Accidentally Hooked (The Naked Truth Series Book 1) by Carmen Falcone

herself control was key. To lose only in the bedroom. But outside…life had taught her the hard way she had to have her eyes wide open. At all times. “That’s why you thought I hooked. When you met me at that bar?”
    He gave her a nod.
    Blood throbbed at her temples. So he was searching for…her sister? “If all you want is sex, why do you care if I’m not her?” she asked, and wished her voice hadn’t sounded so strained.
    He loosened his grip on her wrist, but his scrutinizing stare kept her from moving. “I want to know why you made me believe you were.”
    She looked away. “Does it matter?”
    Withdrawing his hand from her wrist, he made her turn around and face him, his touch on her chin causing a bucket of boiling blood to spill in her belly. “It must, otherwise you wouldn’t hide it from me.”
    “I don’t owe you explanations, you know,” she said, her voice trailing off. Panic flooded her, each time hitting a part of her with more strength. I’m screwed.
    He cleared his throat and stepped back from her, hands on his waist. “What if I tell your boss at the hotel you’ve been passing as someone else?” An icy shiver zapped down her spine. Then all of this would have been for nothing. Her sister would be jailed, and God knew what else. If she had to spill the beans over the operation, there was no way either of them would get out of it alive. If Omar was right, and he was just the middleman, if someone else was responsible for the organization…
    “You wouldn’t,” she hissed.
    “I want the truth, Kika. I won’t use it against you.”
    Was that why he’d chosen a public place other than the hotel? So they could talk without surveillance? So he could drill her with questions without her being able to cop out by using the only thing he seemed to be interested in so far, her body?
    Can I trust him? Cold sweat slicked her palms. Trust him? She didn’t have a choice. Her body throbbed, the need to share the burden of the last few days with someone battled the self-preservation that clung to her marrow. “I’m not a call girl. Never was. You’re my first client,” she spit the words out.
    He narrowed his eyes. “But your sister hooked.”
    “Yes and I had no idea. She needed the cash to pay for our aunt’s hip replacement surgery. Didn’t make the wisest choice. Obviously.”
    He scratched his chin, glanced at the floor for a minute, giving her time to take a deep inhale and get ready for more. Raising his eyes to hers, he continued, “Why did you play along that night when we met?”
    “I don’t know. Sexual fantasy. To escape reality.”
    He rubbed the back of his neck. “Is that why you’re doing this now? To escape reality? Even taking over your sister’s work at the casino?”
    “No. She got in trouble with her…manager and she needs money to get out of this life and get a clean slate. You kind of fell in my lap.” She threw her hands together in a soundless clap.
    “The guy from the hotel?”
    “Yeah.”
    “Tell me about him.”
    She chewed the inner part of her cheek, her teeth biting into it so hard that a sharp pain stabbed at her. The sound of Omar’s disgusting snickering along with the image of his slimy smirk formed in her head, triggering a flow of sour acid in her stomach. Protecting Omar wasn’t her priority. Protecting herself and Luna was. “Look, I’ve told you enough. Since we’re trying to get out, the last thing I can do is to jeopardize that goal. I hope you can understand,” she said, her voice lacking any attitude or pretense.
    He offered her a half-smile. “Okay.”
    Okay? Was that good enough? The post-venting rush subsided to an exhausting sensation tightening her chest. Doubts inundated her overworked mind, and she shoved her fidgety fingers into her pockets. “How did you figure out I had a twin?”
    “I asked someone about you. They never heard of a Kika. I connected the dots.”
    “What are you going to do?” she asked, heart