Worth the Challenge (22 page)

Her heart panged and she wondered at the sincerity of his words. “No, you don’t.” Her reply came in a heated rush, an automatic defense. “You just think you do. The feeling will pass.”

“No.” He sounded pained now. “No, I don’t think it’ll pass. It hasn’t passed since we exited the goddamned plane and went our separate ways. I want to see you. Tonight.”

Closing her eyes, she rested her forehead against the nearby wall, the cool, sleek feel of it calming her bouncing nerves. “Don’t ask me to do this,” she whispered. “I can’t do it.”

“I miss you.” He paused, the words sinking in like sharp, jabbing stabs to her vulnerable heart. “I told myself I wouldn’t. I told myself I didn’t need you.”

Harder stabs now, they penetrated deep, almost to her very soul. “How sweet of you to confess such romantic sentiments.”

“Jesus, Gabriella. Don’t act like this.”

“How do you expect me to act? Do you want me to beg you to come see me? Do you want me to be waiting for you, naked and willing in my bed, ready for you to use me, charm me, satisfy me with a quick orgasm before you’re on your merry way, as per your usual mode of operation? I don’t think so.”

“It’s different with you,” he started, but she cut him off.

“It’s different only because you spent a few days with me versus one night. You were trapped with me on an island, remember? You had nowhere to run. Otherwise, you would’ve been out of there before dawn broke.” She knew it was true, he’d admitted as much. She hadn’t believed him at the time, thought she was different. That she could change him.

Foolish, stupid girl she was.

“You don’t want me.” He sounded like a petulant child. Well, truly he was. The man had never fully grown up, didn’t know how to handle a mature woman and her wants and needs. Playthings, he knew all about. One-night stands, pretty trophy bimbos hanging on his arm, he was a professional at dealing with those types.

A real woman, one with faults and problems, who knew how to love and give and expected the same in return, he hadn’t a clue what to do.

The thought of that, the knowledge of what he was missing, made her sad.

“I want you too much.” The agony in her voice, the sadness, was so palpable. It hurt her throat to say the words, let alone the emotions swirling within her, threatening to break her down. “But I can’t do this to myself. I can’t see you again, only to watch you walk away so easily. It can’t happen, Rhett. No matter how much I want it to.”

The silence stretched, fraught with tension. Finally, he sighed, the sound ragged. Painful. “I fucked it up. As usual.”

“Yes, you did,” she agreed cheerily. “You’ll be fine. You always are. Eventually, you’ll forget me.”

“I doubt that,” he murmured, hanging up.

He couldn’t eat. He couldn’t sleep. He hadn’t been able to do much of anything normal upon his return from Maui but work. So he did what most people do when they’re having trouble with their personal life and they wanted to forget.

Rhett threw himself completely into his job.

Filling his days with meetings was first on the agenda. Endless, lengthy meetings, they consumed his every thought and action during the daylight hours. From approximately seven in the morning to seven at night, he lived and breathed his work. Too busy to eat, too busy to think of much else, but the upcoming fragrance launch and all the preparation that came with it.

Until the night came, enveloping him in darkness, reminding him of what he couldn’t have.

Gabriella.

His large, empty apartment was nothing but a reminder of how utterly lonely his existence had become, had always been. Where was the joy? The laughter and the love and the light Gabriella brought into his life? Oh, the times he spent alone during the long, lonely nights were where his thoughts became most dramatic. Hunter had always accused him of being as such, from the time they were little kids, and now Rhett had more than proved him right. Not that he’d ever confessed his melancholy thoughts, the woe-is-me pity parties he held on a daily basis, to anyone.

No one knew of those dark, desperate moments but him.

Tonight though, was the worst of them all. He’d spoken to her, heard her sweet, sultry voice murmur in his ear, saying the words he’d longed to hear.

I want you too much.
The confession had sounded pained, as if she never wanted to admit such a thing to him and that hurt. He wanted her too. They wanted each other. So why weren’t they together?

Because she was right. He was scared. And when he was scared, he ran. He didn’t stick around, he’d never stuck around in his entire life. No one ever had for him. Not his parents, only Alex, though he’d done so because he was obligated. Rhett had been nothing but a burden, growing into the biggest pain in the ass to both of his brothers for years.

His past habits had ruined his potential future with Gabriella.

He was a damn fool.

It didn’t help, Alex flaunting his stories of how much time Ella spent with Tessa. They were becoming close friends, Alex had shared recently one early morning over coffee, before yet another scheduled meeting. Why, Ella had come over for dinner last evening, Alex had said, stirring cream into his coffee with a pensive smile on his face. The women had much in common and she seemed to enjoy playing with Charlotte, and Alex hinted more than once that he and Tessa believed Rhett and Gabriella would make a great couple, despite his initial warnings when they first hired Ella.
 

Rhett had no reply for his brother. What could he say?
Oh, I fucked her senseless for four days running until we returned to real life. Then I ditched her. Because that’s what I do.

Yeah. Alex would think he was a complete asshole. Tessa would have a different opinion of him and would eventually tell Gracie, who was his biggest supporter in the family. The only one who believed his intentions were always good.

He’d abruptly changed the subject, a special talent of his. Alex had said nothing, but Rhett had noted the shrewd gleam in his brother’s gaze. He’d known he was being purposely diverted.

It was easier that way. Yet she’d somehow seeped into his life, deeper and deeper, until she pulsed in his very blood and he had no way to stop it. No way to prevent it.

He soon realized he didn’t want to prevent it. Wanted to revel in it, love it…love her.

But she refused him. The fact hurt more than he cared to admit.

