Page 68 of Love or Tequila in Unexpected Places

Angelo took a small breath to clear his head—and calm his smaller head—and Allison mirrored him.

She was breathing faster, shallower. She was just as affected as he was, and Angelo was barely holding onto his sanity.

Stop this.

Stop this now, before things go any further.

She isn’t yours.

Angelo’s thoughts were in turmoil, but he knew they were right. The proximity of her presence clouded his judgment.

Her tears had stopped, so his hand really had no reason to stay on her cheek—no matter how much he needed to touch her, to stroke her full bottom lip with his thumb, his lips, his tongue.

Fuck.

Slowly, reluctantly, he dropped his hand.

And when Allison took a deep breath, he felt an odd sense of relief.

If he saw even a hint of disappointment in her eyes, he wouldn’t be able to hold back. He’d fucking pounce on her, kissing her without restraint, parked right outside the doctor’s office.

He really needed to push those thoughts out of his head, or he might end up breaking the one rule he should never break:

Don’t sleep with my business rival’s daughter.

Even though he already had. But that was beside the point because he hadn’t known who she was that night three months ago.

So, his rule still stood.

And he was dangerously close to obliterating it.

That was why he’d stepped away weeks ago, when he’d held her against her car and almost lost control.

That, and the phone call from Talon.

Work consumed him incessantly, from early morning to late at night, even on days when he’d told his PA not to disturb him. Ever since he took over his father’s business four months ago, it occupied his mind relentlessly.

And whenever his mind wasn’t occupied by work, it was filled with Allison.

Her scent. Her laugh. Her smile. Her body. Her taste. Her touch. Her eyes.

God, those eyes.

He’d never seen a more captivating pair. He’d seen green, blue, brown—shades of those colors. But never eyes like hers.

I could fall in love with those eyes.

Angelo flinched at his own thoughts. Fall in love? He had just reaffirmed his rule, and now he was thinking about love? No. Angelo Taylor didn’t do love. Those feelings were childish and made him lose control.

And he needed control. He always had.

Even as a boy, he’d kept his room exactly as he wanted. Everything in its place, maintaining a specific order. He’d picked his own clothes, his own food, his extracurriculars. He made sure his parents didn’t make a single decision for him.

That was why he’d been so shaken when his father had told him the news months ago.

I’m stepping down, son. It’s time for the business to pass to you.

Angelo knew it was coming. He’d been preparing for it his whole life. His father took great pride in his empire, ensuring Angelo was trained for the takeover.

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