Worth the Scandal: Worth It, Book 1 Read online

  The crowd went wild as they walked down the red carpet, their hands still clasped, all of them shouting his name in various accents. She tried to duck her head. He knew she probably wished she could melt into the floor, but he tugged on her hand, pulling her closer. “Hold your head up high,” he urged.

  She did as he demanded. She always did which pleased him to no end. Lifting her chin, she offered the cameras a smile, her dramatically red lips parting to reveal straight white teeth. The flashes popped like crazy, the photographers asking who his lady friend was.

  “An old family friend,” he said mysteriously, slipping his arm around her slender waist and holding her close, his hand resting on the curve of her hip.

  “What are you wearing tonight, miss?” one of the female reporters asked Tessa.

  “Valentino and Worth,” she said, her lilting voice carrying on the breeze.

  The local media murmured their approval at her choice of an Italian designer.

  “Let’s go inside.” He guided her down the walkway, offering a quick wave to the last bunch of reporters before they entered the building. Inside music swelled, an orchestra playing in the ballroom and the dull roar of endless conversation sounded, like a swarm of bees coming closer and prepared to attack.

  They approached the ballroom’s closed double doors, his hand at her back, her stature stiff and shoulders tense. Her nerves were unsettling and he wished he could calm her somehow, some way. Glancing about, he realized they were all alone so he did what he’d been dying to do from the day he first saw her.

  Turning into her, he cupped her cheek with his free hand, tilting her face up so her gaze met his. Her dark eyes went wide, her lips parted and he swooped in, taking advantage.

  He kissed her.

  Chapter Five

  Tessa froze, shocked at the sensation of Alex’s lips pressed against hers. They were soft, there and gone before they settled upon hers once again. Longer this time, his mouth lingered on hers. His lips parted, and she felt his hot breath mingle with her own before he finally pulled away.

  “W—why did you do that?” Her voice shook. She sounded like a complete ninny, but she couldn’t believe it.

  Alex just kissed her.

  “I need you to be calm,” he murmured, his fingers drifting down her cheek before his hand fell away. “I need you to be confident. And more than anything, you need to pretend you’re with me. Just for tonight.”

  That wouldn’t be a hardship. But still. She didn’t understand. He could have anyone and yet he chose her? “I don’t know how convincing we’ll be. I mean, you’re my boss. Up until a few days ago I couldn’t bring myself to call you by your first name. And now you want me to pretend that you’re my—boyfriend?”

  She could not say the word lover. It was simply too intimate. Not that Alexander Worth could be considered anyone’s boyfriend. That was far too simple a word for such a complex man.

  A couple swept by, the older man dashing in his tuxedo, the woman clad in royal blue and with sapphires the size of eggs around her neck and on her fingers. Tessa couldn’t help but stare as the man opened the ballroom door and allowed the woman to walk inside.

  It gave Alex the advantage. He pulled Tessa in even closer, if that was possible. Her full skirts swirled around his legs, covering his feet and she braced herself, resting her hand against his hard chest, her fingers immediately curling into the soft, rich fabric of his jacket.

  The man was gorgeous no matter what he wore. Tuxedo, suit, jeans…and she had a feeling he would be even more so in nothing at all.

  “For one night I want you to pretend you belong to me, Tessa. No one else, just me.” He placed his hand on her cheek again, his fingers curving about her jaw, cradling her as if she were a delicate, fragile thing. “I don’t want you to look at another man, speak to another man unless I say or indicate that you can. You’re mine tonight.” The look in his gray-blue eyes was fierce, full of a fiery passion she’d never seen before.

  She found she rather liked it.

  “I can do that,” she whispered with a tiny nod, equally excited and perplexed by his request.

  If she pondered it long enough, she could half believe him. That he wanted her, so badly he’d do anything to have her, if just for one night.

  He smiled. A real smile, it lit his eyes and offered a teasing glimpse of a dimple in his left cheek. He kissed her, a quick brush of lips that sent a bolt of sensation straight through her, settling in her core. She very nearly stumbled as he withdrew and guided her toward the door, opening it to allow her entry.

