Read Online High Stakes Seduction - Book 3 by Ami LeCoeur - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Ami LeCoeur
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enthusiastic beat of drums and sound of cheerful laughter rolled out to greet us. Inside the cultural center, a lively performance was already under way. We slipped inside and made our way to the front to watch the dancers performing their traditional routines.
Vibrant costumes swayed with the energetic music, and I pulled my camera out to capture the wonderful sights. Antonio stood beside me, entranced by the music and the dancers. He didn’t even notice me taking pictures of him as he clapped along to the beat.
I thought about the burlesque show he’d taken me to onboard the ship, and the requests he’d made of me on the veranda. "You really love dancing, don’t you?" I asked, leaning in close to be heard above the music.
He turned to me with a broad smile. "It's the best of life—the rhythm and the flow. Don't you think it captures the soul of the people?" I had to agree. The dancers were so involved in their performance that nothing else seemed to matter. As I stood in the audience, I became as entranced as the rest of the room, enjoying the demonstration and clapping with the drums. The music rolled through us, the audience responding to the dancers as if we were all connected.
As the music died away and we were released from the hypnotic trance we'd all shared, Antonio and I headed to the local distillery.
"Care to learn a little about the process?" Antonio asked, then drew back slightly. "Unless you’re too tired, of course."
I smiled, admiring the happy glow about him. He was like a kid, as though a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. I was happy, too, knowing I had something to do with that. "Sure, I'd love to," I told him, pulling him down for a quick kiss.
The dancing, the rum, the manufacturing processes with the batik and chocolate. These were insights into the man I wanted to know everything about; I was not going to pass up this opportunity. And besides, the excursions had been fascinating so far. Why not add a little rum to the mix?
Chapter Twenty
"I had no idea sugar was so important to the livelihood of these people," I said as we strolled through the museum, examining the different tools and images of the distilling trade. I had never been one to take much interest in science or physics, but the classroom was so much different from seeing the machines in action.
"Let me choose for you," Antonio said, looking over the menu after the tour as we sampled some of the flavors.
"My turn," I said, after he ordered me a La Vanilla. I closed my eyes and ran my finger down the page, stopping at a random spot. Antonio leaned over to see and we both burst into laughter as I ordered him a Tropical Kamasutra, which came in a tall, wavy glass with a slice of fresh pineapple on the side.
"Cheers," I said, offering him my glass.
He clinked glasses with me. "To an astonishing companion."
I hid my blush behind my glass as I took a sip.
"Astonishing?" I asked.
"Angela, you continue to surprise me."
"I continue to surprise myself," I muttered quietly under my breath.
"Look, I know I've been distant and busy on this trip," he said, resting his glass on the table. His tone had turned suddenly somber and his eyes earnest. "There are things I’ve wanted to tell you—to explain to you, but I can’t just yet."
Your mob connections? Your gambling addiction? My father’s debt? I pushed all those "things" to the back of my mind, not wanting to spoil the mood with negative thoughts about things I had no control over. I took another sip of my rum, its sweet tingle rolling down my throat.
"I know I haven’t been the best companion," he continued. "I intend to make it up to you from now on. And when I can, I’ll tell you everything."
"All right," I said cautiously, "I guess I can … wait."
He leaned forward and kissed me on the brow. "That's my girl."
That reminded me of something you'd say to a love-sick teenager. I downed the rest of my drink. "I am a big girl, you know. And I can manage for
Vibrant costumes swayed with the energetic music, and I pulled my camera out to capture the wonderful sights. Antonio stood beside me, entranced by the music and the dancers. He didn’t even notice me taking pictures of him as he clapped along to the beat.
I thought about the burlesque show he’d taken me to onboard the ship, and the requests he’d made of me on the veranda. "You really love dancing, don’t you?" I asked, leaning in close to be heard above the music.
He turned to me with a broad smile. "It's the best of life—the rhythm and the flow. Don't you think it captures the soul of the people?" I had to agree. The dancers were so involved in their performance that nothing else seemed to matter. As I stood in the audience, I became as entranced as the rest of the room, enjoying the demonstration and clapping with the drums. The music rolled through us, the audience responding to the dancers as if we were all connected.
As the music died away and we were released from the hypnotic trance we'd all shared, Antonio and I headed to the local distillery.
"Care to learn a little about the process?" Antonio asked, then drew back slightly. "Unless you’re too tired, of course."
I smiled, admiring the happy glow about him. He was like a kid, as though a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. I was happy, too, knowing I had something to do with that. "Sure, I'd love to," I told him, pulling him down for a quick kiss.
The dancing, the rum, the manufacturing processes with the batik and chocolate. These were insights into the man I wanted to know everything about; I was not going to pass up this opportunity. And besides, the excursions had been fascinating so far. Why not add a little rum to the mix?
Chapter Twenty
"I had no idea sugar was so important to the livelihood of these people," I said as we strolled through the museum, examining the different tools and images of the distilling trade. I had never been one to take much interest in science or physics, but the classroom was so much different from seeing the machines in action.
"Let me choose for you," Antonio said, looking over the menu after the tour as we sampled some of the flavors.
"My turn," I said, after he ordered me a La Vanilla. I closed my eyes and ran my finger down the page, stopping at a random spot. Antonio leaned over to see and we both burst into laughter as I ordered him a Tropical Kamasutra, which came in a tall, wavy glass with a slice of fresh pineapple on the side.
"Cheers," I said, offering him my glass.
He clinked glasses with me. "To an astonishing companion."
I hid my blush behind my glass as I took a sip.
"Astonishing?" I asked.
"Angela, you continue to surprise me."
"I continue to surprise myself," I muttered quietly under my breath.
"Look, I know I've been distant and busy on this trip," he said, resting his glass on the table. His tone had turned suddenly somber and his eyes earnest. "There are things I’ve wanted to tell you—to explain to you, but I can’t just yet."
Your mob connections? Your gambling addiction? My father’s debt? I pushed all those "things" to the back of my mind, not wanting to spoil the mood with negative thoughts about things I had no control over. I took another sip of my rum, its sweet tingle rolling down my throat.
"I know I haven’t been the best companion," he continued. "I intend to make it up to you from now on. And when I can, I’ll tell you everything."
"All right," I said cautiously, "I guess I can … wait."
He leaned forward and kissed me on the brow. "That's my girl."
That reminded me of something you'd say to a love-sick teenager. I downed the rest of my drink. "I am a big girl, you know. And I can manage for
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