Worth the Scandal (20 page)

“I’ll be fine. Really.” Tessa flashed her sister a smile. “I just—I think I’m going to relax on the couch for a bit. I’ll clean up the dinner dishes when you’re done.”

“No, no, I’ll take care of it. You rest. You’ve had a bit of a shock.”

Indeed she had.

Chapter Fifteen

Alex hadn’t felt this good since he didn’t know when. The reception toward the new and risky Worthwhile Luxury store had been overwhelmingly positive, even from the London news and fashion media, who were notorious for their picky taste and downright rude editorial. The spacious store had been filled to the very brim with shoppers and they’d sold out of their predicted popular accessory items within minutes. The newly launched and exclusive women’s line also sold out.

It felt amazing, to create something completely new and visionary within the old and established Worth line and have it launch with instant success. Hunter was thrilled. He’d called him twice with congratulatory remarks. The London marketing team had literally high fived him near the end of the day and he’d offered to take everyone, including the hard working store crew, out to dinner as soon as the store closed which was within the next hour.

He was exhausted but it was the good kind. His brain had been so busy it was hard to focus on the negatives. On how much he missed Tessa. How much he still wanted her.

For whatever reason, she haunted his thoughts more so than usual. Memories of their time in London together flashed through his mind, memories drenched in visions of Tessa naked, their bodies entwined, their mouths fused. The breathy little sounds she made when he pounded deep inside her, the way her body shook with her orgasm and how she’d call his name…

Shaking himself from useless thoughts, he wandered about the store, noting the items that needed to be replenished, unusually pleased at how empty the store displays were. He’d put in an order for more inventory earlier this morning, within hours of the grand opening. It had been clear that early on the day was going to end a rousing success. He’d wanted to be prepared and requested more inventory so the store wouldn’t stand empty for too many days and lose sales.

Outside the sunlight dimmed though the sidewalks were still crowded. The morning air had been crisp and cool and the sun shone all day after a brisk storm had blown through the city last night. Deciding he needed a bit of fresh air, he let the store manager know he was taking a quick walk and he stepped outside, inhaling deeply. The cold air felt good in his lungs. It didn’t even bother him that people ran into him, their shoulders colliding with his as they passed by.

Everyone was in such a hurry. He was so full of relief, for once in his life he felt like taking a leisurely stroll.

It was completely unlike him.

He strode down Bond Street, admiring the other storefronts, paying attention to their window displays. This was by far one of the hippest shopping areas in all of London, drawing both residents and tourists alike. The original Worth Luxury location was on Regent Street and he’d checked in with them earlier in the day to check on sales.

Thanks to the grand opening, they’d had renewed interest and a surge in sales as well.

Wishing he’d worn a coat, he continued his walk, turning onto Oxford Street where the less expensive stores were. Their location was still prime, the window displays perhaps even more creative than the ones on Bond and he stopped at a window filled with a lavish display of lace and silk. Elegant and alluring, he studied the display. The lingerie was exquisite, looked expensive yet touchable.

The awning that covered the window was a broad and bold pink and black stripe, with the words
Mon Amour
streaked across the front in black script. Instantly he recognized the stripe from the shopping bag Tessa had discarded in her room that night in Paris. The gorgeous lingerie she had purchased with him in mind.

Without thought he walked into the store, the quiet warmth of the interior engulfing him upon his entry. It was quiet within, classical music played low in the background and the place smelled divine of sweet spices. A glass table was in the very front of the store, the top of it covered in piles of colorful lacy concoctions and the pang in his heart was suddenly so sharp it nearly stole his breath.

God, he missed her. What a damn fool he was for letting her go.

“Do you need any help,
monsieur
?”

The sound of a heavily accented English feminine voice caused him to glance to his left. A woman stood before him, draped from head to toe in black, black framed glasses perched low on her nose.

“I’m fine,” he reassured her, looking toward the front door. He should escape. He had no plans on purchasing lingerie—and for who? He had no one.

“Are you looking for something beautiful for your special lady?”

