Worth the Scandal (Worth It 1)

Tessa wanted to smack herself. She was silly worrying over who Alex might be interested in. It was futile. She couldn’t compete with any of the women he encountered on a daily basis, not even the rude flight attendant. It didn’t help that she felt so klutzy and foolish around him. Saying the dumbest things, tripping over her feet, spilling hot coffee all over herself, he turned her into a jittery mess, especially when they were alone.

Heaving a big sigh, she cocked her head, waiting for the elevator to come to a stop. Alex glanced in her direction, perhaps hearing her sigh and the corner of his mouth kicked up in the slightest smile.

A smile that lightened her heart, made her stomach flutter.

The concierge led them out of the elevator once the doors slid open and revealed the most beautiful hotel suite Tessa had ever seen in her life. Not that she’d stayed in many hotels. It was large, bigger than her entire apartment and she walked around the living area as if in a daze, drinking in her surroundings.

It was too much to take in. Arrangements of fresh flowers sat on every available table space and glittery chandeliers on a smaller scale than the ones in the lobby hung from the ceiling, casting a warm, golden glow in the room. The rug beneath her feet was plush, the design intricate and fanciful. Everything about the suite screamed the best money could buy.

“And your room is here, Miss Crawford,” the concierge said, indicating the door with her hand.

Tessa glanced toward the room, then turned to look at Alex. “I thought I had my own room.” Had he changed the arrangements?

“You do.” He kept his expression schooled, not revealing even a hint of emotion. “The suite has two bedrooms, Tessa, each with connecting bathrooms. It should be more than enough privacy.”

Privacy yes, but she wouldn’t be able to get away from him at all. She would be in his constant presence and knowing he was sleeping in the room next to her for two nights? Absolute torture.

Would it be like this at every hotel they stayed in?

“Please, Miss Crawford.” The concierge smiled and tilted her head toward the bedroom. “If the room isn’t up to your standards, perhaps we can find other accommodations for you?”

“This will be fine, Bianca. Thank you,” Alex interjected, his voice smooth and gracious.

Tessa walked into her room, her eyes widening at what she saw. Whereas the living area was designed with beautiful neutrality, her room was a feminine study in various shades of cream. A sheer canopy draped over the grand bed which was covered in a sumptuous cream and gold coverlet. Gorgeous lights hung from the ceiling on either side of the bed, tassels dangling from them and a dainty white desk sat close to the bed. A bright and cheery arrangement of cream-colored flowers sat atop a table in the center of the room and Tessa went to it, bending close so she could breathe deep the heady scent.

“Do you like it?”

The sound of his deep voice made her whirl around. He stood just inside the room, the concierge nowhere to be found.

They were completely alone. Nerves jittered within her, and she clasped her hands behind her back. “It’s beautiful.”

“The entire hotel is like this. No surprise my brother chose it. He has expensive taste,” Alex said wryly.

“It’s close to the Milan shopping district,” Tessa pointed out. The Milan Worth Luxury flagship store was in the center of the Via della Spiga, Milan’s renowned fashion street. “I’m sure your brother chose the hotel for its convenience.”

“I’m sure Hunter did.” Amusement laced his tone.

She went to the window, pulling back the heavy drapes so she could peer outside. It was dark, well past nine o’clock and the city streets below were filled with traffic. “We need to be at the store tomorrow by nine at the latest to prepare for the opening.”

“And the store opens at ten.”

“Correct.” Letting the drape fall back into place, she turned to face him. “It’s late. We should probably—turn in.”

He studied her, his dark brows furrowing. Even after waking exceedingly early, hours of travel and a drastic time difference, he appeared unfazed. His suit had nary a crease or wrinkle and the stark white of his shirt against his tanned skin sped up her heart rate.

“Aren’t you hungry?”

“Not really.” Her stomach chose to growl at the precise moment she gave her bogus answer. She was starved but after being around first the skinny flight attendant and then the model thin Bianca, Tessa thought it best she retire without a meal for once in her life.

“You’re lying.”

