High Stakes Seduction - Book 1 by Ami LeCoeur Page B

under my own control.
    I felt Antonio’s fingers gently caressing my back and felt the cool air against my glistening skin. "Angela," he murmured in my ear.
    I sat up in his lap, gazing languidly at him. "I—"
    The limousine pulled to a stop, saving me from saying the words I might later regret. I looked out the window to see my house. Reality came crashing back down on me and I struggled to untangle myself from Antonio’s arms.
    "I—Um. Thank you… ?" I said stupidly as I fumbled with the car door. I managed to get it open and jump out, leaving Thompson staring after me as I hurried away with what little dignity I could muster, cursing myself and vaguely hoping I hadn’t ruined the gown.

Chapter Twenty- Five
     
    "Congratulations on winning the Carlo and Poula account," said one of my colleagues as I stepped onto the sales floor. I had been receiving accolades all week. Not that I had done all that much. I accepted the wishes with as much grace and humility as I could. But all I'd really done is treat the twins like real people. And, the truth was, I didn’t care about my achievement.
    I couldn’t get Antonio Mancini out of my head.
    I couldn’t get what I had done with Antonio Mancini out of my head.
    I kept picturing the scene over and over. Half the time I was incredibly turned on by the memory and found myself blushing and wet. The other times, I was embarrassed and frightened by the brazen woman who had thrown herself onto Antonio Mancini's lap.
    So, as much as I'd wanted to crawl into the woodwork, I went about my daily routines at the store as best I could. I had, thankfully, avoided any contact with Antonio since running out of the limo.
    Maria was another story. I glanced at my watch and headed to the break room to call my sister, praying she wouldn’t ask me for more juicy details about the other night. It was bad enough that Nevia had given me a sideways, knowing glance as she passed by me on her way to the car.
    I thought I’d spun enough of a tale to keep Maria happy, but she's my sister and knows me too well. That's why I always try to make sure there are elements of truth to every embellished story I've told. But she always knows when I’m holding back. I feel horrible when I have to lie to her, but this time I kept convincing myself it was to make her happy.
    I sighed, digging around in my purse for my phone, but before I could pull up our home number, it buzzed in my hand.
    "Hey," I answered automatically, expecting it to be Maria.
    "Miss Angela Tilson?"
    "Yes."
    "This is the admitting desk at the hospital. Your sister, Maria, has had an accident. She’s in stable condition and resting now, but you’ll want to come and see her as soon as possible."
    I was already racing out the door. "Tell Priscilla that my sister’s had an emergency," I said as I passed one of the other clerks.
    "Taxi!" I cried, trying to wave down one of the yellow vehicles when I reached the sidewalk. "Taxi!"
    "Miss Tilson," said a voice behind me. I turned to find Thompson standing there and noticed his limousine parked not far away. "Do you need a lift somewhere?"
    "Maria’s been hurt," I said, realizing there were tears blurring my vision. "I need to get to the hospital."
    Thompson’s jaw tightened and he grabbed my arm. "Let’s go."

Chapter Twenty- Six
     
    "Hi," muttered Maria hoarsely when I arrived. She was lying on the inclined bed, a sheepish smile on her split lip. One eye was swollen shut and her left arm was in a sling that rested across her belly.
    "What happened?" I asked, rushing to her side. I took her good hand in mine, squeezing it, trying not to remember the last time I'd seen her in a hospital bed.
    "I fell trying to pick up a newspaper from the stoop."
    "Oh my god, Maria, you know better. Why were you out on the stoop?" I asked, then shook my head. "Never mind. Are you okay?" The panic I'd felt since I got the phone call was starting to recede. I willed my breathing to slow down, and my hands to