Worth the Risk (15 page)

With a satisfied smile, Stephen watched Hannah take in the suite. The owner’s penthouse in five-star hotels tended to be lavishly over-the-top. His was no exception. Leather and glass. Marble and chandeliers. Giant sprays of flowers and assorted white candles. An enormous fireplace rose two stories to the ceiling, and there was another in the bedroom, still another in the bath.

And making use of that could be fun. Hannah in bubbles.

Thirty-eight-hundred square feet of sophisticated opulence and Hannah walked past it all and directly to the wall of glass overlooking the city. So like her, looking outside instead of in. Looking around her and not seeing herself, how beautiful she was. How special.

It had been the same on the flight here aboard the company’s Twin Star. The cream leather interior, full bar, and hors d’oeuvres had impressed even his most discerning companions. But not Hannah. She’d politely declined the champagne, more interested in the clouds outside than anything within. Until he kissed her. Then he was graced with one hundred percent of her attention and he couldn’t get enough.

He took another minute to watch her. A simple long-sleeved blouse billowed around her arms, thin pants outlined her shape. Sexy, elegant, and covered as always. It was his mission to change that.

He stepped behind her, ran his hands over the curve of her hips, then around to her stomach until she was wrapped in his arms. Instead of flinching away, she leaned back against him, covered his hands with hers. They stood as one, looking out the glass, and he was struck with awe that she could trust him. That she’d suffered at another man’s hands yet didn’t move away from his own. The knowledge of that both heated and soothed.

“It’s beautiful,” she said.

And it was, the sun setting over the Rockies as the human side of Las Vegas came alive. But not half as beautiful as Hannah. Not half as alive as she made him feel. He’d been with a lot of beautiful women, but none compared to her, and more than that, it did something to him that she didn’t see it.

“Thank you for coming with me.” He pressed his face into her hair, nuzzled it out of the way until he found skin.

“You’re welcome.”

“How hard did Nick try to talk you out of going?”

“Not that hard.”

Stephen nipped her ear.

“Okay. Kind of hard.”

“I probably would have done the same thing.” He turned her in is arms, kissed her long and slow, loving the way her fingers first clutched at his shirt, then moved up and around his neck. Still new enough it made his heart pound, but he no longer felt like he had to steal every kiss. “I could stand right here all night.”

Her lips curved against his and he loved that too. And her fingers skimming through the hair at his nape.

“You must be very good at what you do.”

“I’m okay.

“I’d say you’re more than okay.” She gestured to the room, the balcony. “Look at this. You’re only thirty-two.”

“You’re even younger, and look at what you do. You make a difference.”
I make money.

Her gaze dropped to his chest and her smile faltered. “I may not be doing it much longer. The city is taking it. I’m pretty sure it’s just to sell.”

Then I’ll buy it. That was his gut reaction. I’ll buy it and give it to you because I would give you anything. “I wouldn’t worry about it too much. The state rarely goes through with these claims.”

She shrugged, looking unconvinced. “I just don’t get it. It’s not that valuable.”

He knew of at least one person interested and he should have told her a long time ago. Now it felt too late, like he’d been hiding it. He hadn’t, not exactly. “Why don’t I have our lawyer look into it, see what she can do?”

“Maybe. I have an idea, or your sister has an idea.”

“Oh, great.” He rolled his eyes.

Hannah slapped his chest and told him the plan. Not a bad idea and possibly not worth a backlash of negative publicity for the city.

He tightened his arm around her back and brought her face up to meet his gaze. “Promise me you won’t worry until I’ve had a chance to look into it. Go ahead with your plans, and let me work the other end.”

“You think there could still be a mistake?”

“I think there are always loops and holes and cracks.” And ways people, and the government, could make things look exactly the way they wanted them to look. “Promise?”

She smiled, nodded.

“Good. Now, unfortunately, we can’t stay right here all night.” He pressed one more kiss on her mouth before letting her go. “I’ll take the other shower and meet you back here. Oh, and there’s a surprise for you on the bed.”

Her chin dropped and she bit at her lip, avoiding his eyes. “You really didn’t have to do that.”

