Deceived - The Complete Series Read online

  “Jo... JOANNE!” Joanne turned around when she heard her name. “Ana. Hey girl. Thanks so much for the invite. This is amazing!” Joanne gave her friend a hug.

  “Ana, this is my girlfriend Angela. She just moved here from Miami.” Joanne said motioning her hand towards Angela.

  “Hey, nice to meet you, any friend of Jo’s is a friend of mine.” Ana gave her a smile.

  Angela couldn’t help but stare at Ana. She was beautiful. Her long light brown hair fell over her shoulders, but it was her piercing sky blue eyes and dark eyelashes that were so captivating.

  “Thank you, Ana. This place is really amazing,” Angela said looking around the club.

  “It’s a big night tonight. The main attraction is our new driver and his car.” Looking towards Joanne she said, “I probably won’t be around much, you know, work.” Ana shot her a smile.

  “Russell,” Ana yelled at the bartender. “These two ladies are on the house tonight. Take care of them.” She winked.

  “No problem Ana,” the bartender said.

  “Well it was great meeting you Angela. Joanne, let’s try and get together soon.” She gave Joanne a kiss on the cheek and walked into the crowd.

  “She’s beautiful Jo.” Angela said watching her in the crowd.

  “Yeah, she is a vixen, but also a very smart business women. She runs her company with her older brother.” Jo said.

  “What would you ladies like to drink?” The bartender asked.

  “We’ll take two cosmos and two shots of fireball please.” Joanne turned around and moved her hips to the song.

  “You’re going to kill me,” Angela laughed, swaying to the tune.

  They shot back their fireball and headed for the dance floor. It was wall to wall people dancing to the club music. There seemed to be no room for any more but somehow when Angela and Joanne hit it, the space magically appeared. They danced together, all grins, just happy. Angela felt free and more alive than she had since Blake got sick. She felt the part of herself that was really her come out to play. She let herself feel the vibes of the music and her body followed. Angela had grown used to her quiet life and forgotten how much she loved these fun times with her friends. As they danced, they got bumped and grinded by other men and women on the floor. At one point two men tried to move in on both of them but they just slowly danced in the other direction leaving the men looking like they were dancing with each other awkwardly.

  They danced until they were exhausted, and then had a few more shots and ordered another drink. They walked over to the semi-private area to check out the race car on display. It was gorgeous. It was perched on a little stage that was slowly turning so you could inspect all angles. To Angela it looked like a Mustang, although she wasn’t a car person and knew nothing about them.

  “Nice looking Gen - 6.” The man’s voice came from beside her. Angela’s gaze slid up to the tall stranger that was standing beside her.

  “Excuse me?” She said.

  “The car, it’s called a Gen – 6,” he said smiling.

  Angela took a breath as she looked at the gorgeous man that towered over her, waiting for a response. She found herself tongue tied as she stared into his intense grey blue eyes and his short well-kept brown hair. His features were almost chiseled to perfection and his smile was nothing short of pure sexiness.

  As her eyes fell on his chest she noticed his white dress shirt button under his black suit jacket was undone. Angela couldn’t help but stare and notice that his chest was definitely sculpted to perfection with a little bit of a tattoo showing on his top left collar bone slightly trailing up his neck. He was certainly not hard to look at.

  “Ummm...” She tried to look for the words but nothing would come out. Trying to seem as though she wasn’t flustered she tried again. “Yes the car is beautiful.” She looked away and felt her face flush.

  “Not into cars right?” His voice was deep and smooth and oh so damn sexy.

  “Not really.” She smiled.

  “Hey Angela, I need another drink, you want one?” Jo shouted a little too loud.

  “Sure, I’ll go with you.” She grabbed her arm and they headed towards the bar. As they walked away she heard the gorgeous man say, “Have fun.” She could feel his eyes on her all the way to the bar.

  “Who the hell was that?” Jo asked grinning ear to ear as she looked back to check him out. “He’s fucking gorgeous, like magazine gorgeous!”

  “I have no idea and don’t want to know. He looks like trouble with those tattoos,” Angela said stealing one more glance back.

