Page 38 of Love or Tequila in Unexpected Places

What the fuck am I doing?

He pulled his outstretched hands back, raising one to rub at his nape in a rare moment of nervousness. His palm grew sweaty, the tension in the air thickening, and just then, Allison chose that exact moment to look up at him again. Her eyes met his, a mix of uncertainty and something deeper swirling in their depths, leaving him momentarily speechless.

“I’m sorry,” she said softly.

Huh?

“For what?” Angelo asked, genuinely confused. After all, he was the one who had initiated this whole incident between them.

“Jumping you, basically.”

Angelo wanted to laugh; the absurdity of her apology struck him as both endearing and amusing. But he sensed that now wasn’t the right moment for humor, so he kept his laughter in check. Instead, he looked at her with sincerity. “Sweet girl, if you jumped me, then I’d be the happiest man in the world.”

His tone was teasing yet honest, hoping to lighten the mood and reassure her that there was nothing to regret.

Allison blushed once more, her cheeks turning a shade deeper, and Angelo’s hands itched with the desire to touch her, to hold her, to feel her warmth against him. Somewhere not far away, the distant wail of an ambulance pierced the air, a stark reminder of reality.

Realizing he needed to create some space, he took a step back, forcing himself to regain control. He couldn’t risk doing anything stupid again—like trying to kiss his fucking business rival’s daughter. The tension hung thick between them, a volatile mix of longing and restraint that made the situation all the more complicated.

“Right,” he cleared his throat lightly, “the next ultrasound is January—”

“24th, yes. I was there when the assistant made the appointment.”

Angelo huffed a laugh, a mix of admiration and amusement rising within him. Her claws were back, sharp and ready to defend her ground. He found her tenacity both charming and infuriating, and it sparked an undeniable energy between them.

If he was being honest with himself, he missed her claws.

“Good to know I’m not dealing with a complete amnesiac,” he teased, raising an eyebrow. “I just meant to say I’ll check up on you in the meantime. Okay?”

“Okay, you’re free to contact me whenever you’re available, Mr. Taylor.”

Fuck, why does that sound so inviting? And why is my cock awake again?

Angelo physically bit his tongue to keep from saying anything he wasn’t supposed to. He forced himself to focus on her words, trying to maintain a semblance of his usual professionalism. He reminded himself who she was, that he was looking for ways to stop the merger and possibly buy out Lockwood Inc. The playful banter from moments before faded, replaced by the realization that this was a delicate line he had to tread carefully.

“Sure thing, Allison,” he replied, his voice steady despite the turmoil in his mind. “I’ll be in touch.”

She straightened, slipping her professional mask on as she nodded silently. The playful spark that had ignited their earlier conversation faded into a more businesslike demeanor. Allison’s posture shifted, signaling a return to formality as she composed herself.

Angelo nodded, recognizing the shift. He could see the focused determination in her eyes, a reminder that beneath the playful exchanges lay a strong, ambitious woman ready to take on the world. Without another word, he turned on his heel and headed to his car, the weight of their earlier connection lingering in his mind.

As he walked, he couldn’t shake the feeling that their dynamic had shifted in a way he hadn’t anticipated. He reached for the car door, his thoughts still swirling around the blend of professional boundaries and personal desire, wondering how their paths would intertwine in the days to come.

Forty minutes later, Angelo walked into his brand-new apartment.

It had been less than three months since he moved to Seattle from Athens, and although the space was fully furnished by now, it still felt strange to think of it as home. The modern decor and sleek lines were all carefully chosen, but they lacked the warmth and familiarity that comes with years of memories.

He had been living in Athens for the past decade. He had a house, a company to run, and his mom and sister.

His mama, Lia—her full name was Amalia Papadopoulou, but unless you were Greek, you likely wouldn’t even attempt to pronounce it—had divorced his father when Angelo was twelve. Before the divorce, their home had been a battleground, filled with screaming matches and a palpable, lingering sadness that seemed to seep into every corner of their lives. Their marriage had been fraught with unhappiness long before Angelo came along, but when they discovered they were expecting, they both panicked and decided against divorce, thinking a child might mend their broken relationship.

Obviously major mistake.

The constant demands of parenthood only intensified the discord; the late-night cries and endless exhaustion fueled their arguments. Just when Angelo had reached an age where he could grasp the chaos around him, his parents found themselvesgrappling with the same issues yet again, and just as they began to seriously consider divorce, his mother unexpectedly became pregnant once more.

They definitely tried to have a baby often. Vigorously. At all sorts of inappropriate times.

And then came his baby sister, Katerina—evil, devious, and scarily smart. She’d been a pain in his rear ever since she was born, always stealing his toys, spilling his cereal on the floor, and when she’d grown up, fucking his friends.

---