Ella glared at him before shooting a sympathetic look at Stasia. “Perhaps you can come to Rhett’s office first thing Monday and fill them in with the details of how you discovered this—shocking news.”
“Yes, yes, that sounds good. Thank you so much for your understanding.” The woman briefly clung to Gabriella, looking lost and…scared.
He was proud yet again of Gabriella in that moment. How she took over, took care of this woman who burst in on his party and declared herself his long-lost half-sister. It made no sense. Yet Ella acted as if this sort of thing was common, as if she knew exactly how to handle it, which she did.
How had he become so lucky to call this woman his?
She told him to mingle while she found the obviously distraught Stasia a cab. He walked about the party, greeting everyone, agreeing the perfume was a marvel, a shocking scent worthy of endless praise. All the while, he missed Gabriella. He believed he was in a state of shock himself. What the hell were they going to do about this new revelation? What would his brothers say? What would this do to the family dynamic? Would Anastasia Renaldi want a piece of the Worth fortune? Was she a complete liar looking to cash in on a fortune? Try and discover their trade secrets? Nothing was sacred in this business. Everyone was cutthroat and he couldn’t put it past her. He didn’t even know her.
Whatever might happen, he knew everything would work out eventually, as long as he had his woman by his side.
Finally, after at least forty-five minutes, Gabriella reappeared at his side, whispering she’d taken care of everything. Hugging her close, he led her to the same private alcove they’d gone to earlier with Stasia.
“What did she say?” he asked when they were alone.
“Nothing much. She rattled on and on and grew very upset and I had to calm her down. She told me she discovered this yesterday, during the reading of her father’s will. Giorgio Renaldi died only a week ago, you know.”
“I know.” The designer’s health had been bad for quite a while, so the news hadn’t been very surprising. “But how the hell could she be my sister?”
“She doesn’t quite understand it either. Her mother is in seclusion somewhere in Italy and won’t speak to her. Claudia Renaldi won’t speak to any of the family.” Ella reached for him, stroking her hand down his chest. “It sounds like a complicated mess.”
“Hell.” Rhett ran a hand through his hair, blew out a frustrated breath. “I need to tell Alex and Hunter.”
“Tomorrow. I think that’s best.” She smiled and drew him in close. “She gave me her phone number. She mentioned she preferred meeting first thing, since she’s leaving for Italy later in the morning.”
“She’s rather bossy,” he muttered.
“Well, that is a Worth trait…”
He sighed. “I can’t even joke about that right now.”
“I’m sorry.” She kissed him on the cheek, her hands pressed to his chest. Soothing him, anchoring him as well. “It’s going to be all right.”
“It will be as long as I have you with me.” He pressed a kiss to her lips, lingering, tasting. Savoring her. “I love you, Gabriella,” he murmured, overwhelmed with his love for her.
“I love you, too.” She wound her arms around his neck, nuzzled her cheek against his. “Take me home, Rhett.”
“Gladly.”
About the Author
Karen Erickson has always loved the written word. From being one of the best readers in her kindergarten class to penning romantic stories that never ended about her favorite band members (Duran Duran) in high school, she always wanted to write. It just took her a while to seriously pursue it.
With the birth of her third child came a realization—it’s one thing to talk about writing a book, another thing entirely to actually do it. She’s been published since 2006.
Karen’s a native Californian who lives in the foothills below Yosemite with her husband, three children, one dog and too many cats.
To learn more about Karen, visit her online:
www.karenerickson.com
Blog: karenerickson.blogspot.com
Group Blog: www.smutketeers.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/karenericksonwritesromance
Twitter: www.twitter.com/karenerickson
Look for these titles by Karen Erickson
Now Available:
Spontaneous
Jesse’s Girl
Fortune
Fortune’s Deception
Fortune’s Promise
Fortune’s Chance
Playing with Fire
Forbidden
Tangled
Scandalous
Notorious
Fated
Under My Umbrella
Baby, Don’t Lose My Number
Simple Twist of Fate
Tahoe Nights
My Favorite Mistake
End of Days
Neon Chaos
Worth It
Worth the Scandal
Worth the Risk
Worth the Challenge
Print Anthologies
Midsummer Night’s Steam: Hot Summer Nights
Luck of the Draw
Playing with Fire
Tahoe Nights
Coming Soon:
Worth It
Worth Everything
The Renaldis
Temporary Arrangement
Tempted by Her Boss
How to make a strong man fall hard? Refuse him.
Worth the Risk
© 2012 Karen Erickson
Worth It, Book 2
Hunter Worth lives life to the absolute fullest. As vice president and head of brand marketing for Worth Luxury Goods, he’s brought his family’s business firmly into the twenty-first century. Ruthless yet charming, he’s now set his sights on the sexiest member of the marketing team. First thing on his agenda? Seduction.
Gracie Hayes needs her job at Worth—and she’s not about to let the gorgeous owner and her direct boss distract her—again. Orphaned, and with a rough childhood behind her, she’s worked too hard to compromise everything for a fling, no matter how tempting. Independent, strong and resourceful, she will fight off Hunter. She has to.
