time. Girlfriends, yes, but marriage has definitely been off my agenda.’

      Simone was surprised. If he could afford to bail her out, throw in as much as it needed to buy a new fleet of sailing vessels without even batting an eyelid, then he had to be seriously rich. And seriously rich men attracted girls by the dozen. So why hadn’t one of them captured his heart?

      ‘Or is it that you’ve set yourself impossibly high standards?’ she asked without thinking, and Cade’s harsh response surprised her.

      ‘When someone lets you down badly it does make you think twice,’ he snarled, his eyes cutting through hers like twin blades of ice. ‘Trust has to be earned, and no one yet has earned enough merit points.’

      It felt like a direct dig, at her and Simone silently winced. Nevertheless she raised her chin and looked at him boldly. ‘Merit points? How calculating. Exactly what are you looking for in a wife, Cade? No one’s perfect.’

      ‘As I discovered for myself, most brutally. Maybe there’s a halfway mark somewhere.’

      His eyes darkened as he looked at her. Simone felt a trickle of something slide down her spine. Was it fear or hope? Need she be afraid of him? He was going to help her. That had to be good. But the cost was exorbitantly high, and she couldn’t help wondering whether it would be worth it.

      Feeling a desperate need to change the subject, she said, ‘Exactly what is it you propose to do—as far as my company’s concerned?’

      Cade set his glass down and changed instantly into business mode. ‘I’ve drawn up a rough plan of action— provided you agree, of course.’ But his dangerous eyes told her that she had no option.

      ‘Naturally the first thing would be a whole new fleet of boats, which I’ve already looked into ordering. Then your offices would need to be totally revamped, everything brought bang up to date.’

      Simone widened her eyes. ‘Is that necessary?’ It was an entirely unexpected suggestion, and she couldn’t see his reasoning behind it. What was wrong with her office?

      ‘It’s very necessary. A new image will do the business a world of good,’ he answered bluntly.

      Cade clearly knew what he was talking about, and it was his money he was spending, so who was she to argue? ‘So, tell me about your company,’ she said finally, not realising that it looked as though she was agreeing to his suggestion.

      Cade smiled and settled back into his seat. This was clearly a subject he relished. ‘I started with one boat, specialising in corporate charter, and was amazed how quickly it took off. Of course, the season’s shorter in the UK, but I did very well. I ended up buying more vessels even after one season.’

      ‘I’m pleased for you,’ she said, and surprised herself by meaning it. Cade had exactly the right outlook on life to succeed in whatever he did, and she felt sure that her father’s trickery had helped make him into the tough businessman he was today.

      ‘How big is your fleet?’

      ‘To be honest, I’m not sure,’ came his staggering answer. ‘I’ve expanded into Europe, so the company is growing at an incredible rate.’

      Simone raised her brows. ‘So much so soon!’ She didn’t realise how sour her voice was. ‘You must be very good at it,’ she conceded. ‘I wish my father had had your acumen; I wouldn’t be in the trouble I’m in now. Actually, I think he only passed the business on to me because it was failing. Except that he didn’t tell me. I was thrilled and so grateful, and now look at the position I’m in.’

      ‘You’re forgetting that you have me to bail you out,’ he said with a droll smile. ‘Your money worries are over.’

      He looked calm and reassuring, happy to be of help, and yet she knew perfectly well that beneath the surface lay a cold, calculating brain, and that he was going to walk all over her. She desperately needed his help—he was her lifesaver—but she couldn’t rid her mind of the fear that one day she would regret her decision.

      ‘I’d like to go home now,’ she said quietly.

      ‘Home?’ he repeated, crooking one eyebrow. ‘Have you already forgotten we’ve struck a deal? Your place is here with me.’

      Simone hadn’t expected him to want his pound of flesh so instantly, and fire flared from her deeply purple eyes. ‘Forgive me, but I don’t remember setting a date and time for the deal. No job starts immediately.’

      ‘Job?’ Distinct amusement curved his mouth and added creases to the corners of his eyes. ‘Is that how you see the title of mistress? Interesting! But of course you must go home.’

      Instant relief filled Simone, though her reprieve was short-lived.

      ‘You’ll need to collect whatever clothes and toiletries you might need—and perhaps tell your father what you’re doing.’

      ‘So I’m expected back here this evening?’ she questioned, panic in her voice now.

      ‘You have a problem with that? We can of course forget the whole thing. I’ll sit by and watch your company sink into the Pacific without trace, and then I’ll pick up the threads and establish myself a very profitable concern.’ His voice dipped lower and his eyes locked into hers. ‘Would you like that, Simone?’

      The expression on her face was his answer.

      ‘No, I didn’t СКАЧАТЬ