Blackmailed Into Bed Read Free Page A

I have some time to think it over?” she asked, making sure to keep her voice strong and steady. “ Or do you need an answer right this minute?”
    Instead of responding, he pulled his hands from his pockets and returned to his desk. Still standing, he grabbed a sheet of memo paper and a pen, then leaned over to scribble a quick note. Marching back in her direction, he handed it to her.
    When she glanced down, she found a date, time and the name of the local airport. Below that, he’ d added the gate number for a flight to Las Vegas.
    “ I’ ll give you until Thursday. If you show up, I’ ll take it to mean you agree to my terms, and your father will get the chance to try to save his company. If not— ” He tipped his head and raised a brow. “ I’ ll continue with my plans to buy out SRS.”
    She heard the underlying threat loud and clear, and left his office with the butterflies in her stomach flapping even harder than when she’ d arrived.

    Two
    W hen Elena arrived home later that evening, she was both physically and emotionally exhausted. After her fateful meeting with Chase Ramsey, she’ d gone back to her office and tried, to no avail, to focus on the appointments and paperwork involved in her job as a social worker. Thankfully, she didn’ t have any home visits to make and could go over her notes again later, when she was feeling more herself and less… distracted, drained, overwhelmed.
    All day she had heard only four words playing over and over in her head. Chase’ s deep, seductive voice saying, I need a mistress.
    I need a mistress…
    I need a mistress…
    I need a mistress…
    And what bothered her most, what sent her mind careening into confusing, dangerous territory, was that every time those words rumbled through her brain, vivid images were quick to follow.
    She could picture him stripped of that expensive suit, all tanned skin and rippling, corded muscles. Hovering over her as she lay stretched across satin sheets, naked and panting for his touch.
    He was an attractive man— a handsome, virile, mouthwatering man— and she was a flesh and blood woman. No one could blame her for entertaining a fantasy or two about him, especially after he’ d invited her to share his bed not five hours before.
    What frightened her was that, instead of being outraged as she was initially, she was now seriously considering it.
    Dropping her briefcase at the base of the coatrack just inside the front door, she kicked off her shoes and gave a sigh of relief as she wiggled her toes in freedom. She didn’ t usually wear such high heels to work, but the red sling-backs went best with her favorite power outfit, and she’ d needed all the self-confidence she could muster to make her way to Ramsey Corporation to face Chase Ramsey himself.
    In her stocking feet, she padded across the highly waxed parquet floor of the wide foyer, pausing for a moment to flip through the pile of mail on the table at the base of the steps.
    She’ d lived in this house in Gabriel’ s Crossing all her life, but lately had begun to feel uncomfortable and out of place. Maybe because it wasn’ t so much a house as a mansion, looking like something out of Gone with the Wind. There were giant Ionic columns out front; a wide, curved staircase directly across from the front door leading to the second-story; and balconies at the back overlooking several acres of beautiful Texas landscape.
    Her father had had it built when Sanchez Restaurant Supply first began to turn a decent profit, and Elena had long suspected the ostentatious design was in part the home her parents had always dreamed of living in, and part proof to anyone who doubted that a first-generation Mexican-American could not only do well for himself and his family, but do extremely well.
    And until a few years ago, she’ d loved it here. As a teenager, she’ d considered it another status symbol to impress her friends, and she’ d taken every opportunity to have sleepovers or