Worth the Scandal (11 page)

The car pulled to a halt in front of the store and within moments the door was being opened. Alex let go of her hand and Tessa stepped outside as if in a daze, the sun so bright it hurt her eyes. She wanted to scream. She wanted to cry.

She wanted to wrap herself around Alexander Worth and never let go.

He came to her side, gazing up at the store front as he said, “Ready to go inside?”

Nodding, she followed him in, admiring how normal he acted, how composed he was as the store manager greeted him by kissing both of his cheeks, leaving lipstick smudges on his skin.

A rush of jealousy filled Tessa and she shook it off, smiling at the manager as she too kissed each of her cheeks, though Tessa’s kisses were nothing but air.

The store was already a flurry of activity for it seemed every employee had been called in to help set up. Though all of the remodeled stores were beautiful, this one was by far Tessa’s favorite. Elegant and sleek, the walls were covered with old photos of the Paris Worth location over the years, including a photo of the three young Worth brothers standing in front of the store, both their father and grandfather behind them.

She went to the photo, studying the face of a very young, very handsome Alex. His expression was somber, Hunter’s smile was sly and Rhett scowled, his father’s hand on his shoulder as if he had to restrain him for fear he’d flee.

Tessa smiled. The three hadn’t changed much over the years.

“I was thirteen,” Alex said from behind her. “Hunter was eleven and Rhett almost six.”

“Was the store at the same location?”

“It’s been the same location since my great-grandfather opened the store over seventy years ago. It was the second Worth store built.” The pride in his voice was unmistakable. He was proud of his heritage, as he should be. He’d grown it into something even more special the last five years since he’d stepped in as CEO of Worth Luxury.

“It’s beautiful.” She turned and glanced up at him. “I think it’s my favorite store so far.”

“It’s always been my favorite store,” he confided, his expression serious. The matching red lipstick marks on either cheek ruined the look.

Rising on her tiptoes, she wiped off first one smudge, then the other with a slow sweep of her thumb. This up close, she could stare into his beautiful eyes, savor the feeling of his warm skin beneath her fingertips, watch his lips part in surprise at her gesture.

“You were wearing her mark,” she explained. At his blank look she continued. “When Cecily kissed you.”

His eyes darkened and he rested his hand lightly on her waist, capturing her to him. “I’d rather wear your mark.”

Slowly she pulled out of his touch, her heart fluttering wildly. “You don’t mean it.”

A muscle in his jaw ticked, and he pressed his lips together. “We need to talk.”

“No, I think it’s best if we don’t.” She glanced about, making sure no one else was around. “I already told you I can’t do this,” she repeated, her voice low.

“I’m not about to push myself on you, force you to do something you don’t want.”

She would enjoy it far too much if he forced himself upon her and ravished her where she stood. Not that he needed to know that. “I know you won’t. That’s why I’m asking you to respect my wishes and leave it be.”

He pulled her in an inch closer, allowing her to feel his hard, warm body pressed so intimately to hers. She inhaled sharply and bent her head down, her gaze locked where his big hand rested on her hip, his long fingers splayed possessively.

She couldn’t look at him. Knew she’d be a goner if she stared into those brilliant blue eyes for too long. “Let me go, Alex.”

“So you don’t feel anything for me.” It was spoken as a statement, not a question.

“I—can’t.” To do so would be dangerous, for both her head and her heart.

“You can’t or you won’t? There’s a distinct difference.” His fingers pressed into her flesh and she closed her eyes for a brief moment, savoring his touch, the way she molded to his body so easily, as if they fit.

Perfectly.

She shouldn’t give him one ounce of hope, not after the way he treated her. It would be idiotic on her part and yet…

“I can’t.” Still unable to look at him, she kept her head bowed.

He remained silent, analyzing her words, no doubt. He was terribly good at that.

Slowly, he released his hold on her and took a step back. “I can accept that.”

Of course he could. He hadn’t lost yet. Glancing up, she saw the look on his face, the way he assessed her. She’d somehow become a challenge to Alex.

