Page 12 of Love or Tequila in Unexpected Places

“You seriously expect me to believe that you had no idea who I was when we met? That you just happened to be my competition’s daughter?” It was becoming increasingly difficult for him to keep his voice down.

He was furious, a tempest of emotions swirling inside him like a tornado threatening to tear through everything in its path.

He wanted to scream, to unleash his pent-up frustration into the void, and perhaps break something—anything—that would shatter the suffocating tension in the room. The urge to storm out was almost overwhelming, but deep down, he knew he couldn’t walk away just yet. Most of all, he craved answers, like a parched man in a desert yearning for water.

“Is that so hard to accept? I had no idea you weretheAngelo Taylor. I didn’t even remember your fucking name, let alone your face!” she exclaimed, waving her arms for emphasis.

He heard her mumble something that sounded a lot like, “No matter how hard I’ve been trying to remember for the past week.”

That’s odd.

Curiosity got the better of him.

“What do you mean you’ve been trying to remember?” he asked her, less malice in his tone this time. She rolled her eyes, clearly annoyed he had overheard something not meant for his ears. She crossed her arms and leaned her hip on the conference table just as he had done earlier.

Only a thousand times sexier than I could ever manage.

“It’s none of your—” She cut herself off, apparently contemplating something. She seemed to steel herself, preparing for whatever she was about to say. And then she visibly deflated. His curiosity peaked, but she didn’t give him the chance to speak.

“Look, I honestly didn’t know who you were,” she started again. “And I need you to pretend nothing happened between us. Please.”

He nearly fainted. Hearing her sweet, sexy voice say “please” went straight to his core. He cleared his throat lightly, feeling hotter by the minute.

“And why should I believe you?” He raised an eyebrow, staring her down with every bit of intimidation he had learned as a CEO.

She ran a hand through her hair and he wished he’d done that himself.

“Oh, um, I don’t know. The very obvious look of disbelief on my face wasn’t enough?” The sarcasm in her tone both irked and aroused him.

“You and I both know looks can be deceiving, Allison.” His words were cold, but his tone was teasing.

He wanted to provoke a reaction. Something other than a simple eye roll. No matter how attractive that eye roll actually was.

Instead, he got only a small huff and a nod from her, a reaction that felt more like complacency than agreement.

Where did that fire go?

Angelo shook his head, trying to dispel the inappropriate thoughts swirling in his mind like a pesky fly he couldn’t swat away. Images of her fiery spirit clashing with his own anger tugged at him, igniting a mix of frustration and undeniable attraction that he didn’t want to acknowledge.

Suddenly, there was an almost imperceptible shift around Allison. She swayed on her feet and Angelo barely had enough time to react—if he hadn’t been paying such close attention to her, he wouldn’t have had any time at all. But he was attuned to her like a radio to a favorite station.

Her hands instinctively shot up to his shoulders, her fingers digging in like they were trying to anchor herself against the tide of whatever was about to happen.

“Are you okay?” he asked, urgency creeping into his voice as her eyes fluttered shut. He resisted the overwhelming urge to shake her. “Allison, what’s wrong?”

Slowly, her eyes opened, revealing a hint of uncertainty. “Okay, I promise I wasn’t just practicing my fainting skills for a dramatic moment,” she said, managing a smile despite the obvious tension.

Angelo raised an eyebrow, trying to lighten the mood. “If that’s your talent, I’d suggest a different stage. Maybe a karaoke bar? Way less drama.”

She chuckled softly, though it quickly faded into a more serious tone. “I’ve been feeling… different lately.”

His heart raced, a sinking feeling mixed with confusion. “Different how? What are you—”

“I’m pregnant,” Allison blurted out, making his heart stop beating altogether.

Angelo didn’t react. For a moment, the world around him fell silent. The bustling office, the distant sounds of traffic, even the chatter of other people outside the boardroom faded into a muted hum as he processed her words. He stared at her, searching her face for signs that this was some elaborate joke, a prank that he had unwittingly become part of.

Allison’s gaze was steady but filled with apprehension, as if she were waiting for him to shatter the fragile silence that hung between them. “Angelo?” she said softly, her voice trembling slightly. “Say something.”

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