Page 56 of Strange Seduction
Carter smiled, “Just wanted to see if the rumors were true, and they are. You really are the most gorgeous woman on the planet.”
My grip tightened on the glass as I looked over at Theo. I knew how he felt about his associates flirting with me, but he didn’t seem to mind.
“Don’t worry,” Carter leaned in close. “You’re beautiful, but you ain’t exactly mytype.”
Oop.
I knew exactly what he meant, but I played into it a little. “I’meveryone’stype.”
Carter looked taken aback. “Gorgeous with a gorgeous accent. Theodore hit the lottery with you, huh?”
“Of course he did.” I winked.
That made him chuckle and got a reaction out of Theo. “Alright, alright. Enough.”
He leaned into my ear so that Carter couldn’t hear and said, “Didn’t I say to behave?”
Random Voice: You’re not a damn puppy who needs to be trained! Cuss his ass out!
I squeezed my eyes shut as I felt a headache come on.
Not here… not now…
“Hey,” Theo’s voice softened. “You okay? Do you need—”
“Tee, Martin’s here.” Carter’s voice cut through. “We gotta go over there. He’ll want details about the investment ball.”
“One sec, Carmen needs me.”
“No. No,” I waved him off. I couldn’t be an issue at the event where he handled business, so I pushed through. “I’m fine.”
Theo’s eyes searched mine. “You sure?”
“Yes. Please,” I forced a smile through the pain. “Don’t worry about me.”
I didn’t know if he bought it or not, but he eased up either way.
“Okay. Well, I gotta go talk to this guy over there,” he murmured, nodding toward a group near the back. “He gets offended if I don’t greet him.”
“Okay,” I replied, brushing invisible lint from his shoulder. “I’ll grab another drink at the bar.”
“You sure?”
I tilted my throbbing head in annoyance. “I’m not a child. I’ll be fine.”
He hesitated, eyes scanning my face. “Alright. I’ll meet you over there when I’m done.”
“Great.”
“Nice to meet you, Carmen.” Carter waved goodbye.
I waved back at him and turned, already slipping through the crowd.
Alright. Who are you?I asked the voice that had been lingering at the edge of my mind since I got off the plane.
Random Voice: You can call me Doubt.
No. No, I don’t have doubts,I snapped, striding faster.
