Worth the Risk (Worth It 2)

“Happy for Alex?”

He leaned in close, his mouth just above her ear, his breath stirring her hair. “More like happy to have you in my arms again.”

Oh yeah, he went there. He’d been dying to go there since he’d kis

sed her. Something about Gracie had always screamed off limits. She wore her suits like armor, her dark, sleek hair never out of place. She was smart, creative and calculating—the three most important traits he needed from the members of his marketing team.

She also tasted like heaven and made the sweetest, sexiest sighs when touched and kissed just so. Sighs he wanted to hear again—this time accompanied by moans and even a scream or two.

Hunter frowned. It wasn’t smart to want to bed an employee, but hell, if Alex could go and marry his damn assistant, then he could fool around with someone who worked for him, right?

“What do you mean, have me in your arms?” Her voice was shaky and full of skepticism, her pretty green eyes narrowed. Ah, she was such a firecracker and he loved it. She got pissy over things so easily and for some twisted reason, he provoked her on purpose. Always made him wonder what she’d be like in bed.

A wildcat, he had no doubt.

He decided it was best to change the subject. “You look amazing.”

Her cheeks flushed a rosy pink and she dropped her gaze from his. “Thank you.”

She wore a pale green dress that revealed plenty of skin without looking cheap. Something from the Worthwhile line, he believed. Same with the shoes that made her legs look like they went on for miles. He’d had his hands on those legs that night. Trailed his fingers along the inside of her thigh, his tongue thrusting against hers just before she shoved him away…

Hunter cleared his throat, his cock jerking against his fly. “Did you come with someone tonight?”

“What?” The shock in her voice was unmistakable, and he wanted to laugh. He didn’t mean it like that. What a dirty girl his Gracie was.

That fact only intrigued him more.

“I meant did you bring a date?” he asked, barely able to repress the chuckle that wanted to escape.

“Oh.” Her cheeks reddened even more. “No. Becky and I came together.” She paused. “Did you bring a date?”

“No, I came solo.” Taking a date to a wedding, especially a family member’s wedding, was risky. The women always got crazy ideas in their heads. Like maybe he wanted to follow in his brother’s footsteps and eventually get married too.

No way, no how.

“Oh, um. Huh.” She shot a glance toward the table where Becky sat once again, and he wondered at that. She seemed really nervous. Which was so unlike her that he grew concerned.

He knew she was great friends with the human resources manager, which should have made him the nervous one. One wrong move, one grave mistake, and she’d go running to her friend. And even though he was in good with Becky, she’d still have to do her job and report him to his brother.

It was what he expected her to do.

Not that he’d ever sexually harassed Gracie on the job, hell no. Flirt with her, most definitely. He flirted with lots of women he worked with; he couldn’t help it. But he never, ever crossed that line. Had never been tempted, and he worked with plenty of attractive women.

Until he met Gracie. She tempted him like no other. And for one delicious, decadent moment, he’d held her, kissed the very breath out of her. Touched her, eliciting such an easy response from her he knew without a doubt they would be so incredibly good together.

The song ended, and she stepped immediately out of his arms. She tried to escape; he knew what she was doing, but he didn’t want to let her go like this. Not yet.

“Hey.” He grabbed her hand, halting her from exiting the dance floor completely, and she stopped, wobbling on her high heels as she turned to look at him. “You’re going to pass up my offer for a drink, then?”

She smiled, and it was full of regret. “Alcohol and us don’t mix well, Hunter.”

Damn it, she was right, he knew this. He should let her go now. Let her walk away, watch the silk of her dress slide over her pert ass as her long-legged stride sent her far away from him. Lament over what could never be and forget everything that happened between them.

“Thanks for the dance,” she continued when he hadn’t said anything. “I’ll see you Monday.”

He shoved his hands in his pockets, silently watching her go. He didn’t normally do this. Let women walk away from him without a fight. Of course, they didn’t usually leave him first. He enjoyed spending time with women, plenty of women, but relationships? They so weren’t his style.

Hell, he still thought Alex was crazy for jumping straight into marriage, even after witnessing just how sickeningly in love they were with each other. Yes, Tessa was the mother of his child, but a wedding? The rings and vows? Making everything so rigidly legal?