Read Online High Stakes Seduction - Book 4 by Ami LeCoeur - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Ami LeCoeur
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thought about what I'd seen in the paper. Walker, I understood. Naomi was a bit of a surprise, but not entirely—I wouldn't put anything past that woman. And that Cartoli—he was the same guy I'd seen at the shuffleboard—I had no idea we'd had a local politician aboard the cruise. Where does he fit into all this?
I suppose I shouldn't care. After all, Tony had dropped me as soon as the cruise was over. But regardless of how I felt about him personally, we were still tied together through my agreement. And as long as he held the financial reins, I wanted to get to the bottom of this. If nothing else, to protect my own financial interests.
"Ryan!" I said, remembering the boyish good looks of my traveling companion on the way back from Florida and the cruise. He worked at the D.A.'s office. Maybe he could shed some light on these guys. It wouldn't hurt to find out.
I stepped into the lobby next to the store and rifled through my wallet. I had slipped his card in there at the airport, and never bothered to transfer it into my rolodex at home.
Snatching out the card, I quickly dialed his number, feeling conspicuous and little disloyal. Here I was, calling the D.A.'s office about my boss and his dealings, while I was standing in the lobby of the very building owned by Mancini Enterprises.
Feeling even more foolish, I was about to hang up the phone when the line engaged and his familiar voice floated into my ear.
"You've reached the voicemail for Ryan Burton, Assistant District Attorney. I'm out of the office right now. If you need to speak with someone immediately, press 0 when you hear the beep. Otherwise, please leave a message and I'll return your call as soon as I'm able." * bleep * came the tone.
Hm, voicemail. Ok. "Hi, Ryan. This is Angela, I hope you remember me. We shared a couple drinks on the flight back from Miami. Um, I'm calling to take you up on that rain-check you offered. You can reach me at 555-1122."
Well, that was done. And somehow it made me feel better, as though I was actually doing something. I wondered how long it would be before I heard back. Even more, I wondered what other secrets I might uncover about the mysterious Antonio Mancini and his entourage.
Slipping my cellphone back into my purse, I left the lobby and entered the store through the cosmetics department.
Chapter Nineteen
I passed through the lingerie and swimsuit section on my way back to my department. A little purple number caught my eye and I paused. I certainly didn’t need another bikini, but this one was really cute. And the color reminded me of the racy lingerie I’d bought onboard the ship, hoping to entice Antonio.
I sighed as moments both beautiful and haunting came back to me. Beautiful… those glorious moments in Antonio’s arms. Haunting… as I remembered hearing Whiny Walker through the door. I shook my head. All this intrigue was starting to be too much for me.
Absentmindedly, I fingered the smooth fabric of the bikini, remembering the look on Antonio’s face when he'd finally seen me in the outfit the morning before we went to the chocolate factory. The way he sucked in his lower lip, trying to deny what was standing right before him.
I heard Nevia chuckle, approaching as I stood there lost in thought. “Still got your mind on that cruise, huh?”
“Something like that,” I murmured, snapping out of my reverie.
Nevia sighed. “I’m definitely updating my bucket list to include a cruise. Most likely a tropical cruise, but have you heard about those Alaskan cruises? Those sound kind of interesting, too.”
I turned away from the rack with a smile so forced it felt frozen on my face. “I don’t know if I’d go on another cruise,” I said stiffly.
Nevia tilted her head quizzically. “I thought you had fun?”
I shrugged. “Could have been better.”
"Sorry it didn't live up to your expectations, Ms. Tilson."
My head snapped up when I heard Antonio's deceptively quiet voice rumble gently
I suppose I shouldn't care. After all, Tony had dropped me as soon as the cruise was over. But regardless of how I felt about him personally, we were still tied together through my agreement. And as long as he held the financial reins, I wanted to get to the bottom of this. If nothing else, to protect my own financial interests.
"Ryan!" I said, remembering the boyish good looks of my traveling companion on the way back from Florida and the cruise. He worked at the D.A.'s office. Maybe he could shed some light on these guys. It wouldn't hurt to find out.
I stepped into the lobby next to the store and rifled through my wallet. I had slipped his card in there at the airport, and never bothered to transfer it into my rolodex at home.
Snatching out the card, I quickly dialed his number, feeling conspicuous and little disloyal. Here I was, calling the D.A.'s office about my boss and his dealings, while I was standing in the lobby of the very building owned by Mancini Enterprises.
Feeling even more foolish, I was about to hang up the phone when the line engaged and his familiar voice floated into my ear.
"You've reached the voicemail for Ryan Burton, Assistant District Attorney. I'm out of the office right now. If you need to speak with someone immediately, press 0 when you hear the beep. Otherwise, please leave a message and I'll return your call as soon as I'm able." * bleep * came the tone.
Hm, voicemail. Ok. "Hi, Ryan. This is Angela, I hope you remember me. We shared a couple drinks on the flight back from Miami. Um, I'm calling to take you up on that rain-check you offered. You can reach me at 555-1122."
Well, that was done. And somehow it made me feel better, as though I was actually doing something. I wondered how long it would be before I heard back. Even more, I wondered what other secrets I might uncover about the mysterious Antonio Mancini and his entourage.
Slipping my cellphone back into my purse, I left the lobby and entered the store through the cosmetics department.
Chapter Nineteen
I passed through the lingerie and swimsuit section on my way back to my department. A little purple number caught my eye and I paused. I certainly didn’t need another bikini, but this one was really cute. And the color reminded me of the racy lingerie I’d bought onboard the ship, hoping to entice Antonio.
I sighed as moments both beautiful and haunting came back to me. Beautiful… those glorious moments in Antonio’s arms. Haunting… as I remembered hearing Whiny Walker through the door. I shook my head. All this intrigue was starting to be too much for me.
Absentmindedly, I fingered the smooth fabric of the bikini, remembering the look on Antonio’s face when he'd finally seen me in the outfit the morning before we went to the chocolate factory. The way he sucked in his lower lip, trying to deny what was standing right before him.
I heard Nevia chuckle, approaching as I stood there lost in thought. “Still got your mind on that cruise, huh?”
“Something like that,” I murmured, snapping out of my reverie.
Nevia sighed. “I’m definitely updating my bucket list to include a cruise. Most likely a tropical cruise, but have you heard about those Alaskan cruises? Those sound kind of interesting, too.”
I turned away from the rack with a smile so forced it felt frozen on my face. “I don’t know if I’d go on another cruise,” I said stiffly.
Nevia tilted her head quizzically. “I thought you had fun?”
I shrugged. “Could have been better.”
"Sorry it didn't live up to your expectations, Ms. Tilson."
My head snapped up when I heard Antonio's deceptively quiet voice rumble gently
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