Worth the Challenge (Worth It 3)

Chapter Seven

Ella’s entire body trembled as she walked toward Rhett. Having Tessa by her side was little reassurance, especially when she caught sight of Rhett’s face.

He looked like he was at a complete loss for words—and she doubted that had ever happened. Mouth slightly agape, blue eyes wide, his big body still as stone, he didn’t so much as blink as she moved closer.

“Well? What do you think? I meant to only take her shopping, but it turned into a mini makeover instead.” Tessa snuck her arm through Ella’s and gave her a little squeeze.

She didn’t even feel it. Too enthralled with the look in Rhett’s eyes, the way he drank her in as if there was no one else in the room.

Only her.

“You look, uh, different,” he finally said, his voice soft, his gaze drifting the length of her discreetly. But not too discreet, considering she noticed. “Not that you didn’t look good before…”

“Don’t put your foot in your mouth,” Tessa interrupted. “Be polite. And a compliment wouldn’t hurt either.”

“You look pretty,” he said automatically, a sexy smile curling his lips. Her knees wobbled and without another word she fell in behind Tessa, collapsing in a chair thankfully.

If her knees would’ve kept up the noodle bit, she might’ve fallen to the floor.

She was ravenous. Not eating lunch and trying on lots of clothes did that to a girl. Picking up the menu, she held her breath when Rhett slipped into the chair beside her, his shoulder brushing against hers. She turned her head, met his gaze.

“I was already sitting here.” He nodded toward the near-empty glass on the table in front of him.

“Oh.” For whatever reason, she assumed he’d sit next to Tessa.

“The food is good, but the servings are small. Just thought I’d warn you,” Tessa said, glancing up from her menu.

Rhett groaned. “You warn her, but you never had the decency to tell me when you took us here the first time.”

Ella frowned at her menu. Took us? Maybe a date? Oh God, maybe a girlfriend? Was she so stupid that she made a move on a guy who was already attached?

She was panicking over nothing.

“I thought you liked this place,” Tessa said.

He slowly shook his head. “I only chose it tonight because I knew you liked it. And it’s close to Gabriella’s hotel.”

Her skin warmed and she kept her eyes glued on the open menu before her. She really liked how he said her full name. Could imagine him whispering it in her ear just before he took her mouth in a heady kiss…

“Oh, by the way, I had the driver take everything over to the hotel and have it delivered to your room,” Tessa told her. “Including the new suitcase.”

It was embarrassing to remember everything Tessa insisted she get for this trip. Deeming it all necessary when clearly so much of it was absolutely not, Ella had watched helplessly while Tessa asked the various sales associates

to gather up all sorts of things. Some items Ella had never even thought of. Some of it, she’d never even heard of.

For traveling so much during her youth, she felt like a naïve twit compared to Tessa. And though she certainly knew how to corral an entire team of sales associates at a department store, drugstore…wherever she happened to be, Tessa was also so nice about it. Everyone seemed to adore her.

Including Ella herself.

And when Tessa had spotted the salon in the department store, she’d dragged Ella inside. One haircut and makeup lesson later, she was a new woman. Not an overly made-up, unrecognizable woman, but different just the same.

She liked it. Most importantly, she believed she could duplicate the look, both the hairstyle and the makeup application. She felt more professional, chic in the city, so to speak.

Silly but true.

They ordered dinner, Ella letting them choose for her since she had no idea what was good or not, and her mind was awhirl anyway. She couldn’t concentrate on food no matter how hungry she was.

And it didn’t help, having the delicious-smelling Rhett Worth sitting next to her. The deep, sexy rumble of his voice sent her nerves on high alert. His very nearness, the heat that radiated from him made her hyper aware of every little shift and move he made. The sound of his laughter, the gentle tone his voice took when he teased Tessa, there was affection there. An ease between them she couldn’t help but be envious of.