He was one to never give up without a fight. And he always won.

Was she about to become his grand prize?

The Paris reopening went perfectly which Alex had predicted. Cecily had been the manager of the location for what felt like forever, had worked for Worth for over twenty-five years. She was both a valued and valuable employee who knew and understood what the Worth label stood for. With her at the helm, leading her employees and chatting easily with the media, Alex hardly had had to do a thing.

And then there was Tessa. She was at her best during stressful moments. Efficient, professional, she always kept on task. He couldn’t take his eyes off her when she buzzed around the store, her hips swaying with a feminine grace that nearly had him salivating like a dog. She wore that skirt that fit her like a glove, the one his brother had noticed, damn his hide. A fitted button up shirt that accentuated the voluptuous curve of her breasts and a rope of pearls that was doubled and rested on her chest.

Drawing his gaze there again and again, wishing she would undo just one more button and offer him a glimpse of forbidden cleavage…

She made him feel like a randy teenager and last week, hell, since the moment he met her, he didn’t like it. Had constantly fought his urges, telling himself it was wrong, a waste of time, the last thing he needed to be thinking about in regards to his employee.

After spending a week with her, most of it in absolute agony under his own doing, he realized he wanted her more now than he ever did before.

Not just for her wicked body and that angelic face, but because she was truly sweet. Interesting, efficient, curious and wise, she had a natural ability of reading people, seeing to their needs, making sure everything was running smooth no matter how chaotic the situation.

She was a balm to his hectic soul. A reminder that though there was nothing wrong with hard work, a man needed to relax and enjoy life once in a while.

He wanted to relax with her. Spend more time with her and learn what made her tick. Discover more of those unique traits she kept carefully hidden and her sweet personality. He wanted to see her smile, hear her laugh, watch her writhe in pleasure as he brought her to climax. Hear her whispery sighs after he kissed her, feel her body move beneath his as he entered her.

There were a lot of things he wanted from Tessa. And she wasn’t willing to give any of it to him. He’d blown it. Ruined his chances by running scared and ignoring her, believing he did the right thing while secretly he’d watched her. Looking for a clue she might be the one. The spy. The traitor.

But her loyalty never wavered. Hunter had called a few times with no new major leads, perplexed as to who it might be after endless rounds of questioning his entire marketing department. The sneak inquiries on both his computer and Tessa’s computer had stopped. Hunter blamed it on everyone knowing there was an investigation, further proving it was an inside job.

After that particular conversation, Alex had lain awake in bed for far too long, playing Hunter’s words over and over again in his mind. Had the hacking activity stopped because Tessa wasn’t in the office?

He hated even thinking it. Couldn’t imagine her turning on him or on the company like that.

So he pushed it from his mind.

They left the store together. They were always together, a form of torture he put himself through. She’d been so angry with him at first and she’d had every right. Earlier, in the car he’d almost had her convinced. Again, when they arrived at the store and spoken privately, he’d gotten her to admit she can’t feel anything for him versus she didn’t.

A significant difference between the two words,
can’t
gave him hope. At the moment, he was running on hope and nothing else.

He’d given the driver instructions prior to their departure to take them to the Eiffel Tower, unbeknownst to Tessa. She gazed out the window, her back to him, ramrod straight and proud even though she had to be exhausted. He knew he was running on empty, but he’d do anything to put a smile on her face. Give her a moment of pleasure, even if it was standing on the Eiffel Tower with her and not bringing her pleasure in his bed.

“Where are we going? This isn’t the way back to the hotel.” She turned to look at him, her eyes narrowed and full of wariness.

“I’m taking you somewhere.”

“Tell me where.”

He shook his head. “It’s a surprise.”

“You don’t like surprises.”

What?
“What do you mean?”

“You don’t like surprises. I organized a surprise birthday celebration for you last year and though you thanked us all, I could see it in your eyes. You weren’t pleased.”

She was right. He’d appreciated the gesture but hated being in the spotlight. “I don’t like being caught unprepared.”

“That’s the whole point with a surprise.” She frowned. “And I don’t like being caught unprepared either.”

