Worth the Risk

by Karen Erickson

  Pressing her lips together, Gracie set her hand in Hunter’s, and his fingers tightened around hers as he pulled her to her feet. Tingles shot up her arm at his assured touch, sending an electric pulse throughout her body, and she tried to ignore it. Really, she did.

  But her body responded as if it recognized him—which it most likely did. It was hard to forget the man who kissed her senseless that one drunken night.

  She followed him onto the dance floor, gasping a little when he yanked her into his arms, close enough that his body heat wrapped all around her, setting her senses aflame. She settled her hand tentatively on his broad shoulder, marveling at the hard strength beneath her palm. He smelled delicious. A blend of woodsy spice and a mysterious scent that was uniquely Hunter. She inhaled him as discreetly as possible.

  Just breathing him in made her dizzy. Being held in his arms? Thank goodness he had a firm grip on her or she’d melt into the floor.

  “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 love, 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.”

  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?

  Definitely something Hunter wasn’t interested in.

  So why did his feet itch to chase after Gracie? He was not a chaser. Egotistical maniac maybe, but it was the truth. Women normally chased him.

  Not Gracie. She pushed him away. She made him stop. She told him they didn’t “mix well“.

  Hunter frowned. That was complete and utter bullshit. They mixed so well they were downright combustible. Why was he the only one who saw this? Felt it?

  Deciding to hell with it, he fled the dance floor, pushed his way through the throng of guests that mingled in the cavernous ballroom. He scanned the room but there was no sign of Gracie.

  She’d already left.

  “Hey, where are you going?”

  Holding back an irritated growl, he turned to find his younger brother standing before him, his arms draped around the shoulders of two very beautiful, very giggly women. “Are you drunk?”

  Rhett grinned. “Getting there.” The women giggled louder.

  Hunter stepped closer, irritation rushing through his veins. His brother would be the absolute death of him. He had little tolerance for Rhett’s behavior and thought he was a spoiled brat. How Alex put up with his crap, Hunter hadn’t a clue. “Don’t make an ass of yourself at Alex’s reception. Especially after everything he’s done for you.”

  “Are you threatening me, bro?”

  Hunter snarled at the fumes shooting from his brother’s mouth. Light a match and Rhett would probably go up in flames. “I’m just asking you to, for once, put your selfish behavior aside and think of someone else. Like Alex and Tessa. It’s their night. Don’t ruin it.”

  Rhett glared. So did the girls. “I don’t want to fight with you tonight, Hunter.”

  “I don’t want to fight with you either.”

  They stood silent for a moment, people jostling them as they passed, Rhett’s little harem getting more and more impatient if their loud sighs were any indication.

  “Don’t tell me you’re arguing on my wedding day.”

  Hunter exhaled, all the fight leaving him in one fell swoop. Damn it, the last thing he wanted was Alex to witness this. “Not fighting, don’t worry. I was actually just leaving.”

  Alex stood at Hunter’s side, a look of concern crossing his face. “Don’t party too hard, okay, Rhett?” He sounded like a too-kind dad gently chastising his very bad kid.

  It irritated the ever-living shit out of Hunter.

  “Anything for you, Alex.” Rhett shot Hunter a smirk as he released his hold on the women. “I’ll see you two later, okay?”

  They waved and giggled and left in a flurry of overwhelming perfume and bits of glitter. “Who the hell were those chicks?” Hunter asked the second they were out of earshot.

  “My friends. Alex said I could bring them.”

  “Nice. What are you going to do, have a threesome after the reception?”

  “Hell yeah, and what do you care anyway? Maybe you’re just jealous. I probably get more tail in a month than you’ve ever gotten in your life.”

  “That’s because I work for a living, you asshole. Which is more then I can say about you.” Hunter clenched his fists, ready to sock his brother in the mouth.

  His big brother would kill him for making such a public display at his wedding reception.

  Alex stepped in between his two brothers, his large hands splayed on eit
her of their chests to hold them off of each other. “For once in your lives, can’t you two get along? It’s my wedding day, for Christ’s sake.”

  Hunter inwardly fumed. Rhett pushed all of his buttons, none of them good. Why he couldn’t muster up even an ounce of ambition and actually work like a real person, Hunter hadn’t a clue. All the opportunity and chance in the world, and the man was a complete and utter bum. Absolutely worthless.

  Rhett most definitely did not live up to the family name.

  “Like I said, I was just leaving.” Hunter shot a glare in Rhett’s direction before he clapped his hand on Alex’s shoulder. “Congratulations again, man. I hope you and Tessa are happy.”

  Alex smiled, his gaze going hazy like it did at any mention of Tessa’s name. The guy was a complete sucker for his new wife. “Thanks, Hunter. You sure you want to leave so early? The party’s just getting started.”

  The music started back up, some fast and loud song that had half the crowd flooding the dance floor. Whereas during the ceremony he couldn’t wait to get his party on, he suddenly realized he was getting too old for this sort of thing. “Nah, I’m done. Your wedding and all the responsibilities of being the best man wore me out.” He smiled to take the edge out of his words but they weren’t far from the truth.

  Hunter left his brothers where they stood, relieved to get out of there. He was thrilled for Alex, really he was. But he needed a break from all the wedding stuff. It had consumed the Worth family, and he was over it.

  Unfortunately, he wasn’t over Gracie. Too bad she’d already gone.

  A wave of disappointment threatened to wash over him and he shoved it aside. Waving at a few people as he moved through the room, he came out into the quiet corridor with a relieved exhale. Only a handful of guests lingered. A couple stood close to a potted palm, speaking in low tones, the man casually touching the woman on the arm.

  Hunter frowned. At least someone was gonna get some tonight.

  He headed toward the banks of elevators, tugging his bow tie loose before he shrugged out of his tux jacket. He wore suits on an almost daily basis, but the monkey suit was a bit much after a few hours.