Free High Stakes Seduction - Book 1 by Ami LeCoeur Page B

approving glance over her deep red, strapless gown. "I truly admire your taste."
    As much as I was putting on a show, I wasn’t making anything up. I’d become familiar with several of our regular clients through their customer profiles in our database, and Janet Trinn had been in our store just this week.
    "Why thank you," Janet replied, her cool gaze melting slightly. "I love the new Scarlett line. I just wish you had my size in that gorgeous pantsuit the mannequin in the window was wearing."
    I touched her arm, conscious of the people listening in around us. "It looks like I’ll have to order two of those suits," I said with a conspiratorial wink. "Let me know which color you’d prefer and I’ll be sure to order the other for myself. I adore your taste in clothing, but we can’t be showing up at the next gathering in the exact same outfit."
    To my relief, Janet laughed at my little joke and that seemed to ease the tension within the small crowd. Conversation started up again around us, with a few people making inquiries about the store and our inventory. I answered their questions with ease and I made a mental note to thank Priscilla profusely for her intense and exacting training.
    After a few minutes of carefully keeping the conversation on Antonio Mancini’s contributions to the fashion industry, I finally turned my attention to the twins, excusing myself to take a seat beside Poula. They looked bored out of their minds, ignoring the conversations that continued above their heads.
    "This isn’t exactly your kind of party, is it?" I asked, leaning in to speak quietly to them.
    The young woman stared at me blankly for a moment before responding. "It was our manager’s idea," she explained in a thick European accent.
    Her brother sat forward, his dark hair falling over his shoulders. "He’s flitting about talking business, leaving us here to do nothing. And then all these people," he gave a dismissive wave of his hand, "hanging over us, wanting to be seen with us, but ignoring us all the same."
    "It is our designs," Poula said almost petulantly. "We should have a say in what we do with them. But he tells us to just sit here and make small talk with people who don’t know how to talk to us."
    "I’m sorry you’re having such an awful time," I said sympathetically. I glanced up just in time for a photographer to snap a picture.
    "Do you work with Mr. Antonio Mancini?" Carlo asked.
    "I do. My name is Angela." I extended my hand to each of them. "I am an associate in his store."
    Poula and Carlo shared a long glance that made me wonder if there was any truth to the idea of twins being able to share their thoughts. Though they were obviously fraternal, there was no denying that these two were twins. When they turned back to me, I admired their almond-shaped hazel eyes and the smattering of freckles splashed across their narrow noses.
    "Would you speak to Mr. Mancini for us?" Poula asked.
    "I would be delighted to," I smiled. "Why don’t we chat over dinner?"
    I signaled a passing waiter and we ordered drinks and appetizers. The twins turned out to be, as I expected, just like any other young adults our age. They were eager to try new things, but nervous about being thrust into the more conservative adult environment. By the time I excused myself, I’d managed to get them laughing and chatting about their design plans, as well as just about everything else that interested them. I'd even introduced them to a few of the people who had stopped by. They were enjoying themselves at last.
    I smiled inwardly, pleased with my accomplishment. I looked around for Antonio. I hadn’t seen him for most of the night, but I’d promised Carlo and Poula that he would want to speak with them personally.
    I felt a warm hand at the small of my back, the smooth touch sending shivers along my spine. I smiled, turning to tell Antonio the good news, only to find myself face to face with a tall, dark man with a dazzling smile.
    "Bonsoir,