  As Angela took another look the stranger locked eyes with her, smiled and winked. She almost stumbled turning around too quickly trying to make her way back to the bar. Her knees went weak at the sight of him. He was definitely one of the sexiest men she had ever encountered.

  It was almost one am when Angela checked the time. She was feeling the alcohol that she’d been imbibing all night and now the room in front of her had begun to spin in an array of shapes and colors. She felt a little sick to her stomach and the headache tomorrow was going to be fierce.

  “You ready to go?” she asked Joanne, “I’m a bit wasted.” Angela giggled and let out a hiccup.

  “Yeah, I’m feeling no pain myself,” Jo said with a glazed look on her face.

  There was suddenly a man standing a little too close to Angela at the bar. She heard him say, “Hey baby. You’re fucking beautiful.”

  “Excuse me!” Angela whipped around shooting a “Don’t fuck with me look” at the stranger. He licked his lips, worsening her nausea.

  “You’re gorgeous. You wanna dance?” He seemed completely oblivious to the annoyed look on her face.

  “Are you serious? Is that your best line?” Angela laughed, “Um...No thanks. I’ll pass.” She grabbed Joanne’s arm and motioned her to start walking.

  They had almost made it to the front door of the club when a fight broke out. Angela saw it happening in front of her as if in slow motion. She tried to step back but her body was thrown to the ground as one of the men was punched in the face and flew back into her. He went down hard, taking Angela down with him. She fell to the floor hard and as she did, her arm landed against a shard of broken glass.

  “Angela!” Joanne screamed.

  Chaos ensued as the bouncers rushed in and made their way through the crowd. They grabbed the two men and dragged them out of the club.

  Angela was disoriented from a combination of the alcohol and all the chaos going on around her. She suddenly felt her body being lifted upwards. Someone had scooped her up off the floor. Someone strong. She felt dizzy as she looked up into the man’s grey blue eyes. It was him, that irresistible hunk of a man she was talking to earlier. She could smell his cologne as her head rested against his bicep. Her head was spinning and she wasn’t sure if it was the alcohol, the excitement or the Adonis whose arms she suddenly found herself in. He brought her through a set of doors and sat her down on a stainless steel table.

  “Are you alright?” He said looking at her arm. Blood was oozing out and running down towards her wrist.

  “I’m ok, it’s just a little cut,” she said staring at him like she was in a trance.

  He stood in between her legs and held onto her waist with one hand. He reached around her slowly, and she felt him stop and breathe in as if taking in her scent. His lips came so close to grazing her neck that she could feel the heat of his breath. She was shocked as she realized she could feel herself becoming aroused.

  “Here let me see,” he said, taking her arm and inspecting the cut. He gently wiped the blood away with a towel he’d grabbed off the table.

  Angela could actually feel the heat of his eyes on her body. When she looked into his eyes, her heart sped up. She realized now that she got a good look at him underneath the lights, he was even more beautiful that she’d thought. His lips were full, almost perfect and his cheek bones were cut to precision which complimented his tanned skin tone and he had one h
uge dimple on his right cheek. His facial features were nothing short of male hotness. He was absolutely stunning.

  “You’re so beautiful.” He said as he looked into her brown eyes.

  She felt ripples of excitement course through her body. His voice was deep and sexy and reminded her of Vin Diesel.

  “Thank you, but, I’m really ok.” Drawing in a shaky breath she pulled her arm back slightly from his grip.

  He wrapped the thin towel around her arm and tied it into a knot so it wouldn’t fall off. “If you insist,” he said, giving her an irresistible smile. He ran his thumb down her hip and traced her thigh, touching the skin on her leg. Slowly, he pushed the hem of her dress up and she stopped him with her hand.

  “What are you doing?” she asked, looking at him like he was crazy.

  “You have a small cut. Look.” He smiled again, not moving his thumb.

  “It’s ok, really.” She tried to say it sternly, not wanting him to know that she secretly enjoyed his touch. She moved his hand off of her leg and simultaneously, his other hand snaked around the back of her neck and pulled her ear into his lips.