They were more alike than he originally thought.

“Are you trying to coax me into telling you where we’re going?”

“Yes.” She smiled sweetly. Too sweetly.

He smiled in return and leaned across the seat, getting closer to her. “Well, I won’t.”

Recoiling, she scowled and he wondered if she might blast him with words. Instead she turned away and gazed out the window quietly, giving him the cold shoulder, which he found worse. He rather enjoyed an angry Tessa. She was such a passionate little thing when worked up, which he found infinitely arousing.

When the Eifel Tower finally came into view, she sent him an accusatory look. “I told you I didn’t want you to take me.”

“And I told you I would.”

She continued to glare. If she wanted to have a staring match, it was fine by him. He was far more patient than she realized. “I’m not backing down, Tessa,” he finally said. “Let me do this for you.”

“This isn’t making up for all the other things you’ve done.”

Ouch. “I’ve already admitted I’ve been an ass.”

Her dark eyes lit with humor. “Indeed you have.”

“What else do you want from me?” He’d be willing to give her just about anything just so he could spend some time with her. Worry-free and without the responsibilities of work hanging over their heads.

“Hmm.” She tapped a slender, elegant finger against her pursed lips. Heat coiled in his gut and he clenched his hands together to keep from reaching for her. She was so naturally sexy and she didn’t even realize it. “I’ll have to think about it as we go along.”

“At least this is a start?”

“Oh, it’s definitely a start.” She smiled though it didn’t quite reach her eyes.

The car pulled to a stop, and Alex glanced out the window. They’d arrived, the driver already hopping out of the car and rounding to the passenger side so he could open Tessa’s door first. She stepped out of the car. Alex’s gaze locked on her long legs, emphasized by the black tights she wore.

He’d had his hands on those legs that night of the ball. If all went as he hoped, he’d have his hands on those legs again. Tonight.

She was sassy as they made their way up the tower, first by stairs, then in a crowded elevator. Offering teasing remarks, giving him a hard time, completely unlike the Tessa she normally was. Usually she was so quiet, so reserved, almost meek, though always with an underlying strength ready to rise to the surface when needed.

Something happened to her to send her into this—mood. Flirtatious, sparkling, her cheeks flushed by the cold wind that whipped about them as they made their way across the observation deck, her hair blowing wild around her face. She’d donned a black sweater while in the car, hiding her inspiring curves from his view though he could still appreciate the lush bounty of her backside.

He lagged a few steps behind to appreciate that particular view when she stopped in her tracks, glancing at him from over her shoulder. “What are you doing?”

“Enjoying the view?” It wasn’t a lie.

A wicked smile curved her dark red lips and she shook her head, making her way to the edge of the observation deck. He followed, his heart jerking when he saw her lean over the wrought iron fence, drinking in the awe-inspiring view much like a child would.

“It’s amazing,” she breathed when he stood next to her.

“You’re making me nervous.” Pulling gently on the back of her sweater, he tugged her off the fence, earning an irritated sound for his efforts.

“I wasn’t going to fall.” She kept her gaze glued on the city spread out before them. “I can’t believe I’m on the Eiffel Tower seeing this. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d ever be here.”

He’d first visited the tower when he was six and had been here many times throughout the years. So much so that the last time he went, he’d barely noticed the view. Spent his time focused instead on the icy blonde he’d taken to the restaurant nestled within the tower. That had been two years ago and he’d taken that woman to bed that night.

Funny, he couldn’t remember her name or if the sex had been any good.

He pushed the unpleasant memory aside. “You like the view then.”

“I love the view.” She turned to him, her entire face lit up. “Thank you for bringing me.”

“Does that mean I’m absolved of all of my sins?” He cocked a brow.

She smirked. “No. But you’re close.”

A fierce wind blew up, causing her hair to fly across her face. Reaching out, he brushed the wayward strands away, his fingers lingering on her warm, soft cheeks. His gaze locked on hers, held for what seemed like forever until he leaned in close. The urge to kiss her so overwhelming he couldn’t think of anything else.