Surrender to Temptation by Ednah Walters Page B

Montana. The lawyer had told her that the ranch house was beautiful with all the amenities of a five-star hotel. There was a private creek for afternoon swims and a hot tub for soothing the muscles after a horseback ride. Nikki shuddered at the thought of going anywhere near a horse.
    “You should have been honest with me, Mo,” Nikki said, but guilt at her hypocrisy followed.
    “I know, dear,” Mo said. “Please, forgive me. Have you met Sally?”
    “Yes.” Her eyes met Chase’s again. He was still staring. “Mrs. B and Winston have been very welcoming.”
    Chase grinned. Shameless.
    “That’s great,” Mo said. “Sally makes the most mouthwatering steak in the entire state and will take care of your every need. Chase might not admit it, but he needs someone to take care of his records. He has good ranch hands, but none of them is computer literate. He’s going to lose his records if you don’t help him out. Please, consider staying.”
    Nikki smiled at the salesman’s pitch and cajoling tone, until she saw Chase’s expression. He’d tried to hide it, but she still caught the pain in his eyes. The constant rubbing of his temple gave him away. The man was in pain, and she would bet that her sudden appearance didn’t help, either.
    “That decision is not really mine to make, Mo,” Nikki said.
    “Chase said it was.”
    She continued to watch Fitzgerald. “I see.”
    “Will you stay?”
    That was up to her host, not his uncle. “It’s been nice talking to you again, Mo, but I believe this is something I should discuss with Mr. Fitzgerald.”
    “You signed a contract, Nikki.”
    “Meaning?”
    “Meaning I’d strongly advise you against breaching it,” he said in his lawyer voice.
    The veiled threat hit a nerve. “Do I need to remind you that it is you who failed to reveal your nephew’s reluctance to have a female web designer? That your actions, not mine, have put us in this uncomfortable position?”
    Chase leaned forward, his hand extended toward her, eyes flashing. “Give me the phone.”

CHAPTER 4
     
                                                                

    Nikki’s eyes narrowed, battle lights dancing in their depths, but she didn’t give him the phone. What the hell was his uncle telling her? Chase started around his desk.
    “No, you listen, Mister Fitzgerald. I will not be bullied or threatened by you.” The voice that had been a soft purr was now steely. “If you think—”
    “Give me the phone, Nikki,” Chase snapped.
    She placed the phone on her chest and glared at him. “No. I can handle this.”
    Being pushy hadn’t worked with her before. He took a mental step back. “Look. You shouldn’t put up with my uncle’s high-handedness. He can be pushy when he thinks a member of my family needs help, but I don’t need his help. You and I can work out our differences. So, please.” He extended his hand again.
    She nodded and handed him the phone.
    “Thank you.” Chase brought it to his ear. “Uncle Mo, let’s talk later.”
    “But—”
    “Not now, Uncle Mo,” Chase practically snarled and ended the call.
    It took guts to stand up to anyone in his family, especially his uncle. The man was unstoppable when it came to family. After Chase’s father died in an accident, Uncle Mo had stepped in as a surrogate father, helping his mother whenever a firm, older male hand was needed. Most of the time, Lex, his older brother, had kept Chase and his twin in line. But when he couldn’t, Uncle Mo was the man to call in. When Uncle Mo wasn’t available, his other uncle in L.A. would pick up the slack. The rest of the Fitzgerald uncles, scattered around the country, would chime in over the phone, too. His family was huge and close. Sometimes that was good, but other times, it was a real pain in the ass.
    “I apologize for my uncle’s behavior,” Chase said, walking back behind the desk and taking a seat. “He can