He shook his head. “I have no special lady.”

The woman gasped, resting her hand on her chest. “Surely you’re jesting. A handsome, successful man such as you has no special lady in his life?”

“I did. Once.” Why was he confessing this to a stranger? “But we’re not together any longer.”

“Ahh.” She shook her head, made a tsking noise. “You miss her terribly.”

“I do.” Saying it out loud made his misery that much keener.

“Then why don’t you beg her forgiveness?”

He frowned. “How do you know I did something wrong?”

She threw her head back and laughed. “Because you all eventually do something wrong. It just depends on the level of wrongness. Let me find someone to help you pick out an apology nightgown.”

His frown deepened. “A what?”

“Trust me.” She waved a hand. “You bring her a gorgeous piece of lace worth plenty of money and she’ll forgive you of all your sins. Oh, Tessa. I have a gentleman who needs assistance, please.”

He stiffened at the sound of the name Tessa, the hairs at the back of his neck standing on end. He would’ve bailed. Would’ve bolted straight out of there but upon hearing the name he planned on sticking around and at least seeing what was most likely a poor excuse for the woman he’d once loved.

Still loved, if he was being honest with himself.

“How can I help you?” asked an unmistakable voice from behind.

Alex closed his eyes, her familiar, intoxicating scent wrapping around him. His skin tingled, his heart raced as shock flooded his veins.

It was her. She was in London selling lingerie she’d once bought for his pleasure? It made absolutely no sense.

It made perfect sense.

He turned, noted the shocked expression when she realized it was him, the quick flash of happiness in her gaze before it was replaced with panic. “Hello, Tessa.”

She gaped at him, backing up so quickly she ran into a rack, causing it to plow into one of the glass tables. The colliding furniture clanged loudly, and he winced. Wished he could reach out and help her but knew she wouldn’t let him. She righted the display furniture, her movements shaky before she turned scared wide eyes upon him. “What are you doing here?”

“I really should be asking you that, shouldn’t I?”

Her expression hardened and she turned on her heel, striding toward the back of the store with determined steps. “Go away.”

He chased after her, his gaze dropping to the plump curve of her bottom. Had she gained weight? Not that he was protesting, she looked more beautiful than ever, but her curves seemed even more pronounced, her body more—womanly.

“I want to talk to you,” he said when she didn’t turn around.

“Well, I clearly do not want to talk to you. Please leave.” She slipped behind the counter and rested her clasped hands on top of the glass counter, trying her hardest to be the picture of serenity. Cool, calm, aloof.

He knew because he was a professional of that particular false front. He knew where to look for the telltale signs of fracture. The lines around her pretty dark eyes, the creases in her forehead, and the tightness of her lips when she realized he’d been staring at them, thinking of all the things he could do with those pretty lush lips. All the things he had done.

“What are you doing in London?” He couldn’t believe she was here. Across a vast ocean and in another country, he’d think the possibility of running into her was practically nil.

“I could ask you the same question.” Her sultry voice was quite possibly the best thing he’d heard in ages, despite the anger he noted in her tone.

He also noticed her deflection. She wasn’t about to give an inch. “For the grand opening of our new store.”

She didn’t ask, didn’t so much as mention any sort of intimate detail about the store, which she’d known plenty about before he’d fired her. “Congratulations. I wish you much success.” The haughty tone, the disdainful tilt of her chin, she didn’t mean a word of it.

Alex couldn’t be deterred.

“Tessa.” Reaching out, he touched her, placed his hand atop her forearm. His skin sizzled upon contact and she hissed, jerking her arm away from him before he could curl his fingers about her slender bones and keep her close. “I need to talk to you.”

“There’s absolutely nothing more we could say to each other. You made your opinions more than clear. Now if you could please leave, I would greatly appreciate it.”

“Always the polite one, aren’t you, kitten?” he murmured, unable to help himself, unable to stop the endearment from dropping from his lips.

She slapped the glass countertop with both hands so hard he wondered if the sharp edge left marks on her palms. “You have no right to call me that.”