“Yes, I did. My date. I provide the goods.” He was no shopper, and he’d deny it if Lizzy ever found out, but he’d enjoyed giving his hotel concierge the yay or nay on each image she’d sent him. Loved picturing Hannah in each and every dress. And also because, as much as she didn’t want or expect anything from him, he wanted to give it.

“Besides, it was too last-minute to expect you to shop. There’re lots of choices, but if you don’t like anything, I’ll have more sent up.”

She gave him a shy smile. “I’m sure I’ll find something.”

“Then get moving.” He gave her bottom a pat and smiled after her.

He’d been waiting over an hour. Having a sister, he knew it could take a while, but she’d been behind that damn door and away from him for way too long. And he was anxious. To see her. To touch her. He had this need to touch her.

Walking onto the terrace, he could see the mountains, just a darkened backdrop now. This penthouse, in this hotel, in this city, represented a pinnacle of success. It said money and power. Exactly what he’d wanted it to say. And it had done exactly what he’d wanted it to do.

But right now his mind was full of something much more important. Turning from the window, he checked his watch again as he crossed the room. An hour and fifteen minutes. “Hannah? You okay in there?”

No answer. He was on his way to finding out for himself when the giant white door swung open. She stepped out slowly, her bare arms crossed over her body, one covering the other. She took a small step in the heels he’d purchased to match the dress.

Holy Mother.
His jaw hung, his mouth went dry. The siren-red fabric clung to her body, accentuating every luscious curve on its fall to the floor. Curves he hadn’t spent nearly enough time exploring. The neck draped just above her breasts and hugged underneath, outlining every place he wanted his mouth over, on, and around. All the places he hadn’t kissed enough. And the entire thing was held up by the tiniest of straps.

Her hair was an artful pile of loose curls. Elegant and beautiful even as he envisioned pulling it down, wrapping it around his hands. She’d applied makeup she rarely wore, making her eyelids shimmer and turning her long lashes into a darker sweep around golden-brown eyes he could get lost in. Just fall right into and never climb out.

A light brush of bronze accentuated high cheekbones, and those lips, well, she’d be reapplying lipstick because there was no way he wasn’t kissing her. “Come here.”

She shook her head and it finally registered through his lust-filled haze that those gorgeous red lips weren’t smiling.

“I can’t wear this. I thought I could.” She spoke quickly. “It’s beautiful, they all are, and you picked them out, but I can’t.”

The scars. Damn it.
She was so exquisite in every way, he didn’t even think of them. But she would. “Follow me.” He took her by the hand and pulled her through the bedroom, past the bed covered in dresses.

They reached the bathroom and he turned her to face the mirror. “Look at yourself.” He skimmed his hands slowly up her arms until his palms cupped her slight shoulders. “You take my breath away.” And twisted him up like no other.

He had this insane urge to wrap her in silk, drape her with diamonds. Wanted to stand in front of her, shield her, protect her. He traced a finger lightly along her skin where the edge of her dress covered her breasts.

“So beautiful.” He raised his eyes to lock with hers, caught her hand, and brought it to his lips before she could argue. “And I
will
say it.” He gently traced a jagged purple line running from her left shoulder to elbow. “They’re a sign of your strength, your survival. They make you who you are. Which I happen to like very much.”

She broke their eye contact in the mirror. “Stephen—”

“Look at your eyes. This sexy mouth. People look at you and see an unbelievably gorgeous woman, and…” He smiled against her temple. “I’m going to be jealous as hell tonight when they do.” She finally smiled, and something stirred around his heart as he studied the picture they made together. “But…I don’t want you to be uncomfortable, or push you.”

With one arm still around her waist, he pulled a long piece of silk from a hanger on the back of the door. “The lady said it would go with any of the dresses and I’m an ass for not giving it to you sooner. Though I
was
told to hang it near a steamy shower.” He spread the shimmering length in front of him, draped it over her arms and shoulders, and met her eyes in the mirror once more. “And before we left, I wanted you to see what I see.”