  “You smell so damn good,” he whispered as he slid his parted lips along her skin and traced it slowly with the tip of his tongue.

  Angela was filled with a desire she had never felt before. She knew this was wrong. It was too soon. She was just drunk...right? His sexiness was overwhelming her. It was almost demanding and surprisingly, she liked it. This instant attraction was something she had never encountered before. Breathe Angela, Breathe.

  She grabbed his shoulders and pushed him back. “What are you doing? I don’t know you and quite frankly I don’t want to know you.” She was trying to act like she was in control. The whole time her body was screaming for more. “Thank you for helping me, but I have to find my girlfriend.” She tried giving him another stern look. He didn’t seem to be affected by it. He stood in front of her still wedged between her legs. As he looked intently into her eyes he cocked his head to the side a little and gave her a half smile. He grabbed her by the waist with both hands and lifted her as if she were a small child. He stood her up on the floor and said, “As you wish sexy lady.”

  “Thank you, I really appreciate it.” She said. She gathered her wits and walked quickly away. She’d almost reached the door when she felt him right behind her.

  “What is your name?” he asked her.

  “I don’t give my name to strangers, sorry,” she said with a quick smile.

  “Ahhhh. I see,” he said with a grin. “Well for what’s it worth, my name is Steve. Until we meet again, beautiful.” He opened the swing doors for her and she paused to look up at him.

  “This is Los Angeles,” she said, “I highly doubt we’ll see each other again.” She bit down on her bottom lip and shot him another smile as she walked back into the club.

  Chapter 3

  “Want a cup?” Joanne asked holding up her coffee mug as Angela walked into the kitchen.

  “God no; I need water, lots of water.” She said, holding her head with both hands. She grabbed herself a glass from the cupboard and said, “I feel like road kill Joanne.” Groaning, she sat down on a bar stool and took a sip of her water.

  “You look like road kill!” Joanne laughed. Her tone sobered then as she said, “So what the hell happened last night with you and that guy?”

  Angela smiled. Even that hurt. “Nothing,” she said matter of factly taking another sip of her water.

  “I call bullshit chick. I know that look and no woman in their right mind would say no to that walking piece of fuck-able manliness. I mean he was gorgeous right?” Joanne’s eyes probed her friend’s face.

  “Ok, you can wipe the drool from the corner of your mouth,” she laughed. “Yes I agree. He is gorgeous.” Grinning she looked down at her glass, “He helped stop the bleeding on my arm.”

  “That’s it?”

  “Well, not quite. He also called me beautiful while sliding his lips down my neck.” Angela giggled. It was an unfamiliar sound to her. She hadn’t felt truly happy for so long.

  “HA! I fucking knew you were holding back.” Joanne laughed out loud. “I want details.”

  “That’s it. There aren’t any other details. He’s gorgeous, he called me beautiful and he sexually harassed my neck.” She laughed again.

  “Well he can sexually harass my neck any damn time he wants,” Joanne told her. “Next time you see him, you tell him I said that!” She grinned as she got up out of her chair. “I have to go but let’s do supper on Monday after your first day at work. I’ll meet you outside, say around 5:30pm?”

  “Ok, that sounds good. Do you know which building?”

  “Of course, your roommate works there remember.” Jo smiled and walked out of the loft.

  Angela finished her water and then went and jumped in the shower. The smell of alcohol was burnt into her nostrils. As she stood underneath the warm spray, she tried to exorcise the thoughts of her encounter with Steve from her head. It was futile. Every strong feature of his face was etched into her memory. The feelings he stirred in her body last night were exciting, and even thinking of him now aroused her. With her eyes closed, her hand ran down her stomach and landed on the aching spot between her legs. She slowly rubbed and circled her clit as she thought of Steven’s tongue trailing down her neck. Her breaths came in quick gasps and she let out a slight moan as her body reacted to her touch.

  It had been so long since she had been touched like that by a man. It had elicited feelings she thought no man other than her husband would ever stir again. Her body tingled with a slowly building pleasure...when a loud knock at the door startled her into almost falling on her ass.