  “Please don’t leave me alone,” she said as he stepped into place beside her. The place buzzed with activity, so many people within the large room, it was an absolute crush. The scent of cloying, expensive perfumes filled the air, and she wrinkled her nose.

  “I wouldn’t dare think of it,” he assured, slipping his arm around her waist. Glancing about, he studied everyone. Easy for him considering he was nearly a head taller than the majority of the people in the room, and she was a shrimp despite the four-inch heels.

  Gorgeous shoes they were too. Delicate and strappy, chiffon and bejeweled flowers stitched across the top, she truly felt like Cinderella at the ball, her handsome prince by her side.

  She only hoped she didn’t turn into a frump—or even worse, a pumpkin—when the clock struck midnight.

  Remain by her side Alex did. He introduced her to an endless stream of people and she had no recollection who they might be. The women eyed her with thinly veiled disdain, especially the unattached ones. The men eyed her with unabashed interest. It didn’t matter if they were married or not, some of them leered at her even with a woman on their arms. She’d never been observed so overtly before.

  Alex’s friend Giorgio Ricci was there, accompanied by his wife who was a rather beautiful woman if a bit plump. Guilt assuaged Tessa as she was introduced to the lady, and it took everything within her not to scream out in warning that her husband was a philandering fool.

  But she kept herself—and her urges—in check. Nodding politely and offering a few words in congratulations that her charity event being such a success before they were on their merry way.

  All the while, Alex remained firmly at her side, a determined look on his face. He was there to make an appearance, she kept reminding herself. He needed to look good to those influential in the Milan fashion industry, and Tessa firmly believed the majority of them were in this ballroom tonight.

  It was good business sense, being at the event. Not only did Worth Luxury Goods make a sizable donation but the chance to mingle amongst the glittering set of Milan’s wealthy was an opportunity even Hunter couldn’t have conjured up with all of his connections. Alex spoke with many of them, an endless stream of people seemed to swarm around him, looking for their chance to speak with him.

  Feeling decidedly like a fifth wheel, she excused herself, wishing to hide in the ladies’ room for a moment and get away from the crowds. He didn’t let her go, grabbing hold of her hand before she escaped.

  “They’ll be serving dinner soon,” he murmured close to her ear. “So don’t be gone too long.”

  “I’ll be back in five minutes.” She offered him a smile, wishing he’d kiss her again though she knew he wouldn’t. Too many people were watching and he wasn’t one to ever make a scene.

  He released his grip on her hand, and she made her way through the crowds toward the opposite side of the room. The rich scents of the impending dinner wafted throughout and the clink of glasses sounded as people drank from flutes of champagne. A waiter approached her with a loaded tray and she plucked the glass of champagne off the top, offering a murmur of thanks before she sipped.

  It was delicious, shimmering and crisp as it slid down her throat. She downed all of it quickly, licking her lips so as not to miss a drop before she set the empty glass on a nearby table and started toward the restroom.

  “You’re a brave woman.”

  The heavily accented, s
lightly snide voice stopped Tessa in her tracks and she turned to find Bianca standing there. Giorgio’s mistress. That she would make an appearance at Giorgio’s wife’s charity event was brazen, to say the least.

  “Um. Hello, Bianca,” Tessa greeted, not wanting to be impolite.

  Bianca rolled her eyes. “Did you not hear a word I said?”

  “Something about being brave?” Tessa had no idea what she was talking about.

  “You leave your man for a few minutes, very stupid. If I were you, I’d never leave him alone, especially with all the women in this place. Women far more beautiful than you,” Bianca said just before she drained a flute of champagne.

  Tessa flinched at the insults. “I don’t see how any of this is your business.”

  “It’s not.” Bianca smiled, her heavily glossed lips stretched wide. She had so much makeup on and the dress she wore barely covered her largest assets. Her breasts appeared ready to tumble out at any given moment. “But I thought you could do with a piece of advice. Considering you look like a naïve fool in your virgin dress, all wide-eyed at the money being tossed about before you.”

