Free The Winter Man by Diana Palmer Page B

payback?”
    She flushed and dropped her gaze. She wouldn’t cry. She wouldn’t cry! She bit her lower lip, hard, as she fought for control. “I didn’t do it to get even.”
    â€œThe hell you didn’t!”
    â€œI didn’t have anything to use,” she protested shakily. “I’ve never…I haven’t…I don’t know…”
    â€œYou knew all that when I came in here,” he said coldly. “You could have said so then.”
    He was right, of course. She could have. But she’d never been in Tony’s arms, held close by him kissed by him, and she’d have died for the experience. It had been like paradise, for those few heated minutes before she came to her senses. She couldn’t defend herself. He was probably hurting. She gritted her teeth. She didn’t even know how to apologize.
    He glared at the picture she made, wrapped up in the cover, only her head showing, her eyes hidden, her face white. If he hadn’t been hurting so badly, he might have been less volatile in his treatment of her. But the pain was bad.
    He turned and slammed out of the room, leaving the door ajar, fuming and cursing under his breath. His cell phone rang and rang. He finally realized it was on thedresser in Millie’s room. She hadn’t moved an inch when he scooped it up and opened it.
    â€œHello,” he said furiously.
    â€œHi, stranger,” came a purring, sexy tone. “I heard from Frank that you were in town. How about a little action? I don’t have a thing to do tonight.”
    â€œNothing to do?” His voice changed. The tone dropped. He sounded seductive, aware that he was still standing in the doorway of Millie’s room and that she could hear every word. “We can’t have that. Tell you what, baby, why don’t you come over here and we’ll have a couple of drinks and see what develops.”
    â€œWhat a nice idea!” she enthused. “Since I already know the name of the hotel, and the room number,” she said, “I’ll see you in about, ten minutes?”
    â€œTen minutes will be fine. Just enough time for me to have a shower and get into something comfortable. See you, sweetheart.”
    He didn’t look back. He could imagine Millie’s expression, and it made him feel good. She’d given him a nasty surprise, it was fair play for him to give her one. He went right into his own room, swiped up some clean clothes and walked right into the bathroom to shower without a single regret.

M illie heard Tony’s brazen invitation to the other woman with pure anguish. He didn’t bother to look her way as he headed toward his own room. Maybe she’d frustrated him, maybe he was angry, but that was no excuse for bringing one of his glittery women over here to seduce her in earshot of Millie.
    She might be a disappointment to him, as a woman, but she wasn’t a doormat. No way was she staying in here to listen to him cavorting with his girlfriend! No way!
    Furious, now, she threw on her clothes and her overcoat, fighting back tears, grabbed her purse, closed the bedroom door and walked right out of the suite. The last thing she heard on the way was the sound of the shower running.
    * * *
    Tony had on slacks and a blue shirt that flattered his dark complexion. He greeted Angel with a smile and invited her in. She was wearing a sexy pair of black slacks with a lacy blouse, and her long black hair was swinging free. Her black eyes teased him as she walked in front of him to the living room.
    â€œLong time no see.” She laughed. “You look good.”
    â€œSo do you.” He bent and kissed her, not passionately, but nicely. He went to pour drinks. “How’ve you been?”
    She told him. He seemed to be listening, but his mind was on what had happened with Millie. Now that he was less stimulated, he recalled that it hadn’t been Millie who started things rolling.