Worth the Scandal by Karen Erickson Page B

infuriated he wouldn’t leave the subject alone. “You ignore me for days, pretend what happened between us never really did and now you want to make nice?”
    “You’re angry.”
    “Of course, I’m angry. What do you expect?” She threw her arms up in the air. “What’s happened between us has been very—confusing.”
    “I haven’t forgotten,” he murmured.
    She narrowed her eyes. “You haven’t forgotten what?”
    “What happened between us that night. I haven’t forgotten any of it, Tessa.” He held her gaze, the color of his eyes a vibrant, bright blue flecked with speckles of gray beneath the lenses of his glasses. “It’s all I’ve thought about.”
    She parted her lips but the words stalled in her throat. God, the man was beyond exasperating, sending mixed singles that sent her head constantly spinning. “What are you saying?” she finally choked out, a gasp escaping her when he reached for her hand and took it in his, entwining their fingers. “What are you doing?”
    “I haven’t forgotten how you felt in my arms, the silk of your skin, or the taste of your lips.” His voice had lowered to a husky murmur, and she strained closer despite her misgivings. Wanting to hear what he said and dreading it just the same. “I can’t forget it no matter how much I try.”
    She shook her head, her entire body trembling. “I can’t do this.”
    “I know.” He smiled ruefully. “I understand.”
    The car pulled to a halt in front of the store and within moments the door was being opened. Alex let go of her hand and Tessa stepped outside as if in a daze, the sun so bright it hurt her eyes. She wanted to scream. She wanted to cry.
    She wanted to wrap herself around Alexander Worth and never let go.
    He came to her side, gazing up at the store front as he said, “Ready to go inside?”
    Nodding, she followed him in, admiring how normal he acted, how composed he was as the store manager greeted him by kissing both of his cheeks, leaving lipstick smudges on his skin.
    A rush of jealousy filled Tessa and she shook it off, smiling at the manager as she too kissed each of her cheeks, though Tessa’s kisses were nothing but air.
    The store was already a flurry of activity for it seemed every employee had been called in to help set up. Though all of the remodeled stores were beautiful, this one was by far Tessa’s favorite. Elegant and sleek, the walls were covered with old photos of the Paris Worth location over the years, including a photo of the three young Worth brothers standing in front of the store, both their father and grandfather behind them.
    She went to the photo, studying the face of a very young, very handsome Alex. His expression was somber, Hunter’s smile was sly and Rhett scowled, his father’s hand on his shoulder as if he had to restrain him for fear he’d flee.
    Tessa smiled. The three hadn’t changed much over the years.
    “I was thirteen,” Alex said from behind her. “Hunter was eleven and Rhett almost six.”
    “Was the store at the same location?”
    “It’s been the same location since my great-grandfather opened the store over seventy years ago. It was the second Worth store built.” The pride in his voice was unmistakable. He was proud of his heritage, as he should be. He’d grown it into something even more special the last five years since he’d stepped in as CEO of Worth Luxury.
    “It’s beautiful.” She turned and glanced up at him. “I think it’s my favorite store so far.”
    “It’s always been my favorite store,” he confided, his expression serious. The matching red lipstick marks on either cheek ruined the look.
    Rising on her tiptoes, she wiped off first one smudge, then the other with a slow sweep of her thumb. This up close, she could stare into his beautiful eyes, savor the feeling of his warm skin beneath her fingertips, watch his lips part in surprise at her gesture.
    “You were wearing her mark,” she explained. At his blank look she