She shrugged, and her cheeks heated with embarrassment. Why did she always look her worst in front of him? “I’m sure I can go one night without dinner. I’m tired.” That was a lie too. She was wide-awake. It was only around three-thirty New York time and she was too excited being in a foreign city for the first time to consider going to bed yet.

“So you’d deny yourself authentic Italian cuisine because you’re tired?” He literally scoffed. “I don’t think so. Why don’t you freshen up and I’ll take you to dinner.”

She gaped at him. What in the world? “You don’t have to do that.”

“I want to do it. Be ready in twenty minutes.” He exited the room and shut the door behind him, leaving Tessa still standing in the center of her room, irritated at the bossy way he commanded her about.

Yes, she was his employee but he fairly demanded she do what he asked. Actually, there was no asking where Alex was involved. What he said, went and he didn’t deal with any sort of argument.

But what did freshen up mean? She’d love to take a shower, perhaps wash her hair but she couldn’t do it all in twenty minutes. And what was she supposed to wear?

Precious minutes wasting, she hurried into the bathroom, pausing when she saw what awaited her. A sunken in tub and a glass-enclosed shower with three shower heads that could house a party of four, it was so large. The tub sat close to the floor to ceiling expanse of window that nearly took up the entire wall, offering a glittering view of the city that was positively breathtaking.

The bathroom she’d used growing up had been small, the only one in their apartment and always a mess what with all her siblings. Her apartment bathroom was tiny, too, though at least it had a shower and a tub, which she used quite often in the winter. The tub tempted her but she didn’t have enough time so she started the water for the shower, hurriedly changing out of her clothes.

She’d use the tub later tonight. Or maybe tomorrow. No matter, she was going to use it before they left Milan. It was too dreamy to ignore.

Fifteen minutes later she was ready after a quick scrub down and a fresh change of clothes. She went for simple, wearing a new pair of black pants, a white T-shirt with an embellished, jeweled neck and a light gray cashmere cardigan. She wore her hair down. The steam from the shower had coaxed the curl out and simple pearl stud earrings rested in her ears, a gift from her grandmother for her eighteenth birthday.

Glancing at herself in the mirror, she sighed resignedly. She wasn’t supermodel caliber but it would have to do. After all, Alex knew what he was dealing with. He’d seen her every day for the last six months, and she was his employee. He probably wanted to discuss what the plan was for tomorrow over dinner.

Boring but she could endure, what with the view that would be sitting across from her at the table.

When she opened the door and caught sight of Alex waiting for her, he didn’t disappoint. Lounging on one of the plush velvet couches, his arms sprawled on either side of him, he looked every inch the impatient man waiting for his date to get ready so they could get on with it.

Oh, how she wished.

“Are you ready?” He drew himself to his full height and strode toward her, his gaze intent, his steps quick. He’d showered and changed as well, wearing a simple black pullover sweater and black trousers. His hair was still damp from the shower and it curled at the ends. He hadn’t shaved either, the shadow of stubble across his jaw giving him a dangerous air.

She trembled with desire when he took hold of her arm and started to lead her toward the door. “I need my purse.”

“Are you going to pay tonight?” He glanced down at her.

“I—hadn’t planned on it.” Not that she could afford a meal where he was most likely taking her.

“Then you don’t need it,” he said simply as he reached for the door handle.

“But my phone and my lipstick…”

He cut her off with a look. “You don’t need your phone, and you look beautiful. You don’t need any lipstick.”

His statement stunned Tessa silent and she remained quiet for the entire elevator ride down to the ground level, as did he. He thought she was beautiful? She found it incredibly hard to believe. He was just being kind. She couldn’t come close to competing with the beautiful women he encountered.

“Your mind is working overtime,” he murmured close to her ear as they exited the elevator and headed toward the lobby. “I’m almost afraid to ask what you might be thinking.”

As if she could ever confess her true thoughts. “I’m, um, overwhelmed by how beautiful everything is.”

“As am I.” He sent her a meaningful look, and she swallowed hard. If she was being hopeful she’d almost believe he was referring to her.