  “Yes?” She yelled out trying to regain her step in the slippery shower.

  “Do you wanna go out for lunch?” Thomas shouted through the door.

  With a sigh she said, “Ok, I’ll be out in a few minutes.” She shook her head with her hands in her hair. What the fuck are you doing? She thought to herself. She turned the water off and stepped out onto the tile. She felt the guilt begin to well up inside of her as she dried herself off.

  Angela wiped the steamed mirror with her towel and stared at her own reflection. “No more thoughts of Steve,” she whispered. “Only Blake.” Tears welled in her eyes as she told herself, “I can’t forget about Blake!”

  ******

  “I’ll have a Caesar salad, thank you,” Angela said, as she passed the menu back to the waitress.

  “So I heard your conversation with Joanne this morning. Who’s this guy?” Thomas asked, as he squinted his brows together.

  “Just some guy that helped me last night. There was a fight and I ended up getting cut by some broken glass.” She picked up her coffee cup and took a sip.

  “It sounded like a lot more than just some guy, the way you two were talking about him. Are you interested in him?” He pressed her and seemed to be impatiently waiting for a response.

  “Thomas, seriously?” Angela looked at him annoyed. “No, I’m not interested. I don’t even know who he is.”

  “Ok, ok. Just saying. You just got here and I really don’t think a relationship is something you should be jumping into right away.” He was being awfully blunt. She wasn’t sure she appreciated it.

  “Really?” She asked, looking into his icy green eyes. Thomas was extremely attractive; five-eleven or so with a very lean muscular build and well-kept short, dirty blond hair. He had a small mole on his left cheek that complimented his full set of lips. He had no problems getting women from what she remembered but Angela had always looked at him as a great friend, almost like a brother. She checked her annoyance. She knew he was really just looking out for her. “Thomas, there really is no need to be worried. The guy helped a girl in distress. That’s all... completely innocent.” She smiled as the waitress approached and sat her salad down in front of her. “Let’s eat, I’m starving.” She said, “You can fill me in about what I should expect from my ne
w boss,” she told him before taking her first bite.

  “You’ll love her. Kim is a tiny little thing but knows her stuff inside out. You’ll learn a lot from her,” he said. “Honestly, I don’t think I have ever met someone so driven before. When she sets her mind to something, she always accomplishes it.” He took a bite of his food and asked her, “Are you nervous?”

  “A little, it’s been over a year since I have worked. I’m sure I’ll pick things up like I never left eventually, but a new work environment, new co-workers, you know...”

  “Yeah, I get it. You’ll be fine. Kim is a softy, but a hard worker and expects the same. As long as you hit your deadlines you’re good in her book,” he winked.

  *****

  Monday morning arrived quickly, but Angela felt as ready as she would ever be. She dressed in a short sleeve ruffled white dress shirt that complimented her snug grey skirt that ended right below her knee and accentuated her tiny frame. Her nude heels added an extra four inches to her five-foot three height.

  That morning as she walked into the building with her arm through Thomas’s he said, “You look pretty hot missy.” Chuckling he asked, “Nervous?”

  “No. I’ll be good,” she said with confidence as they stepped onto the elevator and rode it to the tenth floor. Stepping off, Angela watched the busy people doing their thing. There were at least a dozen cubicles where people were on the phones or typing away at their computers. Multiple offices faced the large windows with views of the city’s skyline.

  “Holy shit,” she said, grabbing his arm tighter. “Ok, yes, I’m nervous,” she whispered.

  “You’ll be fine,” he told her. “I’ll introduce you to Kimberly and she will give you a run-down of exactly what your duties are and your client’s list.” He looked down at her and gave her a warm smile.

  “Okay,” she said with a nervous smile. She stuck close to him until they got to the door that said, “Kimberly Townsend - Associate Director of Marketing”. Thomas lightly rapped his knuckles against it.

  “Come in,” the voice was soft. Angela knew what Kim looked like already from the interview they had on Skype over a month ago.