Blackmailed Into Bed by Heidi Betts Page A

Excuse me?” she said, telling herself not to let her imagination run away with her.
    Chase Ramsey wasn’ t exactly the warmest person she’ d ever met— he might have had a bad meeting and was taking his lousy mood out on her.
    “ We have another dinner tonight, right? Don’ t you want me to dress to the nines and impress all your business associates?” She grinned and twitched her hips seductively.
    His expression didn’ t change. He still looked like he was contemplating something particularly unsavory.
    “ I have a dinner meeting,” he finally replied, his voice like a splash of ice water on her already wet and chilled body. “ Your presence isn’ t required.”
    He rounded the bed, leaving enough space for a tractor trailer to park between them as he passed. “ I’ ll be back in a few hours.”
    She stood where she was, stunned by his announcement and abrupt departure. From the other room, she heard the door of the suite open and then slam shut, and knew she was alone.
    Why in heaven’ s name would Chase suddenly decide that he didn’ t need her with him, when that was his sole reason for blackmailing her and bringing her along?
    And what was with his attitude? He could be a hard man, distant and cruel at times. At least with her; she didn’ t know how he acted with his family or friends. But she also knew why he treated her that way, and that— in his mind— she deserved it.
    But lately, since they’ d been here in Las Vegas, sharing this enormous, lavish suite, he’ d been different. She’ d thought that he was beginning to soften toward her, that they were beginning to connect.
    And, she admitted, she’ d begun to develop feelings for him.
    She wouldn’ t go so far as to say she was in love with him, since she wasn’ t sure it was possible to be in love with a man whose mind was set on revenge against her. But she had started to be kind of glad he’ d manipulated her into becoming his lover. She doubted they ever would have gotten together otherwise, and now that she’ d spent so much time alone with him, she realized she wouldn’ t be opposed to a relationship with him.
    Chase apparently had other ideas. From the way he’ d treated her just now, it seemed he not only didn’ t want her to accompany him to dinner, but might not want her around anymore at all.
    Swallowing hard, she let the barely-there panties fall back in the drawer and slammed it closed. Then she marched into the bathroom, dropped the towels from her hair and chest and shrugged into one of the big, fluffy terry cloth robes the hotel provided.
    She’ d never worn one of them before, opting instead for the sexier sleep sets she’ d brought along. Everything she’ d packed was sexy, because that was what she’ d thought Chase would want.
    Well, to hell with him. From now on, she would go for comfort, wear what she wanted, without a thought to his likes or dislikes.
    It’ s not as though he would be touching her again, anyway. If he so much as tried, she’ d break his wrist and kick him where it hurt.
    Stalking into the sitting room, she grabbed the room service menu, found about twelve things that sounded appetizing, and ordered them all. Ha! She might not have used the credit card he gave her, but she sure would run up his room charges.
    She spent the rest of the evening curled up on the overstuffed sofa, stuffing her face and flipping through channels on the television. Nothing seemed to catch her interest, and no amount of food seemed to fill the hole burning in her gut.
    It was close to nine o’ clock when she heard the scraping of the key card on the other side of the door. Her stomach lurched and every muscle in her body tensed as she prepared herself to face Chase.
    It was the last thing she wanted. For a brief second, she considered running for the bathroom and locking herself in. But that would be the coward’ s way out, and she didn’ t want to be a coward. She just didn’ t want to deal with him again any