If she took his breath away, Stephen knocked the air from her lungs to the point of suffocation. Always dark and powerful, he looked even more so now, cleanly shaven in a tux that showed off his size and strength. Tailored black pants fit his long, muscled legs. Stark white shirt stood out against his tan complexion. Besides that inexplicable thing a black tux does to a handsome man. Almost too much, too hot, until she nearly forgot herself. He did that. Made her forget. Pushed her, or maybe led her, to places she never thought she could go.

The trip, the hotel room, the party. The night that would come after. It was as if he had such an excess of confidence, it spilled over and onto her whenever he was near.

Even now his hand on her leg burned through the thin layer of fabric. His scent, faint and musky, stirred her. It felt a lot like a first date, and it
was
the first time they’d gone out together, arrived together. Would leave together. Apprehension and butterflies danced in her stomach.

He bent and pressed his lips to her bare shoulder. “You smell good.”

She shivered with his hot breath at her ear. “It’s shampoo.”

“And you.” With his hand at her waist, his mouth played wickedly around her ear, her shoulder, wherever he could find skin. “Have I told you how beautiful you are? How sweet?”

“Um…I think you…yes.” She was already breathing hard when he lightly bit then licked that hot spot where her neck met shoulder.

Stephen raised his head. “Damn. We’re here.”

She hadn’t even noticed, Stephen had so effectively kept her mind occupied. They passed through giant iron gates and the limo slowed.

“We’ll pick that up later,” he murmured against her ear and followed with another little bite as the driver opened the back door.

The old governor’s mansion, set yards back and on a hill, was lit up like a birthday cake in a dark room. Balconies and balustrades overlooked the surrounding landscape, and it seemed each shrub and tree had its own spotlight. Smaller lights stuck in the ground illuminated the wide brick walkway leading to the castle-like structure.

Stephen held her hand snugly in his as they walked toward three sets of ten or more steps with several yards of brick between each one. She didn’t make it past the first set before she stumbled.

“Okay?”

“Yes.”
No.
She was clumsy, awkward, and they were being passed by glamorous couples who were neither. Women in much taller, much spikier heels taking the wide steps with grace.

By the second tier of stairs the ache in her legs had turned to fire. Her right knee buckled on the first step. She gripped Stephen’s hand as his other arm caught her around the front.

“Damn shoes,” he muttered.

“I’m sorry.”

“No. I’m the one who’s sorry,” he said, bringing both arms around her. “I wasn’t thinking about your legs and the shoes—”

“Don’t. It’s fine.” She didn’t want to talk about her deficiencies, not tonight, especially not now, walking into a sea of perfection.

“It’s not fine. Just take the damn things off.”

That made her smile. “And walk into the governor’s mansion barefoot?”

“Why the hell not? I certainly don’t give a f–crap.”

And in addition to everything else, he was pulling his curse words.

She melted into him, his arms snug around her lower back, his warm brown eyes illuminated by the soft landscape lighting. Just when she thought she couldn’t fall any further, he leaned in and kissed her, right there in front of the couples passing by, the line of limos stopping below.

He cupped the side of her face and deepened the kiss. His cheeks were baby soft under her palms and he smelled like every woman’s dream.
Was
every woman’s dream. And like only Stephen could do, he untied the knots in her stomach with his kiss, his touch. The insecurities backed away and she went from the awkward Cinderella who didn’t belong at the ball, to the girl kissing the prince.

Already light-headed, she yelped as the world tilted and he swung her up and into his arms. “What are you doing?”

“Being your personal chariot. What? Don’t look like that. I have experience.” He winked. “I’ve been told I’m quite good.”

She smiled into his neck. “And you’re stronger than you look.”

Partygoers turned heads and commented as they passed. “Why don’t you ever carry me up the stairs, Harry?”

Harry didn’t answer.

When they reached the top, Stephen lowered her to her feet in a marble-and-glass foyer. He wrapped a possessive arm around her waist as they joined a short line of couples showing invitations and pausing for a photographer.

A second before the flash, he shifted and gazed down at her. “You’re the most beautiful woman here.”

When Stephen looked at her like that, she could almost believe him. Like maybe, just maybe, she wasn’t so different.