  Disappointment crashed over Tessa, ruining her mood, her excitement over the dress, everything. Bianca was by far the rudest person she’d ever encountered in her life, and she’d run into a lot of rude people, especially during her retail days. “You should watch what you say. Your lover—or perhaps his wife—might hear you.”

  “Ooh, the kitten has claws. I like that.” Bianca laughed and grabbed another glass of champagne from a passing waiter’s tray. “I just offer you a word of warning, poco gattino. You step away even for a few moments and the women surround him licking their lips and rubbing against him. Why, look at him now.” She indicated with a wave of her hand.

  Tessa turned to see Alex indeed surrounded by a bevy of women, all of them young and gorgeous, not a man in sight. He smiled and laughed with one of them, looking so carefree and devilishly handsome he took her breath away.

  That he looked at another woman like that and not her…her heart panged painfully at the realization.

  “See how the woman touches him, looks at him?” Bianca asked.

  The woman reached out and touched Alex’s forearm, her eyes sparkling as she stared up at him. She wore a revealing dress, black and sleek, and she was rail thin. He nodded at whatever she said and then they quickly embraced, much to Tessa’s shock, before the woman walked away, a satisfied smile on her face.

  “I see,” Tessa said sadly, turning to Bianca. “But I’m just his—”

  “It doesn’t matter what you just are,” Bianca interrupted. “You go back to him and show every woman in this room he belongs to you, gattino. Bare your fangs, show your claws. Let them know he’s yours and no one else’s.”

  With that, Bianca patted her on the arm, offered a sad smile and walked away, disappearing in the crowd within seconds.

  Such a strange conversation, one minute Bianca insulted her, the next she offered sound advice. Tessa had come so close to revealing the truth to her too. Thank goodness, Bianca had interrupted her.

  Was Bianca disappointed she couldn’t be with the man she wanted to declare as her own? Tessa knew she wouldn’t be able to stand being in the same room with Alex while another woman stood with him as his date. Not after tonight…

  She sidled up to him quietly, not wishing to interrupt the conversation he was having with yet another beautiful woman. When he caught sight of her he smiled, a look of relief in his eyes. “Ah perfect, she’s back. Tessa, I’d like to introduce you to Helene Rousso. Helene, this is Tessa Crawford.”

  “How do you do?” The woman smiled and offered Tessa her hand, which she took, slightly shell shocked.

  Helene Rousso? Daughter and head of the Rousso fashion dynasty? Tessa’s knees literally shook as she shook her hand. “It’s an honor to meet you, Ms. Rousso.”

  “Please, call me Helene.” She sent a smile in Alex’s direction. “She’s a pretty little thing, Alexander. And so respectful. Wherever did you find her?”

  Tessa frowned. Was every woman in attendance this evening a catty witch?

  “We’ve known each other for quite a while,” Alex said smoothly, slipping his arm around Tessa’s waist and pulling her in so she was plastered to his side.

  “Indeed?” Helene arched a perfectly plucked brow. “She’s not your usual type, Alexander. You always seem to prefer a more—refined woman.”

  Tessa wanted to die. Or just magically disappear. Bianca had been bad enough. This woman was completely evil.

  And totally insulting.

  “I went against type, Helene.” Leaning in, he dropped a kiss on Tessa’s forehead. “And I’ve never been happier.”

  A few other words were spoken, trite and meaningless, before Helene slipped away with a smirk. The call for dinner was announced and Alex took her hand, leading her to a table where they were the first two to sit down.

  “That was awful. I’ve always admired Helene Rousso,” Tessa said, full of remorse.

  “Helene is a wretched cow who loves to tear people down more than anything in the world.” Alex took a sip from the water glass in front of him before he turned to her. “Don’t let her bother you.”

  “She only said what everyone else is thinking.” Tessa shrugged. She’d known from the beginning this was a bad idea, accompanying Alex to the ball. She’d told him so, too, but he’d convinced her it would work.

