Page 31 of Dangerous Seduction

“Well, I suppose I could give it a try,” I said, injecting just the right amount of nervousness into my tone. “But you’ll have to promise not to laugh at me when I inevitably end up in the dirt.”

Sofia clapped her hands together, her face alight with glee. “It’s settled then! We’ll have the stable hand prepare the horses after lunch.”

As we chatted and made plans, I glanced around the room, taking in every detail: the artwork adorning the walls, the gleaming marble floors, and the expensive furnishings.

As Sofia and her mother excused themselves to prepare for our outing, I wandered the mansion halls, my steps taking me deeper into the heart of the Reyes domain.

I paused outside a set of heavy doors. I’d learned last night that behind those doors was Ricardo Reyes’s study, the nerve center of his criminal empire. If there were any evidence to be found–any smoking gun–it would be in here.

With a furtive glance over my shoulder to ensure I was alone, I tried the handle. To my surprise, it turned easily in my hand, the door swinging open with a soft creak.

The study was decorated in masculine elegance, with rich leather chairs, floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, and a massive mahogany desk that dominated the center of the room. My gaze was drawn to the piles of papers and ledgers strewn across the desk, a veritable treasure trove of potential evidence.

Moving quickly but quietly, I crossed the room and began rifling through the documents: shipping manifests, financial records, and coded messages.

With trembling hands, I pulled out my phone and began snapping photos. Each click felt like a thunderclap in the stillness of the study, but I pressed on, driven by the knowledge that this could be the break we needed.

Suddenly, a noise from the hallway made me freeze. Footsteps, growing louder by the second. Someone was coming.

Panicked, I shoved the phone back into my dress and hastily rearranged the papers on the desk, trying to erase any evidence of my snooping. My heart was in my throat as the footsteps drew closer.

The door swung open, and there stood Dante, his brow furrowed in confusion as he saw me in his father’s study.

“Eva?” he said, his voice tinged with surprise. “What are you doing in here?”

I forced a smile, willing my racing heart to slow, to regain some semblance of composure. “Dante, I... I was looking for the restroom,” I lied, the words tumbling from my lips with practiced ease. “I must have taken a wrong turn.”

He regarded me momentarily, those piercing blue eyes seeming to bore into my very soul. For a heart-stopping instant, I thought he could see right through me and sense the deception beneath my carefully crafted facade.

But then, to my relief, his features softened, and he offered me a crooked smile.

“No worries, babe,” he said, crossing the room to take my hand. “Let me show you the way.”

As he led me from the study, I released a shaky breath, my heart still pounding from the near-miss. The thrill of uncovering potentially crucial evidence was intoxicating, but a growing sense of unease tempered it. Dante’s mere presence seemed to short-circuit my brain, leaving me fumbling and flustered, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that my growing attraction to him was a dangerous distraction.

The stables were a sight – a sprawling complex of whitewashed stalls and gleaming tack rooms, with the scent of hay and leather hanging thick in the air. I tried to fake an air of wide-eyed wonder as Sofia led me through the grand archway, but the truth was, I felt more at home here than in most places I had been in years.

“Isn’t it just beautiful?” Sofia breathed, her eyes shining with pride as she gestured to the immaculately groomed horses and the meticulous attention to detail. “These are some of the finest Arabian bloodlines in the country.”

I nodded, letting out a soft whistle of appreciation. “The horses are gorgeous,” I said, my gaze lingering on a magnificent chestnut stallion who tossed its head, nostrils flaring. “Truly stunning creatures.”

Sofia beamed at me, her enthusiasm infectious. “I knew you’d love it here,” she said, looping her arm through mine and leading me towards a tack room. “Now, let’s get you all set up with a horse, and we can hit the trails.”

As we selected our mounts and began the process of saddling up, I fought to keep my movements slow and uncertain, playing the role of the inexperienced city girl to perfection. Sofia, bless her heart, was a patient teacher, guiding me through each step with infinite kindness and good humor.

“Okay, Eva,” she said once our horses were ready. “Time for the real test – mounting up.”

I took a deep, steadying breath, steeling myself for the performance of a lifetime. With a theatrical wobble, I approached the mare Sofia had selected for me, eyeing the stirrup with trepidation.

“Just put your left foot in the stirrup like this,” Sofia demonstrated, her movements fluid and graceful. “Then grab the saddle horn and swing your right leg over.”

I nodded, biting my lip in concentration as I followed her instructions. But just as I was about to hoist myself into the saddle, I let out a yelp and stumbled, my foot slipping from the stirrup as I landed on the ground with a dull thud.

“Eva!” Sofia cried, her eyes wide with concern as she slid from her mount and rushed to my side. “Are you alright?”

I groaned, clutching my lower back as I fought back a grin. “I think so,” I managed, grimacing for added effect. “Just a little bruised pride, that’s all.”

Sofia shook her head, her brow furrowed with worry. “Maybe we should call this off,” she said, biting her lip. “I don’t want you to get hurt.”

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