The claws were out most definitely. God, it felt so good to be in her presence, to see her, drink her in. Her hair was longer than the last time he saw her, glossy and thick with waves. Her breasts were a sight to behold, their generous size emphasized by the clingy knit of her elegant pale pink sweater set and he wondered if she’d somehow gotten bigger.

He frowned. She’d subtly changed, but he couldn’t put his finger on how.

“I’m sorry,” he murmured. “That’s all I wanted to say. I’m just—I’m sorry for how I treated you. It was uncalled for.”

“Fine.” She crossed her arms in front of her, plumping her breasts up even more. “I accept your apology.”

Pausing, he didn’t know what else to say, what else to do. Asking how she was seemed too benign, too thoughtless. Of course, his previous interactions with her had been completely thoughtless so what was the difference?

Never before had a woman left him feeling so damned unsure before. And such a little slip of a woman too. He was ten years older than her and vastly more experienced. Yet she had him shifting on his feet like a naughty little boy about to receive his punishment.

“Can we catch up maybe?”

Slowly she shook her head, her eyes full of sadness. So much sadness, it almost equaled his own. “I don’t think that would be wise, Alex.”

Christ.
Hearing her sweet voice say his name nearly unmanned him. Right there in the middle of a store full of bras and panties and silk and lace, he wanted to fall to his knees and beg for her forgiveness. Plead with her that she give him another chance.

But she was like a statue, unmoving, watching him with a sort of distance in her expression he’d never seen before.

Fuck. He’d ruined it. All of his chances were gone and no begging on his part was ever going to change that.

“I understand,” he said quietly though really he didn’t. He just knew it sounded good. “I wish you well, Tessa.”

“Thank you.” Her voice broke, and she cleared her throat. “Goodbye, Alex.”

And just like that, she dismissed him. Much like he’d dismissed her a year ago.

It hurt. Cut like the sharpest knife down to the bone. With a curt nod he turned and slowly walked out of the store, wondering where the French woman had gone. Wondering more where Tessa might live.

What did she do in the evenings? Did she have friends or worse—did she have a man in her life?

The idea of his Tessa in the arms of another man threatened to slay him dead where he stood.

Pulling his cell from his front pocket, he dialed the store manager at Worthwhile. “Something’s come up. I can’t attend the dinner tonight after all so don’t wait for me.” He paused and listened to her chatter on about statistics and sales numbers, but he didn’t hear her. None of it registered. All he could think about was Tessa. “Go ahead and charge it to the Worth account. Have everyone order whatever they want.” He rattled off the name of the restaurant where he’d taken Tessa, knowing they’d be impressed with the ambiance and menu. He already had an account with them, which made it easier.

Ending the call, he rounded the corner of the brick building and stood there in the growing darkness. The store hours posted by the door said
Mon Amour
closed at seven. He glanced at his watch and noted it was almost six-thirty.

He would wait. It could take no more than an hour for them to prep and close the shop and then she would emerge, done for the night. He would follow her back to her home. Perhaps he would corner her and demand that she talk to him, that she listen to him and perhaps even given him another chance.

Though he didn’t deserve it, he would do whatever it took to get her to listen to him. To let him explain his faults, his absolute stupidity in not believing in her, in not trusting her. If she was receptive, he would even confess his love for her.

She might not want to listen but he had to do it. Had to get everything off his chest once and for all.

If she didn’t at least give him that, he didn’t know what he would do.

Tessa called her sister as soon as Alex exited the store. Her hands shook, her heart pounded so hard it was all she could hear and she took a deep, gulping breath when her sister answered before she launched into the whole shocking story.

“I had a feeling something like this might happen.” Gina sounded stressed. “Want us to come meet you when you get off work, and we can go home together?”

“God, no. I don’t want him to see Charlotte.” She cast a worried glance out the front window, but he was nowhere to be found. Not that she could see much considering how dark it was. “He wouldn’t leave it alone. He kept saying he wanted to talk to me. He even said he was sorry.”