  Looks like she was right, much as she hated to admit it.

  “Hey.” Reaching out, he tucked two fingers beneath her chin, lifting her face so her gaze met his. “I don’t care what anyone else thinks. Remember what I told you earlier?”

  She nodded, her skin heating from his touch. Such an innocuous touch, yet it affected her completely. “I don’t know why you’re doing this,” she whispered. “Pretending to be with me, it makes no sense.”

  His eyes darkened, to that familiar, turbulent swirl of gray and blue that she adored so. “I agree. It makes no sense.”

  Tessa gasped, tried to jerk out of his grip but he firmed his fingers around her face, keeping her in place. “But it’s there between us,” he continued. “Can’t you feel it?”

  She blinked up at him, struck dumb by his words. What did he mean? Was he attracted to her too? Did he feel the same chemistry that seemed to buzz between them every time they were together?

  “You do feel it,” he whispered harshly. “I know you do. And as much as I want to deny it, the more time I spend with you, the harder it is for me to do so.”

  His fingers gentled on her face, stroking along the line of her jaw. Feather light and so soft she released a shuddering breath and closed her eyes. “God, you’re beautiful,” he said just before she felt the brush of his lips against hers.

  He was an absolute fool, making such a public spectacle of himself but Alex couldn’t resist. Not with the sadness filling Tessa’s eyes, hurt over Helene Rousso’s thoughtless and catty insults.

  That he would partially confess he wanted her. That he would kiss her while hundreds of people milled about—it was completely unlike him. His brothers, hell, everyone he knew and dealt with on a constant basis would wonder what was wrong with him.

  Tessa. That’s what was wrong with him. Though it didn’t necessarily feel wrong.

  Being with her felt inexplicably right.

  That he felt such an overwhelming need to comfort her, to sweep the sadness from her eyes and make her smile, well he couldn’t think about that now. Nor worry about the consequences.

  Tonight, this entire trip, he just wanted to be with her.

  “Why did you do that?” she asked once he drew away.

  Ah, his straightforward Tessa. He appreciated her for it. Most of the time. “You look like you needed it.”

  She lowered her lids, her thick, dark lashes obscuring her eyes. “You’ve never kissed me before. Now you do it twice in the span of a half hour.”

  He’d do more than kiss her by the end
of the night if she let him. “I’ll stop if you want me to.”

  She opened her eyes wide and slightly shook her head. “I don’t want you to stop.” Immediately she bit her lower lip, looking as if she wanted to take back the words.

  Chuckling, he stroked her cheek. She had such baby soft skin. He didn’t want to stop touching her. “We probably shouldn’t keep doing this. I’m your boss.”

  “I know.”

  “Yet every time I think of you I…” He let the words trail off, distracted by the heat in her eyes, how her skin warmed beneath his touch. She was responsive, not afraid to let her feelings show. Other women he’d been with were so calculating, so cool, never wanting to reveal what they might really feel for fear they’d give him the upper hand.

  Tessa exposed herself, allowing him a raw glimpse. Making him want more.

  So much more.

  “You what?”

  “I shouldn’t say another word.” He dropped a kiss on the tip of her adorable nose and released his hold on her, turning so he faced the table. Her disappointment palpable, she did the same, scooting her chair in before she reached for her water glass and took a sip.

  Others joined their table, a couple he’d met the last time he was in Europe and a business associate of Giorgio’s. He didn’t know any of the rest though they were all friendly and seemed to know of him. He introduced Tessa to everyone, never clarifying who she might be to him and no one was rude enough to ask. She smiled politely and greeted them in her soft, seductive voice.

  The entire table conversed in Italian, and he knew Tessa didn’t know a word of it. She sat quietly, pretending interest though he could see the distance in her gaze. Two waiters came to their table and presented their first course, which she seemed grateful for and he watched in silent amusement as she devoured her salad.

  “Hungry?” he asked, leaning in close so she was the only one who could hear.