Spiraling Deception Read Online Free PDF

afternoon, I knew there were at least
twenty large round tables, each seating up to ten and encircling
the room. The low murmurs of the audience were faintly audible
despite the resounding tempo of the music.
    As I silently commenced counting in sync
with the notes of the piano, my gaze absently flickered forward.
The beam from the spotlight illuminated just enough light that I
could see a pair of eyes stare back at me. Those eyes belonged to a
man seated at the head of the table straight in front of the stage
and in my direct line of sight.
    My breath seized.
    I lost count.
    And my body froze.
    Being watched by an audience had never
bothered me before—it was all part and parcel of performing on the
stage. However, there was something different about them. They
weren’t observing my form as a whole—they intently stared into my
eyes. It was as if they had deliberately sought out my focus, lured
me in, and ensnared all of my consciousness.
    Those dark orbs held my gaze captive,
riveted in a firm and unyielding vise that was near impossible to
break. A spine-tingling shiver raced down the back of my spine as I
fought to regain my breathing.
    My mouth felt dry and I
swallowed, trying to remember what I was supposed to be doing in
that moment. But all I could see was him . All I could feel were his dark,
fathomless, mesmerizing eyes on mine. It felt as though I were
slowly devoured from the inside out and another tremble rolled down
my back.
    Although his features were partially
obscured by shadows, making it near impossible to see his face,
everything about the man blatantly held me prisoner, screamed with
sensually raw, masculine aggression—the effect disconcerting and
paralyzing.
    As if sensing my discomfort, his pensive
expression relaxed fractionally, and from the shadows I could see
the full edges of his lips curve up to one side. He appeared to
be…smirking.
    Was the jerk smirking at me?
    My gaze narrowed toward the stranger at the
same time the sound of Jake hissing down from the trapeze filtered
through the haze in my head. “Charli! What the fuck!”
    Shit, shit, SHIT!
    Giving my head a small
shake to clear my thoughts, I improvised, entwining my right leg
around the ribbon, and ascended with a
basic wrap climb.

Chapter Three
     
    After the show, I
attempted to stealthily slip away and abscond back to my gorgeous
suite for the remainder of the evening but was thwarted by Uncle
Mike. He caught me on the steps. A stern frown masked his face as
he demanded my attendance along with the other troupe members at
the after-party. His order put a major kibosh on my plans for the
night. Damn it!
    Grudgingly, I raced back
up to my room and quickly changed into the solitary dress I’d
brought with me on the trip—a typical LBD—or at least my version of
a “little black dress.” Basically, it was a long-sleeved shift
dress that ended mid-thigh; all lace at the front and very demure
but behind was pure sex kitten, with a low cutout panel that
exposed the majority of skin right down to an inch above my ass.
The detailed lace was stretchy and clung to what little curves I
had in a very flattering way. I loved the dress and planned to wear
it out one night during our stay in Paris. The dress said
more night clubby then sophisticated
elegance , so I
felt a little uncomfortable putting it on at first. But I hadn’t
brought anything else, so it would have to do. There were times
when I really should listen to Courtney—she had told me to pack
more.
    Normally, there weren’t
any after-party celebrations to attend, unless you counted going
for a ride on the roller coaster afterwards. The Amazing Lawsons
mainly performed at local county fairs and the odd company
corporate functions. Oh well, the dress
would have to do.
    As I brushed my hair out, I decided to leave
it loose and hanging down my back in an effort for modesty and
jogged back down the stairs to meet up with Jake and Courtney.
    They waited for me just outside the