Page 43 of Blackmailing the Bad Girl

“It’s over.”

“Who finished it?” Darcy asked. “You or Danny?”

Summer pursed her lips, not liking the direction this was going. Why couldn’t things be simple? “It was mutual.” But that wasn’t quite true. She’d had an on–off relationship with Danny for years. It had been fun but had never developed into anything serious. And after she’d met Nik, she’d not wanted that sort of relationship anymore. Best not to think of the reasons why.

“You know what you need,” Darcy said.

“No. But I’m sure you’re going to tell me.”

“You need a boyfriend. To show Sherry that you’re not after her man.”

And why did an image of Nik flash up in her mind? Hesowasn’t boyfriend material. “Couldn’t I just tell her?”

“I doubt she’d believe you.” Regan considered her, head tilted to one side. “Do you want to stay friends with them both?”

She nodded. And it wasn’t merely their friendship she valued.

Sherry was a social worker, and she and Danny were working together on a project. It was an idea Summer had come up with while she was in prison, a mentoring program that got people high up in big companies involved in mentoring children in the foster system. A way of giving something back and offering the kids some much-needed encouragement and a view of an alternative life. Not only work placements but personal one-on-one contact. Eventually, Summer wanted to be involved—it had been her idea, after all—but that wasn’t going to happen if Sherry didn’t get over her jealousy.

“Then Darcy is right. You definitely need a boyfriend. Or at least a pretend boyfriend.”

“I don’t want a boyfriend.” She sounded whiny, but she couldn’t help it.

Darcy ignored her. “Sam would be perfect.”

“No, he wouldn’t.” Sam might help her, but she knew he wanted a real relationship, and she wasn’t going there.

If she wanted afakerelationship, then she had to look somewhere else. She needed someone who didn’t want to date her for real. She needed a friend.

But an impressive friend. Someone superrich and sexy as hell, so Sherry would be totally convinced.

Hmm, where would she find someone like that?