Billionaire's Blackmail Bride: Billionaire Brothers Kent - Ridge's Story (The BAD BOY BILLIONAIRES Series) by Judy Angelo Page B

like that.” Her voice had a breathless tone that told
him she’d been shaken by his move.
    “No,” he said, watching the erratic beat of the pulse at the base of
her neck. “I said I’d never make love to you, not if you didn’t want me to.” He
gave her a crooked smile. “Now kissing, that’s another matter altogether.”
    Her answer was a scalding look which made Ridge laugh as he stepped
away, giving her the freedom to move.
    As she stepped past him he gave in to the temptation for one last
jab. “I think I’ve found the perfect punishment for you so you’d better stay in
line.”
    He wasn’t surprised when, instead of answering, she flounced off. He
only chuckled. Then, as he watched her head off to her room, he muttered under
his breath, “Yeah, you’d better watch it, sister. I’d be only too happy to
punish you every day of the week.”
     
     
    CHAPTER SIX
     
     
    Damn, the man could kiss.
    Over a dozen hours had passed since Ridge grabbed her and kissed the
anger out of her but Lani could still feel his muscled body stamped on hers and
his lips taking full control. She had a test tube in one hand and a pipette in
the other but her eyes were staring blankly out the window as she relived those
super-hot blazing seconds he’d held her in his arms.
    She’d been dead tired when she’d arrived home last night and then
he’d gone and annoyed her with his reprimand. And then, in the midst of it all,
he lit a fire inside her which raged all night, making her toss and turn into
the wee hours of morning. His kiss had awakened a thirst inside, one which
could not be quenched until she'd had more of him. All of him. She knew that
now.
    “I’m beginning to worry about you.”
    At the sound of Chris’s voice, Lani turned. “What’s there to worry
about?”
    “You’ve been standing there, staring out the window for at least
five minutes. You on drugs or something?”
    “What kind of question is that to ask your boss?” Lani burst out
laughing. “You’re something else, do you know that?”
    Chris laughed back. “No, I’m just a guy who’s glad he’s got a boss
with a sense of humor.” Then his face sobered. “But seriously, though, are you
okay? Your mind’s still on that stack of bills that came in before your
vacation?”
    “No, that’s all taken care of.” This time her smile was full of
relief. “The lease payments are up-to-date. In fact, where the bills are
concerned, I’d say we’re good till at least the end of the year.”
    “Holy…” Chris gazed at her in wonder. “Did one of those big drug
companies finally cave and give you the money? What did you do? Hold a gun to
somebody’s head?”
    “Chris, Chris,” she shook her head, “you have such a low opinion of
me. Could you even see me doing something like that?”
    He gave her a look which was practically a roll of the eyes. “I’m
sure you don’t want me to answer that.”
    “Well, don’t.” She gave him a wry grin. “If you want to keep your
job you’d better be nice.”
    “Yes, boss.” With a grin and a salute he turned and headed back to
his side of the lab, leaving Lani to daydream in peace.
    And daydream she did, practically the whole morning and part of the
afternoon. She wanted Ridge but after the big deal she’d made about him not
touching her, how could she admit to the attraction?
    After another hour of being less than her productive self Lani gave
up. “I’m heading out,” she told Chris. “You’re good until Minerva gets here?”
    “Sure. You go on home. You’re looking kind of tired.”
    “I am?” Was her sleepless night that obvious? “Well, I guess I’d
better go, then.”
    “Yeah, go get some sleep, boss.”
    Lani left but she had no plans to get any sleep. She was too revved
up for that. That evening she decided to try her hand at the wife thing and
spent a couple of hours in the kitchen fixing a meal of meatloaf, mashed potatoes
and corn on the cob. Cooking had never been her