Flirting, stolen kisses, a few nights of scorching hot sex…Hunter has all that in mind and more with the delicious Gracie. He never figures he’d fall in love or that she’d deny him. How will Hunter convince Gracie he’s the one for her?
Warning: Contains yet another one of those sexy, bossy Worth brothers, though this one is too full of charm for his own good. Watch as he falls hard—and watch as she tries her hardest to dodge his every attempt at seduction.
Enjoy the following excerpt for Worth the Risk:
“You’re quite the dancer, Hayes.” Amusement filled his voice as usual. He almost always called her by her last name, did so to the entire marketing team.
“Um, thank you.” His compliment surprised her, and she wondered if he was just being nice. Feeling suddenly shy, she thought it best if she kept her gaze trained on his chest. Bet if she tilted her head back and looked into his blue eyes, they would be sparkling with humor.
He was always full of effortless charm, though it had dimmed some temporarily after the events of last year, when he’d found out the vice president of marketing, the man he trusted above all else with the exception of his brothers, had been selling business secrets to Worth Luxury’s direct competitors.
Anyone would have a tough time recovering from that.
Lately though, and especially tonight, he was more like his old self. Smiling and laughing and full of flirtatious banter, drop-dead gorgeous in the tuxedo he wore. He was the perfect best man to stand beside his brother.
She’d never been to such an extravagant reception before. The wedding of the season, the society pages called the marriage between Alex and his former assistant Tessa Crawford.
The ceremony had been lovely. Simple and quiet with sweetly worded vows and the couple shooting each other such heated looks of lo
ve, Gracie was surprised the altar hadn’t burst into flame.
They danced in each other’s arms now, Tessa and Alex. Swaying to the music, Tessa’s head resting on her husband’s shoulder, her bare arms looped around his neck. Alex held her just as possessively, his hands splayed across Tessa’s back, his fingers stroking her exposed skin. They looked like they couldn’t get enough of each other.
A wistful thread of longing wound itself around Gracie’s heart yet again, and she sighed. To be loved so completely was something she’d foolishly wished for when she was a young girl. She’d never really had anyone close to her in her life and people always wanted what they couldn’t have.
Now she was too scared to let anyone get close enough.
“Are you all right?” he asked.
She wondered if he’d heard her sigh. Great.
Nodding, she finally dared to look up at him. What she saw took her breath away.
It was bad enough working with Hunter day in and day out. That one moment in his arms lingered in her mind, always popping up at the most inappropriate times. Being this close to him again, seeing his cheeks faintly shadowed with stubble, the faded scar on his chin, those firm yet sensuous lips that knew just how to stun her silent, it was too much. His nearness immobilized her.
Which promptly caused him to step directly on her foot.
Wincing, she pressed her lips together and saw the realization dawn across his handsome face. “Shit, I’m sorry, Gracie.”
“It’s all right. No big deal.” She smiled bravely, though it felt more like a gritting of teeth. What else could she do? Curse out her boss for nearly breaking her toes? Her feet were already killing her from the super-high stilettos she wore. From the new Worthwhile line, they were a sparkly gold that her inner girly-princess couldn’t resist. Employee discounts were the best.
Luckily enough, she had some restraint or she’d be flat broke but dressed in style.
Did she wear the shoes to impress him? He was, after all, a leg man. She knew this because he’d confessed it during their brief interlude. One hand buried in her hair, the other halfway up her skirt, his hot breath giving her the shivers as he murmured in her ear.
Your legs drive me wild.
The memory popped up at the most inappropriate times.
He smiled, a flash of white teeth that dazzled her. “You’d never say anything bad to me, would you, Hayes? I swear, I could tell you you’re fired and you’d take it with a smile. Probably thank me for it when it was over too.”
Her heart sank. So he thought she was a pushover, huh? This is what happened when a woman was stupid enough to let her boss kiss her. It didn’t matter that they were both drunk and both at fault; he automatically thought she was the slut. “You’re so right. All I’ve ever wanted was to please the boss. I’m sure you’ll ask for a blowjob next and think I’ll magically give in. Heaven forbid I’d offend Hunter Worth, right? I mean, you already had your way with me once.”
His smile faded. “I didn’t mean it like that…”
“Yeah, well, that’s how it sounded. I’m not that easy, despite what you think. I’ve worked hard to get where I’m at. I’m not about to let you believe I’m some sort of suck up who’ll say whatever you want to hear.”
“I was just making a joke, Gracie.” His expression was solemn as he led her about the dance floor with an effortless grace that made her insanely jealous, ridiculous as that was. “I didn’t mean to offend you. I’m sorry.”
His immediate and sincere apology was a balm to her heated mood. Had she overreacted? Probably. But damn it, she couldn’t help it. She was sensitive to this sort of stuff. She’d been accused of one thing or another since she was a teen. No one in her corner, no one to defend her, it had always been her against the world.
Always.
“Maybe we should forget we ever had this conversation.” She looked away, her gaze locked on the table where she’d just been sitting. Becky still sat there, watching them dance. Eyebrows raised, her lips pursed. As if she knew something was going down.