Careless, hopeless, he grabbed his cell phone and scanned through his contacts. He had her number, of course he did. He had everyone’s number. An endless list of feminine names filled his contacts, filled him with anger. Ruthlessly he stabbed at the delete button, eliminating them one by one. Skipping past the women he worked closely with. His assistant Kara; Alex’s assistant; his brothers’ wives; Becky, the human resources manager who thought he was a world-class fuckup.

He kept them, only them along with Gabriella. The rest of them were gone.

The virtual black book had been burned. And he didn’t regret it.

Deciding for once in his life to be brave, he scrolled back to her name and hit the dial button. The phone rang for what felt like an infinite number of times. Nerves ate at his gut, turned his blood ice cold. She wasn’t going to answer.

Her voice sounded, clear and sweet, declaring herself unavailable right now but please leave a message and she’d get back to him as soon as she could.

Ha. Fat chance of that ever happening.

The beep sounded, prompting him into action. “You don’t answer, which most likely means you don’t want to talk to me. But I’m not hanging up.

“I’m tired of running away, Gabriella. I’m tired of being that guy. The only reason I want to change is because of you. I know you don’t believe me. You probably think I’m full of shit, but I’m not. You’ve changed me. I want to be a better man for you. Only you.”

His phone beeped, indicating he had another call and with a frustrated growl he switched over. “What?”

“Did you call me?” Her voice was soft, sleep-roughened, and he wondered if he woke her up. “Rhett?”

His heart flipped over itself. Jesus, he hadn’t expected this. “Yeah. It’s me. I did call you. I woke you, though, huh?”

“I, uh, fell asleep.” She cleared her throat, he heard a rustling sound and he wondered if she was already in bed.

The image of her soft and sleepy weakened his knees.

“It’s late,” she continued when he hadn’t said anything. “The phone rings in the middle of the night and it scares me. Are you okay?”

Should he be honest? Did she want to hear it? “Not really.”

“Oh.” More rustling, a soft sigh. She was trying to kill him. “You should try and get some sleep.”

“I haven’t had a full night’s sleep in days.”

“You must be exhausted.”

“I am.” She talked to him and he took that as a good sign. He might be clinging to anything, the mundane, the foolish, but he didn’t care.

He needed something to cling to, after all.

“I…haven’t slept very well either.” She said it like a reluctant confession had been dragged out of her. “I’ve been so busy in the lab.”

“I can’t wait to see what you’ve come up with.” He meant it. He was excited to smell her creations, see her in action. His chest threatened to burst with pride and the moment hadn’t even happened yet.

She would be a star and Worth would be the company that made her. She’d shine so brilliantly, everyone would eventually want a piece of her, but she would only give to those who deserved it. Figured, he would be the damn fool who let her get away.

“I’m scared you’ll all hate it,” she whispered. “The self-doubt that plagues me is awful. I’m afraid you won’t extend my contract and I’ll return home a failure.”

“You shouldn’t give me a reason to refuse you,” he reminded her. Memories of their first conversation flooded his consciousness. How captivated he’d been then. How utterly enthralled he was now.

“I already have.”

Closing his eyes, he breathed deep, fell back against the pillow. He glanced toward the wall of windows, staring at the city skyline. He’d taken to leaving the windows bare, the city his only company. “Tell me how I can make this right.”

“It’s too late, don’t you think? You’d grow bored with me, Rhett. You know this.”

“I don’t think so.” Opening his eyes, he stared at the ceiling, scratched absently at his chest. “You’re the only woman I’ve ever wanted like this. My body literally aches to see you. Touch you. Kiss you.”

Her lack of reply didn’t discourage him.

“I miss being with you. Smelling your skin, tasting you…my thoughts are consumed by you.”

“You want what you can’t have.”

“I want what I…” His voice trailed off, fear seizing his vocal cords. He couldn’t say it, couldn’t say those words every woman longed to hear. Did he love her? He wasn’t sure. He’d never said he loved anyone beyond his brothers and he rarely made that declaration. Certainly no woman had ever heard him utter those three words. A handful of days and he was over the moon for her. Who did this? Who felt this way? Was it normal?

Would Gabriella be the first woman he loved—the only woman, if she allowed him such a privilege? That’s what it would be, a privilege to love her. She was special, unique. Beautiful and strong and so goddamned amazing he wondered what the hell was wrong with him, letting her go so easy.

It just went to show he was an idiot.

“You’re proving my point, Rhett. It’s probably best if you stop talking. Good night. See you tomorrow.”

“Wait, Ella. Don’t go, don’t—” The loud click indicating she’d hung up greeted him and he threw his phone onto the bed with disgust. She hated him. Wouldn’t let him have another chance, not that he could blame her.

He’d used up all his chances with her. Now he had to face the consequences.

Tomorrow, he had to face her.

Rhett could only hope he had the strength to do so.

Chapter Sixteen

Gabriella wore her new dress like a suit of armor. It was a structured piece of art, made by the Worthwhile line and given to her most graciously by Tessa. By far the most expensive piece of clothing she’d ever worn in her life, she’d stood in front of her mirror before she left for the lab for the morning, pleased with the results. Donned the typical white lab coat over it once she arrived, covering her armor, still comfortable in her surroundings.

Giving herself a much-needed pep talk during the drive over to the Worth building, she smoothed her hands over the black braided cotton dress, her fingers skimming the satin that trimmed the hem. Her shoes were new as well, high for her but mere child’s play for the other women who worked at Worth.

She wanted to appear powerful, but she didn’t want to risk falling flat on her face.

The moment she entered the Worth building, all of her self-doubts kicked in. Her stomach tossed like the most turbulent sea, her palms going clammy with nerves. She’d eaten a meager breakfast, had skipped lunch and was thankful for it. The nausea set in, threatening to overwhelm, and she entered the elevator alone, breathing deep as soon as the doors slid shut.

Her phone sounded, indicating a text message and she pulled it out of her purse, smiled when she saw it was from Tessa.