Read Online High Stakes Seduction - Book 4 by Ami LeCoeur - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Ami LeCoeur
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behind me. I didn't realize he was in the building, and I thanked my stars that he hadn't walked into the lobby while I was making that phone call.
A chorus of “Hello Mr. Mancini” went up from my co-workers as they greeted him with bright smiles. He returned their greetings, addressing each of them by name and pausing to talk with them in turn. That gave me a little time to bring down the flush that had risen in my cheeks and quiet the pulse I could feel fluttering in my throat. That man made me crazy, in more ways than one, and right now I didn’t need my co-workers–or him—to notice how much.
As I covertly watched him a mirror, I was impressed by the seemingly genuine interest he gave to each woman. He appeared warm and attentive, although strictly professional, as he asked them questions and really seemed to listen to their response.
I had to stop watching him, to clear my mind and find the right words to cover my most recent faux pas. I glanced longingly at the doorways, praying for a new customer to walk in and give me something to do. I’d even settled for a hole to open up in the floor; I would have happily jumped in so it could swallow me up.
I was so busy thinking up creative ways to disappear that I jumped when Antonio stepped beside me. “I’m sorry things turned out differently than you expected. It's unfortunate I was so busy taking care of business on the trip,” he said quietly, his hands in his pockets. “I understand you brought your photos in yesterday. I'm hoping you'll share them with me, too. It would be good to see all the things I missed."
“I…”
"And besides, we need to review the location shots."
I stared. He still wanted me to manage the twins and their photo shoot?
“I’m glad you took your camera along,” he said, ignoring my complete loss of words as he moved around the counter to stand beside me. “She was quite the shutter bug,” he said to Priscilla with a chuckle.
The sound of his voice, the proximity of his body. I'd hoped I was immune by now. But apparently not.
In fact, quite the opposite. My body responded involuntarily to his closeness, filling me with a warm ache. My mind was busy throwing dire warnings at me as it fought against my body's desire to just give in to the steady throbbing between my thighs.
Stop it! Wise up! Remember: shady business dealings, discussions behind locked doors. Late night gambling .
And Naomi.
“Yes, I noticed when she brought them in. She has a good eye for color and composition,” Priscilla replied.
“You have that tone, Priscilla,” Antonio said, leaning casually against the counter beside me. I looked from him to her.
I couldn’t hear a difference in her tone, but by Priscilla’s nod, I guessed there was some level of communication going on between them that I wasn’t privy to. While it made me slightly curious, I wasn't surprised. They'd worked together for a long time. Besides, I almost didn’t mind that they were having a conversation over my head about my photography, because I was still trying to figure out how to disappear.
Then, Antonio turned his back on me. I don’t know what I expected under the circumstances—we were at work for heaven’s sake—but the back of his head was a sad reminder of how often he’d intentionally or unintentionally done the same thing on the cruise.
I gave myself a mental shake, trying to get free from these morose feelings. There was no way I'd expected him to walk into the store and sweep me off my feet in a dramatic kiss. I might have a bit of the romantic in me, but I was pretty much of a realist. Still, I was hurt that he was acting like there had been absolutely nothing between us. In fact, the more I thought about it, the more it irritated me.
I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror, and I didn't like what I saw: my face was scrunched into something between anger and sadness. Grrr, I growled to myself and took a deep breath, remembering Maria’s advice to me.
A chorus of “Hello Mr. Mancini” went up from my co-workers as they greeted him with bright smiles. He returned their greetings, addressing each of them by name and pausing to talk with them in turn. That gave me a little time to bring down the flush that had risen in my cheeks and quiet the pulse I could feel fluttering in my throat. That man made me crazy, in more ways than one, and right now I didn’t need my co-workers–or him—to notice how much.
As I covertly watched him a mirror, I was impressed by the seemingly genuine interest he gave to each woman. He appeared warm and attentive, although strictly professional, as he asked them questions and really seemed to listen to their response.
I had to stop watching him, to clear my mind and find the right words to cover my most recent faux pas. I glanced longingly at the doorways, praying for a new customer to walk in and give me something to do. I’d even settled for a hole to open up in the floor; I would have happily jumped in so it could swallow me up.
I was so busy thinking up creative ways to disappear that I jumped when Antonio stepped beside me. “I’m sorry things turned out differently than you expected. It's unfortunate I was so busy taking care of business on the trip,” he said quietly, his hands in his pockets. “I understand you brought your photos in yesterday. I'm hoping you'll share them with me, too. It would be good to see all the things I missed."
“I…”
"And besides, we need to review the location shots."
I stared. He still wanted me to manage the twins and their photo shoot?
“I’m glad you took your camera along,” he said, ignoring my complete loss of words as he moved around the counter to stand beside me. “She was quite the shutter bug,” he said to Priscilla with a chuckle.
The sound of his voice, the proximity of his body. I'd hoped I was immune by now. But apparently not.
In fact, quite the opposite. My body responded involuntarily to his closeness, filling me with a warm ache. My mind was busy throwing dire warnings at me as it fought against my body's desire to just give in to the steady throbbing between my thighs.
Stop it! Wise up! Remember: shady business dealings, discussions behind locked doors. Late night gambling .
And Naomi.
“Yes, I noticed when she brought them in. She has a good eye for color and composition,” Priscilla replied.
“You have that tone, Priscilla,” Antonio said, leaning casually against the counter beside me. I looked from him to her.
I couldn’t hear a difference in her tone, but by Priscilla’s nod, I guessed there was some level of communication going on between them that I wasn’t privy to. While it made me slightly curious, I wasn't surprised. They'd worked together for a long time. Besides, I almost didn’t mind that they were having a conversation over my head about my photography, because I was still trying to figure out how to disappear.
Then, Antonio turned his back on me. I don’t know what I expected under the circumstances—we were at work for heaven’s sake—but the back of his head was a sad reminder of how often he’d intentionally or unintentionally done the same thing on the cruise.
I gave myself a mental shake, trying to get free from these morose feelings. There was no way I'd expected him to walk into the store and sweep me off my feet in a dramatic kiss. I might have a bit of the romantic in me, but I was pretty much of a realist. Still, I was hurt that he was acting like there had been absolutely nothing between us. In fact, the more I thought about it, the more it irritated me.
I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror, and I didn't like what I saw: my face was scrunched into something between anger and sadness. Grrr, I growled to myself and took a deep breath, remembering Maria’s advice to me.
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