Treasuring Amber: The Temptation Saga: Book Five by Helen Hardt Page A

It’s not a time in my life I like to talk about. Or even think about for that matter.”
    “Well, you did tell me about your two one-night stands.” She winked.
    True, she had. About seven months ago, before Angie and Rafe had hooked up. Angie had said she needed some sex, and Amber had suggested a one-night stand. Who would’ve thought two one-night stands would turn out to be the tamest things she’d done in San Antonio?
    Amber picked up her wine glass and took a long sip. “I guess it’s best to start at the beginning.”
    For the next hour, she poured out her whole sordid story, beginning with being kicked out of Karen’s house to leaving San Antonio.
    Angie listened with rapt attention, her green eyes wide. “And Harp knows all of this?”
    “All of what I’ve told you so far.”
    Angie smiled and patted Amber’s forearm. “My brother’s a good man.”
    Her friend’s touch soothed her…but only a little. “That he is.”
    “If he’s okay with all of this, why are you so upset?”
    Those same icy fingers gripped the back of her neck. “Because I haven’t told you everything yet. I’ve only told what…what I remember.”
    “Sorry, babe. Not following here.”
    “Oh God.” She pushed her wine glass ahead of her. “Is there any more?”
    “Yeah.” Angie poured another glass. “I’ve never seen you drink more than two drinks.”
    “This is only my second.”
    “I know. I’m just saying.”
    Amber took a sip. It was a nice red, kind of spicy. She’d hoped to learn more about wine from Harper. She’d hoped for so much…
    “You know that guy who used to work for Chad? Blake Buchanan?”
    “Yeah.”
    “You’ve lived here most of your life. You already know the story about him and the librarian.”
    Angie nodded. “Heck, that’s old news. Evie’s over it. I thought the whole town was.”
    “Maybe they are. I don’t know.”
    “He seems like a nice enough guy to me.”
    Amber widened her eyes. Seriously? Angie couldn’t see through the jerk? She was as blind as Catie. “He’s not a nice guy, Ang.”
    “Oh? Why do you say that?”
    Amber swallowed the lump in her throat. “He’s blackmailing me.”
    Angie nearly spat wine across the table. “Say what?”
    “Did I stutter? He’s blackmailing me.”
    “How?”
    “Turns out he was in San Antonio for a while, and he remembers me from Rachel’s.”
    “So what? If Harper knows, and I know, and we’re fine with that, what makes you think everyone else won’t be fine with it?”
    “I’m rodeo queen, for one thing. Hardly a job for a stripper.” She clutched the stem of her goblet. “But that’s not the issue.”
    “What is, then?”
    Amber gulped down the last of her wine. Damn. She’d met her two drink max. She could use another.
    She swallowed, her tummy fluttering. Angie was her friend. She would understand. Wouldn’t she?
    She cleared her throat. “Blake Buchanan came by yesterday with some photos on the Internet.”
    “Photos of you?”
    She nodded. “They were definitely me. Thing is, I have no memory of posing for them at all. I found my roommate Laura on the web site too, and I know she’d never pose either.”
    “Nude photos?”
    She had no idea. “Yeah. More than just nude photos. I’m doing things in them.”
    Angie’s eyes widened. “You’re doing… it? ”
    “Not it , in the literal sense, but pretty much everything but.”
    Angie paused. A long pause. Then, “But how? If you don’t remember… I don’t understand, Amber.”
    “Neither did I at first, but I’m pretty sure I was drugged. I seriously have no memory of the whole thing.”
    “What web site is it?”
    “It’s an expensive paid web site for Rachel’s patrons, as far as I can tell.”
    “Do you have the URL?”
    “No. He didn’t give it to me, and I didn’t think to ask for it.” Why hadn’t she gotten the damn URL? “I wasn’t thinking at all. This came at me from left field.”
    “I understand. Do you have any idea