She walked inside the
room, her steps faltering when the three men who sat at the table turned to look at her. Alex, Hunter and Rhett Worth watched as she approached, power exuding from them in tangible waves. All three of them were clad in expensive designer suits. Colorful silk ties by Worth Luxury circled their necks.
Alex sent his brothers a measured look before he stood, the other two following his lead, and he came toward Ella with his hand extended, a polite smile curling his lips. “Alexander Worth. So glad you could join us today, Miss Durand.”
“Thank you.” She took his hand, marveled that she didn’t feel a thing when he touched her. “It’s nice to meet you.”
She turned to Hunter, who introduced himself with gracious charm, his blue eyes twinkling when it was his turn to shake her hand. Again, she wondered why she felt absolutely nothing when he touched her.
Then she found Rhett standing in front of her, that lazy smile of his in full effect, making her knees weaken. He took her hand, gave it a more intimate squeeze versus the formal pump of a firm handshake. “Good to see you again, Gabriella. I trust you slept well?”
Heat sparked where their hands connected and his intimate question had her insides quivering. Their brief kiss came to mind and she was thankful he didn’t act awkward or try to ignore her. “I did, thank you.”
He released her hand, his fingers sliding over the top of hers and she barely restrained the shiver that overtook her at his simple touch. The smile grew, his eyes darkened as if perhaps his thoughts were the same as hers. Talk of sleeping well made her think of beds, which made her think of Rhett in her bed. Keeping her awake long through the night while he touched her, kissed her everywhere…
She wouldn’t be complaining of lack of sleep if that were the case.
“Have a seat.” He placed his hand at the small of her back and escorted her to a chair, pulling it out for her before she sat. Settling in beside her, he rested his arm on top of the table, his hand splayed, fingers rubbing against the shiny surface of the tabletop. His large watch drew her attention to his wrist, the fine dark hairs that grew there.
That hand had touched her last night. It had slid along her thigh with smooth, calculated precision, sending every nerve ending screaming with delight.
“Our human resources manager should be here any minute. Once she arrives, then we can begin discussions,” he explained.
Ella nodded, her gaze locked on his hand. The tip of his fingers did a slow glide. Down, then up, his fingers bent at the knuckles before they slid down again. Almost as if he was caressing the table, she couldn’t help but imagine those long, elegant fingers traveling along her bare skin, tracing a pattern around her nipple before they slipped down her belly, to finally stroke between her legs...
“Sorry I’m late!”
The woman’s breathless apology jerked Ella from her ridiculous imaginings. Tearing her gaze away from Rhett’s hand, she met the woman’s kind gaze as she sat across from her. She smiled in greeting, a harried expression on her face.
“This is Becky. She’s our human resources manager,” Rhett leaned over to murmur in her ear. The hairs at the back of her neck stood on end, her skin tingling at his nearness and she willed the strange reaction to him away.
But it didn’t go away. It only seemed to get worse the longer she sat there, so close to him, his scent washing over her, his voice…all of it a lethal combination to her senses. All three of the brothers sounded similar when they spoke but not a one of them sent shivers down her spine like Rhett did.
She couldn’t concentrate, couldn’t focus on the important matter at hand i.e., her future and career. That she would let a man she didn’t know distract her so completely was so unlike her, she wondered if an alien had somehow invaded her body and took over.
Her thoughts were ridiculous. Yet being near him was secretly thrilling. Did he feel the same way? Or had he merely humored her last night with the quick kiss before he dumped her off at the hotel?
“You met with your lawyer this morning, is that correct?” Alex’s question broke through her cloudy mind and she nodded in response. “Good. I’d hoped you would have the contract vetted before agreeing to sign. What sort of advice were you given in regards to the contract?”
The Worth family was nothing if not direct. They cut right to the point, every one of them. “He found nothing glaringly wrong with it, though he did point out the six-month term was a bit short.” She thought so too but believed six months would be more than enough time to prove she was the right person for the job.
Rhett shot Alex a pointed stare before he turned his attention to Ella. “I’m hoping that you’ll agree to the terms, then, Gabriella?”
He seemed to prefer calling her by her full name, though she’d permitted him to call her by her nickname. But she didn’t protest, liking the way he said it. “I would be happy to work for Worth Luxury.” Her father’s lawyer hadn’t advised against it. And it really was like a dream come true.
“Wonderful.” The grin that broke out across Rhett’s face stunned her stupid. “I hope you realize this means we’re going to be working very closely together.”
She nodded weakly, also realizing she didn’t find that a problem.
Though something deep within her said she probably should.
“Got her where you want her, don’t you?” Hunter stabbed his index finger directly into Rhett’s chest. “Don’t screw this up by screwing her.”
Rhett backed away from his brother’s abnormally sharp finger. “I have no plans on screwing her.” Rubbing his chest, he glared. Damn Hunter for somehow seeing into Rhett’s mind.
Screwing her was exactly what he wanted to do to Gabriella, but knowing how his brothers would act, he’d done the right thing last night. Set her away from him before that kiss got too out of hand, no matter how much it pained him.
He’d been left with his racing thoughts the rest of the night. What might’ve happened if he’d continued that kiss? It was ridiculous, dwelling so much on such a chaste kiss.