Great. Gracie loved Becky. She was one of Gracie’s closest friends, one of her only friends. But Gracie knew she’d have some explaining to do later.
She didn’t want to talk about Hunter Worth with anyone, especially Becky. Her friend was perceptive enough that she might finally figure out Gracie had a major crush on her boss.
And she didn’t want anyone knowing that.
“Sounds good to me. I think you and I are pretty skilled at the avoiding thing, right?” He paused, his hot gaze locked with hers. She forcibly looked away. If he kept looking at her like that, there was no way they could avoid what had been brewing between them since that one night when everything changed. “So how about I buy you a drink to make up for all of my mistakes?”
She glanced back up at him in surprise. “The reception is open bar.”
There was that grin again. It made certain parts of her body way too happy every time he flashed it. “Then I should have no problem getting you a drink, right? What’s your poison?” His voice lowered. “Butterscotch martinis? Isn’t that what you were drinking—last time?”
You. He was her poison. A gorgeous devil bent on seducing her. Looking at him, being close to him was as heady as any alcohol. “I’m not a big drinker,” she said weakly. It was the truth. It always went straight to her head.
He knew this from firsthand experience.
“Champagne, then. It’s my drink of choice tonight. I’m in a celebratory mood.”
“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.”
Desire is a double-edged dance.
Lexie
© 2012 Kimberly Dean
Triple X, Book 1
Lexie Underhill works her tail off in hopes of winning her adoptive father’s approval. It’s never enough. The stinging proof? He’s brought in a reorganization expert. As if the prospect of losing her job in the family business isn’t enough, Cameron Rowe’s sexy, intimidating presence makes her palms sweat.
When Lexie’s face appears on a scandalous freeway billboard, her protestations of innocence go unheard. With orders to save the family name—or else—she marches into the bar the billboard was advertising and comes face-to-face with an identical twin sister. Roxie is wild and free, everything Lexie isn’t. Before the night is out, she welcomes the chance to explore her own sensuality.
As she dances wantonly on the bar, suddenly Cam is there, kissing her as if he has the right. The sizzle between them breaks out in four-alarm desire, but Lexie has recalibrated her life plan. And the equation doesn’t factor in Cam—until she’s sure where his loyalties lie. With her…or her father’s company.
Warning: Not all business relationships are formal and stodgy. Suits and ties (actually, all clothing) are optional.
Enjoy the following excerpt for Lexie:
Uncertainty made her face fall, and she glanced back to the bar. “You said our eyes were different.” The uncertainty turned into a frown. “Is she prettier than me? Was that it?”
“No, that wasn’t it.” He cupped her chin and brought her attention back to him.
He sighed when he saw the glaze in her eyes. She wasn’t a sloppy drunk. She didn’t slur her words, and she didn’t get belligerent. Well, not that belligerent. Alcohol just seemed to break down the walls she constantly kept erected around herself. Let loose, her emotions were fighting over which could show itself first. Hurt, joy and confusion were all there for the world to see.
With her, alcohol brought out honesty.
Cam took a deep breath. He had to get her out of here. Sober her up and help her get things straight in her head. The misunderstanding with the Underhills needed to be cleared up as soon as possible—for her sake as well as the company’s. They’d hurt her this morning and without cause. She deserved an apology, and he was going to make sure she got one.
This newfound sister, though. He glanced over his shoulder to the bar. She was a different issue entirely.
He watched as Roxie flirted with a particularly ugly biker, checking out the tattoo on his shoulder. He didn’t like coincidences, and he didn’t like surprises. This woman was both, and he didn’t want Lexie around her until he had the opportunity to check her out.
And he had the resources to do a really close check.
He brushed his thumb against Lexie’s waist and pulled back. “Let’s go straighten things out with Julian.”
Her breath caught audibly. Face paling, her gaze flew to the door. “Is he here?”
Cam sighed. Damn that man. “No. We’ll go find him after you’ve had some coffee.”
“Is anybody else coming?” She rubbed her bare arms. Without her jacket, she seemed vulnerable. Ten minutes earlier, she’d been dancing around and having fun. At the mention of her family, though, she needed her armor.
He stroked her waist, trying to get her to relax. “You got me. Just me.”
“Oh.”
The emotions in her eyes tumbled again, and confusion won the battle this time. She glanced around the bar almost forlornly. Cameron braced his hand against the jukebox, wanting to punch it. She was so easy to read this way, but it was a painful read.
“Do you really dislike me that much, Lexie?”
“I don’t dislike you.”
Could have fooled him. “Then what is it? You’ve been avoiding me ever since I first started working at Underhill. Are you afraid of me?”
She shifted uneasily. She’d ventured into a biker bar and had made it her own, yet looking him in the eye seemed to be too much for her. “Kind of.”
Cam nearly winced. That honesty was a double-edged sword. “Why?”
“Why? You want to gut my family’s company.” Her brow furrowed. “I mean, Underhill Associates.” She shook her head, the confusion too much. “I have good workers. Smart people. They should know their jobs are secure. My job should be secure.”
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